TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Tundra steering problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Tundra, 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 steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 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 steering 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 customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some 13-17MY Tundra vehicles may exhibit a vibration/pulsation during light to hard braking. The vibration/pulsation feeling can be described as being felt in any combination of the following: Steering wheel, brake pedal, seat, and entire vehicle. This condition is felt over a large range of speed, unlike drive shaft and wheel balance concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cluster of steering failures on the 2013 Tundra that escalate quickly and without warning. The most critical: a steering column that collapsed onto a driver's lap at 75 mph on the interstate because bolts weren't attached. Power steering fluid leaks from seals in the rack and steering arm happen within the first few thousand miles or during early service visits, sometimes cutting out completely while driving or pulling into parking spots. Toyota issued Technical Notice T-TT-0183-12 for 2008-2013 Tundras addressing steering problems, yet dealerships deny warranty claims citing aftermarket modifications like upgraded coil springs.
A pervasive vibration in the steering wheel (and gas pedal) at 1600–1900 RPM causes numbness in hands and feet on long drives. Owners call multiple dealerships and Toyota; the company and shops deny other complaints exist and claim it's normal, contradicting widespread forum complaints. Steering racks fail outright or fill with internal fluid, quoted for repair at $3,000 and up. Horn function fails due to wiring faults in the airbag harness around the column—dealerships won't cover this as warranty either. The pattern suggests design or assembly problems affecting early-production 2013 models.
Same Toyota Tundra steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering fluid loss and rack seal failure
Steering rack and seals leak fluid, causing loss of power steering function. One complaint reports a seal popping on the steering arm during towing, others describe steering rack filling with fluid internally. Toyota Technical Notice T-TT-0183-12 reportedly addresses this issue on 2008-2013 Tundras.
When: Early in ownership; one reported at 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering goes out while driving or parking; Low power steering fluid; Steering rack filling with internal fluid; Seal leaking during vehicle handling
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack replacement quoted at $3,000+; seal replacement during towing incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Notice T-TT-0183-12 issued for 2008-2013 Tundra steering issues; some dealerships deny warranty coverage citing aftermarket modifications (heavy-duty coil springs); warranty disclaimers based on non-OEM parts
Steering column vibration at cruise RPM
Steering wheel vibrates notably in the 1600–1900 RPM band regardless of vehicle speed. Vibration worsens under load or while towing. Owners report hands and feet going numb from prolonged exposure. Dealers claim this is normal, but owners cite widespread forum complaints suggesting a design issue.
When: Reported across ownership; examples at 40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration in steering wheel at 1600–1900 RPM; Vibration in gas pedal at same RPM range; Hands and feet becoming numb on long trips; Worse under load or towing
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers claim normal characteristic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim vibration is normal; Toyota denies receiving other complaints despite forum discussions
Steering column structural failure
Steering column bolts detached while driving at highway speed, causing column to collapse onto driver's lap. Bolts were not secured to the column. Owner manually re-tightened bolts but noted cruise control stopped working afterward.
When: At 75 mph on Interstate 40
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column fell onto driver's lap at highway speed; Bolts not attached to column; All dashboard lights came on during failure; Cruise control became inoperative after incident
Repairs/costs cited: Owner re-tightened bolts manually
Steering shaft noise and potential intermediate shaft failure
Abnormal noise heard from steering wheel. Independent shop suspected intermediate steering shaft may require replacement.
When: At approximately 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from steering wheel during use
Repairs/costs cited: Independent facility suggested intermediate steering shaft replacement; vehicle not yet repaired by dealer
Steering rack and pinion failure
Steering system completely loses function, requiring rack and pinion replacement twice within two months.
When: Early in vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: Steering system failure requiring rack and pinion replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement performed twice in two months
Horn inoperative due to steering column wiring harness fault
Horn fails to function due to wiring harness failure in the airbag assembly around the steering column. Dealership claims this is not covered under warranty and is not a safety recall, despite widespread owner reports of the same issue.
When: Within first month of ownership (December 2019 truck)
Symptoms owners cite: Horn does not respond when activated; Wiring harness defect in steering column airbag assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership states not covered under warranty; no repair costs provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denies warranty coverage; not designated as a recall despite multiple owner reports over years
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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 bought to have and use finally got the truck back everything seems okay and then on 531 of 14 which is approximately two…
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 on the steering arm and fluid started leaking out. Springhill Toyota is not honoring my manufacture or extended warranty…
I took my 2013 Toyota tundra in for a routine 55,000 mile service and they informed me that the steering rack is filling with fluid and I could have it sieze up on me while driving. I purchased all warranties good until 2020 but they feel this design flaw should be covered by me the consumer. I was quoted $3000.00+ for the repair. I bought this truck after putting 100,000+ on 2006 tundra with…
Bad vibration in steering wheel and gas pedal at 1600-1900 RPM range. Doesn't matter the speed. Vibration is worse when vehicle is under load or towing . Both hands and right foot fall asleep from vibration on long continuous trips , I've contacted Toyota twice and had to dealer twice . Dealer says this is normal characteristic of truck . Toyota denies any other complaints . There is…
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Toyota Tundra?
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 steering problem on the 2013 Toyota Tundra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 52,270 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/Tundra.
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.