2013 Ford F-150 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
61% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Ford F-150 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 81% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 1,669 of 2,796 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%), and the largest group is filed under power train (1,212). For comparison, the 2012 scores 62% and the 2014 scores 39%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Ford F-150
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Ford F-150 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 1,669 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford F-150?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Ford F-150? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 1,669 of 2,796 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford F-150?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 19V433000 (power train: automatic transmission), 19V075000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-150 years are better?
Among the Ford F-150 years we track, the 2010 (34%), the 2015 (34%) and the 2014 (39%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (61%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford F-150?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Ford F-150 has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.