Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the unoccupied vehicle was parked on a slightly inclined driveway. The contact later noticed that the vehicle had rolled across the street into the neighbor's yard, causing the rear end of the vehicle to crash into a pine tree. There were no injuries sustained. The tree branches were damaged. The contact stated that both taillights were damaged, the tailgate was pushed into the bed tonneau cover, there was a significant dent on the bumper, and the vehicle sustained other unknown damages. The contact was able to drive the vehicle from the scene. The contact stated that after the incident, the contact noticed that the vehicle could shift into gear while the brake pedal was not depressed, and the gear shifter could be moved out of park(P) while the vehicle was turned off. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated he received an unknown recall letter for the chassis, where it was completed at local dealer antwerpen Toyota (12420 auto dr, clarksville, md 21029: [phone]). The contact stated shortly after the recall repair was performed, while driving over a speed bump he heard an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact called and notified the local dealer of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
I was advised that I had a TSB from my truck ,I felt as if I was hit from behind and a thump or clunk felt when coming to a stop or take off from stop.told it was normal by all dealers?I drained to check fluid from at pan,only 1 qt. Came out, added required 3.2 qts as required, solution resolved and rides better than new, no help from Toyota and dealers.very upset and happy I fixed and no compassion from Toyota and dealers ! Check tranny fluid level by draining pan and measure! Had a Toyota flush done 4 months prior and that's whe it began, Toyota dealer did it wrong???not me !
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it rolled away in reverse independently. The vehicle then crashed into a nearby tree. There was no personal injury. A police report was not filed of the incident. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where the technician was unable to locate a failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while attempting to move from a stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that intermittently the vehicle failed to accelerate. There was no warning. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
When coming to an abrupt stop, the transmission will slip into neutral and will not reengage first gear until the engine reaches 1.5K RPM and jolting the truck forward. The truck will then not shift into fifth gear and the traction control off warning light comes on until the truck has been shut off.
While driving at 40 MPH the vehicle acts as if it's not getting correct power and feels like transmission or torque converter is lagging the the vehicle back. This issue only happens at 40 MPH and feels as if vehicle my die going 40mph down the road.
I seem to have an intermittent clutch issue with my Tacoma. When the outside temperatures are cold (below freezing) and the truck has been sitting over night, the clutch pedal is slow to return. I have been having this problem since winter set in here in sc. But until 3-14-2014, this has become a safety concern. I was coming out of my neighborhood and came up to a stop at a stop light which is on a hill. As I was sitting there a moped came up behind me. Due to the truck and outside temperature being below freezing, the clutch pedal was as usual, slow to return. Due to the clutch being slow to return and me being on a hill, I wasn't able to launch the truck fast enough and almost rolled over the person on the moped behind me. With this condition, the truck can be a safety, and accident hazard. It is a common problem on this truck after thorough research. …
After my taco was delivered to the dealer I drove it off the lot with 6 miles on it and while driving home I noticed what appeared to be a noise that sounded like radio feedback. I took it back to the dealer and after doing some checking was told that it was nothing serious and was scheduled to bring it in the following week. Upon taking it in and having it checked it was determined that there was a problem with it and that the noise was duplicated. They did replace the trans with new factory trans and I asked to be notified as to what was determined to be the failure. I have been contacted by Toyota however was told that they would not divulge to me what had failed and was also told that it was proprietary as the trans belongs to Toyota. After doing some research I have concluded that they did not want to tell me because they May very well be a problem with the trans. …
The truck shudders or vibrates when accelerating and decelerating. The source of the shudder appears to be the drive shaft and carrier bearing. Toyota has included this model in the technical service bulletin for the shudder. However, the dealership and Toyota fail to tell you about the known problems with the truck before they sell it to a sucker like me. Additionally, there is a vibration from the front end when I apply the brakes, especially when braking from high speeds. I took it back to the dealership and they had the technicians go through the instructions in the technical service bulletin. The technicians confirmed the shudder, and the service manager said there is no fix for the problem. This is totally unacceptable from a company like Toyota. This issue qualifies under the "lemon law", both state and federal. …
Transmission complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Toyota Tacoma, 18% of the model year's 125 complaints. The component named most often is driveline (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Toyota Tacoma transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma, though it has 6 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 Tacoma transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 8,000 miles, and 68% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.