YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid ranks 5th worst out of 20 model years, with a complaint index of 79 and 55 NHTSA complaints, 11 of them tied to crashes. It carries an Avoid verdict, driven mainly by brake and unintended-acceleration reports.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
79/100
#5 of 20 Camry Hybrid years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
55
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
15
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2016
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
39.5
41 city / 37.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0

Top 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes10 (18%)
  2. Other10 (18%)
  3. Engine9 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body9 (16%)
  5. Airbags8 (15%)
  6. Electrical System8 (15%)
  7. Steering7 (13%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain4 (7%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
  10. Fuel System2 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle failing to slow or stop when the brake pedal was applied, leading to low-speed collisions.
  • Some describe the car unexpectedly lurching or accelerating on its own, resulting in crashes with no clear diagnosis.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in several crashes, including a rollover and a high-speed collision.
  • One owner reported the master power window switch smoking and burning while driving, requiring the battery to be disconnected.
  • A windshield reportedly developed a long crack after a small rock strike, which the owner said was a recurring issue on the model.
2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2012Mar 2013Mar 2014Dec 2014Sep 2015Aug 2016Feb 2018Dec 2018
55 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2012 to Jul 2019; peak Sep 2014 (4).

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V014000Jan 16, 2013Structure & Body3,235 vehicles

    Seats

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

    Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
41 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
39.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,625
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Camry Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good2610234
2011Caution5823233
2012Avoid7955139.5
2013Caution6327139.5
2014Caution7425139.5

All Toyota Camry Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA data ranks it 5th worst of 20 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 79 and an Avoid verdict. Brakes, engine, and structure & body were the top complaint areas.
What problems does the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists 55 complaints, led by brakes (10 complaints, 18% share, median mileage 33,500), engine (9 complaints, median mileage 27,000), and structure & body (9 complaints, median mileage 13,053.5). There were 11 crashes and 15 injuries reported, but no fires or deaths.
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 13V014000) covering the occupant detection sensor in the structure & body system, affecting several Toyota models from 2009-2013. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 Camry Hybrid compare to other model years?
Its complaint index of 79 is worse than 2010 (26, Good), 2011 (58, Caution), and 2013 (63, Caution), but better than 2007 (95), 2008 (84), and 2009 (89), all rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid?
EPA rates it at 39.5 mpg combined (41 city / 37.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,625.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.