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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 17, 2026
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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

2010
25%
38 of 163
2011
46%
58 of 134
2012
58%
85 of 156
2013
46%
34 of 85
2014
20%
17 of 93
2015
27%
11 of 49
2016
15%
15 of 120
2017
37%
22 of 78
2018
30%
28 of 100
2019
26%
17 of 74
2020
29%
12 of 46
2021
too few complaints
2022
67%
284 of 428
2023
72%
286 of 408

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Toyota Tundra

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 them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Toyota Tundra?

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 17, 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.

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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.

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.

Should I buy a 2013 Toyota Tundra?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Toyota Tundra has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.