The 2013 Toyota Tundra lasts over 350,000 miles with only minor steering and oil consumption issues. At $15,736 to $31,684, it’s an excellent value for a powerful and long-lasting full size truck.
Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra a Good Used Truck?
- Overall Rating 9/10 – 2013 is a great year for the Tundra, earning a high overall rating with powerful & reliable engines and plenty of space. Owner reviews praise the towing capacity, nice interior, and dependable engine.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – Interior materials are average for a truck with a lot of durable cloth and plastic used in the cabin, the seats are comfortable, and there are three bed lengths available including short, regular, and long options.
- Reliability 10/10 – 2013 is an excellent year for the Tundra with no widespread problems. We recommend avoiding models from 2007–2008 which have some mechanical complaints and going with a 2009–2020, which are all great.
- Performance 8/10 – Power is only average from the V6 engine, while both V8 engine options offer excellent horsepower and torque for a truck.
- Safety 7/10 – The Tundra is reasonably safe for a truck getting an overall rating of 4-stars in government crash tests with 5-stars in side impact and unfortunately only 3-stars in rollover risk due to the height. There are also no advanced safety features available.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – Fuel economy is acceptable for a large truck at 17 MPG which should give owners about 448 miles of range out of the 26.4 gallon tank. Fuel costs are around $18 cheaper than average for a large truck at $281 per month.
- Value 8/10 – The 2013 Tundra is an expensive truck, however it’s one of the longest lasting half-ton trucks on the market, making it worth the money.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Tundra?
- Consumer Reports says the Tundra is now strong enough to compete with American trucks, and has very high owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds gives the Tundra a 4.3/5 praising the strong V8 engines, but doesn’t like the cut-rate interior.
- Kelley Blue Book users rate the Tundra 4.6/5 and enjoy the high towing capacity, but owners don’t like the bouncy suspension.
What Common Problems Does the 2013 Toyota Tundra Have?
The most common complaints on the 2013 Toyota Tundra include steering wobble, excessive oil consumption, and chipping paint. Overall, these problems are less severe than other full size trucks, and repair costs are more affordable as well.
A steering wobble is the most common complaint from owners at around 30,000 miles. The source of the problem is usually a loose component on the steering box. In some cases, simply tightening the parts fixes the issue, while other owners have replaced parts costing around $650.
Excessive oil consumption shows up on some Tundra models at around 50,000 miles. Toyota trucks in general tend to consume more oil than competitors. Most owners simply check the oil regularly and add oil as needed, while others replace gaskets which cost around $800.
Chipping paint is another complaint from owners at around 85,000 miles. Paint that is not properly cared for and left out in the sun becomes more brittle as the truck ages. Repainting the affected areas fixes the problem, and costs around $1,000 per panel.
There are 6 recalls, average for a truck from 2013. The most serious recall is for a power steering gear which has been known to leak oil and Toyota will replace the power steering gear assembly for free. Other recalls cover lug nuts and load-carrying labels, which are less severe.
How Long Will the 2013 Toyota Tundra Last?
A well-maintained 2013 Toyota Tundra should last over 350,000 miles, which is 100,000 miles more than other highly-rated competitors like the Chevy Silverado 1500. Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than competitors, according to data from Repair Pal at $642 per year.
Since most 2013 Tundra models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace the fuel filter for $150, engine mounts costing $600, and the brake pads which cost $285.
How Is the Technology?
Technology is basic in the 2013 Toyota Tundra compared to some other full size trucks. The standard stereo system is very simple and the navigation system is outdated. There’s also no advanced safety features offered.
Is the 2013 Toyota Tundra a Good Value?
Yes, the 2013 Tundra is a good value since it’s so dependable. Blue book prices range from $15,736 to $31,684, making it more expensive than similarly equipped full size trucks like the Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan. When new, the price range was $25,455 to $48,170. Depreciation is better than average, only losing about 5% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Tundra?
There are three models of the Tundra offered for 2013 from the entry-level Base all the way up to the well-equipped Platinum.
Base is the entry-level model with:
- 18-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Power Windows & Locks
- Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Cruise Control
- 4-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo System
Limited is a step up, which adds:
- 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Power Folding Mirrors
- Leather eating
- Power Front Seats
- Back Up Camera
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 10-Speaker JBL Stereo System
Platinum is the luxury model and has:
- 20-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Chrome Exterior Trim
- Sunroof
- Perforated Leather Seating
- Heated & Cooled Front Seats
- Touchscreen Navigation System
What Engines Come In the Toyota Tundra?
- The standard engine is a weak 4.0L V6 which makes 270 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. of torque while getting up to 17 MPG.
- A step up is the stronger 4.6L V8, which generates 310 horsepower and 327 lb.-ft. of torque and gets up to 16 MPG.
- The flagship engine is the very powerful 5.7L V8 which offers 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque at up to 15 MPG. Performance is great, taking only 6.9 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH, and the towing capacity is high at 10,400 pounds.
What Colors Does the Toyota Tundra Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Toyota Tundra?
The seats in the 2013 Toyota Tundra are very comfortable and supportive, and hold up for a long time compared to other trucks. It’s available as a 2-door Regular, 4-door Double Cab, and larger 4-door Crew Max.
There’s plenty of room for adults in the back seats of the Crew Max, but the Double Cab is more cramped with less legroom.
How Is the Storage In the Toyota Tundra?
There are three bed lengths available, including a 5-foot-6-inch short bed, 6-foot-6-inch standard bed, and 8-foot long bed.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The second generation of the Tundra was introduced for the 2007 model year, and replaced by the third generation in 2022.
2011: More powerful V6 engine offered, and trailer sway control is standard.
2012: Standard rearview camera on Limited model, chrome exterior trim.
2013: No major changes.
2014: Upgraded interior and Toyota Entune apps added, rearview camera standard.
2015: V6 engine discontinued, and TRD Pro model added for off-road enthusiasts.
2016: Updated stereo system, larger gas tank, and a new front bumper added.
How Does the Toyota Tundra Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota Tundra is one of the best full size trucks available for 2013 with an extremely long lasting engine, and comfortable Crew Max cabin available.
The Chevy Silverado is a competitor which costs around $4,000 more. Performance is slightly better with the larger engine in the Chevy Silverado, but the Toyota Tundra has fewer complaints from owners. We recommend the Toyota Tundra since it lasts longer, and has lower ownership costs as a used truck.
The Ford F-150 is another truck available in the same price range. The towing capacity is higher in the Ford F-150, however, the Toyota Tundra has a more comfortable cabin. We recommend the Toyota Tundra since it has lower ownership costs, although both are excellent trucks that will last a long time.
