2013 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
125 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
40,320 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 99 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 125 complaints (16.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 21.6% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
Power Train: 21; Service Brakes: 16; Steering: 14; Suspension: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Electrical System: 12; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 11; Structure:Body: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2013: 16; 2014: 22; 2015: 16; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2018: 11; 2019: 9; 2020: 12; 2021: 7; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 6; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10505871 · 2013-04-10 (April 10, 2013)
THIS IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PHENOMENON, SEE THE WEBSITES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. REPORTED PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 5000 MILES. WHEN ENTERING A TURN WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, MOST COMMONLY A CLOVERLEAF, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND APPLY THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. NO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE DISPLAYED SO VEHICLES BEHIND ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SUDDEN SLOWING. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE DRY, SUNNY, AND THE VEHICLE SPEED IS WELL WITHIN A SAFE SPEED. THIS IS VERY REPEATABLE IN SPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511914 · 2013-05-14 (May 14, 2013)
IT HAPPENED IN A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA (BRAND NEW LESS THAN A MONTH). I HAD FRIENDS RIDING WITH ME. I KNEW THERE IS A STOP SIGN AND I SAW THE STOP SIGN ABOUT SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY AND LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I SLIGHTLY APPLIED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY TRUCK DIDN'T EVEN SLOW DOWN A BIT EVEN THOUGH I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. MY TRUCK KEPT GOING LIKE ACCELERATING ITSELF WITH BIG NOISE LIKE VROOOOOOOOOOM. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MEANWHILE SHIFTED THE STI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515860 · 2013-06-09 (June 9, 2013)
MY COMPLAINT IS ON A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFFROAD DC 4.0 AT VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BAD DRIVELINE VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND ESPECIALLY BREAKING. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AROUND 2200 MILES WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM ANOTHER STATE. WHILE DRIVING OVER AT LEAST 40 MPH AND WHILE BRAKING NORMALLY TO A STOP BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 20 MPH A VIBRATION OCCURS FROM THE DRIVELINE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T VIBRATE BUT MY PEDALS START SHAKING AS WELL AS THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. THE VIBRATION WILL START SHALLOW AROUND 35 AND START TO GET REALLY AGGRESS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542819 · 2013-09-10 (September 10, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648813 · 2014-10-20 (October 20, 2014)
I WAS GOING TO VISIT A FRIEND IN LANCASTER SC WHEN I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK APPEARED AND NOTHING HAD FAILED ON IT. IT STARTS AT THE BOTTOM, JUST SLIGHTLY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM CENTER AND IT GOES UPWARD ABOUT 7"-8", THEN GOES TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 12"-15". THERE WAS NOTHING THAT FELL ON IT WHEN IT WAS NOTICED. IT APPEARS TO BE EITHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR A CRACK WHICH HAS RESULTED FROM SOMETHING SHIFTING ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761823 · 2015-09-06 (September 6, 2015)
OVER A WEEK MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO START INTERMITTENTLY, THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED STARTING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNED UP PINS, AND THEY NEEDED TO REPAIR THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR. TO HAVE BURNED PINS IN A WIRE HARNESS MEANS ARCING OF SOME SORT ON TOP OF MY FUEL TANK. MY CHILDREN SIT RIGHT ABOVE THAT PUMP IN THE BACK OF THE CAB. FUEL VAPOR AND ELECTRICAL ARCING OF ANY KIND DOES NOT MIX.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761826 · 2015-09-06 (September 6, 2015)
OVER A WEEK MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO START INTERMITTENTLY, THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED STARTING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNED UP PINS, AND THEY NEEDED TO REPAIR THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR. TO HAVE BURNED PINS IN A WIRE HARNESS MEANS ARCING OF SOME SORT ON TOP OF MY FUEL TANK. MY CHILDREN SIT RIGHT ABOVE THAT PUMP IN THE BACK OF THE CAB. FUEL VAPOR AND ELECTRICAL ARCING OF ANY KIND DOES NOT MIX.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658827 · 2014-11-18 (November 18, 2014)
WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP THERE IS A HESITATION OR STALL. THIS HAPPENED WITH OUR 2010 TACOMA, ALSO. WE TRADED FOR A 2013 AND THIS TRUCK DOES THE SAME THING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE TRANSMISSION IS SEARCHING FOR A GEAR. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND ALSO AFTER A SLOW DOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10658827 at NHTSA ↗