U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Ford F-250 SD: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

42,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 21 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	2	9.5%
Steering behavior	2	9.5%
Engine operation	1	4.8%
Braking behavior	1	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	1	4.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine

Suspension

Electrical System

Steering

Air Bags

Fuel System, Diesel

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Engine: 7; Suspension: 5; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Air Bags: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10576017 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. BROUGHT TO FORD SERVICE 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THEY QUOTED ME 11,145 TO FIX SAYING WATER WAS IN FUEL. I THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SENT BY AN ENGINEER, WHICH HE SENT FUEL TO INDEPENDENT LAB. FUEL RESULTS CAME BACK NEGATIVE FOR EXCESSIVE FUEL. TRUCK HAS BEEN AT SERVICE CENTER FOR 1 MONTH,WITH NO RESULTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576017 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10639476 · 2014-09-26 (September 26, 2014)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FM 624 WHEN I CAME UP TO AN 18 WHEELER THAT WAS COMING TO A STOP. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED, THE PEDAL WAS SOLID LIKE I HAD BRAKES BUT THE TRUCK DIDN'T RESPOND. I HIT THE BACK OF THE SEMI AT ABOUT 40MPH AND TORE THE FRONT END OFF MY TRUCK AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. FORD SAID THAT THERE WAS A TRACTION CONTROL CODE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BUT THAT DID NOT AFFECT THE STOPPING AND EVEN THOU THE FRONT BUMPER MOVED DURING THE IMPACT IT DIDN'T TAKE A DIRECT HIT SO THAT'S WHY THE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. …

Owner-reported narrative. 11,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10655117 · 2014-11-14 (November 14, 2014)

RADIATOR FAILURE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. LEAKING AT THE PLASTIC SEAMS UNDER DRAIN PETCOCK. THOUSANDS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE UNITS ARE FAILING YEARS BEFORE THEY SHOULD. SOME CONSUMERS SPEND 50K+ ON THESE TRUCKS AND YET ARE FORCED TO REPAIR THE LEAKING RADIATOR AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST OUT OF POCKET AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10655117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10668118 · 2014-12-24 (December 24, 2014)

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 SPORADICALLY WHICH IN TURN TIGHTENS UP THE SEAT BELT TO EXTREME PRESSURE , WHICH IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER , WHICH IN TURN COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . DISCUSSED THIS WITH FORD AND THE RESPONSE WAS IT WAS NOT BROKEN SO THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. SOMEONE HAS TO BE K…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,216 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668118 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10689501 · 2015-02-19 (February 19, 2015)

RADIATOR FAILURE, HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT LEAK WHICH IS NOT DISCERNIBLE BY COMMON INDICATORS. RADIATOR CRACKED AND ALL COOLANT WAS LOST WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, WHEN COOLING SYSTEM NOT UNDER LOAD THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE LEAK. THIS POSES A RISK OF CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, POSING A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT SAID VEHICLE COULD LOOSE POWER WHILE BEING OPERATED UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS. THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE IS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. DESIGN OF RADIATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO FAILUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689501 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10693753 · 2015-03-11 (March 11, 2015)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND HIT BUMP IN ROAD. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A MASSIVE VIBRATION ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST 35 MPH VIBRATION STOPPED AND CONTINUED ON DOWN HIGHWAY! TOOK INTO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TRACK BAR HAD LOOSE BUSHINGS!! THEY WANTED 1200 TO FIX SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WAS OUT ON THAT PART AT 35,000 MILES TRUCK ONLY HAS 40,000 ON IT I THINK THE VIBRATION ALSO CAUSED LEAK IN RADIATOR AND OF COURSE NO HELP FROM FORD!!!!!

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10712776 · 2015-04-27 (April 27, 2015)

2013 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIO WOULD SOMETIMES COME ON WITH THE KEY AND WOULD ONLY WORK ON ONE AM CHANNEL AND ON FM CHANNEL AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF THE RADIO, WAS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RE-START IT. THE STEREO SYSTEM HAD A BAD RECEPTION. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STUCK ON 1/4 TANK AND HE TOOK SEVERAL TRIES SHUTTING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF TO GET IT TO WORK THE DOOR ALARM WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND G…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10712776 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10713352 · 2015-04-28 (April 28, 2015)

I HAVE A 2013 F-250 SD. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, RANDOMLY WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD GO DEAD. IN ADDITION, ALL THE ALERT LIGHTS (CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, ETC.) LIGHT UP. FURTHERMORE, THE MESSAGE DISPLAY READS "SERVICEADVANCETRAC". IF THE TRUCK IS TURNED OFF WHILE IN THIS STATE, THE TRUCK WILL NOT START AGAIN FOR AT LEAST 12 HRS. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND SERVICE TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER. YET, THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND FORD CANN…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713352 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.