2018 Ford F-150 problems: complaints and recalls
The 2018 Ford F-150 has 1,920 complaints and 19 recalls on file as of 2026-10-16. This page shows which systems the complaints name, how many report a crash or fire, and every recall with what it says.
Complaint figures come from NHTSA's complaints database, downloaded on 2026-10-16.
At a glance
| Measure | 2018 F-150 |
|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 1,920 |
| Filed within three years of the model year | 630 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 58 |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 29 |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 34 |
| Deaths reported in complaints | 3 |
| Recalls | 19 |
It ranks 3rd of the 12 model years on this site by total complaints and 2nd by complaints filed in the first three years. Older trucks have had longer to collect complaints, which is why the first-three-years count is shown next to the total.
Which systems the complaints name
Power train leads with 758 complaints (39% of the total), followed by engine (456) and unknown or other (196). A complaint can name more than one system, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 758 | 39% |
| Engine | 456 | 24% |
| Unknown or other | 196 | 10% |
| Structure | 187 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 140 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 84 | 4% |
| Steering | 80 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 73 | 4% |
"Unknown or other" means the complaint was not filed under a specific system.
Recalls
NHTSA lists 19 recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 | 26V373000 | Exterior lighting: headlights | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2026-06-09 | 26V375000 | 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. Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury. |
| 2025-04-11 | 25V236000 | Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2024-11-08 | 24V852000 | 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. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
| 2022-03-11 | 22V150000 | Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist | 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. A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. |
| 2021-12-16 | 21V983000 | Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2021-04-12 | 21E027000 | Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint | Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2021-03-10 | 21V155000 | 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. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. |
| 2020-02-21 | 20V097000 | 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. DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2019-08-28 | 19V633000 | Seats: front assembly: recliner | 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. A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 2019-04-08 | 19V278000 | 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. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 2018-12-18 | 18V894000 | 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. When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 2018-08-31 | 18V568000 | Seat belts: pretensioner | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle. |
| 2018-06-12 | 18V392000 | 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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire. |
| 2018-04-04 | 18V213000 | 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. Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. |
| 2018-04-04 | 18V214000 | 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). The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position. If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. |
| 2017-10-23 | 17V672000 | Engine | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L engines. Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2017-10-23 | 17V669000 | 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. Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury. |
| 2017-09-25 | 17V598000 | 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. If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury . |
Some recalls cover only certain engines, cab styles or build dates, so match each one to the truck in front of you before you count it against the truck.
Before you buy a 2018 F-150
- Run the truck's VIN through the federal recall lookup. A recall is only closed when the repair is done on that truck, so ask the seller for the paperwork.
- Read the recalls above against the engine and options on the truck you are looking at.
- Treat complaints as a list of what to ask about and test-drive for, not as a failure rate. See the method page for what the numbers can and cannot tell you.
- Compare the neighbours: 2017 and 2019, or see all 12 years side by side.
Sources
- F-150, F-150 REGULAR CAB, F-150 SUPERCAB, F-150 SUPER CREW: complaint records for 2018 (JSON). The set shown above is these combined, each complaint counted once.
- F-150 recall records for 2018 (JSON).