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Toyota Camry

2AR-FE 2.5L 4-Zyl 178 hp Automatic Sedan 2012–2017
✔ Good Choice
Engine 2AR-FE ✔ Good Choice 2,700–7,000 €

2.5L four-cylinder for Camry XV50 and Highlander. Oil consumption issue from low-tension piston rings — Toyota issued TSB and settled a class action. 2012 models: camshaft gear cold rattle documented via TSB. Water pump with plastic impeller wears out. Overall solid after warranty repairs.

Fun Factor? Decent

Camry XV50 2.5 — oil consumption class action, then solid

178 hp four-cylinder with TSB for oil consumption and torque converter vibration on 2012-2014. Check Warranty Enhancement Program ZE5. Reliable after repair.

Engine Weaknesses 3

!! TSB 0194-14: Toyota verlängerte Garantie. Low-Tension-Kolbenringe gleiche Ursache wie beim 2AZ-FE-Vorgänger.

TSB 0194-14: Toyota extended warranty. Low-tension piston rings, same root cause as predecessor 2AZ-FE.

Symptoms: Oil level drop between changes, blue smoke possible

2,000–4,500 € from 100,000 km
!! Flügelrad verschleißt, Dichtungen veröden. Standardmäßig ab ~130.000 km einplanen.

Impeller wears, seals degrade. Standard replacement from ~80k miles.

Symptoms: Coolant loss, drip under engine

400–900 € from 130,000 km
! TSB T-SB-0041-13: kurzes Klopfgeräusch beim Kaltstart. Nockenwellenzahnrad muss getauscht werden. Nur 2012er Baujahr.

TSB T-SB-0041-13: brief knocking on cold start. Camshaft gear unit needs replacement. 2012 model year only.

Symptoms: Brief knocking/rattle on cold start, disappears after seconds

300–600 €

Vehicle Weaknesses 1

!! Gearbox Warranty Enhancement Program ZE5 für 2012-2014 Camry. Vibration beim Beschleunigen.

Warranty Enhancement Program ZE5 for 2012-2014 Camry. Vibration when accelerating.

0–1,000 € from 80,000 km

Reports & Tests

nhtsa_complaints NHTSA Complaint Summary 2026-03
Below Average

1534 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2012–2017). Most reported: Powertrain (275), Steering (239), Other (227).