The 2013 Toyota Camry has a handful of issues, but they have been reported in very low numbers. Given the car’s high safety ratings and low cost of maintenance, it’s easy to look past a handful of complaints.
Key Points
- The 2013 Toyota Camry has just two recalls, one investigation, and 261 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- A shuddering transmission is the car’s leading problem, making up a large chunk of the vehicle’s NHTSA complaints.
- Toyota’s 2013 Camry was recalled for airbags deploying at random, thanks to a leak affecting the airbag control unit.
- Poor build quality has been reported by a couple dozen drivers, with bumpers coming loose and switches failing to work as intended.
- The vehicle costs an average of $388 a year to keep running, and holds a Top Safety Pick award with the IIHS.
Shuddering, Stuttering, and Hesitant Acceleration Among Powertrain Problems Facing a Few Dozen 2013 Camry Drivers
The leading cause for complaint in the 2013 Toyota Camry is in the powertrain, with 58 reports filed on the NHTSA’s page, out of 261 complaints total. Engine complaints make up 21 of the 261 complaints, and there are 36 complaints filed under vehicle speed control.
The issue is that the transmission seems to halt and shudder at certain speeds. Some drivers report that the car “randomly fails to accelerate” when shuddering, or that it stutters at low speeds. There are a lot of different symptoms, but the general pattern is the same: the car struggles when shifting gears.
Typical failure mileage is usually in the low six figures, so this might be an instance where an existing issue is being compounded by the advanced age of the car. Earlier powertrain complaints point to rare incidents of sudden acceleration, while more recent complaints are mostly focused on the shuddering.
There have been no investigations into this matter, and there are no recalls on file. Thankfully, the rate of incidence is pretty low, with just a few dozen complaints across more than 400,000 units sold. If your Camry suffers from transmission shudder, you’ll probably have to cover the repairs yourself. But, that’s statistically unlikely to happen.
An Airbag Recall Addressed Random Airbag Deployment, but Failure to Deploy is Still an Issue for Some 2013 Camrys
In nearly a million 2012-2013 Toyotas, there was an issue where the air conditioner condenser’s drain hose would get clogged. Water would then accumulate in the condenser, and eventually leak onto the airbag control unit. This could result in a short circuit, which could lead to the airbag deploying without warning.
So, this is kind of a weird one, but it’s the sort of thing that can happen when you have so many moving parts. Every piece needs to be working properly for every other piece to work properly.
The recall was issued in October of 2013, so Toyota managed to address this one early. This seems to have been the end of it, as there has been no major pattern of airbags deploying for no reason since, but, other airbag-related issues persist.
Namely, airbag lights keep flickering on and staying that way, and a number of drivers have been involved in accidents where the airbags did not deploy. The rate of incidence is low, but the issue is potentially quite serious, and is worth looking into when buying a used 2013 Camry.
Random Assortment of Structural Issues Lead to a Couple Dozen Complaints About the 2013 Toyota Camry
With 25 complaints and a recall on file, structural issues have been a recurring problem for the 2013 Camry. The recall addresses a wiper switch with a tendency to fail. This recall was issued in October 2013, for just under 10,000 units.
In the complaints department, one driver reports that their front bumper hangs loose, despite not having been in an accident. Another driver reports that the hood support gave out while changing the oil, and the hood came slamming down
Other reports include trunk lids failing to hold, interior lining and paneling coming loose, and ineffective weather stripping, among other complaints. Few of the complaints point to major, immediate safety issues, but they do suggest generally shoddy build quality in some areas.
While 25 complaints may not sound like much, structural issues like these are among the least likely to be reported. For every driver complaining that a window switch isn’t working, there may be a dozen who don’t think it’s worth the time to report. Reported mileage in the complaints is typically under 50,000 miles.
Low Incidence Rate and High Safety Ratings Make the 2013 Camry a Solid Choice for Used Car Buyers
The Camry has a reputation for being one of the more reliable, less troubled, most efficient cars on the road today. The 2013 edition absolutely lives up to that rep.
The most concerning thing with this car is the airbags. If the airbags don’t deploy when they’re needed, or they do deploy when they’re not needed, that’s going to be a problem. Your best bet is to simply run the VIN and make sure that your Camry’s recalls have been addressed.
A well-kept Camry is the kind of car that can set reliability records, so as long as the previous owner took good care of it. And as long as you do too, there’s no reason you can’t get another 10 years out of a 2013 Camry.
Photos: Toyota
