At a glance
What can fail
The power steering gear assembly may have been made incorrectly, causing oil to leak from it.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the power steering gear assembly and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
This page covers 3 recalls, 84 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Toyota Tundra.
15–16 mpg combined
14.7–15.7 L/100km
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
The 2013 Toyota Tundra, a US-market vehicle, received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. In frontal crash testing, it earned four stars. Side crash protection was rated at five stars, while side pole crash testing also achieved five stars. Rollover resistance received a three-star rating. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a vehicle redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the Tundra throughout its generation.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Engine and fuel system complaints dominate what 2013 Tundra owners report. On the engine side, the secondary air injection system draws repeated attention, owners describe check engine lights returning multiple times, with sensors requiring replacement more than once to address the fault. The fuel and propulsion system complaints center on throttle response issues, where owners report a lag between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle responding, sometimes accompanied by a check engine light and a brief loss of power before the truck recovers. Steering complaints are the third most-reported system, though the narratives don't point to a single dominant symptom. Outside the top systems, a handful of owners mention wheel corrosion severe enough to cause air loss, and isolated reports touch on horn failure and odometer discrepancies from prior ownership. The secondary air injection pattern and the throttle hesitation with accompanying check engine light appear most consistently across multiple owners.
84
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Toyota Tundra has 3 recalls, the most serious being two separate wheel attachment issues where lug nuts can loosen, crack, or cause wheel studs to fracture, allowing a wheel to detach from the vehicle while driving.
Both wheel recalls affect trucks that were modified or accessorized with aftermarket 20-inch wheels through regional distributors. In one case, a coating failure on chrome lug nuts allows them to work loose or shear the wheel studs entirely. In the other, lug nuts installed with a specific set of accessory wheels can crack and fall away. Either failure can result in a wheel separating at speed. On the steering side, the power steering gear assembly can develop an internal oil leak that causes a sudden and complete loss of power steering assist, meaning the steering wheel becomes significantly harder to turn, particularly at low speeds or during parking maneuvers where the system does the most work.
At a glance
What can fail
The power steering gear assembly may have been made incorrectly, causing oil to leak from it.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the power steering gear assembly and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 6 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Rockstar wheels installed on these vehicles may have lugnuts that crack and detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will install new replacement lugnuts at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Chrome-coated lug nuts on modified wheels can deteriorate, allowing lug nuts to loosen or wheel studs to break.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all 20 lug nuts and tighten them to proper specifications at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.