Toyota Camry 2012–2017
8th generation (XV50)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,644 complaints, 1,850 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 28% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 28% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 24 complaints (1.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 900
- 25%
- 9,500
- Median
- 34,000
- 75%
- 72,000
- 90%
- 111,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 313 | 16.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 164 | 8.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 96 | 5.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 102 | 5.5% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 101 | 5.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 88 | 4.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 67 | 3.6% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 78 | 4.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 70 | 3.8% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 48 | 2.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 89 | 4.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 40 | 2.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 65 | 3.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 42 | 2.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 47 | 2.5% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 40 | 2.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 51 | 2.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 28 | 1.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 37 | 2.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 24 | 1.3% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 32 | 1.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 28 | 1.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 24 | 1.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 7 | 0.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 24 | 1.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 16 | 0.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 22 | 1.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 13 | 0.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 11 | 0.6% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 24 | 1.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,644 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2017 Toyota Camry, and 1,850 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
28% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (15.1% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (10.9% of complaints, typically around 40,000 miles), the steering (9.5% of complaints, typically around 46,000 miles).
11 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 17,000 to 110,000
- Problems owners could not categorise40,000median 40,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 70,000
- Steering46,000median 46,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 73,000
- Airbag system36,000median 36,060 miles, middle half 15,000 to 62,000
- Throttle and speed control20,000median 20,146 miles, middle half 5,000 to 51,000
- Electrical system35,000median 35,481 miles, middle half 14,000 to 81,000
- Engine27,000median 27,000 miles, middle half 8,500 to 73,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 398 | 15.1% | 70,000 | 17,000–110,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 289 | 10.9% | 40,000 | 18,000–70,000 |
| Steering | 252 | 9.5% | 46,000 | 14,000–73,000 |
| Airbag system | 230 | 8.7% | 36,000 | 15,000–62,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 224 | 8.5% | 20,000 | 5,000–51,000 |
| Electrical system | 217 | 8.2% | 35,000 | 14,000–81,000 |
| Engine | 192 | 7.3% | 27,000 | 8,500–73,000 |
| Brakes | 184 | 7.0% | 25,000 | 8,500–43,000 |
| Body structure | 153 | 5.8% | 20,000 | 5,000–45,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 85 | 3.2% | 32,000 | 13,000–60,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 34,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 15.1% of complaints (398 reports, 271 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 70,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 17,000 and 110,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 10.9% of complaints (289 reports, 149 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 69,900 miles.
The steering accounts for 9.5% of complaints (252 reports, 181 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 46,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,500 and 72,560 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 8.7% of complaints (230 reports, 160 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,060 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 62,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 8.5% of complaints (224 reports, 175 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 20,146 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,100 and 51,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.2% of complaints (217 reports, 146 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 35,481 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,174 and 81,350 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 808 complaints — while 2017 drew the fewest at 206. The median year sits at 369.
That makes 2012 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 11 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around equipment (3), the airbag system (2), the tyres (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 2,644 complaints filed against this generation, 436 reported a crash; 33 reported a fire; 337 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 16.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 28% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 40,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2012–2017
Torque converter lock-up shudder at light throttle on the 6-speed automatics, addressed by fluid and control software updates.
Engine 2012–2017
2AR-FE water pump leaks and, on higher-mileage cars, oil consumption; far less severe than the preceding 2AZ-FE issue.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 808 | 589 |
| 2013 | 377 | 272 |
| 2014 | 638 | 427 |
| 2015 | 362 | 279 |
| 2016 | 253 | 160 |
| 2017 | 206 | 123 |
Recalls (11)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V503000 | 2019-08-23 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 17V295000 | 2017-06-15 | Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire |
| 16V906000 | 2017-02-08 | Air Bags:knee Bolster |
| 16V420000 | 2016-07-14 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 16V215000 | 2016-05-13 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 15V144000 | 2015-05-07 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 14V715000 | 2014-12-12 | Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm |
| 14V576000 | 2014-11-17 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings |
| 13V442000 | 2014-02-05 | Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner |
| 13V505000 | 2013-11-08 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:switch/Wiring |
| 13V014000 | 2013-03-21 | Seats |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns 2012 Toyota Camry se. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a delayed response when the accelerator pedal was engaged and within seconds the vehicle abruptly accelerated. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer three…
2012 · 3 miles · Transmission and driveline
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when looking out of the rear window, the defrost lines going across the window and the tint caused the contact to see multiple head lights. The contact stated that one headlight would appear as twenty various headlights, disorientating the driver. The…
2012 · 5 miles · Visibility/wiper
Vehicle now at dealership for irregular acceleration patterns, and random hesitation. Can start off at light and vehicle does not respond normally, and then takes off. This is scary while in an intersection. Dealership says they can't find anything and blaming me. I've read many instances on line with same problem.…
2012 · 5 miles · Throttle and speed control
My 2012 Toyota camery se limited edition wanders all of the time. The car never tracks straight. Also none of the nose body lines match. I have brought back the car to the dealer, tarbox Toyota, ri, and was told that the car was test driven. Also that the car was in spec. Although i was never presented with any…
2012 · 9 miles · Steering
Built from 1,850 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page