2018 Ford F-150 Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  6
• Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor
  3
• Engine › Oil/lubrication › Sump/tank
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
  1
• Exhaust system
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  7322%
• 25k–50k
  5015%
• 50k–75k
  8927%
• 75k–100k
  5015%
• 100k–150k
  5617%
• 150k+
  82%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil per week. The contact stated that one quart of oil was added per week. The contact was unaware of any oil leaks. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that a longer oil dip stick and an engine software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the oil consumption persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was damage to cylinder #2. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that much later while start the vehicle in the morning and shifting to drive (D), the transmission remained stuck in 1st gear. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving at various speeds, the transmission hesitated while shifting, and the message "Service Engine Soon" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The independent mechanic determined that the vehicle needed to be taken to a transmission specialty shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred approximately four months later. A handheld diagnostic machine was used to retrieve DTC: P0022. The contact purchased four cam phaser solenoids to repair the vehicle. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started in the morning and shifted into drive(D), the vehicle hesitated and then jolted into gear. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was also slipping out of gear. While driving 45 MPH, the transmission downshifted to 1st and the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the engine was making an abnormal clattering sound. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced, and stated that the cam phasers were possibly causing the engine to make an abnormal sound. The transmission was replaced; however, the engine failure was not diagnosed or repaired. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal cracking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed because the sound was a characteristic of the engine cowling. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the cam shafts, the timing belt, the oil pump, and other unknown parts were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced unexpected hard downshifts and the rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while cold starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact then received a letter from the manufacturer that the cam phasers were defective and would be replaced under warranty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the part was replaced. Recently, the contact stated that the failure returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for an unrelated issue and the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. A diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that the cam phasers were defective; however, the repair was no longer covered under warranty. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and then went off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with solenoid valve failure. The contact was informed that the solenoid valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the oil needed to be changed at 3,000 miles instead of 5,000 miles. The contact stated that in 2024, the camshaft, seals, gaskets, and four VCT solenoids were replaced. In addition, an oil consumption test was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the engine seized. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had locked up and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V672000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that previously, the vehicle was diagnosed by the same local dealer as needing a camshaft phaser replacement. The vehicle was repaired under the Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03; however, the failure reoccurred years later, and the vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the same repair was performed. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. …

Vehicle was inspected by the dealership and Ford inspector. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RELATED PROBLEMS OF THE 2018 Ford F-150. Backing up to an elevated driveway on a residential street. Braking at 0 mph and the vehicle accelerated at a speed which crashed the front end of the neighbor's car parked at the top of the driveway. Those neighbors have two small children which play on that driveway and would have been killed. The neighbor heard the brakes screeching. I did not have my foot on the accelerator. This incident was reported to the police, the dealership and Ford which inspected the vehicle. They claim they did not find a problem, but there are a multitude of similar issues online. …

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other F-150 years