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2013 Toyota Tacoma Electrical Problems

12 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
Jan 2016Dec 2015
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2021

Your speedometer and fuel gauge stopped working while driving at various speeds. After you replaced the battery, your vehicle wouldn't start, with no warning lights appearing on the dashboard. A mechanic diagnosed that your entire electrical wiring harness needs to be replaced to restore these functions.

NHTSA #: 11415984
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH THE HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONER UNIT BECAME INOPERABLE AS SMOKE WAS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE WIRES WERE MELTED AND DISCONNECTED THE WIRES FROM THE COUPLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF KINGSPORT (2525 E STONE DR, KINGSPORT, TN 37660) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATED]. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA #: 11308511
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Sep 2019

ON AUGUST 17, 2019, I HAD BEEN STOPPED AT A DRIVE THROUGH FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WHEN I HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK. IT WAS NOTICEABLE ENOUGH TO HAVE ME GET DOWN AND PHYSICALLY LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT SEE ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR ERROR, SO I WENT ABOUT MY DAY AS USUAL. I HAVE NOTICED SINCE THEN, THIS NOISE HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND THE A/C IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I PARKED THE TRUCK FOR THREE WEEKS AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE TRUCK, A BUNCH OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, WIPERS WERE WIPING AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING OFF AND ON. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD NOT START SO I HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHARGED. NOW THE VEHICLE'S REAR BLINKERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND STEREO WILL NOT TURN ON. FUSES SEEM ALRIGHT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE THAT CONTINUOUSLY POPS WHEN REPLACED (FUSE FOR STEREO).

NHTSA #: 11259117
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS
FireFiled: Feb 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO DETECTED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. *DT *DT

NHTSA #: 11183093
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2018

I HAVE HAD 8 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL IN THE LAST THREE YEARS

NHTSA #: 11144708
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2018

ISSUE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE HORN WHEN VEHICLE IN ONCOMING LANE CROSSED IN TO MY LANE. HORN WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THANKFULLY OTHER DRIVER COURSE CORRECTED IN TIME. COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME BY TOYOTA AS SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING OR SPIRAL CABLE. HORN FAILED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED AN ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION. WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING "THAT HAPPENS" WITH TIME AND FORCED TO PAY $700 TO HAVE REPAIRED. WAS WARNED THAT PART THAT FAILED WAS ALSO IN CONTROL OF AIRBAGS, CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER ELECTRONICS EMBEDDED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS AN ITEM WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN VOLUNTARILY RECALLED ON OTHER MODEL YEARS OF TOYOTA TACOMA'S AND OTHER MODELS.

NHTSA #: 11130640
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2018

I'VE HAD 5 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAIL ON MY 4 DOOR TACOMA. BOTH PASSENGER SIDE LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE DOOR LOCKS FAIL, THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS AND KEYLESS ENTRY DO NOT WORK. THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOORS DO NOT HAVE A KEY-HOLE BACKUP, MEANING THAT ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THOSE DOORS WITHOUT HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IF I NEEDED TO GET A CHILD OUT OF THE BACK-SEAT QUICKLY, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

NHTSA #: 11088454
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2016

MY HORN STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING CABLE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SERVICE AGENT DANIEL ARVIZA AT NORTH BAKERSFIELD TOYOTA IN BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA ADVISED ME THAT IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED THAT THE AIRBAG COULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A IMPORTANT PART OF THE TRUCK TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. IT'S GOING TO COST ALMOST 500 DOLLARS, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED.

NHTSA #: 10818952
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
Crash / FireFiled: Dec 2015

WE HIT BLACK ICE AND SPUN FLIPPED INTO A DITCH ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE CATCHING THE WHOLE TRUCK ON FIRE.

NHTSA #: 10817278
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2015

THE HORN CEASED TO WORK IN THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA CHARGED ME $530 TO REPLACE THE SPIRAL CABLE. I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY ISSUE. CONSIDER DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE NEXT TO YOU TRIES TO MOVE INTO YOUR LANE. I WROTE A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA USA. THEY RESPONDED ONLY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 10778956
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: May 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES PRIMARILY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA #: 10721370
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2014

DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE MELTING THE LENS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10559260

Other 2013 Toyota Tacoma Issues