2013 Ford F-150: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Ford F-150: 3 recalls, 2987 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
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Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #16V345000 · 2016 · 225,012 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engines. The master cylinder rear cup seal May roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary reservoir into the brake booster.
Why it matters: Loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir results in a complete loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V075000 · 2019 · 1,263,051 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission May unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Why it matters: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear May result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V433000 · 2019 · 107,857 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear May result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 35 mention a fire, 64 injuries and 4 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (1340): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (1020), warning light on (420).
- Engine (548): the most common themes are warning light on (199), stalls / loses power (184).
- Electrical (324): the most common themes are electrical failure (112), stalls / loses power (74).
- Brakes (321): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (118), warning light on (83).
The 2013 Ford F-150 has 2987 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 37 F-150 model years for complaints (2.9× the average F-150 year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (474 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 74,281 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (1783 complaints, 4 recalls), 2014 (1535 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Ford F-150.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Ford F-150 problems?
Owners have filed 2987 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (1340), engine (548), electrical (324).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford F-150 get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 14 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Ford F-150 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.