2013 Ford F-350 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Ford F-350. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 30% of relevant complaints.
Better than 70% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Looking at a specific F-350?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2013 Ford F-350 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 26 of 86 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-350 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 34% and the 2014 scores 24%. 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.
What owners reported
Three of 26 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford F-350?
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Ford F-350, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
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 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2013 Ford F-350
- No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- 1 recall campaign on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2013 Ford F-350
Does the 2013 Ford F-350 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 26 of 86 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-350 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford F-350?
No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Ford F-350, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Ford F-350 years are better?
Among the Ford F-350 years we track, the 2018 (7%), the 2019 (9%) and the 2017 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (30%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford F-350?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Ford F-350 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.