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2013 Toyota Tundra problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
46%
34 of 74 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Toyota Tundra are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2013 Toyota Tundra have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 74 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Tundra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under engine (23). For comparison, the 2012 scores 58% and the 2014 scores 20%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
34
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
85
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
4 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE23 · 27%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 13%
STEERING10 · 12%
STRUCTURE7 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 7%

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 Tundra years

Of the 13 Toyota Tundra years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (46%). The worst is the 2023 (72%), the best the 2016 (15%). By volume, the 2013 drew 85 complaints (34 drivetrain), against 156 for the 2012 and 93 for the 2014.

Toyota Tundra years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Toyota Tundra

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Toyota Tundra said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • 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

ENGINE03/29/2024
Mechanic stated that the secondary air injection system is a common problem in this generation of Tundra.. I have had my check engine light come on 3 different times and addressed each by replacing all the sensors to the secondary air injection system. My mechanic is a Toyota dealer mechanic. My issue is that my car ha…

One of 34 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2013 Toyota Tundra engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2013 Toyota Tundra, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
steering: hydraulic power assist system21E103000 · Dec 2021
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160,…
steering: hydraulic power assist system21V920000 · Nov 2021
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…
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs17V311000 · May 2017
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…
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs14V429000 · Jul 2014
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…
equipment: other: labels13V123000 · Apr 2013
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013…
air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive13V014000 · Jan 2013
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2013 Toyota Tundra? 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.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2013 Toyota Tundra

Does the 2013 Toyota Tundra have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 74 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Tundra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota Tundra?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Toyota Tundra is engine: 23 of 85 complaints (27%) name it, followed by fuel/propulsion system (13) and electrical system (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 46% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Toyota Tundra years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. 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 Tundra?

No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2013 Toyota Tundra, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Toyota Tundra years are better?

Among the Toyota Tundra years we track, the 2016 (15%), the 2014 (20%) and the 2010 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (46%). 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-tundra

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Experimental 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.