YearToAvoid

2013 Ford E-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

88/100

#2 most-complained of 9 E-150 years

The 2013 Ford E-150 has a complaint index of 88, ranking 2nd worst out of 9 model years covered, with 19 complaints and 6 recalls. Engine and transmission issues each make up 37% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other E-150 years.

Complaints
19
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
12.5 city / 16 hwy

Top 2013 Ford E-150 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine7 (37%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain7 (37%)
  3. Other5 (26%)
  4. Brakes3 (16%)
  5. Electrical System2 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (11%)
  7. Airbags1 (5%)
  8. Fuel System1 (5%)
  9. Steering1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power and displays a wrench warning light on the dash while driving, sometimes dropping speed to near zero before the truck coasts to a stop.
  • After the wrench warning appears, the truck can restart and run normally, with the problem recurring every few months in some cases.
  • Transmission suddenly downshifts to first gear at highway speed, locking the rear wheels and causing the tires to screech.
  • Transmission also gets stuck between gears, with the speedometer dropping to zero and the truck entering a failsafe mode.
  • An unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel at 108,000 miles with no diagnosis performed.
  • Power steering assist failed going downhill at low speed, accompanied by a hill descent control fault warning.
2013 Ford E-150 complaints: complaints filed per month4Jul 2014Sep 2016Apr 2017Jan 2018Aug 2018Dec 2018
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2014 to Dec 2019; peak Jul 2014 (4).

2013 Ford E-150 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V729000Nov 4, 2015Other667 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    MobilityWorks (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 vans modified by MobilityWorks to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

    Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

    Remedy: MobilityWorks will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact MobilityWorks customer service at 1-800-769-8267, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These vehicles and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.

  2. NHTSA 14V706000Nov 5, 2014Other34 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

    Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

    Remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.

  3. NHTSA 14V641000Oct 10, 2014Other834 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Mobility Works (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E150, E250, and E350 vans modified by Mobility Works to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

    Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

    Remedy: Mobility Works will notify owners, and Ricon will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2014. Owners may contact Mobility Works customer service at 1-800-769-8267 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Ford E-150 →

2013 Ford E-150 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12.5 MPG
Highway
16 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other E-150 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015201620212023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid75231114
2012Caution6312814
2013Avoid8819614
2014Best136614
2015Good2581—

All Ford E-150 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford E-150 a bad year?
Relative to other E-150 model years, the 2013 ranks 2nd worst out of 9 years tracked, with a complaint index of 88 and 19 complaints logged with NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford E-150?
NHTSA complaints show Engine problems and Transmission & Powertrain problems each account for 37% of reports, followed by Brakes at 16%.
Does the 2013 Ford E-150 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 Ford E-150, most involving aftermarket wheelchair lift and mobility conversions, plus one Fuel System recall for CNG-modified vehicles.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford E-150 engine problems tend to occur?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 67,000 miles at failure for Engine-related complaints on the 2013 Ford E-150.
How does the 2013 E-150 compare to the 2014 model?
The 2014 Ford E-150 has a much lower complaint index of 13 and is rated Best, compared to the 2013's complaint index of 88 and Avoid verdict.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.