Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford F-150 powertrain problems
critical Owners of the 2013 Ford F-150 have filed 1,188 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 94,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
1,188
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 F-150 | 30 |
| 2010 F-150 | 111 |
| 2011 F-150 | 755 |
| 2012 F-150 | 617 |
| 2013 F-150 (this page) | 1,188 |
| 2014 F-150 | 335 |
| 2015 F-150 | 191 |
| 2016 F-150 | 318 |
| 2017 F-150 | 273 |
22crashes
3fires
25injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 1,188 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2013 Ford F-150 by each odometer reading. Median failure: 77,000 mi.
10% have failed by50,000 mi
Half the fleet by77,000 mi
90% have failed by115,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Of the 17 model years of Ford F-150 we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 1,188.
Powertrain accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This is a one-time repair program.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with electronic shift on-the-fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. ESOF can be identified as it does not have a 4WD AUTO (4A) position on the mode selector switch (MSS). This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year F-150 and 2012- 2013 Model Year Expedition/Navigator Vehicles Equipped with A 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Extended Coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an output shaft speed (OSS) sensor failure may result in an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) and/or wrench light in the instrument cluster with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0720, P0722, P0731 and/or P1500 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with Electronic Shift On-The-Fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
Engine stops with wrench code. Sometimes will restart and run ok. Broke down 500 miles from home and took to mechanic, problem was not found, however continued to run. Stopped again 3 times at highway speeds in dangerous situations a few months later. The second time to a mechanic the problem was discovered to be undersize fuse port on fuse block and fuse relocate kit Ford (el3z-14293-a) was…
Traveling at 70 MPH on the highway the transmission shifted into 1st gear causing the rear tires to skid and the rear of the vehicle to loose traction. This lasted a few seconds before it shifted back into 6th gear and I was able to maintain control. Slowed to stop at a red light and vehicle shifted into first gear at about 20 MPH then jerked forward when coming to a complete stop. The next…
Sudden downshift of automatic transmission to first gear at 55 MPH *tt consumer stated molded lead frame was replaced and repaired. *jb
In october transmission had a couple of hard shifts. *dt
When accelerating to get on the interstate the transmission started to shift up and down at random, so I slowed to almost a stop and all shifts were fine after that
Started on the interstate and got up to about 65 MPH and truck shifted to 1st gear and began to skid and hop and was all over the road, (luckily no traffic was close to me) got control of the truck and came to a stop. No check engine lights or anything out of the ordinary on dash panel. Continued on my way at a very slow speed until I got to an exit to turn around and get back home. When getting…
On 2 occassions truck down shifted violently into 1st gear while I was driving apprx 45 MPH it happened 3days apart ,2nd time had passenger and was terrifying and I took truck immediately to mahwah Ford then to a transmission specailist
When attempting to pull into traffic from stopped position, automatic transmission begins forward motion in 5th gear and will not change from 5th gear. As accelerator is pressed rpms go up but car barely moves. Once truck is turned off and back on transmission is back in 1st gear, but this isn't always an option when cars are approaching rapidly from behind.
Uncontroled shifting issues that causes vehicle to chande gears from 6th to first gear without notice, almost causing accidents.....other eratic changes as well....2013 ford f150s are apparently know for this.....a piece called Molded Lead Frame is the cause.....they only replace when a certain code comes up.....they Ford service dept advise me not to drive it
I was driving on a highway going approximately 60 MPH when it unexpectedly downshifted. My momentum violently jerked me forward, the tires squeeled, and the RPM gauge went up to over 6,000. Another issue is that it occasionally will not shift out of first gear. I will be starting from a stop and I'll be going about 10-15mph and if I don't let off the throttle the engine will just rev up past…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Ford F-150?
It's a serious issue. 1188 complaints have been filed, including 22 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 838 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 65,600 and 130,500 miles, with the median around 94,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 65,600; a quarter make it past 130,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.