YearToAvoid

2013 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 21 F-150 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Ford F-150 has 2,981 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 21 F-150 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (1,336 complaints, 45% of the total). Complaints report 77 crashes, 35 fires, 64 injuries, and 4 deaths.

Complaints
2,981
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
77 / 35
Injuries / deaths
64 / 4
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 21 hwy

Top 2013 Ford F-150 problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain1,336 (45%)
  2. Engine767 (26%)
  3. Brakes391 (13%)
  4. Electrical System332 (11%)
  5. Other229 (8%)
  6. Steering216 (7%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers177 (6%)
  8. Fuel System159 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires64 (2%)
  10. Structure & Body62 (2%)
2013 Ford F-150 complaints: complaints filed per quarter2342012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42021 Q32023 Q22025 Q1
3814 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (234).

2013 Ford F-150 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V433000Jun 10, 2019Transmission & Powertrain107,857 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    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.

    Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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's number for this recall is 19S19.

  2. NHTSA 19V075000Feb 11, 2019Transmission & Powertrain1,263,051 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    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.

    Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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's number for this recall is 19S07.

  3. NHTSA 16V345000May 24, 2016Brakes225,012 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:fluid

    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.

    Risk: Loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir results in a complete loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S24.

2013 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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 F-150 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid852,189617
2012Avoid751,781417
2013Avoid1002,981317
2014Caution551,5338 !17
2015Avoid801,7101319.5

All Ford F-150 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford F-150 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Ford F-150 ranks worst among F-150 model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 2,981 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford F-150?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (1,336 complaints), engine (767 complaints), and brakes (391 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 74,500 miles.
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford F-150, most recently reported 2019, covering transmission & powertrain and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Ford F-150?
EPA rates the 2013 Ford F-150 at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.