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: power train
67 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Mar 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the battery four times within 8 years, and the water pump and the alternator had been replaced within 18 months. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered, hesitated, and failed to respond as needed, and lost automotive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to the Toyota Warranty Enhancement Program Number: ZE5. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty because the program had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
Power train, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2025
Having issues with the ac condenser drain hose. And Transmission shuddering during acceleration.
Power train, Jun 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shuddered, with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact became aware that the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
Power train, Oct 10, 2024
I have a vehicle in which a safety recall was issued for models In that body type and year range. The recall was issued in response to a software glitch that causes a shudder when acceleration. I called my local dealer and was told I do not qualify for a recall even though I have the exact same symptoms listed in the recall. I have spent over 3k trying to resolve this issue and have tried to reach out to corporate with no luck. My car is getting more unstable and nearly lost control due to the shudders. What can I do?
Power train, Jun 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the torque converter. The torque converter was flushed, and it was stated by the dealer that the torque converter might have caused damages to the transmission and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000.
Power train, May 10, 2024
Unknown. The vehicle shutters tremendously while traveling between 40 and 60 mph.
Power train, Feb 28, 2024
My 2013 Camry shudders when I am accelerating, usually between 15-30 mph. It can be alarming since I expect the car to accelerate quickly but instead it shudders. I was making a right hand turn at a stop light, I went to accelerate and my car shuddered so badly and failed to accerelate so I was almost rear ended. This is a major safety concern when the gears do not properly change during operation. My local Toyota dealership diagnosed it as being a problem with the torque converter. I am aware that Toyota issued a Warranty Enhancement Notification - ZE5 to do three things, put in a new torque converter, additional transmission pan magnets, and update the software. I purchased my vehicle in 2019 and was not made aware of this by the Toyota dealership at the time of purchase nor did I receive anything in the mail. Now, Toyota refuses to correct this problem even though it continues to be an issue with owners of these vehicles.
Power train, May 23, 2023
The transmission malfunctioned during acceleration. Toyota acknowledged the defect torque converter was used for 2012 - 2014 Camry. However, the manufacturer refused to repair or replace it because the car haven't been driven during COVID pandemic, and warranty expired. During the acceleration after traffic light or lane merging, the car would shudder, stall, jerk and shake. This could get others or myself killed because the car suddenly slows down or stops. The defect torque converter has been inspected and confirmed by a local Toyota dealer (Bernardi Toyota), but they refused to address voluntarily. There was no warning, or error prior to the failure. It happened suddenly from a few months ago, with ~100,000 miles. So basically, the manufacturer (Toyota) is aware that they sold a defect product, which could get someone killed, but refused to repair or replace it. They just hoped customers didn't drive the cars and let the time lapse, then they are off the hook. I am attaching the documents issued by Toyota, where they acknowledged the defect parts.
Power train, May 6, 2022
Transmission torque converter recall... I bought the car 2 years ago used didn't kno about the recall... when the transmission started the shutter I looked it up.... this was last year... everytime I go to toyota since they have been giving me a hard time... when I finally found the recall number info for them they took so long till the recall was over now they want me to pay for it out of pocket... I don't think that is very fair on their end or customer friendly
Power train, Jan 16, 2022
transmission is pausing around 20mph and bad shudder around 45-50mph with transmission. Just bought this car in June 2021 problem has been going for about 3 months since owner vehicle.
Power train, Dec 28, 2021
Torque Converter started shuddering a couple of weeks ago. I was stranded in busy intersection for just long enough to scare me into understanding that this issue is dangerous. I found that Toyota had issued LSC E03 - Limited Service Campaign and I was not notified. There was no recall. Instead there was a window of time that I missed, apparently. How many 100's of thousands of Camry's are having this same issue but were unable to afford the cost after Toyota's Warranty Extension ended? I would bet it's alot. This will impact young peoples, and the working poor especially hard because they are the ones buying used cars, and they typically don't have the time or the money for expensive repairs. Even if the repairs are for safety. So, they will be driving the cars with a known safety flaw designed and sold by Toyota.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Dec 4, 2021
While driving have noticed shuddering at random times. Car just now has 134k on it and the service records never showed what computer update was done. Was unaware of any issues with torque converter issues. Have had cruise control set to speed limit and had car acceleration up to 25miles over speed set, car has also slowed down without anything being changed. Went to dealership because torque converter tsb and was told it was out of warranty in Aug 2021. had ecm reprogrammed with original owner in 2014... toyota knew this was an issue and never corrected parts
Power train, Oct 18, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder and jerk while the vehicle accelerating at speeds of 45 MPH or above. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure as torque converter shudder. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,555.
Power train, Sep 17, 2021
Randomly vehicle fails to accelerate fully transmission shutters during this period.
Power train, Aug 16, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at low speeds, the vehicle would hesitate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle to his destination. The contact called and made the local dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2021
THE CAR STUTTERS REALLY BAD AT LOW SPEEDS, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY BY TWO WEEKS BUT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR YEARS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING SMALL BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T LAST LONG, HOWEVER FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS OR SO IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND DOES IT EVERY TIME, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTICS WHICH IS OVER $100 WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T TAKE IT SOONER, HOWEVER THE DAY THAT WE TOOK IT THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2 WEEKS AND WHEN WE CALLED TOYOTA THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL TOYOTA, JUST ASKING FOR HELP GETTING THIS HAZARDOUS AND SAFETY ISSUE RECALLED.
Power train, Feb 23, 2021
MY CAR STALLS EVERY TIME I PULL OF FROM A RED LIGHT OR TRY TO PICK UP SPEED AFTER GOING SLOW AND JERKS AT TIMES. IT'S LIKE THE CAR IS NOT CHANGING GEARS
Power train, Oct 21, 2020
TOYOTA RECALLED MY 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER THAT IS CAUSING A SHUDDER IN THE CAR WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 5-50MPH THAT THEY ARE CLAIMING IS EXPIRED. BIG SAFETY ISSUE!!!
Power train, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 2, 2020
ENGINE POWER TRAIN - WHEN I TRY TO GET UP DRIVE UP TO 20 MPH IT POWER DOWN BACKUP AN SLOW TO MOVE OFF. MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN PLACE AN WANT WORK OR LOCK . THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAY ON AN WANT GO OFF. MOTOR SUPPORT BOLTS ARE NOT HOLING GOOD BECAUSE WHEN YOU PULL OFF THE HOLE MOTOR MOVE AN JERK THE CAR.
Power train, Jul 11, 2020
HESITATION AND SHUTTERING AT LOW ACCELERATION SPEEDS. HESITATES AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. SHUTTERING AT 40-45 MILES AN HOUR. BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. GETTING WORSE
Power train, Dec 29, 2019
CVT TRANSMISSION START SHUDDERING THEN AND B/4 AT 40 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR TOYOTA MFG REFUSES TO REPAIR.CAR ONLY HAS 58K MILES! ALMOST LOST CONTROL DRIVING.TELLING ME I HAVE TO BUY AT DEALER FOR $7.300 HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES WHEREVER ! PLEASE HELP US SINCE WE ARE BOTH RETRIED SENIORS. ALFRED
Power train, Engine, Dec 13, 2019
WHEN I GET TO 20 MPH MY CAR WILL LOOSE POWER FOR JUST A SECOND OR TWO.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 8, 2019
WHEN VEHICLE STOP AND THEN ACCELERATE, AT AROUD 2000RPM IT STALLS AND RPM DROPS ABOUT TO1800RPM THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.
Power train, Aug 20, 2019
DRIVING ON A SMOOTH ROAD WHEN CAR REACHES BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SHUDDLE MAKING IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHICH IS SCARY WHEN U FEEL THE VIBRATION.
Power train, Mar 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALDORF TOYOTA (301-843-3700, LOCATED AT 2600 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601) TO BE REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.