YearToAvoid

2018 Ford F-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#5 most-complained of 16 F-350 years

The 2018 Ford F-350 has 201 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 73, and 9 recalls, ranking 5th worst out of 16 model years with a Caution verdict. Steering (50% of complaints) and suspension/wheels/tires (46%) are the biggest problem areas.

Complaints
201
Recalls
9
Crashes / fires
1 / 5
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 Ford F-350 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering101 (50%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires92 (46%)
  3. Structure & Body24 (12%)
  4. Other22 (11%)
  5. Electrical System12 (6%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (5%)
  7. Engine10 (5%)
  8. Fuel System10 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain4 (2%)
  10. Brakes3 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the front end oscillating or bouncing severely across lanes when towing a fifth wheel at highway speeds, especially after hitting an expansion joint.
  • Owners describe aluminum wheel valve stems leaking air slowly, sometimes losing about 10 psi per day, with TPMS sensors that misidentify the affected tire.
  • Some owners report the tailgate opening unexpectedly while towing and striking the trailer or camper being pulled.
  • Owners report engine fires starting shortly after the DPF regeneration process completed and the truck was shut off and parked.
  • Some owners describe fuel system fires, including diesel fuel leaking from the fuel filter onto a hot engine and igniting.
  • One owner reported a trailer detaching unexpectedly from the hitch pins while towing at highway speed, causing damage to both vehicles.
2018 Ford F-350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter542018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q3
293 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (54).

2018 Ford F-350 recalls

9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V572000Sep 3, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,456,417 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 22V880000Nov 29, 2022Transmission & Powertrain18,808 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 4x4 vehicles. A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture.

    Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power. Additionally, a vehicle rollaway could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Either of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S74.

  3. NHTSA 22V644000Aug 26, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras277,040 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.

    Risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.

See all 9 recalls for the 2018 Ford F-350 →

2018 compared with other F-350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid802083—
2017Avoid9357313—
2018Caution732019—
2019Avoid10046611—
2020Avoid8718815—

All Ford F-350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ford F-350 reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2018 F-350 has a complaint index of 73 and 201 complaints, ranking 5th worst among 16 model years, so it carries a Caution verdict relative to other F-350 years.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Ford F-350?
Steering accounts for 50% of complaints (101 of 201), followed by suspension, wheels, and tires at 46% (92 complaints).
Does the 2018 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2018 F-350, covering areas including cameras, driveshaft, tailgate wiring, seat belts, tires, and daytime running lights, with none classified as do-not-drive.
How does the 2018 F-350 compare to other years?
The 2018 model's complaint index of 73 is lower than 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020, which are rated Avoid, but higher than years like 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2023, which are rated Best or Good.

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.