2013 Ford F-250 problems
The 2013 Ford F-250 has 116 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2013 Ford F-250 has 116 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 40 complaints, typically surfacing around 113,619 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 F-250 | 105 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 | 370 | 2 |
| 2012 F-250 | 323 | 1 |
| 2013 F-250 (this page) | 116 | 0 |
| 2014 F-250 | 168 | 0 |
| 2015 F-250 | 297 | 2 |
| 2016 F-250 | 287 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average
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 F-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
- steering — 40 owner reports · tends to show around 113,619 mi · ~$700 to fix
- suspension — 22 owner reports · tends to show around 69,203 mi · ~$900 to fix
- engine — 13 owner reports · tends to show around 63,782 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
- airbags — 5 owner reports · tends to show around 66,375 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 66,375 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 7.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — 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.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2013 Ford F-250
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.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
Your road ahead on this 2013 Ford F-250
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
- ~49,200 miengine~$3,100
- ~61,000 misuspension~$900
- ~95,000 misteering~$700
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Stalling while driving at normal speeds. After taking it to gullo dealership while in tx, the dealership charged us $2100 and "fixed" the problem after replacing the PCM and rcm modules. The next day, the truck stalled on the highway! Took it back to gullo dealership in…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford f-250. The contact was driving approximately 73 MPH over an uneven road surface when the front end of the vehicle began to vibrate excessively. The contact indicated that no damage was done to the vehicle. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull the vehicle off to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart after multiple…
The inner core of the ignition switch is bad which when moved up or down by movement of the truck going down the road causes the dash lights ,GPS, radio and any other electrical part to stop working , also if you have a memory adjust seat it will start going forward and back…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Ford F-250 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Ford F-250 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Ford F-250?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Ford F-250 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average. 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 F-250?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 40 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 113,619 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 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 F-250 a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 116 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 113,619 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 F-250?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 40 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 113,619 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 113,619 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-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 F-250?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 116 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, 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.