YearToAvoid

2018 Ford F-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 F-450 years

The 2018 Ford F-450 has a Complaint Index of 27, ranking 12th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other F-450 years. It has 10 complaints, 10 recalls, and 1 fire reported, with no crashes or injuries.

Complaints
10
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 Ford F-450 problems

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

  1. Engine4 (40%)
  2. Electrical System2 (20%)
  3. Fuel System2 (20%)
  4. Steering2 (20%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (20%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (10%)
  7. Other1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel reportedly seized while driving at 45 mph and the dealer could not duplicate the issue.
  • Power tailgate opened randomly on its own, causing damage to the tailgate and an attached trailer at 3,800 miles.
  • A starting/cranking module reportedly caused the engine to fail to start or randomly start after sitting for several minutes.
  • Steering wheel shook at highway speeds, leading to uneven front tire wear.
  • Rearview camera image was reported as significantly blurry even after cleaning the lens.
  • Check engine light stayed illuminated with poor acceleration; a dealer replaced the turbocharger but the issue reportedly returned, and another owner reported metal shavings in the oil pan requiring engine replacement.
2018 Ford F-450 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2018Jun 2019Mar 2022May 2023Apr 2025
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Jan 2026; peak Jan 2026 (3).

2018 Ford F-450 recalls

10 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 10 recalls for the 2018 Ford F-450 →

2018 compared with other F-450 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
2016Best753—
2017Caution532115—
2018Good271010—
2019Caution732313—
2020Avoid802411—

All Ford F-450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ford F-450 a good year?
Relative to other F-450 model years, 2018 carries a "Good" verdict with a Complaint Index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 years tracked, meaning most other years have higher complaint rates.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-450?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 40% of reports, followed by Electrical System, Fuel System, Steering, and Suspension/Wheels & Tires issues, each at 20% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Ford F-450 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls tied to the 2018 F-450, covering areas including Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Transmission & Powertrain, Electrical System, Seat Belts, and Structure & Body.
How does the 2018 F-450 compare to the 2022 F-450?
The 2022 F-450 has a Complaint Index of 100 and an "Avoid" verdict, much higher than the 2018 model's Complaint Index of 27 and "Good" verdict.
Were there any fires reported for the 2018 Ford F-450?
NHTSA lists 1 fire report for the 2018 Ford F-450, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported.

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.