2013 Ford F-150 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 12 — 2009–2014.

20122014
Complaints
3,859
per 10K Sold
50.5
US Sales
764,402
Crashes
102
Fires
45
Injuries
87
Fatalities
6
Recalls
3

Worst 2013 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,255 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:100,449 mi
Crash-related:24
Fires:3
#2541 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:63,340 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:9
#3313 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:73,667 mi
Crash-related:29
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Ford F-150.

Transmission / Drivetrain
1,255
complaints
Crashes
24
Fires
3
Avg Miles
100,449
Engine Problems
541
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
9
Avg Miles
63,340
Brakes
313
complaints
Crashes
29
Fires
1
Avg Miles
73,667
Electrical Faults
290
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
12
Avg Miles
67,149
Unintended Acceleration
285
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,885
Steering Defects
211
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
86,119
Wipers & Visibility
146
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
58,287
Fuel System
129
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
78,292
Airbags
38
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
Avg Miles
82,508
Body Structure
38
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
53,921
Wheel Issues
37
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
68,077
Hydraulic Brakes
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
102,678
Electronic Stability Control
28
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,449
Automatic Transmission
25
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
151,667
Gasoline Fuel System
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,732
Suspension Failures
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
37,297
Engine & Cooling
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,446
Headlight/Taillight Failures
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,873
Rear Window Defogger
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
71,661
Side/Rear Glass
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,666
Wiring & Fuses
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
99,198
Sunroof/Moonroof
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,640
Brake Master Cylinder
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
95,480
Instrument Cluster
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
135,016
Fuel Pump
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
78,642
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,775
Latches / Locks
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
121,156
Seat Belt Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
67,065
Structural Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,958

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Ford F-150

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,595,920 vehicles.

19V433000Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) · Automatic Transmission
~107,857 affected

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 have the necessary updates to prevent the transmission from unexpectedly downshifting into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

19V075000Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) · Automatic Transmission
~1,263,051 affected

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.

16V345000Brake Fluid System
~225,012 affected

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 reservoir into the brake booster.

Other Ford F-150 Years

2013 Ford F-150 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Ford F-150 has 3,859 NHTSA complaints, 102 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 1,255 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (1,255 complaints, avg 100,449 mi); Engine Problems (541 complaints, avg 63,340 mi); Brakes (313 complaints, avg 73,667 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 80,840 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Ford F-150 include 102 crash-related reports, 45 fire reports, 87 injuries, and 6 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,595,920 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford F-150?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Ford F-150 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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