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Car · Ford problems

2013 Ford F-150 problems

2,992 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-150. The most reported area is power train (transmission and drive) (45% of them). NHTSA also lists 122 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

2,992owner complaints
78say a crash was involved
35say a fire was involved
68injuries and deaths reported

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 64. Deaths: 4.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 2,992 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

18 smaller areas not shown (402 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 122 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2013 Ford F-150. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

  1. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

    While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

  2. TSB 24-2188Received July 29, 2024

    Wheels

    Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area.

  3. SSM 52334Received March 20, 2024

    Engine and engine cooling

    Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change.

  4. SSM 50876Received June 30, 2022

    Service brakes

    Some 2013-2014 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may require service to the brake vacuum pump.

  5. SSM 50804Received June 1, 2022

    Electrical system

    Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone...

  6. LTR3756Received December 20, 2021

    Fuel system

    49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016.

  7. Service InformatReceived December 20, 2021

    Equipment

    Online automotive service information system for April 2016-AM/FM/CD or sync with a 4.2 inch screen may exhibit a blank screen and no a;udio after a crank event.

  8. TSB160001Received December 20, 2021

    Body and structure

    49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer.

  1. 19V433000June 10, 2019

    Power train

    The software used to reprogram the PCM did not have the necessary updates to prevent the transmission from unexpectedly downshifting into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

  2. 19V075000February 11, 2019

    Power train

    The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

  3. 16V345000May 24, 2016

    Service brakes, hydraulic

    The master cylinder rear cup seal may roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary reservoir into the brake booster.

See all 3 recalls for the 2013 Ford F-150, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your F-150 will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

Power train (transmission and drive) 1,344 complaints · 45%

Engine and engine cooling 567 complaints · 19%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Service brakes 363 complaints · 12%

Electrical system 324 complaints · 11%

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2013 Ford F-150: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Ford F-150?

Of the 2,992 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-150, 1,344 (45%) name power train (transmission and drive), and 567 (19%) name engine and engine cooling. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2013 Ford F-150 reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 78 of the 2,992 complaints as involving a crash and 35 as involving a fire. They also reported 64 injuries and 4 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2013 Ford F-150 have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 122 repair bulletins for the 2013 Ford F-150.

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Sources

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.