The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Camry electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Toyota Camry have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 27,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Camry | 79 |
| 2010 Camry | 20 |
| 2011 Camry | 29 |
| 2012 Camry | 53 |
| 2013 Camry (this page) | 20 |
| 2014 Camry | 3 |
| 2015 Camry | 19 |
| 2016 Camry | 18 |
| 2017 Camry | 17 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Camry, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical 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 electrical 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.
TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to reset a vehicle Immobilizer or Smart Key system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 13, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 13, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power door locks are the most consistent complaint. Owners report that key fob and interior lock buttons stop working gradually—starting with one door and spreading to all four. By 3–4 years, manual keys or lock levers become necessary. A 2014 recall (Campaign 13V442000) exists but owners say they never got notices or the recall didn't cover all affected vehicles.
Overhead roof console assemblies warp, crack, and melt in hot conditions. Plastic housing the garage door and interior light buttons becomes malleable and falls out of position repeatedly. One owner paid $223.90 for full assembly replacement with no warranty on the fix. The dealer found no electrical fault but admitted seeing the same defect in 2–3 other 2013 Camrys on that lot.
Navigation systems give dangerous commands—telling drivers to turn left on freeways or misjudging distances by 270 yards. System stops routing before destinations and displays addresses 80 yards off. Toyota says it's working as designed and won't update software.
Passenger mirror linkages shatter suddenly, leaving mirrors hanging useless; repairs run about $400 out of warranty. Rodents are eating soy-based wiring in engine compartments, costing owners $3,500 per incident. One owner's brake light switch failed, trapping the car in Park. A throttle sensor failure capped speed at 30 mph, but warranty denied the claim as outside coverage scope.
Same Toyota Camry electrical reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Power door lock failure
Front and rear door locks stop responding to key fob and interior lock buttons, forcing manual operation with key or lock lever. Affects one to all four doors progressively.
When: 1-4 years of ownership; one case at less than 4 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob does not lock/unlock doors; Interior lock buttons unresponsive; Door locks require manual operation with key or lever; Intermittent operation—locks work sometimes but not reliably; All four doors eventually affected in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports manual workaround only; no repair costs cited in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2014 recall (Campaign 13V442000) issued but owner reports not receiving notice; recall may not have covered all affected vehicles.
Overhead center roof console assembly warping and melting
Plastic roof console housing garage door openers, interior lights, and sunroof controls warps, cracks, and melts due to excessive heat buildup. Plastic becomes malleable and loses structural integrity.
When: April 2018; no mileage stated. Occurs after hot weather with vehicle parked in sun.
Symptoms owners cite: Plastic console warps and deforms; Plastic cracks; Plastic melts and becomes malleable; Console buttons (garage door openers, interior lights, sunroof) may become inoperative; Frame falls out of position repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Entire overhead assembly (Part No. 63650-06432-B0) replaced; cost $223.90 parts and labor. No warranty offered on replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no electrical malfunction detected. Dealer noted same issue on 2–3 other 2013 Camrys at that dealership. Recalls exist for Toyota 4Runner but not reported for 2013 Camry.
Navigation system malfunction
Integrated navigation system gives incorrect voice commands, poor distance estimates, and stops navigating before destination. System displays incorrect addresses and recalculates routes inappropriately.
When: No mileage or date stated; described as random occurrences during driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Incorrect turn commands (e.g., 'turn left' on freeway; turn distance 300 yards vs. actual 30 yards); Navigation stops before reaching destination; Displays incorrect address (80 yards off from actual location); Unexpected route recalculations; System operates randomly and unpredictably; Distracting and unsafe for driver attention
Repairs/costs cited: Owner attempted repair through Toyota; no parts or labor costs cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota stated no software update available. Company told owner navigation is 'operating as designed.'
Passenger mirror control linkage failure
Plastic linkages that connect mirror adjustment motor assembly to mirror housing break suddenly during normal driving, causing mirror to hang loose and become inoperative.
When: No mileage stated; mirror had not been adjusted in months prior to failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror explodes or fractures with loud bang; Plastic linkages break; Mirror hangs loose from shroud; Mirror becomes useless for viewing; Lane assist LEDs continue to function
Repairs/costs cited: Full mirror replacement required; cost approximately $400 parts and labor. Vehicle was 1 month out of warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response cited. Owner notes via Google search that others have reported same issue.
Electrical wiring damage by rodents
Rodents chew through soy-based wiring in engine compartment and damage air bag wiring while vehicle parked in garage. Check engine light illuminates.
When: Two occurrences: February 2016 and August 2017. One case at 6,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Rodent nests found in engine compartment; Wiring chewed and damaged; Air bag wiring damaged
Repairs/costs cited: Two repairs totaled $3,500. Owner states soy-based wiring appears susceptible to rodent damage, contrasting with older vehicles (1998 Chevy Malibu, 1996 Toyota Corolla) parked in same garage long-term without damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no solution offered in one case. No recall or TSB mentioned.
Overhead console melting—potential fire hazard
Plastic panel housing interior light controls, garage door operation, and SOS button melts from unknown electrical heat source. Warping and melting raise fire risk.
When: No date or mileage stated; discovered during normal use.
Symptoms owners cite: Plastic melts; Unknown heat source; Electrical malfunction suspected; Potential fire hazard
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided; owner took vehicle to dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer would not advise on cause of melting.
Brake light switch failure affecting shifter lock
Brake light switch (which also controls antilock brakes and shifter interlock) fails, preventing gear shift from moving out of Park until switch is tapped/reset.
When: At 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter stuck in Park; Unable to move vehicle; Tapping switch temporarily resolves issue
Repairs/costs cited: Owner performed temporary fix by tapping switch; no professional repair cost cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response cited.
Throttle pedal position sensor failure
Throttle pedal position sensor fails, limiting vehicle acceleration to maximum 30 mph despite extended warranty purchase.
When: At 94,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle acceleration capped at 30 mph; Unable to exceed 30 mph
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs or parts cited; extended warranty refused to cover, citing engine and transmission limitation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota extended warranty denied coverage, stating it covers only engine and transmission, not throttle sensor.
Heated seat flame retardant material concern
Flame retardant material in heated seats may release fumes or vapors causing eye and respiratory irritation when heater is in use. FDA-approval status questioned.
When: No date or mileage cited.
Symptoms owners cite: Eye irritation; Respiratory irritation; Possible vapor or fume release when heated seats in use
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted or cost cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Consumer notes CPSC report and references that new FDA restrictions prompted halt on 2013–2014 Camry sales due to flame retardant material approval issue.
Gear shift electrical damage from fluid intrusion
Improperly covered gear shift compartment allows spilled liquid from cup holder to enter shift box during driving, damaging electrical motor component. Requires replacement of shift mechanism.
When: No mileage or date stated.
Symptoms owners cite: Liquid enters gear shift box; Electrical motor component damaged; Gear shift motor malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Gear shift replacement required; cost not cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response cited.
Recall parts unavailability—electrical system campaign
Owners notified of NHTSA Campaign 13V442000 (air bags, electrical system, equipment recall) but remedy parts unavailable, with long lead times. Owners unable to complete recall repair.
When: Campaign issued October 2013; parts backordered through February 2014 and beyond.
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms reported by owners; recall preventative; Remedy parts not in stock; Extended wait time for parts availability
Repairs/costs cited: No parts installed; repair pending due to backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V442000 issued; parts unavailable. Dealer informed one owner parts would not be available until February 13, 2014.
Electrical burning smell when heating system active
Burning electrical smell detected when heat is turned on. Owner scheduling dealer inspection.
When: No mileage or date stated.
Symptoms owners cite: Burning electrical smell when heat activated
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; owner taking to Toyota dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response yet; vehicle scheduled for dealer evaluation.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota camry. 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 informed the contact that the remedy part will not be available until february 13, 2014. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the problem. The contact had not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota camry. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the check engine light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that rodents had damaged the electrical wiring by attempting to build a nest inside the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no solution was offered.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota camry. The contact stated that he attempted to have the vehicle repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13v442000 (air bags , electrical system , equipment) but was informed that the parts were on a national backorder. The contact felt that since the failure was reported in october of 2013, there should have been a remedy available before december 2013. The…
My wife has a 2013 camry with 28,000 miles. We have been having a issue with the brake light switch which also works with the antilock brakes and the shifter. My wife was at work late and could not get it out of park. I did some research and found the switch and tapped on it and if finally allowed us to get it home.
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 Toyota Camry?
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 electrical problem on the 2013 Toyota Camry?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 23,000 and 43,043 miles, with the median around 27,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,000; a quarter make it past 43,043. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/Camry.
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.