2013 Toyota Camry Problems
Compared with other Toyota Camry years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
27/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.6× that of a typical Toyota Camry year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 102 of its 274 complaints were filed by the end of 2015.
- Most reported problem: Shudder or hesitation when accelerating (torque converter) (62 complaints, median 70,000 mi).
- 2 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 274filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 26,500miles, 198 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 28 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 34 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Toyota Camry (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2013 Camry most often describe shuddering, hesitation and jerking during acceleration, often tied to the torque converter, plus early complaints about vague highway steering and airbag warning lights. Many reports come at low mileage, while transmission-related complaints tend to appear later in the vehicle's life.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Shudder or hesitation when accelerating (torque converter)
- 62 complaints (23%)
- median 70,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (39 state mileage)
- filed 2013–2026
Owners describe a brief shudder, vibration or hesitation while accelerating, often under light throttle between roughly 25 and 50 mph, and sometimes a jerk or lag pulling away from a stop. Several say a dealer diagnosed torque converter shudder and recommended a flush or replacement, and some link the symptom to a Toyota warranty enhancement program. A few report the condition worsening over time, with transmission fluid concerns or slipping noted. Reported from very low mileage up to well over 150,000 miles, most commonly in the 50,000 to 120,000 mile range.
What to check: Road test at light throttle around 25 to 50 mph and from a stop, feeling for shudder or lag. Ask whether the torque converter flush or reprogram described in the service bulletins was performed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My car stalls every time I pull of from a red light or try to pick up speed after going slow and jerks at times. It's like the car is not changing gears”
NHTSA complaint #11397629, filed 2021-02, 120,000 miles“When accelerating at a stop light or when slowing down to make a turn, it hesitates when stepping on it to go. It will go about 5 - 10 feet and hesitate, just enough to make everyone behind you think you are going and they close behind you enough to almost hit you because they don't realize the care hesitates. It has happened more than 4 times. It is an accident waiting to happen.”
NHTSA complaint #10721691, filed 2015-05, 55,000 miles - Vehicle speed control
Hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop
- 28 complaints (10%)
- median 57,500 mi at 4.1 yrs old (27 state mileage)
- filed 2013–2024
Owners report a pause of a second or two when pulling away from a light or turning, after which the car accelerates normally or suddenly picks up. Some describe the car failing to respond to the accelerator at all, at speeds as low as 15 to 20 mph. Dealers often could not reproduce the condition or found no stored codes; one report mentions a throttle pedal position sensor diagnosis. Spread across the mileage range, with several reports on vehicles under 20,000 miles and others past 100,000 miles.
What to check: Drive the car from several standing starts, including a cold start, and note any delay between pedal input and movement. Ask whether throttle body or pedal sensor work was ever done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Problem with acceleration the car doesn't accelerate more than 30m/h daignosed bu Toyota dealer as throttle pedal position sensor failure .the car has 94k only although I have extended warantee purchesed when I bought the car but Toyota company refuse to honour it saying it's only covering engine and transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10945736, filed 2017-01, 94,000 miles“The issue did not happen on a consist basis until last month. Everytime I drive my car hesitates. It takes a minute or two for my car to accelerate. It doesn't matter if I'm on a local road, interstate or going up a hill. The outcome is the same.”
NHTSA complaint #11359867, filed 2020-09, 152,167 miles - Steering
Steering wander at highway speed or stiff steering
- 40 complaints (15%)
- median 10,144 mi at 1.5 yrs old (34 state mileage)
- 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2013–2026
Several owners describe the car wandering or requiring constant small corrections at highway speeds, comparing it to driving in a crosswind. Others report the steering wheel becoming stiff or hard to turn, sometimes alongside dashboard lights coming on or electrical accessories cutting out while driving. One report notes a knocking sound from the steering column. Reported from delivery mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with the wander complaints concentrated in the first few thousand miles.
What to check: Test drive at highway speed and check for play, wander or a stiff wheel, and ask whether any steering column or power steering repairs were done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I bought this new Camry and drove it off the lot, it seems fine at lower speeds. When you get up to highway speeds or freeway speeds the car always seems to wonder from side to side. You constantly have to make corrections with the wheel. If you take your eyes off the road for a second you can very easily wind up in the oncoming lane of a two way highway. I thought it might be just me, so I had several other people drive it and they experienced the same thing. The steering is a real safety hazard. …”
NHTSA complaint #10508146, filed 2013-04, 15 miles“We leased a 2013 Toyota Camry xle on friday march 29th, 2013 at 9:00 pm. From manhattan beach Toyota in manhattan beach california. The very next day, saturday march 30th, 2013 while driving northbound on highway 99 near bakersfield at 65 miles per hour to lindsay california from inglewood california, I heard a ding sound and I felt the steering wheel stiffen up. I had to immediately hold on tightly to the steering wheel to try and keep control of the car. I then noticed all of the dashboard lights had turned on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10513971, filed 2013-05, 115 miles
Buying note. A pre-purchase road test at both light-throttle cruise and from a standing start is the most useful check on this model year, since transmission shudder and acceleration hesitation are the most frequent themes. Also confirm the air conditioning drain hose recall was completed and that the airbag and steering systems behave normally.
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.
NHTSA recorded 274 consumer complaints for the 2013 Toyota Camry. 198 of the complaints include a mileage, and 59% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 26,500 miles. Of all complaints, 42 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 27 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 544 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Toyota Camry model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 27 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Other or unknown47 17%
- Air bags36 13%
- Vehicle speed control35 13%
- Electrical system29 11%
- Engine26 9.5%
- Steering26 9.5%
- Body and structure26 9.5%
- Brakes20 7.3%
- Fuel system12 4.4%
Also reported: Seat belts (10), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (10), Suspension (6), Electronic stability control (5), Engine cooling (4), Exterior lighting (4), Seats (4), Wheels (4), Equipment (2), Tires (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “My car shudders from 20-45 miles an hour have taken in to a car shop and they say it is the torque converter, or transmission in this car. My car is only 5 years old and should not be having these problems. After it gets up to 50 it starts to run smoothly. The vehicle is in motion. I see from complaints that a lot of people have had their torque converters replaced by the dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11111795, filed 2018-07, 125,000 milesOther or unknown: “While my car was sitting in my driveway, my sunroof exploded. If I had been driving, this would have been very dangerous. The evening before I heard a pop . That night, I could not locate the source. The next morning, I realized my sunroof had shattered. I contacted Toyota. They took a report, but I don't think they took me seriously.”
NHTSA complaint #11394750, filed 2021-02, 60,000 milesAir bags: “The airbag safety light has come on and remained on for 2 weeks the dealership told me it's a failed sensor. I have never been on a car crash. The airbag sensor is expected to remain functional for the life of the vehicle. Otherwise, my airbag might deploy unexpectedly or fail to deploy when I need them.”
NHTSA complaint #11354096, filed 2020-09, 138,000 milesVehicle speed control: “For the last week my vehicle has been randomly stalling out intermittently. There have been no check engine lights, codes or other issues. On the morning of june 9th 2018 my vehicle continued accelerating without my foot on the pedal. It barely stopped causing me to go over a curb damaging bumper and brake caliper. I am not driving the vehicle and it cannot be looked at until june 13”
NHTSA complaint #11100664, filed 2018-06, 77,071 milesMileage when problems were reported
59% of the 198 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,146 and 75,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Toyota Camry. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry · sedan FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 11.1% risk |
| Camry HV · sedan FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 11.1% risk |
Neighbouring years: 2012: same overall rating; 2014: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2013 Toyota Camry version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Camry FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 13V442000Oct 17, 2013Equipment › Appliance › Air conditionerCovers: Toyota Camry 2012–2013, Venza 2012–2013, Avalon 2012–2013
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 conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air…
- 13V505000Oct 17, 2013Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiringCovers: Toyota Camry 2013–2014, Camry Hybrid 2013–2014, Avalon 2013 +2 more
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper…
Recall details for the 2013 Toyota Camry → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 544 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11028712Jan 7, 2026Other or unknown. Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and…
- 11020657Jun 13, 2025Electrical system. The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in…
- 11012744Dec 6, 2024Body and structure. The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these…
- 11012743Dec 6, 2024Body and structure. To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the…
- 11012742Dec 6, 2024Body and structure. Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle…
- 11012735Dec 5, 2024Body and structure. Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail…
- 11012727Dec 3, 2024Body and structure. Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type…
- 11007455Jul 29, 2024Body and structure. Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and…
- 11006161Jul 29, 2024Body and structure. Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and…
- 11007445Jul 12, 2024Body and structure. The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these…
Other model years of the Toyota Camry
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52 | 5,555 | 1 | 5 | 26 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 65 | 30,000 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 5 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 64 | 40,500 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 158 | 20,500 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 8 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 275 | 7,750 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 52 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 400 | 11,100 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 76 · More | Stable |
| 2018 | 754 | 17,500 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 98 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 148 | 30,797 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 17 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 184 | 28,886 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 22 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 271 | 39,700 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 6 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 455 | 37,060 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 48 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 274 | 26,500 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 27 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2012 | 590 | 40,000 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 57 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 602 | 49,000 | 5 | 3–4 | 25 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 604 | 30,000 | 9 | — | 26 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 1,294 | 49,000 | 10 | — | 25 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 933 | 55,000 | 7 | — | 25 | 81 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 2,888 | 60,000 | 9 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 317 | 42,748 | 5 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 721 | 42,000 | 5 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 638 | 45,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 782 | 48,785 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 953 | 50,000 | 4 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 272 | 70,000 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 454 | 70,000 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 501 | 80,732 | 1 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 600 | 85,000 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 555 | 87,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1996 | 417 | 96,428 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1995 | 303 | 122,589 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 287 | 105,514 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 260 | 134,508 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 565 | 126,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 149 | 119,500 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1990 | 134 | 150,500 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 113 | 153,500 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1988 | 64 | 90,000 | 4 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 58 | 159,796 | 3 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1986 | 32 | 76,110 | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 13 | 58,000 | 0 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 8 | — | 2 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 1983 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Toyota Camry model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Camry?
Owners of the 2013 Camry most often describe shuddering, hesitation and jerking during acceleration, often tied to the torque converter, plus early complaints about vague highway steering and airbag warning lights. The issues reported most often: Shudder or hesitation when accelerating (torque converter); Hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop; Steering wander at highway speed or stiff steering.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Toyota Camry have?
NHTSA recorded 274 consumer complaints for the 2013 Toyota Camry as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2013 Toyota Camry is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 67 complaints (24% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 47.
Has the 2013 Toyota Camry been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2013 Toyota Camry do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2013 Toyota Camry 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Toyota Camry get?
The EPA rates the 2013 Toyota Camry (Camry, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Toyota Camry reported?
Among the 198 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 26,500 miles and the middle half falls between 5,146 and 75,000 miles; 59% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.