Most common 2018 Ford F-450 problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-450 complaints by model year
Best F-450 years: 2013, 2015. Years to avoid: 2020, 2017, 2019, 2012. Compare all years →
2018 Ford F-450 recalls (3)
Equipment
LGE Coachworks, Inc. (LGE Coachworks) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford E-450, F-550, and Freightliner M2-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Remedy: ASA will notify LGE Coachworks owners, and dealers will replace the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or LGE Coachworks at 1-800-209-3985.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
Taylor Made Ambulances is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350, F-450, E-450, F-550, and GMC G3500-based ambulances equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Remedy: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2018 Ford F-450:
Power Tailgate Release Systems
In January 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ21-001) to assess allegations of post-recall remedy uncommanded tailgate openings in model year (MY) 2017-2019 F-250/350/450 Ford trucks. Besides the recall remedy launched in January 2020, Ford also implemented a production update in November 2019.
Power tailgate opens unintended
By letter dated December 4, 2019, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in model years (MY) 2017 through 2019 Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 vehicles equipped with an electric tailgate.
What 2018 Ford F-450 owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-450. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the turbo charger. After retrieving the vehicle, the failure immediately reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the diesel particulate filter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 51,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-450. The contact stated that upon having the vehicle serviced, he was made aware that there were metal shavings found inside the oil pan, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 91,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Ford F-450 a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 F-450 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-450 at the same age. 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-450?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › other fuel types › turbo/supercharger › hoses/plumbing. Next are the wheels & tires (2) and steering (2).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-450 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2018 Ford F-450, the most recent from May 29, 2019 (equipment). 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-450?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2017, 2019 and 2012. See the full Ford F-450 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford F-450 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 18,000 miles; 71% 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.