Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after his wife had driven the vehicle for an hour, she had shut off the vehicle; once she returned to the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic determined that burnt wiring in the fuse box had prevented the vehicle from starting. The contact also spoke to the manufacturer and they referred him to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the infotainment system display disappeared, the icons on the instrument panel became darkened, the vehicle stalled, the transmission shifted unintentionally, and the transmission sensor was inoperable. Several unstated warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V433000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to a dealer to get a diagnosis; the dealer informed the contact that the cause of the failure was unidentifiable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on several different occasions and the contact was informed once again that the failure cause was unidentifiable. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the failure still occurred. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the instrument cluster went blank and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the powertrain warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to coast into a parking lot. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle several times and the instrument cluster turned on and operated as needed. The contact shifted to drive and while driving there was an abnormally loud clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to his residence; however, the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test and repair. The contact associated the failure with Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N01. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact state while driving 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from sixth gear to third gear. The contact stated that due to the rear-wheel drive feature, the rear tires skidded. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and there was no electrical power to the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission speed sensor failure. The contact was informed that the transmission speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 167,559.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and hauling a travel trailer, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 35-40 MPH temporarily. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump fuse socket had failed. The dealer relocated the wiring from the fuel pump to an unused fuse socket in the fuse box. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 115,900.
The contact's husband owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted and the instrument panel went blank. The contact's husband restarted the vehicle and resumed normal operation; however, the failure returned the next day. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was acknowledged that the vehicle had experienced transmission failure; however, the vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle later restarted; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after 30 minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that a fuse box where the sensors were attached to had melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle had started off driving in 5th gear instead of 1st gear. The instrument cluster was blank. While driving 50-60 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted to second gear. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact that there was no coverage for the repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: RQ17010 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle automatically downshifted to first gear and remained stuck in first gear. The vehicle was pulled over on a side street and waited for 30 minutes before the transmission returned to normal operation. The failure reoccurred and became progressively worse. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the speedometer indicated 0 MPH, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was turned off, restarted, and returned to normal functionality. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the message "Service Vehicle Soon" was displayed, and check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle immediately experienced a loss of automotive power, and the speedometer went to zero(0) and remained at zero(0). The contact pulled over onto the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that lead frame connector was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,712.
Electrical complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 324 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 Ford F-150, 11% of the model year's 2,990 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › fuses and circuit breakers (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford F-150 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2013 Ford F-150, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-150 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 16 fires and 6 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.