TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0012-13. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Camry powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Toyota Camry have filed 64 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Camry | 41 |
| 2010 Camry | 39 |
| 2011 Camry | 43 |
| 2012 Camry | 143 |
| 2013 Camry (this page) | 64 |
| 2014 Camry | 6 |
| 2015 Camry | 33 |
| 2016 Camry | 18 |
| 2017 Camry | 5 |
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 64 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Camry, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Owners have filed 64 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 ? 50 mph.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Package: Date 02/15/18 ZE5 previously stated that LSC E03 had to be completed prior to performing ZE5. LSC E03 is now expired and is no longer a prerequisite for ZE5. Language stating this requirement has been removed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0034-14. ? The Parts Information section has been updated. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0034-14 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Some 2012 ? 2014 model year Camry vehicles with a U760 transmission may exhibit a brief shudder intermittently while driving under light loads between approximately 25 and 50 mph. The torque converter and Engine Control Module/ECM (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) logic has been modified to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Follow the Repair Procedure below
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: This bulletin includes basic procedures for inspecting and adjusting World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) level at normal vehicle operating temperature. Note: The following adjustment procedures are for U660E/F and U760E/F transmissions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report transmission shuddering and hesitation as the dominant complaint, especially when accelerating from a stop or merging into traffic. The car moves forward 5–10 feet, then hesitates for 1–2 seconds, creating hazardous gaps where following traffic closes in. Some owners describe RPM dropping to idle despite full throttle input, requiring them to release and re-engage the accelerator to continue. This happens intermittently, making it nearly impossible for dealers to replicate during diagnostic testing. Multiple owners mention attempting the Toyota Warranty Enhancement Notification (ZE5) torque converter replacement, only to have the hesitation persist afterward. Dealers have been documented telling owners the behavior is normal.
Engine stalling occurs suddenly at traffic lights, during turns, and while merging onto highways—with no warning light—leaving owners stranded in traffic. Some vehicles experience complete power loss at very low mileage (under 8,300 miles on one certified used car purchased within 24 hours of delivery), while others develop transmission failures requiring full replacement at 100,000+ miles.
Cold-start engine noise (grinding or whining) from the front right of the engine compartment lasts the first mile or so of driving, noticeably louder than other Camrys the same owners have driven. Shift-to-Park issues, where the gear lever gets stuck despite brake application, have occurred at low mileage. Two cases of unintended acceleration resulted in collisions—one with a tree, totaling the vehicle, and another with a garage door, causing driver injury. Battery, water pump, and alternator failures have been reported alongside transmission symptoms in some vehicles.
Same Toyota Camry powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Torque Converter Shudder and Transmission Hesitation
Transmission shudders, hesitates, or refuses to accelerate smoothly, particularly at low speeds (10–50 mph), during acceleration from a stop, or when merging. Issue occurs intermittently, making it difficult for dealers to duplicate. Owners report the car moves 5–10 feet then hesitates for 1–2 seconds before normal acceleration resumes. In severe cases, RPM returns to idle despite full throttle input, requiring release and re-engagement of accelerator. Toyota issued a Warranty Enhancement Notification (ZE5) and recall upgrade (U760E torque converter shudder recall) for many model year 2013 Camrys, but many owners report the repair does not resolve the problem.
When: Throughout ownership; some begin within first year or within 6 months of purchase; others emerge around 80,000–100,000+ miles. Some begin appearing after 2–3 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration; Hesitation lasting 1–2 seconds when accelerating from stop; Loss of power or failure to accelerate despite depressed pedal; RPM dropping to idle mid-acceleration; Intermittent, difficult to reproduce; No warning lights in many cases
Codes mentioned: Torque converter failure, Transmission failure, Transmission slipping
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter flush performed; torque converter replacement at ~$4,000–$7,300; transmission replacement required in some cases ($6,000+); software updates applied; some dealers claim hesitation is normal and refuse to repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: U760E torque converter shudder recall; Warranty Enhancement Notification (ZE5); limited service campaign (LSC E03); TSB-004-13-A; warranty period 3 years/36,000 miles or 7 years/100,000 miles for powertrain; many owners denied coverage after warranty expiration or when outside campaign window.
Engine Stalling or Complete Power Loss
Engine stalls or shuts down unpredictably while driving at low speeds, during turns, at traffic lights, or during highway merges. Engine may restart after one or more ignition cycles. No warning lights appear before stall. Occurs suddenly with no apparent trigger.
When: Within 6 months of purchase (one case with 8,274 miles); appears throughout ownership at varying mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete engine shutdown while driving; Stall during turns or while slowing down; Stall at traffic lights; Stall while accelerating or merging; Engine may require multiple restart attempts; No warning indicator on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose or replicate condition; vehicle returned without repair; one case involved transmission replacement after separate shop diagnosis.
Engine Whining or Grinding Noise on Cold Start
Loud whining, grinding, or high-pitched noise audible from engine compartment, particularly during cold start for the first 1–2 seconds and continuing for approximately the first mile of driving. Noise is noticeably louder than other 2013 Camrys and similar models the owner has driven. Grinding sound on initial startup; whining noise from front right side during light revving at 1500–2000 RPM.
When: Present from vehicle purchase (some from new in April 2013); occurs on every cold start and warm-up cycle.
Symptoms owners cite: Rough grinding sound on cold start (1–2 seconds); Loud whining noise during first mile after start; Noise from front right of engine compartment; Audible when lightly revving between 1500–2000 RPM; Not present in other 2013 Camrys, 2012 Camrys, or 2013 RAV4 with same engine
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers state noises are within normal range; no repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB-004-13-A referenced (Technical Service Bulletin for similar issue in 2010–2012 Camrys); not yet expanded to 2013 model; owner hopes issue is fixed before 60,000-mile powertrain warranty expiration.
Shift Gear Lock or Failure to Shift
Transmission fails to shift out of Park. Gear shift handle becomes stuck despite depressed brake pedal. Requires multiple attempts or physical manipulation by others to release gear from Park. In one case, driver exited vehicle with fob, did not shift to Park, and vehicle rolled backward down road.
When: At low mileage (3,500 miles and 27,000 miles); early in ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Shift lever stuck in Park; Unable to shift to Reverse, Neutral, or Drive despite brake pedal depressed; Gear shift requires physical force or multiple attempts; Vehicle can be turned off while in gear (keyless entry design issue)
Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input. Two cases involve sudden, violent acceleration resulting in crashes: one vehicle struck a tree and was totaled; another accelerated while parked when driver removed key, striking garage door and house. Additional case involved sudden acceleration while making left turn at 5 mph, resulting in crash into wall and driver injury (concussion and chest bruises). One case of vehicle accelerating and running into garage after being parked.
When: Within first few months of ownership (earliest at 27,700 miles); later case at 9,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs and vehicle accelerates without pedal input; Vehicle accelerates while key is being removed from ignition (or after removal with keyless entry); Sudden acceleration during low-speed driving; No warning light before acceleration event
Repairs/costs cited: Police report filed in one case; medical attention required in crash case.
Brake and Transmission Interaction Issues
Brake warning light illuminates without engagement of emergency brake; brake light triggers inability to shift out of Park. Vehicle appears to shift to neutral at stops as if programming car for better fuel economy. Clicking noise in reverse when applying brakes. Engine begins to rev as if transmission shifted into neutral after stopping at intersection and stepping on gas to turn.
When: At low mileage (3,500 miles); throughout ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illuminates inappropriately; Unable to shift out of Park when brake light is on; Clicking noise in reverse during braking; Vehicle downshifts while accelerating uphill in cruise control; Engine revs as if in neutral after stop
Repairs/costs cited: Safety braking system mentioned in one diagnostic; Toyota claims operating per specs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims vehicle is operating to specifications.
Transmission Vibration at Specific Speeds
Vehicle vibrates noticeably at 20, 40, and 60 mph, as well as between 35–50 mph. Vibration occurs during acceleration or steady driving and is severe enough to concern owner about safety. Vibration disappears instantly when accelerator is released. Owners have replaced brakes, rotors, tires, CV axles, and attempted fuel changes without resolution.
When: After several years of ownership and thousands of miles (examples at 78,000, 100,000, 134,000 miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking or vibration at 20, 35–50, or 60 mph; Vibration during acceleration or cruise; Vibration disappears immediately when accelerator released; Loss of power on takeoff from stop
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement, alignment, fuel change, brake replacement, CV axle replacement attempted without success.
Transmission Failure (Complete Loss of Function)
Transmission fails completely, requiring replacement. Multiple owners report transmission failure diagnosed after years of hesitation, shuddering, and power loss symptoms. One owner had transmission replaced at 100,000 miles but experienced same symptoms recurring. Failure confirmed by independent shops and dealers. Damage to transmission internal components suspected from prior torque converter issues.
When: After 3–8 years of ownership; mileage ranging from ~57,000 to 205,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of transmission function; Shuddering and hesitation preceding failure; Loss of power when accelerating; Transmission slipping
Codes mentioned: Transmission failure, Transmission slipping
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; cost $6,000+; one owner reported warranty expiration and manufacturer offered only $1,000 toward $6,000+ repair while owner still owed $15,000 on vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty Enhancement Program (ZE5) related; manufacturer offered $1,000 contribution in one case; denied warranty coverage in others due to expiration or mileage.
Delayed or Failed Acceleration Response
Engine does not respond to accelerator pedal input at certain times (particularly cold morning starts, evening cold starts, or randomly during driving). Vehicle requires warm-up period before responding normally. Accelerator pedal is depressed to floor with no response, requiring release and re-engagement.
When: Begins after several years of ownership; one case after 5 years; appears in morning and evening cold-start conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: No acceleration response to pedal input on cold start; Vehicle requires warm-up before driving normally; Fails to accelerate during left turn attempts onto busy street; ABS, check engine, and traction control lights may illuminate intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate or diagnose issue; no repair performed.
Engine Power Loss and Jerking on Acceleration
Engine power drops during acceleration attempts; vehicle jerks or lurches when trying to reach 20 mph. Motor support bolts reportedly not holding properly, causing engine to move and jerk the car. Traction control light remains on constantly.
When: Unknown specific timing from narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Power loss when attempting to reach 20 mph; Jerking or lurching motion during acceleration; Engine movement and car jerking (engine mount issue); Traction control light stays on permanently
Repairs/costs cited: Motor support bolts not securing engine properly.
Transmission Stall in Reverse and Drive
Engine stalls when attempting to drive in reverse. Later, stalling occurs while in drive as well. Occurs on multiple occasions over several weeks.
When: Over period of several weeks; scheduled dealer visit 8/29/2014.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stall when vehicle shifted into reverse; Engine stall while in drive; Intermittent stalling over time
Synthesized from 64 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
CVT transmission start shuddering then and b/4 at 40 to 50 miles per hour Toyota mfg refuses to repair.car only has 58k miles! Almost lost control driving.telling me I have to buy at dealer for $7.300 happens at all times wherever ! Please help us since we are both retried seniors. Alfred
After stopping at intersection, then step on gas to turn right, car makes the turn out into the road, but then engine begins to rev as if the transmission has shifted into neutral. After letting off the gas pedal for a second or two the car will recover and act normally. This is very dangerous when pulling onto a busy street.
Torque Converter started shuddering a couple of weeks ago. I was stranded in busy intersection for just long enough to scare me into understanding that this issue is dangerous. I found that Toyota had issued LSC E03 - Limited Service Campaign and I was not notified. There was no recall. Instead there was a window of time that I missed, apparently. How many 100's of thousands of Camry's are…
This vehicle hesitates for 4 seconds when transmission switches gears. Car was taken back to dealer and after 2 software updates and a new torque converter they said the car couldnt be fixed. This car is dangerous and will most definitely cause an accident rear end collision.
When I get to 20 MPH my car will loose power for just a second or two.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota camry. The contact stated that the transmission shook while driving low speeds and the vehicle had trouble shifting while driving 45 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but no failures were found with the vehicle. Boch Toyota south (620 s washington st, north attleborough, ma 02760, (508) 719-8628) was contacted. The vehicle…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 64 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 43 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 15,000 and 105,368 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 105,368. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.