2013 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota TACOMA has 169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (13% of all complaints), specifically: during normal (mild acceleration) the truck vibrates and shudders. the problem was presented to the local dealer and a tsb was performed but no improvement. dealership and toyota company refused to fix the issue. *tr. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 9 crash reports 4 injuries

169

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

22 complaints

13%

• DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
• THE TRUCK SHUDDERS OR VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE SOURCE OF THE SHUDDER APPEARS TO BE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CARRIER BEARING. TOYOTA HAS INCLUDED THIS MODEL IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SHUDDER. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA FAIL TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE KNOWN PRO
• MY COMPLAINT IS ON A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFFROAD DC 4.0 AT VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BAD DRIVELINE VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND ESPECIALLY BREAKING. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AROUND 2200 MILES WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM ANOTHER STATE. WHILE DRIVING OVER AT LEAST 40 MPH AND WHILE BRAKING NORMA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

18 complaints

11%

• THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY
• IT HAPPENED IN A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA (BRAND NEW LESS THAN A MONTH). I HAD FRIENDS RIDING WITH ME. I KNEW THERE IS A STOP SIGN AND I SAW THE STOP SIGN ABOUT SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY AND LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I SLIGHTLY APPLIED MY RIGHT FO
• THE VEHICLE HAS EXTREMELY GRABBY BRAKES AND I FEEL THAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL I EXPERIENCED ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GENTLY SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES I LOST THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT FAVORAB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

15 complaints

• THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY
• DRIVING TO WORK TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 55-60 I WAS GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL OR SOMETHING CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE FRONT TO DIVE DOWN AND A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. NO CRASH JUST SPOOKED. I DR
• MY 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 TRD'S FRONT WHEELS ATTEMPT TO LOCK UP ONE AT A TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT'S LIKE I'M TAPPING JUST ONE OF MY FRONT BRAKES. IF I'M NOT HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL THE TRUCK WILL VEER OFF THE ROAD. BEAVERTON TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING, HUB AND A WHEEL SENSOR, CALIBRA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

15 complaints

• DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
• BRAND NEW VEHICLE EXPERIENCING EXTREME VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS VIBRATION IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN DUPLICATED TO TOYOTA. FASTER ACCELERATION RESULTS IN STRONGER VIBRATIONS. ONLY EXPLANATION FROM TOYOTA WAS THAT THE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION (LEAF SPRINGS)
• 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION, COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE, DUE TO THE DIFFERENT ANGLES OF THE LIFT, AND THE ONLY WAY T

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

• THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS TOO DIM ON SUNNY DAYS FOR THE 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VERY DIM AT ALL TIMES DURING THE DAY, BUT DISAPPEARS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVERS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT CANNOT DETERMINE THEIR SPEED. *TR
• DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE MELTING THE LENS. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES PRIMARILY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS TOO DIM ON SUNNY DAYS FOR THE 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VERY DIM AT ALL TIMES DURING THE DAY, BUT DISAPPEARS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVERS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT CANNOT DETERMINE THEIR SPEED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~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 169 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)