2012 Toyota Camry: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jan 8, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · WA

I am reporting a safety-related issue involving the ECM / torque converter on my 2012 Toyota Camry. This issue can cause loss of power, hesitation, or stalling which presents a serious safety concern while driving. The issue impacts drivability and can result in sudden loss of acceleration or engine stalling, especially at higher speeds or during merging. This creates an increased risk of collision for myself, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. I have experienced some scary occurrences with shuddering at high speeds, hesitation while near other innocent vehicles and stalling. I was never notified by Toyota about this recall or service campaign while it was active. I maintain current registration information and would have had the issue addressed immediately. Toyota acknowledged the campaign but refused support due to expiration, despite my lack of notice. I contacted Toyota and was instructed to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. Toyota declined to repair the issue under goodwill or policy exception. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether this defect should have been classified as a safety recall and whether consumers were properly notified. Sudden loss of power or stalling presents a significant safety risk and may warrant additional remedies or extension of the campaign for affected owners who were not notified.

Filed Nov 11, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · AR

Vehicle is shuddering/stalling when trying to accelerate. Currently 150,000

Filed Mar 25, 2024 · Engine · MD

My 2012 Toyota Camry has started shutting off If I do a hard stop or quick stop by pressing on the breaks. My car will be on, in drive and completely turn off. The lights on the dashboard will all flash on then it turns off. I will have to quickly put the car in park, take the key out then put the key back in and turn the car on for it to start again. There are no warning lights that appear on the dashboard before the car turns off. They all flash suddenly and then it stalls out. It has stalled out while driving multiple times with vehicles behind me in my lane. This is very unsafe as I have reduced driving on highways in case it occurs. This has been reproduced by my mechanic who has said it is burning oil very quickly. He confirmed there were no leaks. I’ve only used synthetic oil and bought my car brand new in 2012. Once my oil is changed the problem seems to go away for awhile until the oil gets low again however my oil changes do not last as long in between and I usually need another oil change 20K miles before it is “due”. Since my car has started burning oil so quick my oil change light does not come on to notify me it is low or needed so I’ve been advised to check my oil every 1,000 miles.

Filed Jul 27, 2022 · Transmission · 162,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from idle, the vehicle hesitated. The contact stated that the transmission was shaking while driving between 20 and 50 MPH. The contact stated that the issue was remedied while driving above 50 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the torque converter had failed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated the failure was occurring more frequently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency ID Number: 10109488 (Power Train) and had been previously been repaired under the TSB Limited Service Plan; however, the repair failed to fix the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2022 · Engine · 227,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the oil and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the camshaft gear had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 227,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2020 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota camry. While operating the vehicle, the transmission would suddenly downshift causing the vehicle to stall *ln *dt the cause of the failure was unknown the vehicle would start to shutter and vibrate, causing the contact to be concerned for his safety the contact stated that while driving at speeds above 50 MPH, the transmission would downshift causing the speed to abruptly reduce and the vehicle to shutter and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer thompson toyota (122 west swamp rd, doylestown pa) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 98,000. *jb consumer stated dealer failed to disclose extended warranty when vehicle was sold to consumer.

Filed Jan 17, 2020 · Fuel system · 80,000 miles · NC

The fuel pump.ofnthe car stopped working while the car was on the highway. Fortunately was in the rightmost lane so was able to manoeuvr to the shoulder, but the car immediately stalled and had to be towed. The toyota dealership was clueless and took couple days to.figure out that the fuel pump blew up, while the car was in motion. They replaced the fuel and the car worked fine. It is likely that the current problem of.fuel.pump.on newer model may also.be relevant to.other.older models

Filed Aug 29, 2018 · Acceleration, Transmission · 80,000 miles · CA

As I am accelerating between 20-50 MPH the car shudders. I called my local toyota dealership and they want to charge me a diagnostic fee of $140 just to see if that is the problem. My son has a 2014 and my daughter has a 2015 and all have the same exact problem. I have 110,000 miles on my car, my son 80,000 and my daughter 70,000 miles. This should be a recall since we all have the same exact problem. I am afraid as we are accelerating to enter the freeway and the car is stalling we might get hit from behind. Its definitely a safety issue!

Filed Jul 19, 2017 · Acceleration · 51,000 miles · PA · crash · 3 injuries

I was in an accident driving on a city street due to the vehicle accelerating, I slowed down then put my foot on the pedal. The car took off I slammed on my brakes but still hit the vehicle in front of me. I have told the dealer more than once about the vehicle stalling and accelerating. I had front end damage to my bumper and hood. The vehicle I crashed into back bumper was also dented.

Filed May 13, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 61,300 miles · HI

Shift lever locked in park position, could not shift to reverse out of parking stall. Had to press shift lock release button to shift to reverse. Then once vehicle was in motion the stability control, ABS, and parking brake lights​ remained illuminated. The shift lever locked on 4 separate occasions that day. The release button had to be pressed every time. The lights remained illuminated whenever vehicle was running.

Filed May 13, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 61,380 miles · HI

Shift lever locked in park position. Shift lever release button had to be pressed to release lever and reverse out of parking stall. Once vehicle was in motion the stability control, ABS, and parking brake lights remained illuminated until vehicle was shut off.

Filed Mar 21, 2017 · Transmission · 27,250 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota camry. While attempting to drive, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 27,250.