YearToAvoid

2018 Ford F-150 Seat Belts Problems

NHTSA lists 16 seat belt complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150, about 1% of that year's 2,308 total complaints. Reported issues include seat belt pretensioners igniting fires after crashes; recall 18V568000 addresses this pretensioner ignition risk.

Seat Belts complaints
16
1% of 2,308
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
9
Median mileage
12,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical seat belt symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the front seat belt pretensioner igniting a fire on the driver-side floor within about 5 to 10 minutes of a crash.
  • Several complaints describe a fire starting near the B-pillar carpet and plastic trim after the seat belt tensioner deployed.
  • One owner reported the seat belt failed to work properly during a collision at 45-50 mph.
  • Multiple reports involve the fire starting after airbags deployed, with the seat belt component named as the ignition source.
  • Median mileage at failure across these complaints was 12,500 miles.

When 2018 Ford F-150 seat belt complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 17, 2018, latest Jan 11, 2026.

2018 Ford F-150 seat belts complaints: complaints filed per month4Jul 2018Sep 2018Sep 2019Jun 2022Jun 2024Jan 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2018 to Jan 2026; peak Sep 2018 (4).

Seat Belts recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150

  1. NHTSA 18V568000Aug 31, 2018Seat Belts1,619,112 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

    Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

Seat Belts complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200520 (2%)
  2. 20067 (1%)
  3. 20076 (1%)
  4. 200811 (3%)
  5. 20093 (1%)
  6. 20108 (1%)
  7. 20118 (0%)
  8. 20123 (0%)
  9. 20137 (0%)
  10. 20149 (1%)
  11. 201526 (2%)
  12. 201614 (1%)
  13. 201717 (1%)
  14. 201816 (1%)
  15. 20194 (0%)
  16. 20203 (0%)
  17. 20215 (0%)
  18. 20222 (0%)
  19. 20232 (0%)
  20. 20243 (2%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many seat belt complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 16 seat belt complaints for the 2018 F-150, about 1% of the 2,308 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford F-150 seat belts?
Yes. Recall 18V568000, reported August 31, 2018, covers 2015-2018 F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab trucks where a front seat belt pretensioner deploying in a crash can ignite nearby materials. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
What happens when the seat belt pretensioner fails on the 2018 F-150?
Owners report the pretensioner deploying during a crash and then igniting a fire near the driver-side floor or B-pillar area, typically within minutes of the collision.
How severe are these seat belt complaints?
Of the 16 seat belt complaints, NHTSA data tied to this area shows 13 crashes, 7 fires, and 9 injuries reported.
At what mileage do seat belt problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure for this complaint area is 12,500 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.