2018 Ford E-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 E-350 years
The 2018 Ford E-350 has 3 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls, with a Complaint Index of 47, ranking 9th out of 16 model years. Transmission & powertrain issues make up 67% of complaints, with failures reported near 4,500 miles.
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2018 Ford E-350 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (67%)
- Brakes1 (33%)
- Electrical System1 (33%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (33%)
What owners report
- Owners report the transmission engaging in the wrong direction, with one vehicle jumping forward when shifted into reverse and striking power lines.
- Some drivers describe brake pedal failure at low speed, where pressing the brake caused the vehicle to accelerate to about 30 mph instead of stopping, ending in an embankment.
- One owner reported a broken left rear suspension component on a class-C motorhome build, discovered after a dealer weigh-in.
- Transmission and brake failures were both reported around 4,200 to 4,800 miles, suggesting early onset rather than wear over time.
2018 Ford E-350 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V466000Jun 18, 2019Other52 vehicles
Equipment
SVO Group Inc. (SVO Group) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350 and E-450-based shuttle buses equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SVO Group will work with ASA to notify owners, and ASA will provide a harness relay capacitor module to eliminate the image reversal, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-800-384-4400.
- NHTSA 19V342000May 3, 2019Electrical System17 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 19V236000Mar 26, 2019Electrical System36 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and 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. 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: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.
2018 compared with other E-350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Ford E-350 reliable compared to other E-350 years?
- It ranks 9th out of 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 47. That puts it in the middle of the pack, better than 2010, 2011, 2021, and 2022, but worse than 2015 and 2016.
- What problems does the 2018 Ford E-350 have?
- NHTSA lists 3 complaints for the 2018 E-350, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 67% of them, including a reverse-gear malfunction that led to a crash. Brakes and electrical systems each account for 33% of complaints.
- Does the 2018 Ford E-350 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 E-350, covering back-up camera monitor displays, Whelen brake lights on ambulance builds, and a foldaway seat cushion that may not lock into place. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the median mileage for reported failures in the 2018 E-350?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 4,500 miles, with transmission complaints reported around 4,500 miles and brake complaints around 4,200 miles.
- Should I avoid the 2018 Ford E-350?
- The 2018 model year is not flagged as an Avoid year. Its Complaint Index of 47 places it above the best years like 2016 (index 7) but well below the worst years like 2021 (index 100).