2013 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
3,942 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Ford F-150, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 89/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 95,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2013 Ford F-150 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1993, 1996, 2003, 2007–2009, 2020, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2013 sits among all F-150 years
What owners report
“Transmission unintended downshift to first gear while driving on highway over the speed of 60”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
“Low oil pressure flashing while driving with engine failure - no other issues just happened. Verified by mechanic March 2020”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
“Loss of brake fluid from the brake master cylinder reservoir into the brake booster”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
“After using rear defrost, left side of the rear window shattered with a loud pop, sending bits of glass onto pax in the back seat. After reading online this is a known issue with this model of truck and needs to be a safety recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
“Vehicle will not shift properly into gear or switches gears randomly into the wrong gear for the speed. Apparently it is the software that controls the speed control sensor for the transmission”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
“My truck will randomly start driving in third gear or shift to third gear while driving and stick. It will also hard shift from third to fourth. There have been few instances where it downshifted to first gear.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 F-150
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 2,807 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 74,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 43,000 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with 5.0L or 6.2L gasoline engines, that previously had the powertrain control module (PCM) software reprogrammed under recall 19V-075. The software used to reprogram the PCM did not…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 F-150 vehicles manufactured August 1, 2013, to August 31, 2014 equipped with 3.5L engines. The master cylinder rear cup seal may roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and, if necessary, the brake booster, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Ford…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 19V075000.
Led to recall campaign 16V345000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2013 Ford F-150 drew 3,942 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 89/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 2013 Ford F-150 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Ford F-150 are transmission & drivetrain (1,342 complaints), engine (565), and brakes & stability (367).
At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-150 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Ford F-150 problems around 74,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 43,000 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.