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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
53,055 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 7 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #102

Oct 252018

F-150

  • 101,000 miles

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

We took our Ford F150 in for erratic downshifting, were able to provide photographic evidence of the problem, but because no error codes are popping up and they can't replicate the problem they are returning out vehicle to us. My issue is Ford knows this is an issue and knows the fix is to update the software then look for error codes, but they are acting as they have no idea this is a known problem amongst the 2011-2013 models and they are sending the unfixed car back home to be a safety hazard not only to my family but the families on the road around us.

- Galena, OH, USA

problem #101

Oct 052018

F-150

  • 165,000 miles
Transmission - molded leadframe malfunction on 5.0 motor. The 2011-2012 recall for the molded leadframe malfunction also affects 2013 vehicles such as ours leading to the truck loosing power, stalling out, shifting on it's own from 5th to 1st and the other way leaving the truck a wreck waiting to happen at any time during driving. This risks the lives of the driver, passengers and everyone else on the road. When this happens you must bring the vehicle to a complete stop, shut it off, wait for computer to cycle, then restart. Ford should be expanding the recall to replace this deadly malfunctioning part at their cost. This has happened at least 10 times within 30 days of owning the vehicle which was bought from maxwell Ford in austin Texas. The last time this happened it was in a parking lot after just starting the truck and backing out of a stall.

- Chetek, WI, USA

problem #100

Oct 072018

F-150

  • 86,000 miles
When the truck was in cruise control, the engine started randomly downshifting all the way to 1st gard.

- Mooreseville, NC, USA

problem #99

Sep 282018

F-150

  • 70,000 miles

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

Speed sensor lead frame problem. Vehicle would periodically get stuck in a gear, digital speedometer would go to all dashes, and air bag light would pop up. Other times, in highest gear, the vehicle would drop a gear unannounced. Would take off in 5th gear at times. Would shift hard at times.

- Bridgeport, TX, USA

problem #98

Sep 012018

F-150

  • 109,000 miles
Under certain conditions, the transmission controls could force a temporary downshift into first gear when the vehicle is in motion.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #97

Sep 172018

F-150

  • 147,000 miles
Recently experienced speedometer, odometer, cruise control, blinker control, and transmission shifting quits working. If I shut off and start again problems goes away. I had researched the issue and it is the speed sensor. They have a tsb but my vehicle is not included even though it has the exact same issues. A Ford dealer said to replace the lead frame, again the exact same issue of the tsb. Today, while traveling at 70mph on the highway it suddenly downshifted causing the tires to lock up and squeal and dropping my speed rapidly. Thank goodness no one was riding my tail. Very scary incident, afraid to drive vehicle now. Very disappointed with Ford as I have seen many people have this same issue and it has not been addressed. It's unsafe for us that have these vehicles and for others on the road with us. Maybe we need to file a class action lawsuit.

- Springboro, OH, USA

problem #96

Aug 312018

F-150

  • 47,500 miles

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

Getting off the highway the truck would no slow down. It would not shift to 2nd or 1st gear. Hard uncontrolled stop. When tried to start moving again truck lunged forward and started from 5th gear. Drove directly to the Ford dealer as this was a safety concern. It switched gears randomly the entire way to the Ford dealer from the highway. 2013 47K miles

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #95

Jul 212018

F-150

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle was shifted into third gear and decelerated on its own. The contact stated that the tachometer and speedometer ceased to display and the instrument panel went blank. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Grafton, OH, USA

problem #94

Jul 232018

F-150

  • 65,000 miles
Speedometer, odometer, cruise control, blinker control, and transmission shifting quits working. Believe it's the transmission lead frame causing the problem like in the 2011 and 2012 F150's.

- Rolla, ND, USA

problem #93

Jul 142018

F-150

  • 122,000 miles
While in motion on a main road the truck spontaneously downshifted from 5th gear to third gear and if not for the seatbelt would have thrown me through the windshield. The check engine light revealed a P0720 code after this happened and the truck is not shifting properly.

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #92

Jul 062018

F-150

  • 87,000 miles

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

Sporadic shifting. Transmission and/or oil pressure causes the truck to completly shut down on me when driving down the highway.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #91

Jun 022018

F-150

  • 66,000 miles
Truck was having issues with randomly disengaging from cruise control, loss of power from a stop, and erratic downshifting. On the highway the cruise control would disengage, speedometer would go to 0 then back to its actual speed. From a stop sign/stop light, when the light would turn green the truck would spit and sputter, shifting erratically, RPM would go up but no power. When cruising around 45mph truck downshifted for no reason causing a loud clunking sound, this happened twice consecutively. Took is to simmons rockwell to get it diagnosed, after I had already researched the issue and knew what it was, and they replaced the molded lead frame in the transmission. This was exactly the issue they had that caused the recall on the 2011/2012 models. The repair cost was @ $500. I was just reading an article which stated that the NHTSA may order another recall which would include the 2013 model.

- Corning, NY, USA

problem #90

Jun 112018

F-150

  • 118,000 miles
Sudden downshift into 1st gear at highway speeds. Speedometer and digital display stops working.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #89

Jun 092018

F-150

  • 116,000 miles
While driving 75 mph down the interstate the transmission shifted to 2 gear and locked up tires for a split second before shifting back up. I was in traffic and took truck off road into the median, thankfully was able to maintain control of the vehicle before coming to a complete stop. The transmission basically has a mind of its own at times I've been told it is a output speed sensor and will have that replaced. It appears that the 11' and 12's have a recall but not 13' this is a very dangerous issue that needs serious attention be taken care of by Ford

- Russellville, AR, USA

problem #88

May 222018

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
My 2013 Ford F150 will shift into different gears while driving causing the truck to lock up. I was driving 65 mph down the interstate this morning when it shifted into 1st gear causing my tires to lock up and skid all over the road. Luckily I was able to get it off the road before crashing. I have heard this is the output speed sensor which has happened to millions of other F150's. why has this not been recalled?? this is a major safety hazard! https://www.slashgear.com/Ford-faces-1M-recall-expansion-over-worrying-transmission-flaw-02513360/

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #87

May 142018

F-150

  • 46,000 miles
My truck downshifts without cause, sometimes to 1st gear, and on one occasion my wheels skidded (which was witnessed by my neighbor who was walking his dog and was startled by the skid). The speedometer goes to zero even while moving - I have video from my cell phone of this happening while going approximately 75 mph on the freeway. When this happens all other gauges go to dashes, including the mileage, mpg, etc. The transmission will slip into 2nd and 5th gears and will not go to any other gears. It sometimes remains in 3rd gear even at a dead stop. Turning the truck completely off sometimes "resets" things, but only temporarily. I have contacted a dealer about this and they looked up my VIN and told me there are no recalls for my truck year - even though the same types of things were occurring with 2011-12 F150's, and those are the subject of a recall. This is a safety issue: It happens without warning, sometimes on the freeway traveling at high speeds, sometimes while sitting at a stop light and it shifts to 3rd gear and hardly will get going. I called Ford customer service and explained everything and they said they would report to NHTSA but since it is out of warranty and there is no recall, I would most likely be responsible for the cost of repair. I pointed out a letter sent by NHTSA to Ford on January 18, 2018 addressing issues with my truck model and year, but that did not change anything in the representative's mind. I believe there needs to be consumer protection on this, both from a safety and financial aspect, by NHTSA. I have video of what happened on the freeway with the truck downshifting to 5th gear and remaining there, and when traffic slowed the truck downshifted to 2nd gear and would not shift to any other gear. I had to pull off the freeway with hazard lights flashing and turn off the truck and restart it to try to "reset" things.

- Parker, CO, USA

problem #86

Apr 032018

F-150

  • 100,000 miles
My transmission has been acting erratically for the past 30 days. At first the vehicle would lose acceleration and then the rpms would jump 2000, after a couple seconds I would hear a loud thump as the transmission reengaged; the speedometer also registered 0 a couple times when this happened. Other times the transmission would refuse to leave first gear or I would lose power while in first gear for approximately 10 seconds. The worst issue happened when I was driving the vehicle at approximately 35 mph when the transmission shifted into 1st gear and locked up my rear tires! thankfully I didn't get rear ended, or worse, been driving on the highway; there is no way I could have controlled the vehicle at high speeds and could have seriously injured myself or other drivers. Unfortunately these transmission issues are intermittent and do not generate error codes. I've been to two Ford dealers, the first could not replicate the issue and the second was able to determine the issue is caused by a faulty electronic control assembly in the transmission; they had to search service bulletins in order to figure out what is happening. While this seems to be a common complaint with Ford owners, 2013 vehicles are not included in the recall and they want to charge me $1412.75 to fix the issue. In addition, this is a major safety issue.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #85

Apr 082018

F-150

  • 137,000 miles
While driving on the city street the transmission jumped from higher gear to a lower gear for no reason. Transmission seems to be unable to decide what gear it should be in after stopping at red light. Transmission would be in a high gear and almost unable to take off from a dead stop. After turning vehicle off and cranking up again it seemed to work fine. Then when pulling out onto the highway from a side road I attempted to go and my truck would barely move, I was almost hit by an oncoming vehicle because my truck would not go into the proper gear and take off as designed to. I am afraid to drive it anymore because I may go to take off and not be able to and get hit by oncoming traffic. I also am afraid I may be going down the road and the transmission jump into a lower gear and cause me to lose control and have a wreck. This is a very dangerous problem to have.

- Ohatchee, AL, USA

problem #84

Apr 042018

F-150

  • 132,986 miles
135,987 mi. 2013 Ford F 150 econoboost powersteering assit went out! notice a traction fault couple days ago and it went away after I shut off my truck. The steering never did this and it happened in a parking lot making a sharp left turn! and then while trying to drive out of the parking lot turning out to the intersection no power steering"??? just last year I had to replace my throttle body because my truck would go limp while driving! why isn't there a recal on the steering for this year"

- Fountain, CO, USA

problem #83

Mar 272018

F-150

  • 103,000 miles
Without warning my rear wheels & drivetrain locked up while driving. My vehicle suddenly lost control and I had to drive into the grassy shoulder at around 35 mph to avoid being in traffic. As the problem was occuring, the speedometer went to 0 mph and the airbag light illuminated. The vehicle mileage in the cluster showed all dashes. The transmission felt like it was disconnected from the engine, and transmission was stuck in 5th gear at low vehicle speeds. I cycled the ignition, and truck drove normally after that. This is an intermittent problem and very dangerous to drive with as vehicle will lose power and transmission can shift to 1st gear at high vehicle speeds. My vehicle has the 6R80 faulty transmission with the same type of 6R80 molded lead frame defect problem reported in previous F150 model years. Upon contacting dealership they seemed like they never heard of the issue before. Ford should issue a recall for all vehicles with P0722 output shaft speed sensor diagnostic trouble codes. A simple electrical issue on a $100 part should not cause this type of dangerous reaction. See Ford tsb 13-4-9 and 13-2-3 and recall #16V248000 that should apply to all 2013 F-150's too.

- Dacula, GA, USA

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