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2013 Toyota Tacoma problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 26%).
Does the 2013 Toyota Tacoma have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 33 of 112 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 65% and the 2014 scores 26%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Toyota Tacoma years
Of the 14 Toyota Tacoma years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2012 (65%), the best the 2011 (11%). By volume, the 2013 drew 125 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 295 for the 2012 and 93 for the 2014.
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tacoma problems · 2011 Tacoma problems · 2012 Tacoma problems · 2013 · 2014 Tacoma problems · 2015 Tacoma problems · 2016 Tacoma problems · 2017 Tacoma problems · 2018 Tacoma problems · 2019 Tacoma problems · 2020 Tacoma problems · 2021 Tacoma problems · 2022 Tacoma problems · 2023 Tacoma problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Toyota Tacoma engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Tacoma vehicles manufactured July 1, 2013, through October 11, 2013. The engines of the affected vehicles contain valve springs that may break over time.
Risk: If the valve springs break, the engine could fail and stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Toyota Tacoma? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Toyota Tacoma have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 33 of 112 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Toyota Tacoma is power train: 22 of 125 complaints (18%) name it, followed by service brakes (18) and steering (14). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2013 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota Tacoma years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 13V557000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Toyota Tacoma years are better?
Among the Toyota Tacoma years we track, the 2011 (11%), the 2010 (17%) and the 2015 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-tacoma
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.