2013 Toyota TACOMA: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECTED AND IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TRY DRIVING ON DIFFERENT ROADS AND TO TAKE ANOTHER ROUTE HOME. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT RADIO SIGNALS ARE CAUSING THE LIGHT TO FLASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 158.

Owner-reported narrative. 158 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499397 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A WHINING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 803. UPDATED 4/22/13 *CN UPDATED 06/03/2013 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 803 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500805 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

DURING NORMAL (MILD ACCELERATION) THE TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511987 at NHTSA ↗

THE TRUCK SHUDDERS OR VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE SOURCE OF THE SHUDDER APPEARS TO BE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CARRIER BEARING. TOYOTA HAS INCLUDED THIS MODEL IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SHUDDER. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA FAIL TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK BEFORE THEY SELL IT TO A SUCKER LIKE ME. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD THE TECHNICIANS GO …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513511 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS TOO DIM ON SUNNY DAYS FOR THE 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VERY DIM AT ALL TIMES DURING THE DAY, BUT DISAPPEARS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVERS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT CANNOT DETERMINE THEIR SPEED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10532013 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.

Consequence: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove box. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact SET at 1-954-429-2000.

Reported: 2013-11-07 (November 7, 2013)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Tacoma vehicles manufactured July 1, 2013, through October 11, 2013. The engines of the affected vehicles contain valve springs that may break over time.

Consequence: If the valve springs break, the engine could fail and stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.

Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Consequence: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.