Pickup trucks have come a long way in the last few decades, especially from Ford. Drivers agreed the best pickup truck 2013 had to offer came from the American automaker, and you can probably guess the rest. However, why does this Ford pickup truck have so many complaints?

One of the best pickup trucks of 2013 is from Ford

It might not come as a surprise that Edmunds readers selected the Ford F-150 as one of the best pickup trucks of 2013. It actually remains the best-rated pickup truck on Edmunds in 2023, thanks to its versatility and different powertrain options. The 2013 Ford F-150 received high marks for its engine lineup, with extra points for the turbo V6 option. On top of the other bed and seat configurations, the F-150 has many reasons to be named the best pickup truck.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2013 F-150 a four-star overall safety rating. It earned mixed scores on the frontal, side, and rollover tests. However, the NHTSA complaints section with owner comments has more than 2,000 complaints for 2013 alone. A significant portion of those complaints are about the electrical system. Some more recent complaints blame the gas pump fuse, others note the vacuum pump leaking, and one driver shared that the output shaft speed sensor circuit had no signal.

One common issue is that the 2013 pickup truck downshifts or changes gears automatically. In some cases, the truck stalled and turned off. Electrical issues can be hard to diagnose again, especially if the problem disappears. In some cases, the problem was not replicated once at the dealership.

Is the 2013 Ford F-150 a reliable pickup truck?

The good news is that many complaints also list high mileage, meaning the 2013 Ford F-150 remains reliable. Only three recalls are associated with this model year, two of which address the unexpected transmission downshift. The first recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000) impacted particular 2011-2013 F-150 trucks with the six-speed automatic transmission. This recall had 1,263,051 units affected.

The second recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V433000) says that particular 2013 F-150 pickup trucks with the 5.0L or 6.2L gasoline engines that have previously had the powertrain control module (PCM) software reprogrammed need further updating. The recall did not provide the necessary updates to solve the issue, and the transmission can still unexpectedly downshift. This recall only impacted 107,857 units.

Finally, the third recall relates to the master cylinder rear cup seal leak (NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000). The complaints mention this a few times, but not by name. A loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir could result in a loss of brake function. Overall, the 2013 F-150 just has more complaints and issues that required attention from the automaker than most of the other years.

Ford still has one of the best trucks on the market

When drivers took a vote on the best pickup trucks 2013 had to offer, 24.6% of drivers selected the Ford F-150. On top of that, it is also one of the best-selling trucks on the market for the last 40 years. Both the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 were close behind. Both options are still at the top of the best trucks of 2023, but there are a few more contenders in the mix.

Check out some of the most reliable Ford F-150 years, since 2013 is a good year to skip. If you stick with the best pickup truck from 2013, ensure all the recalls have been addressed. The F-150 is a reliable truck, but fixing the recalls after so many years might be challenging.