The 2013 Toyota Avalon has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,735,352 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V0240002020-01-172,891,976 affected
Defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt…
Consequence
In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between…
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a…
Consequence
A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
EQUIPMENT13V4420002013-10-17802,769 affected
Defect
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 conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may…
Consequence
A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable…
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
VISIBILITY13V5050002013-10-179,795 affected
Defect
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 switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles…
Consequence
A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
22
6crashes4injuries
VISIBILITY/WIPER
21
1fires3injuries
AIR BAGS
14
5crashes7injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
1fires2injuries
STRUCTURE
13
SERVICE BRAKES
12
4crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
12
1crashes1injuries
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
6
VISIBILITY
6
Total complaints187
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I am submitting this complaint to report a safety-related incident involving the moonroof glass on my 2013 toyota avalon. Vehicle information: - make: toyota avalon, 2013 - vin: [xxx] - mileage at time of incident: approximately 120,000 miles while driving under normal road conditions, the…”
“Car into a brick wall, hit on front passenger side at 15 mph no airbag deployed.”
“Straps, yes the straps do not stay tight and do not keep my child restrained yes after checking the straps on the car seat they become loose no longer restraining my child in her seat”
“1) system failure: back window shade. It is available for inspection at any time. 2) safety of me and others put at risk: when the shade is down I can not see out the back window posing a significant risk to those behind me particularly pedestrians 3) has problem been reproduced: yes 4) has the…”
“Sidewall tire failed after 3 months. No hazard on roadway, sidewall separated while traveling at 70 mph causing car to go out of control with near accident. After inspecting tire it appears to have very little material depth indicating a defect by manufacturer.”
“I recently took my car in for maintenance and I was offered a complimentary car wash. 1 week after the wash, I noticed there were cloth fibers stuck between the rear side body panels. When I pulled them out, there was evidence of rust and corrosion right underneath. I suspected the cloth fibers…”
“The cylinder head gasket in the engine has failed and is now leaking coolant under the body of the car. This has been inspected by a certified toyota dealership and has been maintained by one since we bought the car. There were no warning signs or problems with the car other than feeling off…”
“There is a very strong musty smell. 80% of the time it's when I turn on ac. 20% just at random driving times. Whenever car has sat longer then a few hours with all windows up. When open doors is has very musty smell. I have done everything to do with cleaning vehicle. This is a hybrid I'm a lil…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA19001 Opened 2019-04-19 · closed 2024-09-19
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2013 Toyota Avalon as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.