2013 Ford F-150 Reliability
The 2013 Ford F-150 has 2,796 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the F-150's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
2,796
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
74
Complaints citing a crash
31
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Ford F-150 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 1,212 | 43% |
| Engine | 531 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 349 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 306 | 11% |
| Speed control / throttle | 275 | 10% |
| Steering | 211 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 207 | 7% |
| Visibility / wipers | 187 | 7% |
2013 Ford F-150 recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V345000 | May 24, 2016 | Service brakes — 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… |
| 19V075000 | Feb 11, 2019 | Powertrain / transmission — 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. |
| 19V433000 | Jun 10, 2019 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | 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… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby F-150 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year F-150 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2,137 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2012 | 1,717 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2013 (this page) | 2,796 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 1,362 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2015 | 1,425 | 14 | Service brakes | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Ford F-150 on the used market
- 487 of 3,547 2013 Ford F-150 listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Ford F-150
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Ford F-150 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Ford F-150 reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2013 Ford F-150 has 2,796 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the F-150's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Ford F-150 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford F-150 are powertrain / transmission (1,212), engine (531), service brakes (349), electrical system (306). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford F-150, including 16V345000 (service brakes — fluid) and 19V075000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Ford F-150 compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 1,717 complaints and 4 recalls (caution); the 2014 has 1,362 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 2,796 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Ford F-150?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford F-150 research
Other Ford F-150 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 F-150, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.