2013 Toyota AVALON HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 23 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Seats: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 10 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 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 8; 2015: 2; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10548576 · 2013-10-20 (October 20, 2013)
DRIVING ON STRAIGHT LEVEL INTERSTATE WITH LASER CRUISE SET AT 65 MPH AND NO OTHER CARS OR OBSTACLES PRESENT, CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED TWO TIMES (ABOUT 20 MINUTES APART). THE SAME THING OCCURRED ABOUT 7 DAYS LATER ON COMPARABLE ROAD IN LIGHT RAIN. IN THIS LATER SITUATION, WIPERS SUDDENLY WENT ON HIGH SPEED, FOR 5 SECONDS AND CAR BRAKED TWICE IN SPAN OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WE TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT MORNING IN RAPID CITY, SD, WHO SAID HE COULD NOT WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573606 · 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:50PM, NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON LAKE SHORE DRIVE WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT BY FOUR POLICE VEHICLES THAT SPREAD ACROSS THE FOUR NORTHBOUND LANES. THE POLICE VEHICLES WERE PARKED, ONE IN EACH LANE. THE OFFICERS HAD CREATED A ROAD BLOCK. MY CAR WAS IN THE FAR EAST LANE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND A PARKED POLICE VEHICLE. I PLACED MY VEHICLE IN PARK, BUT KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING. MINUTES LATER, A BLACK CHRYSLER SEDAN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED (ESTIMATED AT 55-100MPH PER POLICE REPORTS) WAS BEING PURSUED BY THE POLICE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584050 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
THE HEADLINER ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTED TO BE FALLING DOWN IN AUGUST 2013, JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHERE THEY GLUED IT BACK IN PLACE. JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE HEADLINER AGAIN BEGAN TO DROOP AND TODAY, IT CONTINUES TO IMPAIR VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10584050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10614753 · 2014-07-19 (July 19, 2014)
THE TOP TWO CLIPS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK DISCONNECTED FROM THE SEAT BACK TRIM PANEL AND THE TRIM PANEL CANNOT BE REATTACHED AT THE TOP CLIPS. THE BOTTOM HINGE IS STILL ATTACHED. THE TRIM PANEL IS NOW HANGING BACK, ALMOST TOUCHING THE REAR SEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615456 · 2014-07-28 (July 28, 2014)
2013 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY, SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE. HOWEVER, IT THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED, THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT A RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10615456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627178 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658485 · 2014-12-09 (December 9, 2014)
2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID REQUESTING AIRBAGS TO BE REPLACED. *MW THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL CONCERNING AN ISSUE WITH THE SEATS, BUT NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10658485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10662409 · 2014-12-05 (December 5, 2014)
DRIVER SEAT WARMER STAY ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10662409 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V505000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring
Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Consequence: A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V728000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking
Reported: 2015-11-03 (November 3, 2015)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Consequence: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V024000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
NHTSA campaign record ↗