2018 Ford F-150: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 1,852 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, engine, and body and structure. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 1,852
- Recalls
- 15
- Crashes reported
- 58
- 45 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Ford F-150: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which F-150 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Ford F-150. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cylGas | 4WD, RWD | 21–22 mpg |
| 3.3L 6-cylGas | 4WD, RWD | 20–22 mpg |
| 3.5L 6-cylGas | 4WD, RWD | 19–21 mpg |
| 5.0L 8-cylGas | 4WD, RWD | 18–19 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylDiesel | 4WD, RWD | 24–25 mpg |
| 3.3L 6-cylFlex fuel | 4WD, RWD | 20–22 mpg |
| 5.0L 8-cylFlex fuel | 4WD, RWD | 18–19 mpg |
- The 2018 Ford F-150 was sold in seven versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A F-150 that averages well under the EPA 18 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Frozen door latches won't close
1,400–7,900 miles
Steering drift and wander
16,000–36,500 miles
Brake pedal sinks, fluid loss
19,600–54,000 miles
Cam phaser rattle and failure
29,000–78,000 miles
10-speed harsh shifts, skipped gears
48,000–75,000 miles
Excessive engine oil consumption
63,000–83,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission69411 crashes
Trucks roll away while the shifter and dash both show Park, sometimes with the parking brake set, and several of these end in crashes into parked cars, posts, or open doors. The 10-speed automatic also slips, skips gears, shifts hard, and lurches at stops. Some trucks drop from 10th to 1st at highway speed or lose power in the middle of an intersection. Of 694 complaints, 11 involve crashes and 9 report injuries. Dealers often find no codes, and the fix owners end up with is usually a full transmission replacement. Rear axle lockup followed by fire also appears.
Engine363No crashes
Cam phasers rattle loudly on cold starts on the 3.5L EcoBoost. Repeat failures after a first replacement are common, and Ford's phaser program 21N03 has expired, so owners now pay for the repair. Heavy oil consumption is the second big pattern. Engines turn up several quarts low, sometimes with a low oil pressure warning and power loss, and some are replaced under TSB 19-2365. Other reports describe timing chain rattle, misfires, and stalling. Check engine lights also come on right after the PCM emissions recall. Two complaints involve fire.
Failed cam phasers dominate these reports. The engine rattles or knocks at startup, sometimes starts hard, and quiets once warm. Many trucks need a second phaser replacement after the first one fails again, and owners cite program 21N03 but find their truck not covered. Failures range from about 35,000 to over 127,220 miles. Other reports describe excessive oil consumption, metal shavings in the oil, rod bearing failure needing a new engine, an oil pan leak, and stalling after the 24E04 PCM software recall.
Body and structure160No crashes
In below-freezing weather the door latches freeze and the doors will not stay shut. Doors fly open in turns or on the highway, and owners drive with doors tied or held closed. Some trucks still do it after recall 18N03, and some show it on nearly new trucks. Doors also freeze shut, trapping occupants. Smaller patterns include a tailgate that opens on its own or will not fully release, white paint flaking off the roof and tailgate, and wind noise near the windshield at highway speed.
Electrical1066 crashes
Cabin fires break out minutes after crashes, even minor ones like a deer strike, usually near the driver seat or the base of the pillar between the doors after the side airbags fire. Trucks also catch fire while driving, after stalling, or after a remote start. The auto start-stop system stalls the engine or fails to restart it in traffic, and starters wear out early. Sync 3 module failures freeze the screen and block updates. Of these complaints, 8 involve fire and 6 involve crashes.
Steering803 crashes
The truck drifts and wanders left and right, so the driver has to keep correcting to stay in the lane. Repeat alignments and even a rack replacement often fail to fix it. Power steering assist drops out for a second or more when the engine restarts after auto start-stop, which makes turns from a stop hard. Some racks lose assist entirely while driving, and owners pay for rack and pinion replacement. Three complaints involve crashes, including sudden pulls toward a guardrail or median.
Brakes505 crashes
The brake pedal goes soft or sinks to the floor, often with a low brake fluid warning. Fluid disappears with no visible leak because the master cylinder leaks into the brake booster, and some owners lose nearly all braking in a few pedal presses. Ruptured brake lines cause the same symptom. Owners cite campaign 25V236000 and note that some engine versions are left out of a related recall. Five complaints involve crashes, mostly low-speed rear-end impacts after the pedal failed.
Airbags2317 crashes
Front airbags fail to deploy in frontal crashes at roughly 30 to 50 mph, and occupants report broken sternums, concussions, and back injuries. In other crashes the steering wheel airbag assembly breaks loose from the wheel and hits the driver, including one fatal crash. Seventeen of the 23 complaints involve crashes, with 17 injuries in total. A few reports also describe fires during or after a collision.
Seat belts97 crashes
Fires start in the driver-side floorboard or at the base of the door pillar within minutes of a crash, after the airbags and belt pretensioner fire. Mechanics and firefighters point to the seat belt pretensioner as the source. Six of 9 complaints involve fire. Other reports describe front belts unbuckling during a crash, a driver buckle that will not latch, and rain leaking through the rear door onto the belt and switches.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints F-150 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
While traveling on interstate truck shifted harshly causing a severe jerk then loss of power. Took to repair facility and after three days truck was returned. On way home roughly twenty-five miles from dealership same issue returned and truck went into limp mode maximum speed of 30mph. Truck has now been at repair facility for six weeks with no end in sight as to when or if a repair will be made. This is a 10 speed automatic transmission with 55,000 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2022
All vehicles for maks from 1017to 1024is having transmission issues with the 1080R transmission. I would be driving down the hwy and it would continuously kick in and out of gears. Which is because it has a drum internally which is faulty. Ford knows there's a problem and won't address it. So many people are having to pay for a complete transmission replacement. My vehicle had about 78000 miles only and cost me almost 9000 dollars.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Even with the update to add more oil pressure the camshaft phasers still failed. Happened up in the mountains on vacation. Very large rattle and jerking when first starting the engine. 71,000 miles. All maintenance has been done on time. No warning signs or build up. Ticking time bomb if continued to be driven
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Ford is to be aware or rattle on cold star but decline to Repair it and wants us to pay for it. I’ve brought up the concerns to them but no action on their part or solution has been given with a 41,000 miles truck there are many other people with same issues.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
After loading groceries into the rear seats, I shut the passenger door and thought it was latched. I started to drive off and the door came open. I spent 20 mins trying to get it to latch and although I could move the door latch mechanism with my fingers, the door would not latch and remain shut. I ended up tying the door shut in order to drive home 7 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Pant is flaking off roof and tail gate in 1/8 to 1/4 inch pieces. Offord white paint. Clearly a manufacturing defect . 2018 F150 has approx. 27,000 miles on it, Filed a claim with ford dealer Gosch in Murrieta Ca 92563.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Ford Sync 3 system in 2018 F-150 has been faulty, dealership diagnosed it as a faulty APIM, no longer covered under standard warranty. Online forums are littered with similar issues, Ford refuses to address or cover, wants > $1k for replacement. Symptions: - Main display screen goes completely blank - Backup camera does not display - Handsfree bluetooth disconnects - GPS freezes, directions do not display
Filed with NHTSA, June 2021
The A/C unit does not blow hot or cold. This seems to be a common problem for years with a lot of the FORD F-150 based on a lot youtube videos. No one can seem to understand where the problem is originating from. When I got it diagnosed that they suspected the grounding wire is exposed and touching metal at some point in the system. Overall, I think electrical wire that is not working can have a knock on effect to other parts of the car system.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2022
How the 2018 compares with other F-150 years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 has the most owner complaints of the 8 F-150 years we cover, about 3.4 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission694189
- Engine36346
- Body and structure1608
- Electrical10671
- Steering8012
- Brakes5018
Where the 2018 fits in the F-150's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the fourth model year of the F-150's 13th generation (2015–2020).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2018
- New front and rear styling
- Updated engine lineup
Recalls to confirm (15)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
22V150000BrakesMar 2022
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.
Risk: 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. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
21V983000Door latches and locksDec 2021
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S53.
21E027000SuspensionApr 2021
Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.
21V155000Wheels and tiresMar 2021
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.
Risk: 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. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
20V097000Exterior lightsFeb 2020
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 position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
19V633000SeatsAug 2019
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. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems.".
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
19V278000EngineApr 2019
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. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
18V894000EngineDec 2018
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
18V568000Seat beltsAug 2018
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.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.
18V392000Fuel systemJun 2018
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 18S17.
18V213000TransmissionApr 2018
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
18V214000TransmissionApr 2018
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.
Risk: 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. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
17V669000TransmissionOct 2017
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 Reverse or Neutral before the vehicle achieves Drive function.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
17V672000EngineOct 2017
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.
Risk: Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 replaced.The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S37.
17V598000Body and structureSep 2017
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.
Risk: If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury .
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 17S29.
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