2013 Toyota Tacoma problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (15) · Steering (14) · Suspension (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Tacoma model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
99 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Equipment 2017-07-03 · campaign 17V425000 · 3,547 vehicles
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Equipment:other:labels 2014-08-04 · campaign 14V475000 · 20,000 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2014-02-12 · campaign 14V054000 · 261,114 vehicles
Defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Risk: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Engine 2013-11-07 · campaign 13V557000 · 3,795 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire 2013-10-17 · campaign 13V494000 · 979 vehicles
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.
Risk: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove box. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact SET at 1-954-429-2000.
Equipment:other:labels 2013-04-09 · campaign 13V123000 · 7,525 vehicles
Defect: 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 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicl
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Service bulletins (429)
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
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
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 429 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-08 · Steering“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…”
2026-05-15 · Suspension“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 …”
2026-02-17 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch · 107,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that while closing the hood, the hood prop rod unexpectedly fell behind the latch, ceasing to securely latch the hood. while driving at 80 mph, the hood suddenly opened and fractured the windshield. there was no injury sustained. the contact immediately pulled over to the side of the road, c…”
2026-02-16 · Structure:body“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…”
2026-02-01 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“vehicle involved in a head on collision resulting in a total loss. frontal airbags did not deploy. occupant (driver) sustained bilateral wrist injuries requiring surgery. …”
2026-01-18 · Unknown Or Other“whenever we need to use the horn there isnt one to use. we have changed the fuse more than once still nothing.…”
2025-12-21 · Service Brakes“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…”
2025-12-21 · Unknown Or Other“the horn started malfunctioning recently at around 200k miles, sometimes working sometimes not (regardless of steering wheel positioning). as prior complaints have stated; the suspect was likely the clockspring, but all the steering wheel controls were functioning with no issues and no warning lights illuminated. also, i've continously found myself…”
2025-09-24 · Unknown Or Other“unknown, the horn failed to work suddenly when driving. it only works when i turn the wheel then press which i've been told is a clock spring failure in steering wheel which can also affect air bag. thank you…”
2025-06-24 · Power Train · 275,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 da…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.