NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 125 owner complaints for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma.
Recalled components: body structure, equipment, brakes, engine, and 1 more. Most-described problem: shaking, shuddering or vibration (13 complaints, 10%). Most-reported area: powertrain (22 complaints, 18%; median mileage when it happened: 6,500).
Fewer complaints than a typical Tacoma year
The 2013 drew 54 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 84 for a typical Tacoma year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2016; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listing: TACOMA. Components: Equipment; Body structure: body, hood, hinge and attachments. Toyota campaign SET17B.
Equipment
Aug 4, 2014
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listing: TACOMA.
Brakes
Feb 12, 2014
antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · control unit/module
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), and Traction Control system.
Risk: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
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.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listing: TACOMA.
Equipment
Apr 9, 2013
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
NHTSA listing: TACOMA.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2013 Toyota Tacoma; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listing: TACOMA. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Tacoma. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Shaking, shuddering or vibration13 · 10%
Rust or corrosion11 · 9%
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)9 · 7%
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling7 · 6%
Median 6,500 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Brakes18 · 14%
Median 25,700 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Steering14 · 11%
Suspension14 · 11%
Electrical system13 · 10%
Body structure11 · 9%
Most named: body (11)
Stability control11 · 9%
Unknown or other13 · 10%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Toyota Tacoma recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2013 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Tacoma drew the most (200) and the 2013 drew 54.
Owner complaints
2013: 125 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Toyota Tacoma
Model year
Complaints
2010
294
2011
186
2012
295
2013
125
2014
93
2015
101
2016
323
2017
239
2018
206
2019
218
2020
87
2021
80
2022
59
2023
54
2024
151
2025
100
2026
6
Safety recalls
2013: 6 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Toyota Tacoma
Model year
Recalls
2010
13
2011
9
2012
7
2013
6
2014
4
2015
4
2016
4
2017
5
2018
3
2019
4
2020
1
2021
0
2022
3
2023
4
2024
6
2025
5
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma, the problems described most are shaking, shuddering or vibration (13), rust or corrosion (11), and suspension part problems (9). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2013 Toyota Tacoma safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2013 Toyota Tacoma earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Sep 19, 2024.
How do I check if my Tacoma has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Toyota dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TACOMA.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.