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2013 Ford F-450 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Ford F-450 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 9safety recalls
- 8owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
8 complaints, against an average of 12 for the other 14 Ford F-450 model years.
Every Ford F-450 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Ford F-450?
The components named most often in the 8 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Fault codes 2013 Ford F-450 owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2013 Ford F-450 been recalled?
9 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 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. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.
Risk: Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.
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.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline J.C. Madigan, Inc. (J.C. Madigan) is recalling one model year 2011 Ford F-550, and one model year 2013 Ford F-450 chassis with a 6.8L gasoline engine dump trucks equipped with certain PTO Assembly Pressure Switches, part number 30T37594, manufactured June 2009 through June 2013, used in power take off (PTO) assemblies. The switch may begin leaking oil.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: J.C. Madigan 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 September 2014. Owners may contact J.C. Madigan customer service at 1-978-847-2900.
Equipment 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. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.
Equipment 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. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Manning at 1-800-876-8768.
Equipment 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. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.
Equipment 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.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Stahl customer service at 1-800-277-8245, or Muncie at 1-800-367-7867.
Equipment 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. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1-254-857-8813.
Equipment 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. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: 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. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1-800-777-2671.
What do 2013 Ford F-450 owners report?
8 of the 8 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
While driving my truck down the highway it will violently shake until I brake below 40 MPH. This occurs when there is a change in surface on the roadway. An example is going over a bridge or rough pavement. It has happened several times in the past year, and most recently last weekend while my wife was with me. We were driving on a major interstate at 65 MPH, maintaining a single lane when the truck went into a "death wobble." The front end shook so violently, it became a safety risk for our lives as well as other drivers. It was extremely difficult to maintain the steering until the truck…
2013 F-450 REGULAR PICKUP, FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, MY VEHICLE ARE EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH-SUPPLIED CP4 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION PUMPS THAT WERE 'NEVER COMPATIBLE WITH AMERICAN FUEL STANDARDS. MY PU HAS 49,000 MILES I HAD PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD THEY DENIED THE COVERAGE AS WELL, SAYING IT HAS WATER CONTAMINATION, CP4 PUMP IS SIMPLY NOT BUILT TO WITHSTAND U.S. SPECIFICATIONS FOR DIESEL FUEL WITH REGARD TO LUBRICATION OR WATER CONTENT AND STRUGGLES TO 'LIFT A VOLUME OF FUEL SUFFICIENT TO LUBRICATE ITSELF. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SURE RECAL THIS PROBLEM, THIS BILL IS OVER $16,000.00
I64 WESTBOUND SANDSTONE MOUNTAIN W VA 8 MILE 6% GRADE REALIZED INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKES FAILED AND HAD 2 USE MANUAL BRAKE OPTION ON BRAKE CONTROL. WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY WARNING BY TRUCK THAT TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER HAD FAILED. I AM EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO MANUALLY OPERATE TRAILER BRAKES FROM THE CONTROLLER. INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE.
FORD F-450 2013 HORTON AMBULANCE HAD THE FUEL TANK FALL FROM THE FRAME ON TO THE ROAD ON EMERGENCY 911 CALL. FRAME HAS HUGH CRACK WITH RETAINING STRAPS. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE 9 OF THESE EXTENDED CAB HORTON AMBULANCES WITH 7 HAVING CRACKS IN THE FRAME IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. 2 ARE LEAKING DISEAL FUEL.
ONE PEACE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT DID NOT BREAK CAME OUT AROUND GASKET.WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED WET SETS AND FLOOR .POSSIBLE HAZARD WHILE MOVE DOWN THE ROAD.NO REASON FOR DISLOGING
CODE P2201 SETTING AND CAUSING TRUCK TO GO INTO LIMP MODE AND REDUCE POWER. VEHICLE IS USED A A BRUSHPUMPER FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER 12 TIMES WITH NO REPAIR THAT HAS LASTED. CODE SETS WHEN IN MOTION, DE-RATES POWER AND HAS TO LIMP BACK TO SHOP. CANNOT BE USED TO FIGHT FIRES AT THIS TIME.
RADIATOR LEAK AT 43,000 FROM THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PLASTIC END CAP AND ALUMINUM CORE, DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR BUMPER. COST TO REPAIR ESTIMATED AT 1400-1800$ AT ONLY 7K MILES OUTSIDE OF FACTORY WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS USED DAILY WITHIN RECOMMENDED WEIGHT CAPACITIES TO MOVE MATERIALS AND TRAILERS, BUT FOLLOWS A VERY STRICT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM TO ENSURE LONG LIFE.
THE ONLY WAY TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE INSIDE TIRE OF A DUALLY IS TO REMOVE THE OUTSIDE TIRE. *TR
2013 Ford F-450: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Ford F-450 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-450; the most common categories were engine (2, 25%), structure (2, 25%), fuel/propulsion system (1, 12.5%). There are 9 safety recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford F-450?
Across 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (25% of complaints), structure (25% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (12.5% of complaints), power train (12.5% of complaints), service brakes (12.5% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Ford F-450 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2013 Ford F-450; the most recent (campaign 15V175000, 2015-03-25) concerns Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm). Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own F-450
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2013 only; combines NHTSA's entries for F-450 and F-450 SD. How these reports are made.