Ford F-150 trucks made in 2013 have three recall notices, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). 2013 Ford F-150 trucks are part of one of the larger recalls in recent years. In 2019, Ford announced it was recalling 1.3 million Ford F-150 trucks that have 6-speed automatic transmissions and were made between 2011 and 2013. The problem? The transmissions can unexpectedly downshift into first gear while the trucks are on the road. Ford reported that it had learned of five crashes and an injury before it issued its recall notice.
Unexpected Transmission Downshift
What is the problem with the 2011 to 2013 Ford F-150 transmission and the reason for the recall? An unreliable speed sensor could stop communicating with the powertrain. The transmission could respond by shifting down into first gear unexpectedly and locking the rear wheels. The fix? A software update solves the problem without any manual repair work. Ford’s recall number for this repair is 19S07. The NHTSA number for this recall issued on February 11, 2019 is 19V075000. Ford issued a second recall including additional VIN numbers for the same speed sensor problem on June 10, 2019.
The recalled F-150’s were made between April 28, 2010 and October 28, 2013 at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant, and also between May 18, 2010 and November 18, 2013 at its Kansas City, Missouri plant.
Master Cylinder Rear Cup Seal Leak
More than 225,000 Ford F-150 trucks made between August 1, 2013 and August 31, 2014 were recalled due to defects in the master cylinder rear cup, leading to a loss of brake fluid in the primary reservoir. The result is a potential complete loss of front brake function, leading to a crash. The affected F-150 trucks have 3.5-liter engines.
Ford dealers will replace the master brake cylinder and brake booster at no charge. This recall started October 28, 2016. The Ford recall number for this recall is 16S24. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall number is 16V345000.
How Do I Find out about Recalls on a 2013 Ford F-150 Truck?
If you have a 2013 Ford F-150 and want to find out if you are part of one of these recalls, you can check your VIN number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN check website. The site will show you which recalls your truck has, and give you information about how to get the problem repaired.
Ford will make the necessary recall repairs at no charge to you. According to the NHTSA, car manufacturers or the NHTSA can issue a recall if a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire fails to meet safety standards or creates an unreasonable safety risk.
When they issue a recall notice, manufacturers contact owners through the mail, and they use vehicle registration information from your state. You can also sign up for e-mail notices through the NHTSA website or download the Safercar app for mobile phones.
Dealers are obligated to fix recall defects at no cost. If you take your vehicle in with a recall notice and the dealer refuses to make the recall repairs or attempts to charge you, the NHTSA advises you to notify the manufacturer immediately.
Keep an eye on recall notices for your 2013 Ford F-150. According to recall regulations, Ford is only obligated to fix safety defects for free on vehicles that are less than 10 years old. If the repair is expected to take more than a few hours, or if it will interfere with your work, dealers are also obligated to provide you with alternative transportation.
Ignoring recall notices is not only a safety hazard, but it could also cause other problems with the warranty on your vehicle. Take care of any recall notices promptly: it’s part of the system that keeps you and your truck driving safely.
