2013 Toyota Avalon: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Toyota Avalon: 4 recalls, 137 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.

Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V442000 · 2013 · 802,769 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #13V505000 · 2013 · 9,795 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013.
Forward collision avoidance Vehicle recall #15V728000 · 2015 · 30,812 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with a pre-collision system (pcs) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the pcs May unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Why it matters: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain pcs components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V024000 · 2020 · 2,891,976 vehicles
What's wrong: During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) May malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 18 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (25): the most common themes are leaks (2).
- Speed control / throttle (22): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (5), stalls / loses power (2).
- Other / unknown (22): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), noise or vibration (2).
- Visibility/Wiper (21): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (3), noise or vibration (2), electrical failure (2).
The 2013 Toyota Avalon has 137 owner complaints, ranking #9 of 28 Avalon model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 122). Complaints peaked in 2013 (30 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 17,521 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (30 complaints, 4 recalls), 2014 (96 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Toyota Avalon.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Toyota Avalon problems?
Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (25), speed control / throttle (22), other / unknown (22).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Toyota Avalon repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.