Most common 2013 Ford F-350 problems
Share of the 76 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-350 complaints by model year
Best F-350 years: 2009, 2007, 2013. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1997. Compare all years →
2013 Ford F-350 recalls (1)
Equipment
PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's 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: PJ's has notified 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 August 28, 2014.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Ford F-350:
Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
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.
What 2013 Ford F-350 owners say
Suspension all 30 →
The truck vibrates uncontrollably when driving on the freeway at speeds between 65-75mph. This typically occurs when the truck hits a bump when driving in this speed range. Doing a google search and reviewing videos of this issue reveals a pheonomea referred to as 'death wobble'. This has happened to me at least 8 times over the past 8-10 months. I had the shocks changed recently hoping that this would fix the problem. This did NOT fix the problem. On one occassion while driving in Pennsylvania towing my boat, I was nearly in an accident. When the vibration/attenuation occurred I was driving approx 70mph and had to slow to 40mph nearly causing an accident. This is a very scary issue that apparently through research Ford is well aware of. …
As we were driving on the highway, the "death wobble" as it's been coined happened to us. We were going 70 mph on the highway and hit a bump and then the whole front end of the truck was shaking violently. Fortunately my husband is aware of this and knows of this happening to other vehicles that he slowed down immediately to prevent anything else from happening. Not only did the intense shaking happen, but it also popped the hood. Thank goodness it stayed latched otherwise that could have also been a serious issue. Thankful we were not on a crowded freeway or highway and were able to slow down fast. This also happened to him a few weeks earlier on a highway. This is a huge safety issue. I'm not sure if I would have been able to control the vehicle like he did if I had been driving. …
Steering all 30 →
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 65-75 MPH over a bumpy road surface, the vehicle experienced a death wobble. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the front end of the vehicle were shuddering violently, nearly causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated that upon decelerating to 20 MPH, the vehicle failure ceased, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road temporarily. The contact resumed driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 20N04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. …
I have had a few instances where the steering wheel gets a little shaky when hitting a bump but had a significant event that recently happened. I was traveling about 70 mph, with 3 other individuals in the truck with me. We were on a relatively smooth highway, one that is very well maintained. We went over a bridge and as we came off of the bridge and over the "joint" between the road and the bridge, the steering wheel began to violently shake, worse than anything I have ever experienced. I was white-knuckled trying to keep control of the vehicle, all the while slowing down on the highway. The truck was drifting left as it was shaking and I finally was able to come to almost a complete stop, which is when the shaking stopped. The shaking lasted maybe 20 -30 seconds. …
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the service warning light illuminated while driving approximately 30 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact called the dealer and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The contact stated that the Ford Customer Service Representative then transferred the call to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 96,904.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21M04. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford F-350 a good car?
Based on 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 F-350 rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the F-350 at the same age. It is one of the best F-350 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?
The suspension — 30 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the steering (30) and engine & cooling (17).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford F-350 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2013 Ford F-350, the most recent from August 13, 2014 (equipment). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2007 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000 and 1997. See the full Ford F-350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 26% 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.