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2013 Toyota Venza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
10 of 46 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Toyota Venza. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.

Better than 85% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 17%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2013 Toyota Venza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Venza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 19% and the 2014 scores 12%. 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
10
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
59
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
13 crashes · 13 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS12 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 17%
STRUCTURE10 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES10 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7 · 12%

The years either side

2010
15%
11 of 79
2011
12%
6 of 59
2012
19%
3 of 25
2013
22%
10 of 59
2014
12%
3 of 31
2015
14%
3 of 27
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
too few complaints
2022
no data
2023
no data

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

What owners reported

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE11/23/20151 INJURED
THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING I NOTICED A MILDEW TYPE ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM WHEN I CUT ON THE HEAT. I REPORTED DURING SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE FILTER WOULD BE CHANGED AND SOME TYPE OF ODOR REDUCER PLACED IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. IT'S WINTER AGAIN AND THE ODOR IS SO BAD THAT I AM GETTING CAR SICK WHENEVER T…
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES02/26/2013CRASH1 INJURED
PARK THE CAR GOT OUT TOOK THE KEYS OUT,WENT TO THE BACK OF CAR TO OPEN TRUNK CAR RUN BACK ON ME HIT ME AND RAN INTO A FENCE. *TR
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM03/05/2025
Fuel pump fail causing the car to stall out going 75 miles an hour on the highway

Three of 10 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2013 Toyota Venza (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, …
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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 a…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 conditionin…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2013 Toyota Venza

Questions people ask about the 2013 Toyota Venza

Does the 2013 Toyota Venza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Venza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

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

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Toyota Venza. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Toyota Venza years are better?

Among the Toyota Venza years we track, the 2011 (12%), the 2014 (12%) and the 2015 (14%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (22%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2013 Toyota Venza?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Toyota Venza shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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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.