Complaint volume
1835 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Ford F-150 Complaints
1835 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Ford F-150, grouped by component category.
1835 Total complaints
58 Crash reports
29 Fire reports
34 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, engine, structure. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 58 crash reports, 29 fire reports, 34 injury reports, and 3 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 956 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 46,861 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, engine, structure?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Ford F-150?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Ford F-150
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Ford F-150 complaints?
58 Crash
29 Fire
34 Injury
3 Fatality
70 Towed
23 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Ford F-150 complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 524
ENGINE 274
STRUCTURE 142
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 116
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 69
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 69
STEERING 48
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 40
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 38
VISIBILITY/WIPER 37
1,835 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | My truck has been regularly serviced by FORD and yesterday out of the blue the brake pedal went soft and i got a check engine light saying low fluid. Upon inspection we noticed all brake fluid had leaked with no visible exit. We refilled the fluid and the next day, the fluid was completely drained again with no visible exit. Upon expert inspection it was noted the brake master cylinder is leaking into the booster. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking space, the brake pedal extended to the floor while depressed, causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact discovered brake fluid was leaking from the vehicle, with the message "Low Brake Fluid" displayed. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the front passenger’s side brake line had failed and needed to be replaced. The brake line was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 140,000 |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The transmission is hard shifting and staying in 6th gear most of the time. And when I pulled into my driveway the transmission was shifting back down to first and rolling backwards before shifting back to 6th gear allowing me to make a couple feet of forward progress at a time... | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated whenever the vehicle was cold started, the vehicle was shaking and shuddering abnormally. The contact stated that after 10-seconds, the vehicle started to idle smoothly. There was no warning illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that there was a manufacturer recall but the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,000 |
| Aug 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My vehicle (2018 Ford F150) is presenting with the same issues the 2021- 2023 ford an Lincoln models regarding the fuel system with my truck sputtering in 7th and 8th gears and stalling. It has stalled a few times in the past few months. The spark plugs have been changed, purple fuel styrene cleaner has been used regularly, filters changed, basically all trouble shooting has been done with no significant change. Maybe there are others who are experiencing the same out there. My vehicle is well maintained, in fact I just put upwards to $8k into it this year. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN | NHTSA Safety Complaint Draft Vehicle Information: Make: Ford Model: F-150 Year: 2018 VIN: [XXX] Incident Summary: While driving my 2018 Ford F-150, the vehicle suddenly displayed a warning on the dashboard: “Steering Assist Fault – Service Required.” Within moments of this warning, I lost all power steering assist and was unable to control the vehicle, resulting in the truck veering off the road and into a ditch. This was a sudden and dangerous failure of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. I was fortunate not to have been injured, and no other vehicles were involved. However, this type of failure represents a major safety risk to me and to others on the road. I contacted Ford Motor Company and was assigned Case Number: [XXX]. Despite reporting the issue and explaining that the vehicle ran off the road, Ford refused to offer any assistance or goodwill repair. I was told the vehicle is outside of recall 24S45, even though it displays the exact same failure symptoms as recalled vehicles from later years. This failure could have resulted in serious injury or death. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this steering system failure and expand any related recall coverage to include affected 2018 F-150 models like mine. Incident Date: [XXX] Mileage at Time of Incident: 157,000 Location: Pine Bluff, AR Complainant Information: Name: [XXX] Address: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and accelerating, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 87,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 87,000 |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission shifted to neutral(N) unintendedly, and the vehicle lost motive power. The power train warning light was illuminated. No further information was available. Additionally, the contact stated that electronic system and lights failed to turn off. The contact confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall and that the warranty had expired. The contact stated that there were complaints and lawsuits related to the failure. The contact stated that the body control module (BCM) was previously repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 84,019. | Crash: No Fire: No | 84,019 |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, and the vehicle experienced hard transmission shifts while attempting to shift gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 164,000 |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 10r80 Automatic transmission. Randomly hunts for gears, often suddenly switches to Neutral before slamming into gear, sometimes loses gears on the highway, after a stoplight/sign or in the middle of intersections leading to a temporarily stalled vehicle in high traffic areas. Transmission behavior is unpredictable and inefficient. When brought to Ford for an oil and transmission fluid change; the vehicle threw a code, after diagnostic, they state that the transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of over 9000 USD. Vehicle information states that the transmission is supposed to be good for 150000 miles. New vehicle warranty is 5 years OR 50000 miles. There's a massive discrepancy between those numbers. My vehicle started showing symptoms at 60000 miles and full blown issues at 100000. There are no vehicle warnings other than when the dealer was testing post transmission fluid change a "wrench" light came on. Now the vehicle cannot "find" reverse gear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to rod bearing failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 139,000 |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Component/System That Failed: The 10R80 automatic transmission in my 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost has become essentially undrivable at 89,900 miles. The transmission will attempt to upshift from 1st gear through each gear unsuccessfully until it reaches 6th gear, at which point it refuses to downshift. The only way to exit 6th gear is by taking the vehicle completely out of drive. This transmission is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This failure creates a major safety hazard. The inability to accelerate properly from a stop or to downshift while slowing down means the truck cannot respond to normal traffic conditions or emergency situations. This puts me, my passengers, and others at risk—especially when entering traffic, making turns, or attempting to stop. The erratic behavior also causes the vehicle to lurch or hesitate, increasing the chance of a rear-end collision or loss of control. Has the Problem Been Reproduced or Confirmed? Yes, the issue has been confirmed by a certified Ford dealership. They diagnosed internal transmission failure and quoted $8,876.27 for a full transmission replacement. Has the Vehicle or Component Been Inspected by Others? The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership service department. No inspections have been done by law enforcement or insurance, and the manufacturer has not taken direct action, despite this being a well-documented issue with multiple TSBs and class action lawsuits tied to the 10R80 transmission. Warning Signs or Symptoms: The issue began gradually around 75,000 miles with hard or delayed shifting and worsened significantly by 89,900 miles. there was no warning light or messages until after the transmission gave out in the middle of a busy intersection. The truck now frequently: Fails to shift gears properly Hesitates or jerks unpredictably Becomes stuck in 6th gear This ongoing and worsening problem has made the truck unreliable and unsafe for everyday use. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the gear shifter shifted independently, and the message "Vehicle Heisted Gear Ten Error" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a vehicle safety complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 52,742. | Crash: No Fire: No | 52,742 |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Vehicle has had regular maintenance. It started rattling at startup and we took in for service. The service department said the 5.0L Ford Motors are pulling more oil than the manufacturer recommends and is causing engine damage up to and including engine failure. Thankfully we took it in as soon as it started making a noise, but that did not save the engine. Now we are facing a $16K repair for an apparent "known" issue about this Ford motor. Ford will not help and said to take it up with NHTSA to try to get a recall for this issue. This seems like a manufacturer defect, but they are not taking any responsibility for this problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | While driving on the interstate with the cruise control set at 70mph the vehicle's transmission, while climbing a small hill, started slipping badly. There was a loud klunking sound and an immediate substantial increase in rpms. As a result I immediately slowed the vehicle down to around 60mph. Additionally I moved over into the slow lane. The yellow wrench light activated on my dashboard indicating a power train issue. The transmission continued having slipping issues while driving it home. I took it to my local Ford dealership and they informed me the the ten speed transmission was failing, and needed to be rebuilt. The truck only has 75,000 miles on it. I've read that Ford has had a lot of issues with these 10 speed transmissions, especially in the early years like my 2018 F150, and that a recall hasn't been issued. I feel as though an incident such as mine could cause an accident, especially at freeway speeds, that could result in injury or loss of life especially on a snow covered or icy road. The only symptoms I had prior to this incident was a slight amount of transmission slipping which I put off as the typical odd shifting pattern of this 10 speed transmission. As far as I know there have been no inspections done by Ford, and there was no inspections done by the police or my insurance provider. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and the transmission shifted to neutral, nearly causing a crash. The contact stated while driving downhill at 5 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 40 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was related to the transmission. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 94,000 |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving to Sam’s Club (approximately 20 miles from home), my 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost began running very rough, and the check engine light came on. I had the vehicle scanned, and diagnostics confirmed that the cam phasers are failing — the exact issue I had replaced under warranty at approximately 59,000 miles. The vehicle now has just 88,000 miles, and this failure occurred in under 30,000 miles since the original repair. I have maintained this truck with extreme care. I only use Motorcraft parts and fluids, change the oil every 3,000 miles or sooner, and always use premium fuel. This is not a maintenance issue. This is a design or part failure that Ford has not properly resolved. When the phasers were replaced the first time, I was told there was no warranty on the replacement parts. That is unacceptable. A known failure being replaced with an equally defective part is not a resolution. Ford is aware of this issue — there are multiple TSBs (including TSB 21-2130 and 19-2208) and widespread complaints across owner forums — but they have taken no responsibility. I paid over $44,000 for this truck and should not be facing the same critical engine failure twice before 90k miles. The rough performance and sudden malfunction while driving posed a potential safety risk. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can investigate and hold Ford accountable. This seems like a common problem with this engine, and I do not understand why there has not been a recall or why Ford has not been forced to implement a permanent fix. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Gear 7 Ratio Incorrect P076F Transmission doesn’t engage like it should. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Complete engine assembly (including internal bearings), twin turbochargers, and water pump. - Failure Mode: While driving at highway speeds, the engine warning lamp illuminated “Low Engine Oil Level,” followed by an audible ticking noise from the front of the truck. Upon shutting the engine off and attempting restart, the engine locked up and would not turn over. - Availability: The failed engine and associated components remain intact on the vehicle and are available for inspection at my local Ford dealership or by any third-party expert. For safety, loss of power steering and braking assist occurred instantly when the engine warning lamp came on, greatly increasing the risk of a high-speed collision. - The engine seized without warning, stranding me on a busy interstate shoulder and creating a serious hazard to passing motorists and my personal safety. - On June 3rd, Ford‐authorized service technicians at Bird Kultgen Ford in Waco Texas, confirmed complete engine failure, twin‐turbo damage, and a failed water pump. - A written estimate for repairs was provided which the amount was in excess of 20,000$ for a new engine, new turbochargers, and water pump. - Completed on June 3rd, with diagnostic report and repair estimate on file. - Manufacturer Response: I sent a certified letter to Ford Corporate on June 23, no acknowledgment or reply has been received in over 14 business days. - No police, insurance adjuster, or other third parties have yet performed an independent inspection, pending Ford’s response. - Initial Warning: “Low Engine Oil Level” dashboard message appeared at approximately 65 mph on the interstate. - Audible Symptoms: A distinct ticking noise under the hood began immediately after the warning lamp. - No prior oil leaks or dashboard indicators had appeared before this highway incident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Cam phaser failure. Has been a customer satisfaction program through Ford which I participated in but was not deemed to have the issue as described. The dealer has now inspected and confirmed it is the cam phaser and the program has expired. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | 2018 Ford F-150 2.7 liter. Master cylinder and power brake booster failure. Confirmed by independent service center. Prior to failure there was a warning light indicating low brake fluid. I then lost all braking ability within 3 brake pedal depressions. My brake pedal touched the floorboard afterwards. Given right conditions I could have sustained major injury. Components were replaced by mechanic and unavailable for inspection. There is a recall on these components for 3.5 Ford truck but not 2.7 Ford truck, even though the components are identical. Again, confirmed by mechanic. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission randomly drops out of gear while driving. Most cases its a 2-3 shift or 3-4 shift. But its almost caused me to be rear ended twice. Its random and shifts normal most of the time. After doing research on the 10r80 I've seen muiltiple complaints on the issue. Its a valve body defect or design flaw. Also other issues leading up to this problem lots have had happen. But its a safety concern when your truck randomly drops gear and you loose control of your truck moving forward. I had the transmission serviced when bought the truck and since went as far as having it done again with best fluids and filters avalable. Nothing makes it better or worse. I like the truck and just disapointed in ford for not doing a recall or updates to address these 10 speed problems. I was having troubles around 70k and now at 90k its more of a common thing. It can happen twice a week or twice a day. Its scary when your in traffic and it just drops gear. Then let off hit gas and back to gear it goes. Some cases it will take 5-6 seconds to come back. And basiclly your in the lane hoping traffic wont hit you. Im sure im not the first to report the troubles. Maybe enough people get in a collision we can get something done. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 2018 F150 Transmission failure at 70,000 miles. Clutch packs for 3rd/4th gear have failed. This is a known common issue with this particular Ford transmission for their trucks and SUV's since 2017. Vehicle was under warranty when issues arose. Local dealers could not get the vehicle in for diagnosis and repair evaluation due to the volume of other vehicles having the same transmission diagnosis. By the time one of the local Ford dealers were able to assess the issue, warranty had expired. Ford knows this is an issue due to a longstanding TSB issued to dealerships. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the moon roof closed, the contact heard an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the moon roof independently opened halfway and independently closed repeatedly. The dealer was made aware of the failure and provided a reset; however, the reset failed to fix the failure. The contact stated that the moon roof closed but was not properly sealed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured moon roof frame. The contact was informed that the moon roof frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 90,500 |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that over time the knocking sound became more frequent, and the vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with defective cam phasers, and an estimate was provided for the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70,000 |