2018 Ford F-250 Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 18 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Ford F-250, about 5% of all 397 complaints filed for the year. A related recall (19V278000) covers engine block heater cables on 2017-2019 F-250 Super Duty trucks. Median mileage at failure was 76,892.5 miles.
- Engine complaints
- 18
- 5% of 397
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 4
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 76,893 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report unintended acceleration or lurching while the truck is cold or headed downhill, sometimes with no low gears available until the engine warms up.
- Some describe a 'death wobble' at highway speeds, occasionally triggered after hitting a small pothole, that settles once the truck slows down.
- Sudden engine shut-off has been reported while driving, in one case with an 'exhaust failure, service now' message on the instrument panel.
- Multiple owners report engine fires starting under the hood or under the cabin, in some cases while the truck was parked with the engine off.
- Fuel pump failures have been described as causing the engine to cut off randomly during driving, with metal debris reportedly entering the fuel rail.
- Oil leaks from the upper oil pan seals have triggered oil warning lights and visible engine oil loss.
When 2018 Ford F-250 engine complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 13, 2018, latest Jun 17, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2018 Ford F-250
- NHTSA 19V278000Apr 8, 2019Engine131,068 vehicles
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Engine complaints by F-250 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2018 Ford F-250 have?
- NHTSA lists 18 engine-related complaints for the 2018 F-250, which is about 5% of the 397 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an engine recall for the 2018 Ford F-250?
- Yes, recall 19V278000 covers 2017-2019 F-250 Super Duty trucks with an engine block heater; Ford disables the block heater and dealers address the wiring cables.
- At what mileage do 2018 F-250 engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 76,892.5 miles, though some owners reported issues far earlier or later.
- Are there fires linked to the engine problems?
- NHTSA data shows 4 fire incidents and 2 crashes associated with the engine complaint category for this model year, with no reported injuries.