Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Avalon body problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Toyota Avalon have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Avalon | 4 |
| 2012 Avalon | 6 |
| 2013 Avalon (this page) | 23 |
| 2014 Avalon | 10 |
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Toyota Avalon we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial ar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Dashboard and interior trim cause dangerous sun glare. Multiple owners report beveled chrome trim around gauges, steering wheel, and air vents reflects and focuses sunlight directly into driver and passenger eyes, temporarily blinding them while driving. Owners applied aftermarket tint and protective eyewear without success. Toyota refused to acknowledge the defect or offer retrofit solutions.
Headliner sagging and separation is chronic. Owners report the headliner droops toward the rear window and moonroof within weeks of purchase, sometimes obstructing visibility. Even new replacement headliners failed (one was defective from the factory). Gluing and tacking provided only temporary relief before the material fell again. Dealers cited a technical bulletin calling for dual lock fastener replacement plus magnet installation at $300 labor. Toyota told customers the problem is common but has no permanent fix and initially refused warranty coverage on one claim.
Water leaks from roof and sunroof areas. Several owners reported water staining the headliner during heavy rain or car wash, causing mildew smell and mold. One owner found water pooling in the trunk near the battery. Dealers cleared sunroof drains and performed pressure tests with no results.
Seat back panels detach and floor mats jam under the brake pedal. One owner reported a driver-side seat panel falling off in a new car, requiring multiple dealer visits for parts availability. Another owner had a floor mat previously secured with two clips recur at highway speed, with one clip fractured.
Minor trim issues include moonroof and A-pillar rattling at speed and side-panel corrosion near factory gaps.
Same Toyota Avalon body reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard and interior chrome trim sun glare
Beveled mirrored-chrome plastic trim around the dashboard, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and air conditioning vents reflects and focuses sunlight directly into driver and passenger eyes, causing temporary blindness and vision impairment while driving.
When: Occurs during midday sun and varies by time of day and vehicle direction; noticed within first week of ownership in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Bright sunlight reflection from dashboard trim into eyes; Glare from chrome around steering wheel and AC vents; Vision distortion and impairment while driving; Temporary blinding from reflected sunlight
Repairs/costs cited: Owners suggest replacement with dark-colored or matte non-reflective trim, flat black, wood-grain, or brushed metal finish; aftermarket protective eyewear and window tint applied by owners with limited effectiveness
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refused to acknowledge the problem or offer solutions or retrofit options; dealer and manufacturer unresponsive to complaints
Headliner sagging and separation
Headliner material sags, droops, or separates from the roof structure, particularly toward the rear windshield and moonroof areas, with material peeling or falling. Can obstruct rear window visibility and pose safety hazard.
When: Occurs within first week to two months of ownership; failures continue to recur even after repair attempts; one complaint at 18,235 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sagging or drooping headliner toward rear windshield; Separation and gaps near moonroof opening; Headliner peeling from rear; Fallen or falling headliner material; Headliner dropping on both sides after temporary tacking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers ordered replacement headliners; one owner cited $300 repair with 3 hours labor for dual lock fastener replacement and magnet addition per technical bulletin; multiple replacement attempts failed to resolve; one replacement headliner was defective (too short from factory); glue repairs temporary and ineffective
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota service bulletin calls for dual lock fastener replacement and magnet affixation; dealership claimed replacement headliner would not fix root cause; Toyota told customers this is common problem but has no permanent resolution; dealership later denied warranty coverage claiming headliner was tampered with; one arbitra tion case initiated
Rear seat back panel detachment
Seat back panel on driver side seat comes loose or falls off, presenting poor appearance and potential safety issue.
When: Reported at 8/27/13 in one case; occurred in new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Seat back panel falling off driver side seat; Panel not seating properly after replacement attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer ordered replacement part; multiple visits required; one owner reported part was still not replaced after third visit to dealership
Water leak from roof and sunroof
Water enters interior from roof and/or sunroof during rain or car wash, damaging headliner and causing mildew smell and mold growth. Water accumulates in trunk from unknown source.
When: Reported within two months of ownership; during heavy rain or car wash
Symptoms owners cite: Water staining on headliner; Mildew smell in vehicle interior; Eye and nose irritation from mold odor; Water pooling in trunk under spare tire; Water leaking through sunroof during car wash
Repairs/costs cited: Roof sealing attempted by third-party shop; sunroof drain cleared; high-pressure water test performed by dealer with no findings; one owner concerned about water near battery in trunk
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised problem may occur during car wash and suggested owner have another dealer evaluate
Floor mat interference with brake pedal
Floor mat becomes stuck under brake pedal, preventing pedal depression and brake application during vehicle operation.
When: Initial failure and repair in 2014; recurrence at 45,454 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Floor mat stuck under brake pedal while driving at 15 mph; Inability to depress brake pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer previously added two clips to floor mat as remedy in 2014; one clip fractured during recent failure; dealer stated carpet should be replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer refused to replace carpet; dealer stated no recall exists for this failure
Side body panel rust and corrosion
Rust and corrosion appear under rear side body panels in area with small gap between panels. Condition appeared after dealership car wash, with cloth fibers from wash machine trapped between panels.
When: One week after dealership complimentary car wash
Symptoms owners cite: Rust and corrosion under side body panels; Car wash cloth fibers trapped between panels
Repairs/costs cited: Cloth fibers removed from panels; dealership confirmed fibers originated from their car wash machine
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed rust was pre-existing and related to small gap noted in pre-inspection; refused to investigate further or acknowledge car wash as cause
Moonroof rattling noise
Rattling noise emanates from moonroof area at highway speeds, and driver side A-pillar rattles at all driving speeds.
When: At speeds exceeding 60 mph for moonroof; all speeds for A-pillar
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling noise from moonroof at highway speeds; Rattling noise from driver side A-pillar at all speeds
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Sunlight is reflected into the eyes of the driver and front seat passenger from the interior trim. This bright reflection not only makes it difficult to see at times, the sunlight can cause damage to the retina and cornea. The light comes from many different parts of the car so it is impossible to constantly shield with our hands while driving. We keep the sunroof closed. It does not matter if…
Had body trouble with your 2013 Toyota Avalon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 23 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 11,635 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Toyota/Avalon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.