2013 Toyota Tundra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2013 Toyota Tundra ranks 17th out of 21 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 20 and a Best verdict. It has 85 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Engine issues being the top complaint area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 20/100
- #17 of 21 Tundra years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 85
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 15.5
- 13.5 city / 18.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2013 Toyota Tundra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine28 (33%)
- Electrical System14 (16%)
- Fuel System13 (15%)
- Steering10 (12%)
- Structure & Body9 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (11%)
- Other6 (7%)
- Seat Belts5 (6%)
- Airbags4 (5%)
- Brakes4 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the brake pedal going soft or sinking to the floor with little stopping power, even at low mileage.
- Owners describe smoke or flames coming from the engine compartment, fuel lines, or near the rear windows while driving.
- Several complaints mention steering column bolts loosening or the column falling into the driver's lap at highway speed.
- Owners report strong vibration in the steering wheel and gas pedal at certain RPM ranges, worse under load or while towing.
- Some drivers say fuel economy fell far short of the EPA rating, describing very poor mileage on flex fuel engines.
- A few owners describe excessive bed bounce and cabin vibration at highway speeds that dealers called normal.
2013 Toyota Tundra recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V920000Nov 23, 2021Steering22,462 vehicles
Steering:rack and pinion
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
- NHTSA 17V311000May 11, 2017Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,325 vehicles
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.
Risk: Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
- NHTSA 14V429000Jul 16, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires16,249 vehicles
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Toyota Tundra vehicles modified by GST as part of certain vehicle packages to be equipped with a combination of non-Toyota-brand 20-inch alloy wheels and chrome plated lug nuts. The coating on the lug nuts may give, causing the lug nuts to loosen or the wheel studs to fracture.
Risk: If the lug nuts loosen, or the wheel studs fracture, the wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will replace 20 lug nuts and torque them to specification, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074.
2013 Toyota Tundra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13.5 MPG
- Highway
- 18.5 MPG
- Combined
- 15.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Tundra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra reliable?
- Among Tundra model years, 2013 ranks well: it has a complaint index of 20, the 17th-worst out of 21 years tracked, and carries a Best verdict relative to other Tundra years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2013 Toyota Tundra?
- Engine complaints lead at 33% of all reports, followed by Electrical System at 16% and Fuel System at 15%, according to NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2013 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Tundra, covering steering gear assembly, suspension/wheel lug nuts, structure and body sensor recalibration, and a labeling issue; none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2013 Tundra compare to other years?
- The 2013 Tundra's complaint index of 20 is far below higher-complaint years like 2023 (100) and 2022 (90), which carry Avoid verdicts, making 2013 one of the better years for this model.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Toyota Tundra?
- EPA rates the 2013 Tundra at 15.5 mpg combined (13.5 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,175.