2018 Ford F-250 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 11 NHTSA recalls and 398 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
11/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2018 Ford F-250
The 2018 Ford F-250 shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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11
NHTSA Recalls
11 recalls on record
398
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
7
Crash Reports
9 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Ford F-250 (11)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Engine
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.
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….
🔧 Engine
A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
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…
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Headlights
DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module (BCM) software, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
🔧 Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars
A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is…
🔧 Steering
If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020….
🔧 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. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Latches/Locks/Linkages: Tailgate: Latch
Unintended tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle…
🔧 Structure: Frame And Members: Underbody Shields
A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power. Additionally, a vehicle rollaway could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Either of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…
Showing 10 of 11 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Ford F-250
Based on 398 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford F-250 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford F-250 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2017, 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2013, 2014, 2021 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Ford F-250
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Ford F-250 has 11 recall campaigns and 398 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-250 have?
The 2018 Ford F-250 has 11 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Ford F-250 are: Steering, Suspension, Unknown Or Other, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 safe to buy?
The 2018 Ford F-250 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 11 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford F-250 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford F-250 are: 2013, 2014, 2021. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2017, 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.