2018 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
93/100
#2 most-complained of 16 F-150 years
The 2018 Ford F-150 ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 2,308 NHTSA complaints. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 44% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 28%. NHTSA lists 18 recalls for this year.
- Complaints
- 2,308
- Recalls
- 18
- Crashes / fires
- 64 / 33
- Injuries / deaths
- 52 / 3
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
Top 2018 Ford F-150 problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Seat belt pretensioners have ignited fires inside the cabin within minutes of a crash, often near the driver-side floor or seat post.
- Airbags have deployed unevenly or failed to deploy fully during frontal or side-impact collisions.
- Post-crash fires have started at the driver's pillar or seat area even when damage seemed minor, such as a deer strike.
- Structure and body damage from rear-end or side impacts has been followed by unexpected smoke or fire inside the vehicle.
- Some owners reported that connected-vehicle safety features, like automatic 911 dialing, did not activate after a crash.
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 to other F-150 model years, 2018 ranks 2nd worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 2,308 NHTSA complaints. Based on NHTSA data, it is one of the more problematic F-150 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2018 F-150?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category, accounting for 44% of all complaints (1,008 total), with a median failure mileage of 40,000 for the model year overall.
- Does the 2018 F-150 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 18 recalls for the 2018 F-150, covering areas including transmission software, brake master cylinder leaks, tailgate latches, tire curing defects, and headlamp software.
- How does the 2018 F-150 compare to 2017 and 2019?
- The 2017 F-150 has a Complaint Index of 40 (Good) and the 2019 F-150 has an index of 60 (Caution), both lower than the 2018 model's index of 93 (Avoid).