Problems · by component
2013 Toyota Avalon structure problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Avalon cite structure, 17% of all 160 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I recently took my car in for maintenance and I was offered a complimentary car wash. 1 week after the wash, I noticed there were cloth fibers stuck between the rear side body panels. When i pulled them out, there was evidence of rust and corrosion right underneath. I suspected the cloth fibers were from the dealership's car wash so i contacted them. They confirmed the fibers are from their machine but claimed the rust is caused by a pre-existing problem (there is a small gap between the side body that was noted in the pre-inspections), when asked if the rust was noted during pre-inspections as well, they refused to answer my question. There was no evidence of rust or corrosion on the car before this incident and there are other fibers stuck in the side body panels as well which i haven't taken out yet. I have previously taken my car through car washes but this incident has never happened before. Toyota's service center refuses to look into the matter further.”
“Water is filling up in my trunk not sure how it is getting in . Have noticed a lil water stains along back top of lining. I started smelling a stail water smell when I found a puddle of water under my spare tire . Im extremely worried with winter coming again . Not to mention there is a battery locate in truck as well. So I feel completely unsafe. I have recently had noticed hybrid battery going from high to low then all of sudden died. Had to purchase a new battery. Please is this normal?someone help before it rains again and something terrible happens”
“The moonroof area has rattling noise at speeds exceeding 60 mph. A similar rattling noise is also noted from the driver side A pillar of the car at all driving speeds.”
“WHEN IT RAINS HEAVILY (WITHIN THE TWO MONTHS I HAVE OWNED IT), THE ROOF AND/OR SUNROOF LEAKS CAUSING WATER DAMAGE IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND A CAUSE AFTER THE INITIAL SUNROOF DRAIN WAS CLEARED.”
“THE MAIN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED ON MARCH 10 2017AND SCHEDULED AN APOINTMENT ON MARCH 15 2017. IS THE HEADLINER HAS SEPARATED AND FALLING DOWN BEHIND MY MOONROOF OR SUNROOF OPENING LEAVING A GAP. PUSH IT BACK UP AND IT POPS BACK LOOSE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE TWO DUAL LOCK FASTENERS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. THEY LOOK MORE LIKE STICK ON PADS TRYING TO HOLD UP SOMETHING THAT IS TOO HEAVY. PER THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN THE BULLENTIN PERTAINING TO THIS REPAIR CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF DUAL LOCK FASTENERS AND THE ADDITIONAL OF A MAGNET AFFIXED TO THE HEADLINER. REPAIR PROCEDURE REQUIRES 3 HOURS FOR PREP, OPERATION STEPS AND CURING OF EPOXY FOR $300.00 FIX. WITH 18,235 MILES ON MY CAR IT SHOULDN'T BE COMING APART NOW. IF YOU KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHY DIDN'T YOU INFORMED THE CUSTOMERS BEFORE INVESTING BECAUSE I WOULD OF LEFT IT ON THE LOT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY FOR A WORKAROUND THAT DOESN'T WORK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BESIDE YOU CAN'T FIX IT OR HAVEN'T FOUND THE RIGHT WORKAROUND.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE FLOORMAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PREVENTED IT FROM BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2014 AND THE REMEDY WAS TO ADD TWO CLIPS TO THE FLOORMAT. ONE OF THE CLIPS WAS FRACTURED DURING THE RECENT FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CARPET SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CARPET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,454.”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.