2013 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 301 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 46 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 29 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, switch/wiringOct 17, 2013
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 fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 13V505000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemOct 17, 2013
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 then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
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 resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
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.
Campaign 13V442000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 18, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ROUGH WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS AT AS TOP SIGN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE OF THE CONTACT?S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V44200 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. UPDATED 05/12/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LEFT WHEEL AND DRAGGED HIS VEHICLE SIDEWAYS TOWARD A TELEPHONE POLE. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE HIT THE WINDOW DURING IMPACT AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. UPDATED 05/14/14
Electrical system, Seats, Feb 4, 2014
CPSC: I1420031A. 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES DOES THE FLAME RETARDANT MATERIAL IN THE HEATED SEATS WHEN THE HEATER IS IN USE GIVE OFF VAPOR OR FUMES THAT CAUSE EYE AND RESPIRATORY IRRITATION? *LN THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW RELEASE WAS PUBLISHED, TO STOP TOYOTA FROM SELLING 2013 AND 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY'S, DUE TO FLAME RETARDANT MATERIALS IN HEATED SEATS, NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA.
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 30, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) AND THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REMEDY PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 13, 2014. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Dec 26, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT RODENTS HAD DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BY ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A NEST INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6000. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN OCTOBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE DECEMBER 2013. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Electrical system, May 28, 2013
THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS ALL ELECTRONIC IN THESE NEW MODELS, IS RANDOMLY MALFUNCTIONING, AND GIVES IMPROPER VOICE COMMANDS THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO MAKE SUDDEN AND UNSAFE TURNS. IT ONCE TOLD ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 405 FREEWAY: "TURN LEFT NOW". IT STOPS NAVIGATING ON ON ITS OWN WHEN YOU HAVEN'T REACHED YOUR DESTINATION. IT TELLS YOU TO TURN IN 300 YARDS, YET THE TURN IS ACTUALLY MORE LIKE 30 YARDS. WHILE PARKED AT MY HOME ADDRESS, THE NAVIGATION DISPLAYS AN ADDRESS 4 TO 5 HOUSES AWAY, (IT'S ABOUT 80 YARDS AWAY). THE SYSTEM JUMPED FROM BEING ON THE SOUTHBOUND 405 FREEWAY TO THE STREET AND SAID: "ROUTE RECALCULATION". THESE MALFUNCTIONS ARE RANDOM. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED VIDEO TAPING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN ACTION TO SHOW THE MALFUNCTIONS. WE HAVE ACTUAL VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE TOYOTA REPAIR THE UNIT, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO SOFTWARE UPDATE. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". THIS IS ALSO NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS IT IS DISTRACTING, MISLEADING AND IT DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO MAINTAIN ROAD AWARENESS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE THE NAVIGATION IS IN USE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 28, 2013
WE LEASED A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE ON FRIDAY MARCH 29TH, 2013 AT 9:00 PM. FROM MANHATTAN BEACH TOYOTA IN MANHATTAN BEACH CALIFORNIA. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SATURDAY MARCH 30TH, 2013 WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 99 NEAR BAKERSFIELD AT 65 MILES PER HOUR TO LINDSAY CALIFORNIA FROM INGLEWOOD CALIFORNIA, I HEARD A "DING" SOUND AND I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN UP. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY HOLD ON TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY AND KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. I THEN NOTICED ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD TURNED ON. I ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY TERRIFIED AS WE IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THAT POOR FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR LIVES DURING A TOYOTA MALFUNCTION. AS I TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, LOOKING FOR AN EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TAKE THE CAR TO BILL WRIGHT TOYOTA NEARBY. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR THAT DAY AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT THERE. THE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR 6 DAYS AS I WAS TOLD THAT A TOYOTA ENGINEER NEEDED TO GO TO BAKERSFIELD AND FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. *TR