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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,801 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 9 of 25)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #332

Apr 202018

F-150

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Reported this problem before and now it getting worse it was just the transimission shifting from high gear 6 at 70 mpg in cruise and when I tap the breake peddle to disengage the cruise it dowm shifted to low 1 and the RPM went from 2500 to 6500 and stay in low until I came to a stop then everything went back to normal it now also blown transimission lines and when I take off from a side street of stop light it will take off ok then about the time I reach the center of the street it will sfift into nuteral I can step or pump the gas peddle but nothing happens it just goes into a slow role after 3 to 5 sec it then jumps into gear and takes off normal again also at slow speeds you can hear and feel it clunking into and out of gear and with a metallic sound some times once in the snow had it in 4X4 at parked it and turned it off the next day I back it out of the drive then shifted it into drive then the transfer case shifted it out of 4X4 and it sounded like 2- 8 lbs sledge hammers smashing together and jarring the hole truck this in the beginning has only happen a few times but I was on the freeways at hi speeds I dont drive it on the freeways now and because the dealer ships want a $100 each time I take it in for the same problem and they dont do anything and plus I paid eatra for the platinum warrenty so if I have to leave it I get a loner and I have even been able to get a loner even when it took them over a week to install the transmission lines after they blow out from stop and going in on residential streets also when the trucks shift from high to low you can hear the solenoids shifting all overe under the dash floor infront of the seat along with the dash light flashing even one with a eng with a trans attached

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #331

May 012019

F-150

  • 63,000 miles
Vehicle has loud ticking noise when cold started, seemed to be coming from passenger side catalytic converter. Took vehicle to dealer for warranty emission repair, dealer stated turbo had gone bad and wiped out turbo. Vehicle has 63,000 miles just outside of the power train warranty, dealer declined assistance and wanted $2500 to repair turbo and would then replace the catalytic converter. Vehicle is very well maintained have all records, if turbo were to fail while driving it could have possibly destroyed the engine stated the dealer. Why is an essential part of the engine failing at such low mileage? vehicle also has intermittent shifting problem around 40-45mph seems to shift erratically, dealer says transmission lead frame could be issue or ECM/PCM programming, they have not done any of those repairs yet.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #330

May 072019

F-150

  • 154,700 miles
Driving on major highway, 65-75 mph, lost engine power and had to pull over, trying not to cause a wreck, and stopped between busy highway and on-ramp to the highway. Found that the engine had stalled and wouldn't restart. Found #27 fuse melted. Changed fuse and was able to restart engine. I don't like repairing Ford's engineering mistakes, nor do I like being put in danger because of them. I use this truck for work and have a lifetime's accumulation of specialty tools kept in this truck for my job. If the truck goes up in flames, will Ford replace what is lost? the way this fuse, fuse box, and the connection has failed looks as there can potentially be a fire. In my case, there was an interruption in normal traffic flow, at high speed, that could a resulted in a wreck, injury, death, etc. I will fix this, probably on my own dime. What I don't understand is why is this not required to be fixed by Ford. It's an obvious safety hazard that even Ford has acknowledged and provided a tsb to address the problem.

- Euless, TX, USA

problem #329

May 072019

F-150

  • 260,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact called on behalf of her husband. While driving 60 mph, smoke was detected under the hood and the tail pipe. The vehicle was driven to a parking lot where it stalled as flames were detected coming from the engine. A police report was filed. Another motorist had a fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. The contact's husband sustained burns to one of his hands. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 260,000.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #328

May 022019

F-150

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. While driving 65 mph, the wheels seized and the vehicle hesitated. As the vehicle slid, the transmission gear downshifted and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contacted swerved off the road and was able to brake. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the contact was able to drive home safely. The contact also stated that the check engine indicator remained illuminated for an entire weekend. The vehicle was taken to perry Ford national city (2050 national city blvd, national city, ca 91950, (619) 477-2711) where it was in the process of being diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #327

Apr 232019

F-150

  • 63,000 miles
Ford recall number 19S07. 3.5 L engine. Vehicle in motion. City street and highway speeds. Problem. Unintended downshift into first gear causing abrupt wheel speed reduction. No available remedy from Ford Motor Company.

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #326

Apr 262019

F-150

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2013 Ford F-150 ecoboost with 62000 miles. Currently giving cel code P0016. This is the timing chain stretch issue. Makes it difficult to accelerate to pass a vehicle. Should not have this issue with 62K miles. Now that I am 2K miles out of power train warranty it is not covered even though I had it to dealer for service and nothing was ever mentioned with this issue. I have had the rattle for some time.

- Noblesville, IN, USA

problem #325

Apr 252019

F-150

  • 62,000 miles
While driving the 2013 Ford 150 ecoboost, it suddenly lost power, the wrench light came on.... tried accelerating but was not able to...had to find a way to move out of the street before something happened and have someone crash the back....horrible experience..after finding a place to park, turned the truck off...when turned it back on was working fine again while driving the 2013 Ford F150 ecoboost. It suddently lost power, the wrench light came on, I tried to accelerate but was not able to. I had to pull over to the side of the road, turn off the truck and turn it back on. When I turned it back on it was working fine again. This has happened multiple times during the week. And Ford is no help unless the check engine light comes on. It's is super unsafe to drive, yet Ford says to keep driving the vehicle.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #324

Aug 012018

F-150

  • 208,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle spontaneously downshifted into first gear and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact called sunset Ford (11700 gravois rd, St. Louis, mo 63127, (314) 843-4431) and was informed that diagnostic testing was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 208,000. The VIN was not available.

- Brentwood, MO, USA

problem #323

Apr 012019

F-150

  • 121,000 miles
Timing chain stretch due to design flaw. $3200 quote from Ford for a fix. Timing chain rattle on startup

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #322

Jan 012017

F-150

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At approximately 60,000 miles my truck would occasionally make a rattling sound immediately after starting the engine. Over time it got worse, I took it to a mechanic and he told me it was probably a lose cover, or a component such as a water pump was failing and it would be hard to know which one it was until it failed completely. So I continued to drive the vehicle. Time passed, milage went up and the problem got worse. I started researching the issue myself and realized it was the timing chain and phazers. This could potentially cause engine failure and if it happens at the wrong time could cause an accident. This is a very common problem with the ecoboost truck from 2011-2016 models and it typically happens very early in the vehicles life(around 50K miles). Apparently it is due to the excessively long timing chain and weak phazers.

- Atascosa, TX, USA

problem #321

Mar 272019

F-150

  • 107,000 miles
Vehicle intermittently sputters when accelerating from a stop and also when the vehicle is in motion. I replaced the ignition coil and spark plug in cylinder 3. unfortunately, the intermittent sputter continues to be an issue as well as the check engine light being activated. Accelerating in traffic and from a stop is dangerous and requires additional attention and driving techniques to prevent a potential rear end collision caused by a vehicle approaching my vehicle from the rear.

- Kearney, MO, USA

problem #320

Mar 082019

F-150

  • 87,000 miles
While driving on the highway at a rate of 70-75 mph, I noticed by speedometer twitch a few times. I focused on it while driving and noticed the truck downshift to 3rd gear from 6th, and the speedometer dropped to about 45mph on a dime. Another instance I was driving home, and the truck decided to shift from 6th gear down to 1st, after which I quickly shifted into neutral and slowed to a stop on the shoulder. While driving on a dirt road about 40mph my truck then shifted from 5th to 3rd lurched and went back to 5th gear. An odd experience is when my truck, when in a parking lot shifted from 1st gear to 5th("?") I pulled over and placed the vehicle in the manual mode for shifting and drove a few miles. After which I received a wrench symbol and my all of my meters went into a dashed mode. I pulled over and turned off, then turned back on my truck and didn't have anymore issues. I took my truck into the Ford dealership and they told me that it was an issue with the wiring in the transmission. We will see if that fixes the issue, however I got a recall notification in the mail for involuntary downshifting which make me think there is another underlying issues, other than the wiring.

- Holton, KS, USA

problem #319

Mar 022019

F-150

  • 47,000 miles
Vehicle stalls randomly while driving, no matter if it's on the highway or city streets. This is dangerous. It has been to the dealer 4 times. It's there now and they are unable to figure it out. Ford is aware of this problem and recalled the 2011 and 2012 and some 2013S. But not mine. This vehicle needs to be recalled. It's an accident waiting to happen. It left me stranded it rural Colorado in a snow storm in 7 degree weather with my daughter. I did restart but that would have been really bad had it not.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #318

Mar 012019

F-150 8-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission erroneously downshifted, the check engine indicator illuminated, and the speedometer was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to shults Ford harmarville (1300 gulf lab rd, pittsburgh, pa), but the cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 83,000. The VIN was invalid.. consumer stated odometer quits working, speedometer stops working, will not work in manual gear, airbag lights come on, there is no power on the hill to get to the top. When the ignition is turned off and key is taken out hit lock buttons restart. Vehicle starts working as if nothing is wrong. Vehicle is erratic. Manufacturer is reviewing the case. ?parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).?

- Tarentum, PA, USA

problem #317

Mar 202019

F-150

  • 99,000 miles
Approximately two months ago I purchased a used 2013 Ford F-150 from a local dealership in Warren, Michigan. Recently I received a notice in the mail detailing a recall regarding vehicles equipped with a 6R80 transmission ' sudden downshift (safety recall 19S07). After receiving my powertrain control module software update approximately two weeks ago from szott Ford in holly, Michigan, I expected my transmission to run smoothly. Six days ago, while pulling through a busy intersection, my vehicle would not leave first gear. Somehow, I avoided being hit from crossing traffic. Shortly after avoiding an accident, the vehicle then switched abruptly from first gear to fifth gear (going around 10 mph). After pulling into a parking lot I turned the car off. When I restarted the car, it started in fifth gear. The car would not go into manual and would not leave fifth gear. At no point during this time did an engine light come on. After switching the car into four-wheel drive everything seemed to be working smoothly again. I immediately took my car into the dealership once again. The dealership has informed me that everything is working properly and since no engine light came on there are no problems to diagnose or fix. Safety recall 19S07 did not fix this vehicles issues. Last night the same thing happened again. It would not leave 1st gear. I put the car in park and the car would sit in second gear then jump to 5th gear. Very dangerous pulling out in front of anything because the car basically stalls in oncoming traffic. Safety recall 19S07 did not work.

- Clarkston, MI, USA

problem #316

Feb 252019

F-150

  • 106,000 miles
While driving at full speed (50 mph), my Ford-F-150 went into "limp mode" and a wrench light appeared. The truck immediately decelerated without activating the brake lights and almost caused me to be rear-ended on a dark country road. I was able to pull over eventually. After shutting off the truck and restarting it, I was able to drive home but the problem reoccured several times before I could take it to the dealer. At the dealer - it was noted that this is identical (both in truck actions and electronic codes) to the 16N02 recall for 2011-2012 Ford -F-150's but that mine was not covered due to my VIN number not being part of that batch. I had the transmission repaired (as offered in the previously mentioned warrantee) so that my truck was safe to drive. There was no visible damage or wear to any of the parts that needed replaced. Looking online - this has occurred in several 2013 Ford F-150 according to message boards - and we hope Ford will consider expanding the recall and preventing this issue from occurring to other owners.

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #315

Mar 012019

F-150

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V075000 (power train). While driving 40-45 mph in fourth and/or fifth gear, the vehicle downshifted into first gear and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to long-lewis Ford Lincoln (2551 john hawkins pkwy, birmingham, al 35244, (205) 989-3673) where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs, boots, and timing needed to be adjusted. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the recall software remedy was not available. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: Cas17397322. The contact was informed that the regional customer service representative would call him. The failure mileage was 94,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #314

Mar 072019

F-150

  • 76,000 miles
While driving at 70mph noticed my truck had down shifted into 5th gear, I slowed to pull over and noted the airbag light was on, the wrench indicator and speedometer was at zero. My truck suddenly down shifted to 1st gear at approximately 25-30 mph. I was able to stop safely at the shoulder and turned the ignition off and restarted. My truck started normally. I went to Ford huntington beach and described the situation. After evaluating dealer stated trans fluid full, poss lead frame damage and valves getting stuck. $1600! I informed the dealer of the pending recall for the transmission on this vehicle and was informed that it only covered a software upgrade. Damage caused by a known fault should be covered by the manufacturer.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #313

Feb 212019

F-150

  • 142,000 miles
2013 Ford F-150 with 142K miles began rattling upon start up. Vehicle has always had the oil changed per schedule and has always used full synthetic mobil 1 oil. Dealership indicated that this is a common problem with the 3.5's even on well taken care of vehicles. Repair was estimated at $3200 plus tax to replace chain. F-150 was taken in and w hen the dealership opened the engine they indicated that it was in pristine condition inside and no signs of sludge or indicators that engine wasn't taken care of. Dealership also indicated that there is a tsb for these engines.

- Clayton, NC, USA

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