TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Corolla brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Toyota Corolla have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 48,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Corolla | 92 |
| 2010 Corolla | 125 |
| 2011 Corolla | 12 |
| 2012 Corolla | 7 |
| 2013 Corolla (this page) | 12 |
| 2014 Corolla | 9 |
| 2015 Corolla | 5 |
| 2016 Corolla | 13 |
| 2017 Corolla | 11 |
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Corolla, 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 brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 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 brakes 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.
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2009 ? 2013 Corolla vehicles may exhibit a condition where, over time, there is a slight, but perceptible increase in brake pedal travel. This condition has no effect on braking performance. Improved rear drum brake adjusters have been developed to improve this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Brake problems dominate the 2013 Corolla complaint set. The most common issue is premature wear—owners replacing pads and rotors as early as 10,000 to 37,000 miles, with complaints that Toyota dealerships dismiss the problem as normal. Pulsation and vibration during braking appear alongside this early wear.
Several owners describe complete or near-total brake failure: brake pedal becomes unresponsive or requires repeated pumping to stop the car. One owner rear-ended another vehicle; another had to use the emergency brake exclusively to reach a rental agency after brake pedal pumping failed three times. An ABS light malfunction correlates with loss of stopping power in at least one case, and a separate owner reports ABS failure with a $4,500 repair estimate.
A persistent metal grinding noise while braking—occurring at low and high speeds with pads and rotors in good condition—appears in multiple complaints; owners note the identical noise on related model years.
The brake pedal design creates a hazard: its position allows the driver's shoe to catch underneath, trapping the pedal and preventing activation. One owner's mother experienced an accident because she couldn't depress the pedal.
Master cylinder failures occur repeatedly in one owner's vehicle, with the cylinder replaced twice within roughly one year and the problem recurring a third time. Another owner discovered a brake fluid leak behind the master cylinder at 34,000 miles.
Same Toyota Corolla brakes reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Premature brake pad and rotor wear
Multiple owners report brake pads and rotors wearing out at unusually low mileage (under 10,000 miles in one case, 19,500 miles in another, 37,000 miles in another), far sooner than typical wear patterns. Owners describe pulsating and vibrating brakes.
When: 10,000–37,000 miles; as early as 14,599–24,397 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Pulsating, vibrating brake feel at highway and city speeds; High brake dust on rims; Brake fade reported in one incident
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pad and rotor replacement; one owner cited $600 brake job
Metal grinding noise during braking
High-pitched metal grinding noise occurs intermittently when applying brakes at slow or high speeds. Owners confirm pads still have material and rotors are not warped, yet noise persists for years. Multiple owners report identical issue on related model years.
When: Persists over multiple years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched metal grinding noise when braking; Noise occurs at both slow and high speeds; Noise comes and goes intermittently
Brake pedal entrapment under driver's shoe
Brake pedal position allows driver's foot or shoe to become caught under the pedal, preventing brake activation. One owner's mother experienced an accident due to inability to depress brake pedal. Issue reported to occur at least once per drive.
When: Recurring throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Shoe sole or side catches under brake pedal; Brakes cannot be activated when shoe is trapped; Occurs at least once every drive
Complete brake failure or loss of braking effectiveness
Multiple owners report loss of braking power requiring repeated pumping of the brake pedal to slow or stop the vehicle. In one case, owner had to use emergency brake exclusively to reach destination. Another owner experienced inability to stop despite pumping brakes multiple times, resulting in rear-end collision.
When: Varied mileage; one at 26,500 miles, another after brake replacement at 37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal pumping required to achieve braking; Brake pedal unresponsive on first application; Increased braking distance; ABS light illuminated in one case
Codes mentioned: ABS system fault
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in collision; owner used emergency brake only to reach rental agency
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case but did not assist
Master cylinder malfunction
Brake pedal must be depressed fully to the floor with creaking noise. Issue recurs repeatedly even after bleeding and replacement. One owner reports master cylinder replaced twice in roughly one year, with problem recurring five months after second replacement.
When: 8 months after purchase at 59,000 miles; recurring at 16 and 21 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal must be pushed all the way to floor; Creaking noise from brake pedal area; Soft or spongy brake feel
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder bleeding (temporary fix); master cylinder replacement performed twice
Brake fluid leak behind master cylinder
Brake fluid leak develops behind the master cylinder, resulting in increased braking distance and loss of braking effectiveness.
When: 34,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Increased braking distance; No warning before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed by independent mechanic as brake leak behind master cylinder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but did not assist
ABS system malfunction
ABS light illuminates during braking; owner required to pump brake pedal to stop vehicle. In another case, owner reports ABS does not work and dealer quotes $4,500 for repair.
When: 26,500 miles for one incident; 53,000 miles for another
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; Reduced or absent ABS functionality; Brake pedal pumping required to stop
Codes mentioned: ABS light
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited $4,500 repair cost estimate from Toyota
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to determine cause in one case; Takata recall mentioned in one report
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
There's a high pitched metal grinding noise that has been coming and going on it's own when applying the brakes. This noise happens at slow or high speeds. My brake pads still have meat on them and the rotor is not warped as well. I've even checked for brake dust which I don't have any so I'm not sure what's going on. My friend's 2012 corolla makes the same metal grinding noise when braking and…
I leased my car in june 2013 and about a year and half later the mechanic told me that my brakes are getting low. I was confused I thought brakes lasted a least three years brand new out the dealership. He said no it depends how I drive and how many times I stop. So I said really you have cars coming in a year and half later that have low brakes already it sounds like you guys put in cheap…
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Toyota Corolla?
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 brakes problem on the 2013 Toyota Corolla?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 26,500 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 48,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,500; a quarter make it past 57,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/Corolla.
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.