2013 Toyota AVALON

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota AVALON has 187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: in the 2013 toyota avalon, driver visibility is dangerously distorted when looking through the rear view mirror at approaching cars (especially at night), due to a defect in the new 2013 engineering design of the rear glass material, rear glass contour and angle, tinting, and defrost strips. all li. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 18 crash reports 20 injuries

187

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

32 complaints

17%

• IN THE 2013 TOYOTA AVALON, DRIVER VISIBILITY IS DANGEROUSLY DISTORTED WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AT APPROACHING CARS (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT), DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE NEW 2013 ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE REAR GLASS MATERIAL, REAR GLASS CONTOUR AND ANGLE, TINTING, AND DEFROST STRIPS. ALL LI
• FAILED COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS EVERY OTHER 2013 TOYOTA AVALON, HAS A DISTORTED REAR WINDOW AND ONE CANNOT GET A CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT IS BEHIND. ALL LINES ARE ZIG-ZAG AND EVERYTHING BEHIND IS FUZZY. THIS IS NOT A DISPUTE BETWEEN ONE CAR OWNER AND TOYOTA, BUT A DISPUTE THAT ENCOMPASSES E
• I DROVE TO BALTIMORE, MD FROM CHERRY HILL, NJ ON 06/16/2013 AT SPEEDS VARYING FROM 45MPH - 75MPH. THE MOMENT I GOT ON TO NJ TURNPIKE, THE WIND AND ROAD NOISE WERE LOUD INSIDE THE CABIN. THE ENTIRE TIME IT SEEMED THE WINDOWS OF THE CAR WERE OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE A/C WAS ON SLOW, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“IN THE 2013 TOYOTA AVALON, DRIVER VISIBILITY IS DANGEROUSLY DISTORTED WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AT APPROACHING CARS (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT), DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE NEW 2013 ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE REAR GLASS MATERIAL, REAR GLASS CONTOUR AND ANGLE, TINTING, AND DEFROST STRIPS. ALL LI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

26 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DISTORTED, CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO BE MINIMIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLIANT WITH STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE
• BRAKES WERE APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY ALTHOUGH DRIVER WAS ACCELERATING. SUSPECT MALFUNCTION IN PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (NO COLLISION WAS IMMINENT). *TR
• NOTICED SOME TIME A GO THE HEADLINER IS SAGGING AT THE BACK WINDOW. WAS AT DEALER FOR SERVICE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ORDER A NEW ONE. AFTER OBSERVING COMPLAINTS ON TNE NHTSA SITE I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. WE'LL SEE IF THEY ORDER IT, HOPEFULLY TOYOTA RECTIFIES THIS BEFORE P

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DISTORTED, CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO BE MINIMIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLIANT WITH STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

25 complaints

13%

• 2013 AVALON TOURING ON APRIL 2013 EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR HASN'T BEEN VERY GOOD CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A NEW CAR. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LEATHER ON THE BACK SEAT BUCKLING AND A STAIN THAT WAS ON THE HEADLINER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AREA BECAUSE OF A WATER LEAK FROM THE ROOF. IT WAS TAKEN TO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME ON THE DASHBOARD AND ARM REST DISTORTED HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE A
• DESIGN FLAW CHROME STRIP ON DASH CAUSES GLARE FROM SUN WHICH IS BLINDING WHEN DRIVING IN SUN AND POSSIBLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO RETINA. ESP BAD FOR SENIOR DRIVERS WHO HAS CATARACTS --[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2013 AVALON TOURING ON APRIL 2013 EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR HASN'T BEEN VERY GOOD CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A NEW CAR. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LEATHER ON THE BACK SEAT BUCKLING AND A STAIN THAT WAS ON THE HEADLINER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AREA BECAUSE OF A WATER LEAK FROM THE ROOF. IT WAS TAKEN TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

22 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS
• 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *SMD AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS 2-3 MPH FAST. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.
• MY WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE WITHOUT RESULTS. THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET,AND WAS STOPPED ON IMPACT BY A PICNIC TABLE AND SIDE OF A BUILDING. SHE RECEIVED A WHIPLASH INJURY, RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AS HERNIATED DISKS, AND IS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

• RE:REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 17, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE DRAIN LINE. THE CONDENSATE THAT IS NOT DRAINING OUT OF THE EVAPORATOR IS ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR WITH AN AC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) AND THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. TH
• I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 6, 2014 AND EVERY TIME I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY HVAC ASSEMBLY REPAIRED THEY TELL ME THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PUTTING ME AND MY SAFETY AT RISK BY NOT PRODUCING A FIX FOR THIS RECALL. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“RE:REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 17, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE DRAIN LINE. THE CONDENSATE THAT IS NOT DRAINING OUT OF THE EVAPORATOR IS ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR WITH AN AC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 187 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: IN THE 2013 TOYOTA AVALON, DRIVER VISIBILITY IS DANGEROUSLY DISTORTED WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AT APPROACHING CARS (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT), DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE NEW 2013 ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE REAR GLASS MATERIAL, REAR GLASS CONTOUR AND ANGLE, TINTING, AND DEFROST STRIPS. ALL LI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DISTORTED, CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO BE MINIMIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLIANT WITH STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 2013 AVALON TOURING ON APRIL 2013 EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR HASN'T BEEN VERY GOOD CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A NEW CAR. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LEATHER ON THE BACK SEAT BUCKLING AND A STAIN THAT WAS ON THE HEADLINER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AREA BECAUSE OF A WATER LEAK FROM THE ROOF. IT WAS TAKEN TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)