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Cross-shopped · different DNA · Different vehicle types but commonly cross-shopped

2013 Ford F-150 vs 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2013 Ford F-150 and 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee solve the same problem differently

Buyers cross-shop these two but they're built around different priorities. The 2013 Ford F-150 scores 2.9 on reliability data; the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee scores 3.0. Which one fits depends more on what you actually need from the vehicle than which one has a slightly higher score. We'll show you the data on both — your use case decides the rest.

2013 Ford F-150

2.9/5
Reliability score
2,796 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$14,550 repair exposure
vs

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

3.0/5
Reliability score
799 complaints
4 recalls (0 critical)
$14,050 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Buyers cross-shop the 2013 Ford F-150 and the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee but they're solving slightly different problems. The reliability data tells you what breaks on each one. The right pick depends on which set of trade-offs fits your actual driving more than which score is higher.

If you lean 2013 Ford F-150, know what you're getting into on powertrain and brakes. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Watch the electrical and airbags. The 2013 Ford F-150 has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2013 Ford F-150
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
powertrain
1188 reports
critical · ~$2,500
51 reports
severe · ~$2,500
electrical
229 reports
severe · ~$850
352 reports
severe · ~$850
brakes
310 reports
severe · ~$450
100 reports
severe · ~$450
engine
254 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
49 reports
severe · ~$3,100
steering
211 reports
severe · ~$700
26 reports
severe · ~$700
visibility
149 reports
moderate · ~$350
No reports
cruise control
116 reports
moderate · ~$600
16 reports
severe · ~$600
body
33 reports
severe · ~$1,500
No reports
airbags
No reports
29 reports
critical · ~$1,100
lighting
No reports
10 reports
severe · ~$250

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2013 Ford F-150 or the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (2.9 vs 3.0). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2013 Ford F-150?

Compared to the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 2013 Ford F-150 sees more reported issues in powertrain and brakes. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Compared to the 2013 Ford F-150, the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee has more complaints in electrical and airbags. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee has more active recalls (4 vs 2). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $14,550 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2013 Ford F-150 on NHTSA · 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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