Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest May 10, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Electrical
Filed May 10, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,817.
NHTSA ID
11415984
Incident
Apr 23, 2021
Mileage
127,817 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2020
Fire reported
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 ID
11308511
Incident
Jan 24, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 30, 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 ID
11259117
Incident
Sep 29, 2019
Heating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Feb 28, 2019
Fire reported
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 ID
11183093
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
102,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 1, 2018
I HAVE HAD 8 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
NHTSA ID
11144708
Incident
Nov 9, 2016
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 21, 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 ID
11130640
Incident
Sep 21, 2018
Mileage
89,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 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 ID
11088454
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 8, 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 ID
10818952
Incident
Jan 8, 2016
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 31, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported
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 ID
10817278
Incident
Dec 18, 2015
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 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 ID
10778956
Incident
Aug 19, 2015
Mileage
46,538 mi
Electrical
Filed May 26, 2015
Fire reported
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 ID
10721370
Incident
May 16, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 9, 2014
DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE MELTING THE LENS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10559260
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 26, 2013
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS TOO DIM ON SUNNY DAYS FOR THE 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VERY DIM AT ALL TIMES DURING THE DAY, BUT DISAPPEARS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVERS DURING BRIGHT SUNLIGHT CANNOT DETERMINE THEIR SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10532013
Incident
Jul 13, 2013
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own