YearToAvoid

2013 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 F-250 years

The 2013 Ford F-250 ranks best among 16 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and no recalls. Suspension, steering, and engine complaints are the top areas, but crash and fire counts stay low.

Complaints
116
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2013 Ford F-250 problems

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

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires55 (47%)
  2. Steering40 (34%)
  3. Engine22 (19%)
  4. Fuel System13 (11%)
  5. Other9 (8%)
  6. Electrical System7 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body6 (5%)
  8. Airbags5 (4%)
  9. Brakes5 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts3 (3%)

What owners report

  • Front end vibrates or shudders excessively at highway speeds around 55 to 73 mph, sometimes making the truck hard to control.
  • Dealers attempt tire balancing multiple times but the high-frequency vibration persists.
  • Headlights fail without warning at speed, forcing drivers to switch to high beams; dealers trace it to a dash sensor.
  • Dashboard instrument lighting will not illuminate in daylight because the automatic sensor logic requires dark conditions to trigger it.
  • Engine compartment catches fire after warning lights activate and power steering is lost while towing.
  • Brake pedal feels solid but fails to slow the truck, in one case leading to a collision with airbags not deploying.
2013 Ford F-250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter132013 Q12015 Q12016 Q32018 Q22019 Q42021 Q22023 Q32026 Q1
172 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q1; peak 2022 Q3 (13).

2013 Ford F-250 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 compared with other F-250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid803702—
2012Caution673231—
2013Best01160—
2014Good331680—
2015Caution602962—

All Ford F-250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford F-250 reliable based on NHTSA data?
Among 16 model years of the F-250, 2013 has the lowest complaint index at 0 and carries a 'Best' verdict. It has zero recalls and only 116 complaints, far fewer than years like 2017 or 2019.
What is the most common problem area for the 2013 Ford F-250?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads with 55 complaints, 47% of the total, and a median failure mileage of 88,000. Steering follows with 40 complaints, 34% of the total.
Does the 2013 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
NHTSA data shows zero recalls for the 2013 F-250, compared to years like 2017 with 14 recalls and 2019 with 11 recalls.
How does 2013 compare to other F-250 years to avoid?
2013 ranks best overall, while 2011, 2017, 2018, and 2019 carry 'Avoid' verdicts with complaint indexes of 80, 93, 87, and 100 respectively.

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.