2013 Ford F-350 SD Problems & Complaints

Better than average91% fewer complaints than a typical year of the F-350 SD at the same age

Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 2013 Ford F-350 SD with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 91% fewer than a typical F-350 SD model year at the same age, making the 2013 one of the better F-350 SD years. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (2 complaints, typically around 1,000 miles). 9 recalls cover this model year.

9complaints
9recalls
0crashes
0fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2013 Ford F-350 SD problems

  • Engine & cooling~1,000 miles
    222%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~28,000 miles
    222%
  • Steering~142,000 miles
    222%
  • Brakes~54,000 miles
    111%
  • Wheels & tires~6,000 miles
    111%
  • Body & structure~21,000 miles
    111%
  • Electrical system~27,000 miles
    111%
  • Suspension~142,000 miles
    111%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    111%

Share of the 9 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Ford F-350 SD complaints by model year

’97’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’263142157158124132130217127251011950432997208209574203467189981134145148
Owner complaints per model year, Ford F-350 SD. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best F-350 SD years: 2014, 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2018, 2022. Compare all years →

2013 Ford F-350 SD recalls (9)

Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

NHTSA recall 15V-175 · Mar 25, 2015 · 6,322 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-453 · Jul 24, 2014 · 6 vehicles

Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Godwin) is recalling certain model year 2010 Ford F-450; 2011 Ford F-550; 2012 Ford F-350 and 2013 F-350 Super Duty trucks modified by Godwin and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies.

Remedy: Godwin will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2014.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-360 · Jun 23, 2014 · 10 vehicles

Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies.

Remedy: Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-326 · Jun 13, 2014 · 10 vehicles

Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies.

Remedy: Manning will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. This action is the same as the service campaign action.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-328 · Jun 13, 2014 · 21 vehicles

Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized.

Remedy: Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-327 · Jun 12, 2014 · 10 vehicles

Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Remedy: Stahl will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge.

Show 3 more recalls

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-382 · Jun 10, 2014 · 4 vehicles

Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies.

Remedy: Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-379 · Jun 10, 2014 · 16 vehicles

Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles.

Remedy: Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-307 · Jun 4, 2014 · 19 vehicles

Tactical Vehicle Outfitters (Tactical) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ford F-350 and F-550 vehicles modified by Tactical and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Remedy: Tactical will notify owners, and dealers will install a new PTO pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Tactical customer service at 1-405-603-6700.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Ford F-350 SD:

Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

NHTSA investigation RQ14005 · opened Jan 13, 2015 · closed Mar 15, 2016 · led to recall 15V-175

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford F-350 SD a good car?

Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 F-350 SD rates better than average: 91% fewer complaints than a typical year of the F-350 SD at the same age. It is one of the best F-350 SD years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford F-350 SD?

The engine & cooling — 2 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (2) and steering (2).

How many recalls does the 2013 Ford F-350 SD have?

There are 9 recalls for the 2013 Ford F-350 SD, the most recent from March 25, 2015 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-350 SD?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2018 and 2022. See the full Ford F-350 SD years comparison.

At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-350 SD problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 27,000 miles; 75% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.