The Lemon Index2013 Ford F-150.
The 2013 Ford F-150 is better than average by owner complaints: 624 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 67, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 13 to 19 mpg combined. The best Ford F-150 year is 2007.
Covers the whole F-Series (F-150 plus the F-250/F-350 Super Duty): Ford reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 3,199 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford F-150 year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 42K to 111K miles on the car (2,353 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 64K–132K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 11K–90K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 39K–90K miles
Recalls 3
- transmission & drivetrain 2019
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2019
The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
- brakes 2016
The master cylinder rear cup seal may roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary reservoir into the brake booster.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 141 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some vehicles, with turbochared gasoline direct injection engines, will exhibit flashing…
- On some trucks, on hard acceleration, after extended drive at highway speeds, an intermittent…
- On some trucks, while operating in 4x2 mode, there will be noise coming from front hub…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedUnexpected transmission downshift2017–2019
- ClosedMaster cylinder external leak2016
- ClosedReduced power during hard acceleration2013–2014
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x4 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x2 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x2 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x4 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–4950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Yesterday brake pedal starts to push toward the floorboard while braking. After sitting overnight the vehicle had no brakes and low brake fluid warning was on. Had to have towed to dealer.
2013 Ford F-150 owner · NHTSA complaint 10907110
More owner reports
My master cylinder leaked and cause my breaks to lock up ,that's what my repair shop said
NHTSA complaint 10924320
Eco boost brake recall. Lost all braking with no warning on freeway. No accident or injury.
NHTSA complaint 10883196
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Ford F-150 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 67; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford F-150 year by this measure since 2010 is 2025.
What are the most common 2013 Ford F-150 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (35%), brakes (19%) and transmission & drivetrain (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford F-150 have?
3 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford F-150 get?
13 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Ford F-150 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-150 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 42,000 and 111,000 miles. The middle report was at 74,000 miles, from 2,353 complaints.
Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Ford F-150 cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $4950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Ford F-150 have?
3.5L 6-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What Ford F-150 year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works