Most common 2018 Ford F-150 problems
Share of the 2,322 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-150 complaints by model year
Best F-150 years: 1996, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012, 2021. Compare all years →
2018 Ford F-150 recalls (18)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V669. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended.
Remedy: ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
Latches/locks/linkages › Tailgate › Latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022.
Show 12 more recalls
Tires
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord,…
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition, F-150, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI V6 engines. These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which may cause an oil or fuel leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console).
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.3L engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L engines. The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals.
Remedy: Ford is not aware of any affected vehicles outside of dealer control. Should owner contact subsequently be required, arrangements will be made to transport their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the engine…
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Super Cab pick-up trucks not equipped with a moonroof. The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2018 Ford F-150:
Low-pressure fuel pump failure
On July 29, 2024, the O ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine.
Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire
On June 18, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-008) to investigate complaints alleging post-crash fires at the B pillar in the area of the seat belt pretensioners on MY 2014-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab, and Super Crew Cab Vehicles. On August 24, 2018, Ford Motor Company recalled (FSA 18S27 - NHTSA #18V568) the affected population.
What 2018 Ford F-150 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 1,015 →
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The transmission independently downshifted into first gear. The vehicle was uncontrollable and crashed into the median. The contact stated the failure was persistent and had occurred several times. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle sometimes jerked forward and hard-shifted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall of the transmission, however, the contact did not receive updates regarding the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to shift into 3rd gear and struggled to shift into 4th gear. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at highway speeds and shifting from 9th to 10th gear, the vehicle gear shift indicator displayed that the transmission was in 10th gear; however, the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal and would downshift to 7th gear on some occasions, and to 1st gear on other occasions. The power train warning light was illuminated, and the message "See Owner's Manual" was displayed intermittently. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. …
Engine & cooling all 589 →
The contact owns a Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, there was an audible noise was heard and observed smoke coming from beneath the hood on the driver's side near the alternator. The contact pulled over and discovered flames coming from the engine compartment. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained and no additional property damages were reported. The vehicle was not destroyed and was later towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was ot diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted but did not diagnosed or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 151,798
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH and merging onto the highway, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated and then surged forward. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling roughly while stopped at a traffic light and almost stalled. The contact stated that during a stop at an intersection, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the intersection. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shifting hard from third gear to fourth gear. Additionally, while shifting gears the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Body & structure all 193 →
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that one side of the sunroof bracket fractured and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a transmission recall repair. While at the dealer, the sunroof was inspected. When the dealer attempted to open the sunroof, one of the brackets fractured and detached from the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall, and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 39,500.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the interior lights illuminated, and the rear driver's door message was displayed. The battery was drained due to the failure. The contact located a similar article on YouTube regarding the rear driver's door and that the wiring harness was frayed. The contact spoke to her neighbor, who experienced the same failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,391.
2018 Ford F-150 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Ford F-150 a good car?
Based on 2,322 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 F-150 rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-150 at the same age. It is one of the F-150 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2018 Ford F-150?
The transmission & drivetrain — 1,015 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (589) and body & structure (193).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-150 have?
There are 18 recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150, the most recent from June 9, 2026 (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-150?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012 and 2021. See the full Ford F-150 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford F-150 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 56% 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.