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2013 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
27%
28 of 105 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 27% of relevant complaints.

Better than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 24%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2013 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 28 of 105 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 27% and the 2014 scores 19%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
28
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
116
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
3 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

SUSPENSION53 · 46%
STEERING40 · 34%
ENGINE16 · 14%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 7%
WHEELS8 · 7%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2013 compares with other Ford F-250 years

Of the 14 Ford F-250 years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (27%). The worst is the 2020 (46%), the best the 2019 (8%). By volume, the 2013 drew 116 complaints (28 drivetrain), against 323 for the 2012 and 168 for the 2014.

Ford F-250 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Ford F-250

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM01/28/2026
TRUCK HAS JUST TURNED 20,000 MILES. AFTER HAVING THE DEF SYSTEM SERVICED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP TRUCK HAS TO GO THU THE PARTICULATE FILTER REGEN SOONER AND SOONER. NOW EVERY 75 MILES. WHICH CAUSES TRUCK TOO LOSE POWER AND PRODUCE EXCESIVE EXHAUST TEMPERATURES WHICH CAN POTENTULLY CAUSE A FIRE. FORD IS TELLING ME THE EX…

One of 28 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2013 Ford F-250? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2013 Ford F-250

Does the 2013 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 28 of 105 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford F-250?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Ford F-250 is suspension: 53 of 116 complaints (46%) name it, followed by steering (40) and engine (16). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 27% of the relevant total.

Is the 2013 Ford F-250 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 27% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-250 years we score, it ranks 7th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford F-250?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2013 Ford F-250.

Which Ford F-250 years are better?

Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%), the 2019 (8%) and the 2018 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (27%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-f-250

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.