The 2013 Ford E-250 has 11 NHTSA owner complaints and 10 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is tires at 3 complaints, typically surfacing around 25,500 miles (~$150 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
10
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 E-250?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average
10 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2013 Ford E-250? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
tires — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 25,500 mi · ~$150 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 10 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
tires (~$150) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2013 E-250· fuel system
Tl* the contact owns 2013 Ford e-250. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was a leak at the fuel relay present after at start-up.…
My headlights and tail lights just come on all by themselves, or if you open or close the doors---they come on or go off. Really scary stuff.I took the cover off, and there is water inside the rear lights. I had this same problem on my f-150 truck in 1998. Why hasnt Ford…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford e-250. While parked, the contact noticed that the cover fell off of the brake pedal. The contact stated was concerned of the hazard of a pin in the brake pedal being knocked out. The vehicle was inspected and the cover was replaced. The…
Driver's side door latch is broken. Door will not remain closed which is a safety issue. The problem started about a week ago, while the vehicle was stationary and has gotten progressively worse. Now the latch does not engage at all so the vehicle can not be used. It is a…
Had a problem with your 2013 Ford E-250?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain 2008, 2013 and 2014 Ford E-250 vehicles modified to be equipped with Ricon Wheelchair lifts
If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards towards the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: New England has notified owners, and Ricon dealers will replace the lift positioning input cam, free of charge. The recall began on March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 or New England customer service at 1-978-663-9724.
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, E-350, and 2015 Ford Transit vans equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon
If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2016. Owners may contact New England customer service at 1-800-886-9247. New England's number for this recall is 16E-020.
New England Wheels is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 cargo vans modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation
If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Fix: New England Wheels will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact New England Wheels customer service at 1-800-866-9247, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. New England Wheels' number for this recall is 15E-068. Note: These vans and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Ford E-250 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2013 Ford E-250?
The 2013 Ford E-250 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average; 10 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2013 Ford E-250?
Inspect the tires first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 3 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 25,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $150 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2013 Ford E-250 a good used car to buy?
It scores 6.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 11 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is tires. Typical failure occurs around 25,500 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Ford E-250?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is tires, with 3 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 25,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $150 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The tires is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $150 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 25,500 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford E-250 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Ford E-250?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 11 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $150, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/E-250.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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