2013 Toyota Tundra: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
84 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2023 Tundra, which scores 32 on 394 complaints at 131.3 per year on the road, with Engine at 161, Power Train at 83 and Fuel/Propulsion System at 60. Buy a 2013 to 2015, which score 81, 79 and 86 on 84, 92 and 48 complaints, or the 2020 at 78 on 45. Read the full note on the model page. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 84 complaints, score 81/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Toyota 4Runner and Tundra: the years to avoid, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 84 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 6.46
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 the contact was provided the same information as provided by the dealer. The veh…
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 happened if I had been on the highway and had a rapid deflation of the tire or …
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 was discovered that the mileage was 175,000.
Recalls: 6 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 13V123000 | 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 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… |
| 17V311000 | Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 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 Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach. |
| 13V014000 | 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, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013… |
| 14V429000 | Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 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 non-Toyota-brand 20-inch alloy wheels and chrome plated lug nuts. |
| 21V920000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 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 can result in an oil leak. |
| 21E103000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 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, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a pickup of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 17 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,600
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine23 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System13 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Electrical System11 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering10 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Structure7 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Wheels5 complaints · typical job: Wheel bearing or hub replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$460–$920
Other Toyota Tundra years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota Tundra?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (23 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 84 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Toyota Tundra's most common problem?
23 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Toyota Tundra sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Toyota Tundra cost to run per year?
About $6,072 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,362 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Toyota Tundra have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Toyota Tundra, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 09/04/2013. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other pickups of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Toyota Tundra really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 84 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 84 NHTSA complaints on record (6.5/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (8.9/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems