Problems · by component
2013 Toyota Camry engine problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Camry cite engine, 9% of all 301 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
9% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, 2AR-FXE. 134,000 miles. The car burns a quart of oil every 2,000 miles. This issue is from the low-tension piston rings sticking up and leading to scarring of the cylinder walls, causing oil consumption. Toyota had this issue with the 2007 2AZ engine and fixed it, but hasn't done a thing about the 2AR engine with the same problem. Hundreds and thousands of owners have complained but Toyota does not care enough to solve the problem! TOYOTA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU, they only care about themselves and the money they make for charging people thousands of dollars for short blocks out of the owner's pocket for an issue that is not the owner's fault. The car has had 5,000/6 month mile oil changes all its life. Don't buy a 1AR/2AR-equipped Toyota if you expect it to last. It also has a VVT-i rattle problem that is very common that Toyota doesn't bother to fix for their customers.”
“We purchased Toyota Camry in 2013. Currently, it has a mileage of less than 100K. We regularly serviced it at Landers Toyota dealership, and the last maintenance was performed a week before the accident. Driving home from work, my wife heard a bang and felt a jolt after which she was forced to stop. There were no warning signs. The car was filled with smoke and seconds later the flames appeared from underneath the car (luckily, she managed to escape without injuries). I towed the car to the garage for inspection and a large (about 4-5 inches) and wide (about 1 inch) crack was found on the engine. I contacted my insurance rep and the adjustor will inspect the vehicle within 1-3 business days.”
“I am sending this msg in regards to my 2013 Toyota Camry SE that I leased and decided to purchase after the lease ended from Toyota Heritage in Catonsville. I am experiencing problems with my torque converter. This is an issue that Toyota knew that would happen to my car and now that I am experiencing this problem Toyota doesn’t feel that they are responsible for the fix since the warranty has expired. I notice this problem in February 2019 when driving to work every morning at the same spot it felt like I was driving on the edge of the road. I figured it was road damage, because it would happen at the same spot every morning curve in the road. On March 16, 2019 due to COVID-19 we were sent home to work from home until Feb 2022. I wasn’t driving my car much due to COVID. We are now back in the office 1 day a week. In July 2022, I had my brakes done by a licensed mechanic and I informed him about the issue I was experiencing and he told me it was my torque converter, his mother has the same issue with her 2013 Camry and Toyota is aware of the problem and not paying for the repair l. In Oct or Nov, I took my car to Heritage Toyota in OM for my usual maintenance…”
“I had this car for 5 months, the dealer lied to me about the engine being repaired, the coverage he has on the vehicle. The electronic doesn't work front driver/ passenger doors, we have to unlock the back doors to get into the car and hop over to the front. The hood doesn't have a holder to keep the hood up on its own, the electrical sound blows out and I had to buy more wires and sound system to equip. The day it started tripping, first was when the car didn't start, it made an awful clicking noise. I got a jump it started. I decided to buy new battery; however, the check engine light is on, and check service soon light on. I checked to see if there was any oil, there's no oil. I called the dealership advise him of the problem and he blows me off as if it's not his concern. I'm extremely upset because I trusted that his word to sell me a good and no bad conditions car. I have me and my friends with me along driving, my friend said, "C car is smoking", I looked in the mirror, oh my God I see white thick smoke from the back. I immediately pull over to look at the problem. I can't drive. I called my insurance to get the car tolled to my home. I called the…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY HV. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT WAS STIFF AND THE ENGINE REEVED UP. THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS A THREE LANE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED INTO A CURB WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLONINGER TOYOTA LOCATED AT 511 JAKE ALEXANDER BLVD S, SALISBURY, NC 28147, PHONE NUMBER: (704) 754-4342 BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.”
“THE VVT CAMSHAFT GEAR IS DEFECTIVE ON MANY TOYOTAS THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON LEXUS MODELS ONLY THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE MINE HAS ONLY 67000 MILES IS MAKING THE RATTLING NOISE”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.