2013 Toyota Avalon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe unwanted or unexpected braking and acceleration events, and rear headliner or sunshade problems that limit the view out the back window. Many of these reports were filed at low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles, while several brake and air bag reports came in at much higher mileage.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected braking, surging or acceleration

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 14,200 mi at 3.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2020

   Owners describe the car applying the brakes on its own, surging forward while parking or idling at a stop, or picking up speed without the accelerator being pressed. Some report that even hard brake pressure did not stop the car during these events. According to the complaints, dealers and the manufacturer often tested the vehicle and reported that it performed as designed or that no fault could be duplicated. Some owners tie the braking behavior to the pre-collision system. Reported from a few hundred up to roughly 45,000-85,000 miles, often during slow parking maneuvers or while stopped at lights.

   Recall 15V728000

   What to check: Drive the car at low speed in a lot and test light-throttle and brake transitions, and ask the seller whether the pre-collision system has had any service. Ask for any dealer inspection notes about prior unintended braking or acceleration reports.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I stopped at traffic light and had my foot on the brake but felt the car accelerate and start to go forward. I put the car in neutral with my foot still on the brake. When I tried to return to drive the car jumped a foot.I still had my foot pressed down on the brake. I went back to neutral. By that time the light changed and I went to drive and the car was back to normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10563472, filed 2014-02, 850 miles

   “My vehicle while holding the brake (stationary) at a stop sigh, the vehicle accelerated and hit the back of the car in front.. For 5 days it worked and the following wednesday it accelerated again ( in motion) while parking in the handicap space at idle speed and brakes. Toyota motor north america, inc. Sent me a letter that stated that they could not find any problem with the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11256270, filed 2019-09, 108,421 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rear headliner sagging or separating

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 8,400 mi at 1.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2019

   Owners report the cloth headliner coming loose near the rear window or around the sunroof, sometimes drooping into the rear glass. Several say the dealer reattached it temporarily or told them there was no available repair, and some were told the problem was widespread. Complaints describe the loose material returning after the fix. Most often described at very low mileage, from under 1,000 up to about 14,000 miles, frequently within the first months of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look closely at the headliner above the rear window and around the sunroof edges for sagging, creases or adhesive marks, and ask whether any repair has been attempted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This Toyota was purchased with a sunroof top. After driving the car for two weeks we noticed the headliner was coming loose from the roof. We noticed that when you opened the sunroof the air entering the car made the roof or headliner shake and move as if to much air was getting under it causing the headliner to separate from the roof. We took the car in for service and the dealership finally told us there was a recall on these headliners and that no parts were being replaced at this time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10522830, filed 2013-07, 410 miles

   “Headliner is falling down in back by rear window. Problem was reported to Toyota. I am told Toyota is working on a fix for it but it will be a while before a resolution is found. As a good will gesture Toyota tacked up the headliner in the middle where it was falling down. A few days later the headliner began to fall down on both sides where it was tacked up by the rear window. I was then told, they were afraid that would happen. Toyota has no resolution and will not replace the headliner or vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10532562, filed 2013-07, 966 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear sunshade stuck in the up position

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners of models with the power rear sunshade report it deploying and locking in the raised position, blocking much of the rear view and failing to retract when reverse is selected. Some describe a grinding sound as the motor tries and fails to lower it. Complaints say the dealer declined warranty coverage and quoted a motor replacement, with one owner paying to have the motor disconnected. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 90,000 miles, and several owners mention it starting on hot days.

   What to check: With the car in reverse, confirm the sunshade lowers on its own and returns up in drive without noise. Ask whether the sunshade motor or relay has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear window shade (which should automatically go down when you put the car in reverse) was stuck in the up position which made it difficult to see clearly when backing up also at night. Toyota said it was not warrantied and that they would not be responsible for the coast $1400 to replace a bad motor even though I said it was a safety hazard. In the end I paid $395.58 to have the motor disconnected so I could see clearly out the back window.”

   NHTSA complaint #11246524, filed 2019-08, 65,000 miles

   “The rear sun shade which extends and retracts to cover the back window of my Avalon has a fault which causes it to get stuck in the extended position, covering the rear window. This drastically reduces the visibility out the rear window and there is no obvious or simple fix for the issue. I have found online that many people are having a similar problem. Before the shade got stuck, it would randomly extend or retract during hot days, which seems to be due to a faulty relay. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387022, filed 2021-01, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 16 complaints (12%)
   • median 29,429 mi at 2.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe crashes in which the air bags did not deploy, sometimes with no warning light beforehand, and some report injuries. Other complaints concern the air bag control module and the air-conditioning drain hose that can drip onto it, which owners learned about through a recall notice. Several owners say the vehicle was repaired or inspected afterward. Reported from as little as about 1,000 up to roughly 75,000-132,000 miles, generally at the time of a collision.

   Recall 20V024000Recall 13V4420001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that recalls 20V024000 and 13V442000 were completed, and check that the air bag warning light comes on at startup and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased the used vehicle from corwin Toyota in fargo, nd. After purchasing the vehicle I returned three times for repairs. When I brought the vehicle in for service the third time in six weeks I found out that two recalls would also be taken care of. I went on line to find out what the recalls were for. One of them was NHTSA recall id 13v442. This recall is about a drain hose clogging that could ultimately cause the air bags to activate due to the malfunction or to possibly not activate in an accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10663009, filed 2014-12, 23,379 miles

   “Per the Toyota service department, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser in my 2013 Toyota Avalon may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module. They say Toyota will not fix this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631705, filed 2014-09, 11,200 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feels soft or fades

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2020

   Owners describe a brake pedal that travels far toward the floor or feels soft, in some cases so low that the foot reaches the accelerator. One owner reports the pedal sinking to the floor with no braking on a downhill grade. Complaints say dealers inspected the brakes and reported them as within specification. Reported from around 24,000 up to about 82,000 miles, sometimes during highway driving or on downgrades.

   What to check: Press and hold the brake pedal firmly with the engine running to check it does not sink, and ask for recent brake fluid and pad service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since 2016 the brakes have been very soft and sometimes when depressing the brake it goes far enough that my foot hits the gas pedal. I have told the dealership and they said they check the brakes and they are ok but to this day they are still soft and this could cause a potential problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11301089, filed 2020-01, 39,000 miles

   “Traveling at approximately 65mph in heavy traffic, sudden braking in front of me required quick braking. When I pressed the brake pedal, no brakes activated and the car actually seemed to increase speed. I then applied heavy pressure on the pedal which caused the tires to screech/slide before the ABS activated. The sudden braking incident caused me to fear not only being rear ended, but also, ramming the vehicle in front of me. Very unsettling and I now have much less confidence in Toyota's top of the line sedan. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10583238, filed 2014-04, 24,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this year were performed, verify the rear sunshade and headliner condition, and take a slow-speed test drive that includes braking and parking maneuvers. Records of brake and pre-collision system inspections are worth requesting before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.