The Lemon Index

All cars · Toyota Avalon · 2013

2013 Toyota Avalon. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index110100 = average car
Complaints95NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold70,990U.S. model year
Per 100K sold134complaints
Year rank#13 of 19#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.5L 4-cyl hybridAuto (AV-S6)FWD40 / 39 / 40Regular$1,550
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S6)FWD21 / 30 / 24Regular$2,600

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,500 and 55,000 miles. Median 20,000, from 95 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Body structure1,000400–7,00015
Speed control27,7001,200–82,30019
Wipers & visibility35,0001,400–73,00013
Airbags16,7003,100–78,8008
Electrical35,0008,000–91,5009

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Body structure23%
Speed control18%
Visibility12%
Automatic emergency braking12%
Airbags9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
1601811307

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 20V024000 Jan 2020 Air Bags / Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

    Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. 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.

    Risk. 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.

    Remedy. 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 be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1

  • 15V728000 Nov 2015 Forward Collision Avoidance / Crash Imminent Braking

    Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. 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.

    Risk. A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.

  • 13V505000 Oct 2013 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Switch/Wiring

    Defect. 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."

    Risk. A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 13V442000 Oct 2013 Electrical System

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenBrake actuator valve wear2023–
ClosedPedestrian alert sounds20232023
ClosedElectrical overstress20192024
ClosedBrake actuator valve wear20192021

Manufacturer communications 511

Toyota filed 511 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • 2013 Avalon vehicles are equipped with 2 front and 2 rear torque box holes located in the…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Toyota Avalon 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Toyota Avalon Hybrid 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2010882828,390Speed control
20111284428,925Steering
2012521729,556Body structure
20131109570,990Body structure
20141047967,183Automatic emergency braking
2015422660,063Brakes
2016311648,080Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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