YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota Tacoma Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Owners filed 22 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma, 18% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 6,500. The largest cluster involves driveline shudder and vibration during acceleration and deceleration; NHTSA lists no related recall for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
22
18% of 125
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
6,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle vibrates or shudders during mild acceleration and deceleration, often traced by dealers to the drive shaft or carrier bearing area.
  • A hard thumping or clunk is felt when coming to a stop, described as being hit from behind, occurring in both forward and reverse.
  • A skip or binding sensation happens right before a full stop or just as the truck starts moving again.
  • Vehicle rolls away on its own while parked, in one case after being left on a slight incline, leading to a collision.
  • Owners report the truck rolling downhill unless the emergency brake is engaged, with dealers unable to diagnose the cause.
  • Front-end vibration traced to driveline angle issues, with dealers attributing it to suspension lift height changes.

When 2013 Toyota Tacoma transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 14, 2013, latest Jun 24, 2025.

2013 Toyota Tacoma transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2013Nov 2013Feb 2014May 2014Oct 2015Mar 2020
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2013 to Jun 2025; peak May 2013 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Tacoma model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201025 (9%)
  2. 20118 (4%)
  3. 201235 (12%)
  4. 201322 (18%)
  5. 201413 (14%)
  6. 20159 (9%)
  7. 2016136 (42%)
  8. 201768 (28%)
  9. 201829 (14%)
  10. 201940 (18%)
  11. 202015 (17%)
  12. 202114 (18%)
  13. 202210 (17%)
  14. 20237 (13%)
  15. 202454 (36%)
  16. 202520 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2013 Toyota Tacoma have?
NHTSA lists 22 complaints in this area for the 2013 Tacoma, which is 18% of the 125 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma transmission or driveline?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this problem area on the 2013 Tacoma.
At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up on the 2013 Tacoma?
The median mileage at failure for transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2013 Tacoma is 6,500 miles, meaning many issues surfaced early.
What is the most common transmission complaint on the 2013 Tacoma?
The most frequently described pattern is shuddering or vibration during acceleration and deceleration, which multiple owners linked to the drive shaft and carrier bearing.
Did the transmission complaints on the 2013 Tacoma lead to any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes tied to complaints in this area, both involving vehicles rolling away unexpectedly while parked.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.