TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN K0D FRAME CORROSION RESISTANT COMPOUND (CRC) APPLICATION CERTAIN 2011 ? 2015 MODEL YEAR TACOMA
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Tacoma suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Toyota Tacoma have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 40,320 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Tacoma | 114 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 56 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 19 |
| 2013 Tacoma (this page) | 14 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 5 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 3 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 14 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 6 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 suspension complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 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 suspension 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: OBSOLETE NOTICE June 23, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0063-20.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed. Please note the following information for Regional and PD associates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Region Letter: Safety Recall completion is important not only in satisfying government requirements but also is an integral part of our commitment to meet customer expectations of Toyota products. Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed. We request your assistance in completing the applicable campaign repairs as owners receive the Follow-Up Notice and contact your dealership. Please note the follow-up activity may cause an increase in your current campaign owner appointments. Toyota will continue with additional follow-up activities in the months to come. Please take this into consideration when analyz
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2005 ? 2014 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with automatic transmission may exhibit a vibration felt in the seat, floorboard, and steering wheel between 15 ? 25 mph caused by a second order drivetrain vibration under acceleration. The following Repair Procedure may 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
The 2013 Tacoma suspension complaints center on a few distinct problems. Rear leaf springs are the most serious: owners report them sagging, breaking, or bottoming out between 29,000 and 85,000 miles. One owner with 85,000 miles found a broken leaf spring near the gas tank and notes a recall existed for 2011 and earlier models with the same three-leaf-pack design. Another discovered a broken leaf during routine maintenance. These failures cause the rear to sit low, poor ride quality on bumps, and secondary tire cupping.
Front and rear shocks and struts leak oil early—described as happening "way too early"—making the suspension soft and bouncy. Owners replaced them at their own cost because Toyota and dealerships categorized the work as out-of-warranty wear and tear.
Front suspension troubles include loud squeaking from the driver side (resolved temporarily by A-arm replacement, then returning) and extreme vibration during acceleration from new, which Toyota engineers documented but could not fix. One owner reports a suspension mechanic is aware of an ongoing Tacoma front-suspension issue with a possible Toyota fix involving coils and struts, but received no official communication.
Rear creaking noises and rust-related corrosion on leaf spring welds round out the reports.
Same Toyota Tacoma suspension reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Rear leaf spring failure (breaking/weakness)
Rear leaf springs break, weaken, or sag, causing the rear to sit lower than normal and the vehicle to bottom out on bumps. One owner reported a broken leaf close to the gas tank; another found complete leaf spring failure during routine maintenance.
When: 29,048 miles; 55,000–85,000 miles range; 81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear sits lower than normal; Vehicle bottoms out on bumps; Harder rear ride than usual; Tire cupping (secondary effect of poor rear suspension geometry)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced rear leaf springs out of pocket; one owner notes multiple spring failures and associated tire replacements cost thousands
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes prior 2009 Tacoma was recalled for the same issue; owner questions why 2013 models with 3-leaf packs are not recalled. Warranty expired at ~29k miles; manufacturer did not assist.
Shock and strut oil leaks
Front struts and rear shocks develop oil leaks early in the vehicle's life, causing soft/bouncy suspension and poor ride quality on bumpy roads.
When: Unspecified mileage; described as occurring 'way too early'
Symptoms owners cite: All shocks and struts leaking oil; Soft, bouncy suspension; Poor ride quality on bumpy roads; Vehicle rolls and is jouncy when passing
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced rear shocks, then front struts at own expense due to warranty exclusion. Installed aftermarket Rancho RS 5000 series and reports significantly better ride and handling.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership and Toyota deemed repairs out of warranty and normal wear/tear
Front suspension vibration during acceleration
Brand-new vehicle exhibits extreme vibration throughout the vehicle during acceleration, particularly at higher acceleration rates. Toyota engineers investigated but provided no solution.
When: Apparent from new
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme vibration when accelerating; Vibration felt throughout the vehicle; Stronger vibration with faster acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Issue unresolved after multiple dealer visits and Toyota engineer inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota identified the issue as rear suspension (leaf springs) but offered only to wait; no valid solution provided. Tacoma and 4Runner reportedly affected.
Front suspension squeaking and noise
Persistent squeaking noise from driver-side front suspension. Dealership replaced upper A-arm and a corroded bolt in an area protected from water intrusion, but noise returned within a month. A suspension mechanic indicated Toyota may have a fix involving replacement of front coils and struts.
When: Noise returns within one month after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Massive squeaking noise from driver-side front suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced upper A-arm and corroded bolt; no permanent fix achieved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Possible TSB or repair involving front coils and struts mentioned by suspension mechanic, but owner has not received official communication from Toyota
Rear suspension creaking/metal noise
Loud creaking noise from the rear suspension heard during acceleration, braking, turning, and highway driving. Noise worsens when truck is lightly loaded. Began at 81,000 miles.
When: 81,000 miles; started late February 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Large creaking/metal noise from rear during acceleration, braking, turning, and highway expansion joints; Noise worsens when lightly loaded
Vibration linked to aftermarket lift installation
Severe vibration from front of vehicle attributed to driveline angles caused by aftermarket lift. Dealership noted vibration would only resolve by removing lift and returning truck to stock height.
When: Post-lift installation
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration from front of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Correction requires removal of aftermarket lift and return to stock height
Rear leaf spring rust and corrosion
Rear leaf springs develop excessive rust and corrosion on welds, creating noise during driving. Also reported: step bumper rusted and unsafe.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rust and corrosion on leaf spring welds; Noise when driving; Rusted step bumper unsafe to step on
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Massive squeaking noise coming from the drivers side front suspension. Took it to the dealership and the replaced the upper a-arm and a corroded bolt that's in an area that water can't get into. Noise went away for a month and now has returned. In the same area. After getting some information from a suspension mechanic they are aware of an ongoing issue with the tacoma front suspensions and a…
Had suspension trouble with your 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
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 suspension problem on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 29,048 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 40,320. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,048; a quarter make it past 65,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/Tacoma.
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.