2013 Toyota Tundra Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 has lost power to…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle in for inspection, the vehicle failed the inspection. The contact was informed that a failure with the air injection pump had been detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 64,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 75,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Hard to start just cranks usually starts after 3 tries I tried turning the key on and waiting a few seconds and then it fires up when driving has no power when acceleratingOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 71,000 miles

Ecu problem. Since june 2018, I have started to see decreased mpg (avg 9 mpg, 50/50) and vehicle exhibiting high alc. Density % when fueled with e0/e10 gas. No dtc codes, but extended crank exhibited, poor performance and shifting observed. This is a flex vehicle. Fuel trims were way into negative and I have called toyota and filed a…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 55,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the horn failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 130,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for repairs, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 84,00 and upon inspection at a local dealer, it…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 175,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 toyota tundra. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel while in use. An independent repair facility diagnosed that the intermediate steering shaft may need to be replaced and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing and repair. The dealer (spring hill…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 40,000 miles

I took my 2013 toyota tundra in for a routine 55,000 mile service and they informed me that the steering rack is filling with fluid and I could have it sieze up on me while driving. I purchased all warranties good until 2020 but they feel this design flaw should be covered by me the consumer. I was quoted $3000.00+ for the repair. I…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 55,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Plastic piece and spring have ejected from the seat belt receiver and now the receiver does not latch on to the seat belt when it is inserted into the receiver (driver side but could happen to any/all). The seat belt no longer buckles.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Bought this truck used with 8,000 miles on it. It came with a platinum extended warranty [VIN] from the previous owner. At 18,000 miles the seat was moving, popping and felt like springs were poking me. Sure enough, the seat frame had "worn out". Was replaced by dealer with factory warranty. 42,000 miles the seat issue is back, but…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 42,000 miles

Parts named most: Body (6).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have noticed previous recalls from older model toyota trucks due rust occurring to frames and beds. Currently, there is no recall for my 2013 tundra specific to this. However, it seems like the frame rust issues continued past the earlier recall. My truck is 2013 toyota tundra with approx 35,000 miles. There is rust on the frame and…Owner complaint, filed 2019

The contact owns a 2013 toyota tundra. While driving 30 MPH, the spare tire carrier detached from the vehicle and caused the spare tire to strike the bottom of the vehicle and roll away. The vehicle was taken to anderson toyota (located at 6510 showplace ave, lake havasu city, az 86404, (928) 764-2886) where it was diagnosed that the…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 126,035 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

My factory stock Toyota painted steel wheels rotted and I had a 6 inch long area rusted through inside the rim losing air. I was advised by my tire center ,that i took it to ,that was not safe to drive on. I called my local Toyota dealer service manager and was told it was road corrosion and was not under any warranty. What would of…Owner complaint, filed 2025

In 2017 while driving home from a restaurant with my husband, mother and sister when on highway 60 in Show Low Arizona we started experiencing a shaking which seemed to come from the from end of the truck. Since we were only a short distance from home we slowly made our way down the side road. As soon as we turned into our driveway the…Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was pulling into my driveway, about to park. When I braked it was as if the "power" in the power brakes had failed. I had to stomp on the pedal. I nearly hit my house. This was one week ago. Today, as I left a parking lot, I noticed it happen again: very little stopping power, but no softness in the pedal. I placed the transmission in…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 25,000 miles

Brakes do not function properly nor consistently. I am honestly concerned (if not afraid) about a sporadic noise I am hearing and have continued to hear and experience since I purchased this truck. The noise is a thud and a feeling at the brake pedal along with a greatly increased amount of stopping distance necessary to [VIN] bringing…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 1,250 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving at various speeds (25mph or 65mph) I let off on the accelerator to either slow down or come to a stop, when accelerating again I get a check engine light and I have no power. I limp along for several minutes then all of a sudden the fuel pedal sensor that tells the ecu where the fuel pedal is at catches up and I’m able to…Owner complaint, filed 2024

On march 6 of 2014 I had brought my 2013 toyota tundra in for a very bad vibration issue coming from the bottom it turns out when they inspected the truck that driveshaft had to be repacked I was in a rental car for two inconvenience me for those two days with no truck that I bought to have and use finally got the truck back everything…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 8,750 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle had run a red light and crashed into the front grill assembly of the contact's vehicle then the other vehicle spun and crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The contact's front driver seat moved…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 72,120 miles

Horn does not work when a road hazard was presented attempted to utilize horn nothing happened when I took to toyota they said it is the wiring harness from the airbag around the steering column and is not covered under warranty and is not a recall but when I look up online many people for years have had issues with this problem was sent…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 142,100 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Turned headlight switch to "on" position but lights did not turn on. Turned switch "off" and back "on" and lights still did not work. Wiggled the switch around some and the lights came on. Truck was sitting in my driveway when this happened. I was driving one night and turned my left turn signal on and the headlights went off. I was able…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 127,000 miles

I was driving with bright lights on I had fog lights on first time I had ever used them had a left turn to make turned turn signal on all lights went out I was in total darkness I turned signal off and lights came back on I pulled off the road I hit the signal again and the lights went our again and the GPS unit we noticed changed from…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 10,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 toyota tundra. While the vehicle was being serviced at ashland honda toyota (2301 lake shore dr e, ashland, wi 54806, (715) 682-5252), the technician noticed that both rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The [VIN] was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 79,000 miles

When driving on concrete interstate highways at speeds over 65 MPH there is excessive bed bounce on the pickup creating extreme vibration in the cabin and affecting the handling of the pickup. I complained to the toyota dealer and was told that this is normal for all pickups but I could correct it by loading weight in the box. It appears…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 2,700 miles