Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. Their inspector called me and told me the car worked great and the master warning signal was not flashing nor buzzing and he would send me a copy of the computer print out but it was never sent. I did get some kind of a record but it could not be copied, I took a picture of it but it is in some type code( a computer file) the test consisted of a acceleration and stopping test 22 days after the 1st incident, the car worked well for the days between the incidents. …
On March 7, 2020 the driver entered a parking lot of a retail establishment. The driver, using the brakes and traveling at less than 5 miles per hour, turned into a parking space. As the driver negotiated the turn into the parking space, the car suddenly accelerated and crashed headfirst into a retail signage pole. Despite depressing the brakes as hard as possible, the driver could not stop the car once the car suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated. The car would have landed in a busy four-lane road, if it had not crashed into the signage pole. Fortunately, there was no fatality. The car was totaled and there was some property damage to the retail establishment. It was truly a horrific experience for the driver.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Avalon. While reversing into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into the vehicle behind it. A police report was filed and it was unknown if any injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,400.
While parking my car, the motor suddenly accelerated without the accelerator pedal having been depressed. The car surged forward and even after the brake was applied the engine continued to accelerate for several seconds.
In 2013 I bought a Toyota Avalon limited sedan. Before the factory warranty was expired, a clip holding the drivers floor mat in place broke. I took it into the dealership and was told it was not covered and the reason it was not is because 'I am getting in and out of my car the wrong way' they put the clip back in but did not repair the underlying carpet issue. I asked for them to show me a written manual or to at least demonstrate what it is I was doing wrong and I also asked if they were watching me get in and out of my car for them to have this information. They were unable to answer any of these questions but still refused to fix the issue. Flash forward and I get a pre-collision system recall. Toyota has no solution so they turn off the entire system. Now I have no collision mitigation when the floor mat clip comes lose again. …
Dynamic cruise control turn itself off or applies brakes this has happened multiple times on tangent sections with no vehicles in front - highway speed (70 MPH). There is a series of beeps and the car slows gradually or abruptly. Dashboard indicator shows there is a vehicle in front but no vehicle is present - false positive. Took vehicle to Toyota dealer and he stated that when pcs was disabled it would remedy the problem. It did not. Returned to Toyota dealer - he checked with Toyota corporate and they have no record of any problems like this. Problem normally occurs on longer trips after driving 2-3 hours. Dynamic cruise cannot be reset for an hour or two. You must either drive manually or use normal cruise control mode for an hour or two and then you can return to dynamic cruise control. …
Was driving home one day after taking my dad about 45 mins away was driving as usual and the car died had to pull over to side of road put in park and restart. Has done it several times after we have had in at Toyota dealerships on 3 different occasions and they cannot duplicate or diagnose. Sent me home with an unsafe car for the 4th time. Tried taking car back to where I bought as issue happened on feb 6 21 and I purchased on jan 27 21 going to change the crankshaft position sensor next week and see if thats what it is. Please help I am stuck with a 23000 loan for a car I cant drive safely or confidently!
While driving westbound on the muskogee turnpike (hwy 351), at mile marker 20, the cruise control shut off, vehicle stability icon came on, check engine light began flashing. The car also lost power and ran rough. Pulled over, shut off vehicle. After restarting, the car ran fine. This has happened twice, October 3rd and October 17th in 2016. This vehicle is equipped with a keyless remote. Additionally, this happened next to a cell phone tower on the north side of the highway. It does not occur while traveling the opposite direction on the highway.
ECU and pcs switch to control vehicle's speed, will suddenly reduce speed on highway in traffic ( very dangerous) and vehicle will almost come to stop without warning! Warranty repaired on 7-26-16 at dealership, doing same thing again, said not covered under original recall vehicle, warranty expired. Help...dangerous situation, very expensive to fix...same problem as before...advise please. Vehicle being operated on busy highway started med August o present 1/01/19 on-going, back to dealer +++times+++
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Avalon. While attempting to park the vehicle at approximately 5 MPH, it independently accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed, but failed to slow down the vehicle. The vehicle went over a curb and plowed into a garden area covered with mulch before coming to a stop. There was no crash or injuries involved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
Acceleration complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Toyota Avalon, 16% of the model year's 137 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Toyota Avalon, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.