NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Ford F-450 Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Ford F-450 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 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-450. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Ford F-450 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-450, describing incidents dated May 27, 2014 to November 20, 2021.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11441819 · Filed November 27, 2021
While driving my truck down the highway it will violently shake until I brake below 40 MPH. This occurs when there is a change in surface on the roadway. An example is going over a bridge or rough pavement. It has happened several times in the past year, and most recently last weekend while my wife…
ODI #11390712 · Filed January 29, 2021
2013 F-450 REGULAR PICKUP, FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, MY VEHICLE ARE EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH-SUPPLIED CP4 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION PUMPS THAT WERE 'NEVER COMPATIBLE WITH AMERICAN FUEL STANDARDS. MY PU HAS 49,000 MILES I HAD PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD THEY DENIED THE COVERAGE AS WELL, SAYING…
ODI #11210552 · Filed May 29, 2019
I64 WESTBOUND SANDSTONE MOUNTAIN W VA 8 MILE 6% GRADE REALIZED INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKES FAILED AND HAD 2 USE MANUAL BRAKE OPTION ON BRAKE CONTROL. WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY WARNING BY TRUCK THAT TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER HAD FAILED. I AM EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO MANUALLY OPERATE TRAILER BRAKES…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Ford F-450 in 1 investigation. 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.

Recall Query RQ14-005: Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
Closed March 15, 2016
- Recall 15V-175

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

PTO Pressure Switch Oil Leak may Result in Fire

NHTSA #14V498000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported August 13, 2014 · PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co.

Potentially affected: 3 vehicles

Repair completion: 0% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 12, 2014 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Safety consequence

The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Manufacturer remedy

PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 Ford F-450. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-450.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11441819

Incident: November 20, 2021 · Filed: November 27, 2021

While driving my truck down the highway it will violently shake until I brake below 40 MPH. This occurs when there is a change in surface on the roadway. An example is going over a bridge or rough pavement. It has happened several times in the past year, and most recently last weekend while my wife was with me. We were driving on a major interstate at 65 MPH, maintaining a single lane when the truck went into a "death wobble." The front end shook so violently, it became a safety risk for our lives as well as other drivers. It was extremely difficult to maintain the steering until the truck stopped shaking. My wife no longer feels safe driving the vehicle. In the past, we have taken it to a local mechanic and I was advised they were not able to find an issue. We have purchased new tires and taken them to the Ford dealership to balance and align. We check the tire pressure regulary, and had an alignment done, though the violent shaking is getting worse, rather than better, when it happens. The truck gives no prior warning when this occurs. I don't see any form of recall for this issue, and a forum only advises buying an after market component to fix it. I want the truck fixed correctly, with Ford parts, as my intent was to keep it for several more years.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11390712

Incident: December 11, 2020 · Filed: January 29, 2021

2013 F-450 REGULAR PICKUP, FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, MY VEHICLE ARE EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH-SUPPLIED CP4 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION PUMPS THAT WERE 'NEVER COMPATIBLE WITH AMERICAN FUEL STANDARDS. MY PU HAS 49,000 MILES I HAD PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD THEY DENIED THE COVERAGE AS WELL, SAYING IT HAS WATER CONTAMINATION, CP4 PUMP IS SIMPLY NOT BUILT TO WITHSTAND U.S. SPECIFICATIONS FOR DIESEL FUEL WITH REGARD TO LUBRICATION OR WATER CONTENT AND STRUGGLES TO 'LIFT A VOLUME OF FUEL SUFFICIENT TO LUBRICATE ITSELF. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SURE RECAL THIS PROBLEM, THIS BILL IS OVER $16,000.00

Service Brakes

ODI #11210552

Incident: May 28, 2019 · Filed: May 29, 2019

I64 WESTBOUND SANDSTONE MOUNTAIN W VA 8 MILE 6% GRADE REALIZED INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKES FAILED AND HAD 2 USE MANUAL BRAKE OPTION ON BRAKE CONTROL. WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY WARNING BY TRUCK THAT TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER HAD FAILED. I AM EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO MANUALLY OPERATE TRAILER BRAKES FROM THE CONTROLLER. INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE.

Structure

ODI #11155173

Incident: November 2, 2018 · Filed: November 30, 2018

FORD F-450 2013 HORTON AMBULANCE HAD THE FUEL TANK FALL FROM THE FRAME ON TO THE ROAD ON EMERGENCY 911 CALL. FRAME HAS HUGH CRACK WITH RETAINING STRAPS. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE 9 OF THESE EXTENDED CAB HORTON AMBULANCES WITH 7 HAVING CRACKS IN THE FRAME IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. 2 ARE LEAKING DISEAL FUEL.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #10851181

Incident: March 23, 2016 · Filed: March 23, 2016

CODE P2201 SETTING AND CAUSING TRUCK TO GO INTO LIMP MODE AND REDUCE POWER. VEHICLE IS USED A A BRUSHPUMPER FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER 12 TIMES WITH NO REPAIR THAT HAS LASTED. CODE SETS WHEN IN MOTION, DE-RATES POWER AND HAS TO LIMP BACK TO SHOP. CANNOT BE USED TO FIGHT FIRES AT THIS TIME.

Tires; Wheels

ODI #10594249

Incident: May 27, 2014 · Filed: May 27, 2014

THE ONLY WAY TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE INSIDE TIRE OF A DUALLY IS TO REMOVE THE OUTSIDE TIRE. *TR

Other Ford F-450 model years

Check your 2013 Ford F-450 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-450 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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