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ProblemsByVin File / 2013-TOYOTA-TUNDRA NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Toyota

2013 Toyota Tundra problems

The 2013 Toyota Tundra has 84 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2013 Toyota Tundra has 84 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 21 complaints, typically surfacing around 64,627 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Toyota Tundra owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2010 Tundra 0 16
2011 Tundra 134 11
2012 Tundra 154 4
2013 Tundra (this page) 84 6
2014 Tundra 92 5
2015 Tundra 47 5
2016 Tundra 119 6
2013 Toyota Tundra
Photo: MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Toyota Tundra
0 5 10
Reliability score
6.6 / 10

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

0
Critical
6
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 Tundra?
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.

NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 4 / 5 overall

Overall 4/5
Frontal crash 4/5
Side crash 5/5
Rollover 4/5

Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2013 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 4WD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.

Buying a used 2013 Toyota Tundra? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 64,627 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 6.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2013 Toyota Tundra

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
21 reports · fails ~64,627 mi · avg $3,100
severe
electrical
11 reports · fails ~84,807 mi · avg $850
severe
steering
10 reports · fails ~52,270 mi · avg $700
moderate
body
5 reports · fails ~69,968 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
seatbelts
4 reports · fails ~61,876 mi · avg $500
moderate
wheels
4 reports · fails ~52,500 mi · avg $400
moderate
airbags
3 reports · fails ~40,560 mi · avg $1,100
severe
brakes
3 reports · fails ~9,083 mi · avg $450
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2013 Tundra'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 Tundra?
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 Tundra · steering
On march 6 of 2014 I had brought my 2013 Toyota tundra in for a very bad vibration issue coming from the bottom it turns out when they inspected the truck that driveshaft had to be repacked I was in a rental car for two inconvenience me for those two days with no truck that I…
12/30/2014 · at 8,750 mi · NHTSA ODI #10669199.0 · see steering pattern →
2013 Tundra · engine Fire
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota tundra. The contact noticed smoke coming from the engine. The contact checked under the hood and noticed that the cam shaft tower seal was leaking onto the exhaust. The dealer (david maus Toyota, 1160 reinehart rd, sanford, fl 32771) stated…
12/19/2018 · at 87,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11162579.0 · see engine pattern →
2013 Tundra · lighting
Turned headlight switch to "on" position but lights did not turn on. Turned switch "off" and back "on" and lights still did not work. Wiggled the switch around some and the lights came on. Truck was sitting in my driveway when this happened. I was driving one night and turned my…
12/04/2020 · at 127,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11377848.0 · see lighting pattern →
2013 Tundra · steering
I was pulling into a parking spot when my power steering went out. I checked the fluid and the fluid level was low. I called Toyota customer care and they sent a tow truck to pick up my vehicle and deliver it to the nearest dealership. While loading the truck, a seal popped…
12/04/2013 · at 15,500 mi · NHTSA ODI #10554809.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 84 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2013 Toyota Tundra? 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 3 of 6

severe NHTSA 21E103000 December 23, 2021

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
severe NHTSA 21V920000 November 23, 2021

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
severe NHTSA 17V311000 May 11, 2017

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer

Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
View all 6 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Toyota Tundra 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 Tundra?

The 2013 Toyota Tundra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2013 Toyota Tundra?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 21 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 64,627 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra a good used car to buy?

It scores 6.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 84 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 64,627 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

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

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 21 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 64,627 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 64,627 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota Tundra 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 Tundra?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 84 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, 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 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Toyota/Tundra. 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.
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