Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Toyota Tacoma problems

Owners filed 125 complaints about the 2013 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Feb 2013 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is power train (22).

Complaints
125
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train22
  2. Service brakes16
  3. Steering14
  4. Suspension14
  5. Electrical system13
  6. Structure11
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  8. Air bags10
  9. Vehicle speed control8
  10. Engine7
  11. Fuel/propulsion system6
  12. Seats4
  13. Exterior lighting3
  14. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201316
201422
201516
201610
20175
201811
20199
202012
20217
20221
20232
20242
20256
20266

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

22 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the unoccupied vehicle was parked on a slightly inclined driveway. The contact later noticed that the vehicle had rolled across the street into the neighbor's yard, causing the rear end of the vehicle to crash into a pine tree. There were no injuries sustained. The tree branches were damaged. The contact stated that both taillights were damaged, the tailgate was pushed into the bed tonneau cover, there was a significant dent on the bumper, and the vehicle sustained other unknown damages. The contact was able to drive the vehicle from the scene. The contact stated that after the incident, the contact noticed that the vehicle could shift into gear while the brake pedal was not depressed, and the gear shifter could be moved out of park(P) while the vehicle was turned off. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2025Power trainCrash reportedODI 11668993

Service brakes

16 reports2 crashes
“The power brake booster failed while driving with my [XXX] and [XXX] old. Fortunately I was in a school zone with no traffic. This particular part is known to fail with Toyota's (recalled on a few models). The vehicle is 13 so Toyota will not back their product. The dealer charged $3,000.00 for the repair. There were no warnings this was going to happen. The vehicle was bought brand new, and always well maintained. ALL work besides oil changes/new tires was completed at the dealership.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2025Service brakesODI 11706368

Steering

14 reports
“Over the past two weeks the steering effort on my 2nd generation Tacoma has become progressively harder to turn the wheel past certain points in both directions. I initially thought it was a steering pump problem, but based on reporting on the TacomaWorld site, it appears very likely this is a problem with the universal joints at the bottom of the Steering Intermediate Shaft. Their site shows this problem being reported as early as 2008 however, it doesn't appear Toyota ever addressed this with maintenance recommendations, an extended warranty, or safety recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2026SteeringODI 11762890

Suspension

14 reports1 crash
“2013 Toyota Tacoma rear leaf spring is broken in half 3 leaf set up exactly like the recall up to 2011. Why didn’t the recall go up to 2013. Truck would bottom out easily for years on bumpy back roads”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2026SuspensionODI 11738012

Electrical system

13 reports1 crash4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,817.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2021Electrical systemODI 11415984

Structure

11 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“I am filing this consumer complaint against Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (Toyota Motor North America, Inc.) for unfair and deceptive business practices related to a known paint peeling defect on my 2013 Toyota Tacoma (VIN identified in form, paint code 040 Super White). The vehicle exhibits severe peeling on the passenger side rear door, engine compartment, and other areas due to primer adhesion failure from sunlight exposure—not accident damage—matching symptoms addressed in Toyota's Customer Support Program ZKG and related Technical Service Bulletins for 2009–2015 Tacoma models. Despite multiple contacts with Toyota's Customer Experience Center (1-800-331-4331), Stevens Creek Toyota dealership, and formal letters (dated October 5, 2025, and January 15, 2026), Toyota has failed to provide a remedy, acknowledgment, or inspection under applicable programs. Key interactions include: initial notice in April 2024; dealer inspection in July 2024 denying coverage; phone calls in September/October 2025 and January 2026 where representatives hung up without escalation or manager follow-up; and no response to mailed complaints. This has caused ongoing cosmetic…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2026StructureODI 11718354
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.