2018 Ford F-150 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2018 Ford F-150 has a complaint index of 95, the second-worst among 21 model years, and carries 18 recall campaigns. Transmission & Powertrain problems account for 44% of its 2,308 complaints, so it ranks Avoid relative to other F-150 years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 95/100
- #2 of 21 F-150 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 2,308
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 18
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 64
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 33
- Injuries
- 52
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 52 / 3
Top 2018 Ford F-150 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain1,008 (44%)
- Engine639 (28%)
- Structure & Body254 (11%)
- Other237 (10%)
- Electrical System185 (8%)
- Brakes97 (4%)
- Steering83 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers81 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires67 (3%)
- Fuel System63 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report seat belt pretensioners igniting fires near the driver's floorboard within minutes of a crash.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy or deployed incorrectly during moderate-speed collisions.
- Side curtain and seat airbags deployed but a fire started at the pillar or seat area afterward, in some cases melting through the seatbelt.
- After a crash, the vehicle's automatic 911 calling system reportedly failed to activate as expected.
- Structural damage from rear or side impacts was followed by smoke or fire inside the cabin within minutes.
2018 Ford F-150 recalls
18 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V373000Jun 9, 2026Electrical System91,198 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. 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: Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V375000Jun 9, 2026Transmission & Powertrain10,742 vehicles
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. 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.
Risk: Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S42. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V236000Apr 11, 2025Brakes123,611 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.
2018 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2018 compared with other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Ford F-150 reliable?
- Compared with other F-150 model years, 2018 ranks poorly. NHTSA data give it a complaint index of 95, the second-worst of 21 model years, driven mainly by Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-150?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 44% of complaints (1,008 of 2,308), followed by Engine problems at 28%. Median mileage at failure for these systems is 60,000 miles.
- Does the 2018 Ford F-150 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2018 F-150, covering areas including Electrical System, Transmission & Powertrain, Brakes, Structure & Body, and Suspension. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 F-150 compare to other years?
- NHTSA data rank 2018 as the 2nd worst of 21 F-150 model years by complaint index (95), behind only 2013 (100). Years like 2007 and 2008 have much lower complaint indexes of 5 and 10.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Ford F-150?
- EPA rates the 2018 F-150 at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.