2013 Toyota Avalon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (21) · Vehicle Speed Control (21) · Structure:body (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Avalon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
82 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2020-01-17 · campaign 20V024000 · 2,891,976 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking 2015-11-03 · campaign 15V728000 · 30,812 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an
Risk: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2013-10-17 · campaign 13V442000 · 802,769 vehicles
Defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
Risk: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:switch/Wiring 2013-10-17 · campaign 13V505000 · 9,795 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Risk: A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (498)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Electrical System 2025-06-13 · T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · Service Campaign
the air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. the procedures outlined in this service bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Showing the 6 most recent of 498 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-13 · Unknown Or Other“i am submitting this complaint to report a safety-related incident involving the moonroof glass on my 2013 toyota avalon. vehicle information: - make: toyota avalon, 2013 - vin: [xxx] - mileage at time of incident: approximately 120,000 miles while driving under normal road conditions, the moonroof glass on my 2013 toyota avalon suddenly shatter…”
2026-03-08 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“car into a brick wall, hit on front passenger side at 15 mph no airbag deployed. …”
2025-06-06 · Air Bags“he occupant detection system (ods) in my 2013 toyota avalon has failed. the vehicle does not consistently detect an adult passenger in the front seat, and the “passenger airbag off” light remains illuminated, even when someone is seated properly. this means the airbag will not deploy in a crash, which is a serious safety risk for my passengers. i f…”
2025-01-02 · Visibility/Wiper“1) system failure: back window shade. it is available for inspection at any time. 2) safety of me and others put at risk: when the shade is down i can not see out the back window posing a significant risk to those behind me particularly pedestrians 3) has problem been reproduced: yes 4) has the component been inspected: no the motor operating the s…”
2024-12-23 · Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness“straps, yes the straps do not stay tight and do not keep my child restrained yes after checking the straps on the car seat they become loose no longer restraining my child in her seat…”
2024-07-07 · Unknown Or Other“there is a very strong musty smell. 80% of the time it's when i turn on ac. 20% just at random driving times. whenever car has sat longer then a few hours with all windows up. when open doors is has very musty smell. i have done everything to do with cleaning vehicle. this is a hybrid i'm a lil scared when it comes to electrical fire . do to this m…”
2024-06-12 · Unknown Or Other“i have a smell of moldy old water what is going on ? why is water filling up in my trunk? what do my head lights bulb keep going out? why haven't you guys done anything? for real i have a darn battery in my trunk come on. i already had to purchase a battery . …”
2024-02-25 · Visibility/Wiper“rear window shade stuck in 'up' position, cannot see out the rearview mirror, especially at night. makes for very dangerous driving.…”
2024-02-19 · Tires:sidewall“sidewall tire failed after 3 months. no hazard on roadway, sidewall separated while traveling at 70 mph causing car to go out of control with near accident. after inspecting tire it appears to have very little material depth indicating a defect by manufacturer.…”
2024-02-15 · Structure:body“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 the…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.