NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Ford F-150 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2013 Ford F-150 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,796 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Ford F-150, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Ford F-150 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2,796 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-150, describing incidents dated April 12, 2012 to August 5, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 1,212 complaints
  • Engine 547 complaints
  • Service Brakes 349 complaints
  • Electrical System 306 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 275 complaints
  • Steering 211 complaints

Of the 2,796 complaints on file, 74 report a crash and 31 a fire; across all 2,796 complaints, owners report 60 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11679190 · Filed

    At about [XXX] [XXX], Tuesday, I was N/B on [XXX] , my speed was approximately 60 mph. All of a sudden, my brakes locked up as if I slammed on by brakes. Although a safe distance behind my, vehicles behind me had to swerve out of my way due to the sudden breaking. After pulling over, I checked the…

  • ODI #11679124 · Filed

    Truck has 91,200 miles and was well maintained. Truck has a loud rattle (like rocks in a can) on dry start up after sitting for several days. Rattle goes away after starting and is consistent with worn CAM PHASERS, as shown in many videos on the internet describing this known problem with the Ford…

  • ODI #11678333 · Filed

    the speed sensor in transmission isn't working properly it shift down to 1st gear as shown in these recalls 19S07,19S19,AND 24S37. IM NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED TO 19N01 in any way but the problem was that its showing on my vin that they conducted a recall 19S07 ON MY 2012 F-150 IN THE Past but then…

Read all 2,796 complaints

Owner-reported

2013 Ford F-150 mileage at failure

2,141 of the 2,796 complaints on file for the 2013 Ford F-150 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 100,000 milesMiddle half 70,000–140,000 milesBased on 860 complaints
EngineMedian 65,000 milesMiddle half 13,000–110,000 milesBased on 451 complaints
Service BrakesMedian 65,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–105,000 milesBased on 275 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–110,000 milesBased on 231 complaints
SteeringMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–120,000 milesBased on 180 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Ford F-150 in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Unexpected Transmission Downshift

NHTSA #19V433000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2019 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 107,857 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.98% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 19S19 · Owners notified June 24, 2019 · Vehicles built April 18, 2012 – November 18, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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 recall is 19S19.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Unexpected Transmission Downshift

NHTSA #19V075000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported February 11, 2019 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 1,263,051 vehicles

Repair completion: 59.96% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 19S07 · Owners notified March 4, 2019 · Vehicles built April 28, 2010 – November 18, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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 recall is 19S07.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Master Cylinder Rear Cup Seal Leak

NHTSA #16V345000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Fluid · NHTSA notice

Reported May 24, 2016 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 225,012 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.23% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 16S24 · Owners notified October 28, 2016 · Vehicles built August 1, 2013 – August 31, 2014 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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 reservoir into the brake booster.

Safety consequence

Loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir results in a complete loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S24.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Ford F-150 model years

Check your 2013 Ford F-150 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-150 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ford VIN