Your vehicle report
2013 Ford F-150
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 2,992
- Received Oct 2012 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks659 complaints · 22% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips417 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Glass shatters or cracks without impact215 complaints · 7.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #19V433000Ford 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.
- Recall #19V075000Ford 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Transmission fails or loses power while drivingFirst signal: May 2018
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 78 crashes, 35 fires, 64 people injured, 4 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Brake master cylinder leaks fluid and fails
- Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 133 |
| 2014 | 100 |
| 2015 | 106 |
| 2016 | 233 |
| 2017 | 229 |
| 2018 | 418 |
| 2019 | 474 |
| 2020 | 171 |
| 2021 | 157 |
| 2022 | 172 |
| 2023 | 173 |
| 2024 | 253 |
| 2025 | 242 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 130 |
| Total | 2,992 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks | 659 | 22% | 29.9× | NHTSA recall #19V433000 |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 417 | 14% | 6.5× | NHTSA recall #19V075000 |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 215 | 7.2% | 0.4× | |
| Brake master cylinder leaks fluid and fails | 116 | 3.9% | 10.6× | NHTSA recall #16V345000 |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 100 | 3.3% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 69 | 2.3% | 2.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2018 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 61 | 2.0% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 60 | 2.0% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 50 | 1.7% | – | |
| Instrument cluster or speedometer fails | 47 | 1.6% | 1.4× | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 41 | 1.4% | 0.5× | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 36 | 1.2% | 0.9× | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 33 | 1.1% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 32 | 1.1% | 0.4× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 32 | 1.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 31 | 1.0% | 1× | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 27 | 0.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 25 | 0.8% | 0.7× | |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 25 | 0.8% | – | |
| Heater blows cold air, defroster fails | 25 | 0.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #19V433000June 10, 2019107,857 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission; power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA recall #19V075000February 11, 20191,263,051 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission; power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V345000May 24, 2016225,012 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: fluid
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.
Loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir results in a complete loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Other model years
- 1991 304
- 1992 470
- 1993 586
- 1994 676
- 1995 626
- 1996 324
- 1997 2,758
- 1998 1,381
- 1999 1,044
- 2000 1,075
- 2001 1,236
- 2002 821
- 2003 423
- 2004 2,029
- 2005 1,112
- 2006 585
- 2007 488
- 2008 369
- 2009 324
- 2010 843
- 2011 2,194
- 2012 1,784
- 2013
- 2014 1,539
- 2015 1,745
- 2016 2,093
- 2017 1,463
- 2018 2,325
- 2019 1,343
- 2020 742
- 2021 1,040
- 2022 602
- 2023 418
- 2024 195
- 2025 109
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2013 Ford F-150.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN