Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2013-TOYOTA-COROLLA NHTSA data synced 7 hours ago
2013 · Toyota

Toyota Corolla problems

1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 201 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.6 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

1
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 Corolla?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — keep the link back. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2013-toyota-corolla/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2013 Toyota Corolla reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe>

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
66 reports · fails ~46,053 mi · avg $1,100
severe
steering
39 reports · fails ~42,841 mi · avg $700
severe
cruise control
15 reports · fails ~39,974 mi · avg $600
severe
brakes
12 reports · fails ~47,111 mi · avg $450
severe
electrical
10 reports · fails ~57,993 mi · avg $850
severe
engine
10 reports · fails ~86,780 mi · avg $3,100
severe
powertrain
8 reports · fails ~65,529 mi · avg $2,500
severe
body
6 reports · fails ~16,000 mi · avg $1,500
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2013 Corolla's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2013 Corolla?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2013 Corolla · engine
Dec 27 2015 around reno nv. It happened three times that day. I was breaking gently to come to a stop (because of a stop sign). The shifter was in "d". When the car speed decreased to around 10mph, the engine suddenly accelerated and the car lurched forward. I applied maximum…
12/30/2015 · at 21,500 mi · NHTSA ODI #10817109.0 · see engine pattern →
2013 Corolla · airbags Crash
I had a wreck and I ran into another car going about 25 MPH and my air bag did not deploy. I hit someone from behind, I thought I hit the brake but it did not stop and acted like I had the accelerator on. So I am asking about air bag & brake problems
12/28/2016 · at 64,996 mi · NHTSA ODI #10937779.0 · see airbags pattern →
2013 Corolla · powertrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota corolla. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician was unable to determine the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
12/22/2014 · at 5,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10667767.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2013 Corolla · seatbelts
Rear driver side seat belt buckle clicker incorrectly installed clicker part was installed reverse in rear seat causing middle and rear driver side passenger for the potential of seat belts become in tangled... Problem taken care of by dealer at our…
View all 201 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2013 Toyota Corolla? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 18V024000 January 9, 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
severe NHTSA 13V014000 January 16, 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA

EA Air Bags › Frontal · opened September 2021

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2013 Toyota Corolla reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 201 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Toyota Corolla has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2013 Toyota Corolla?

The 2013 Toyota Corolla is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Steering: 39 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 16,000–60,000 mi; Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2013 Toyota Corolla?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 66 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,053 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 46,053 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota Corolla has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Toyota Corolla?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 201 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 7 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Toyota/Corolla. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Get a free warranty quote →
Sponsored — we earn a commission if you complete a quote. Disclosure.