2018 Ford F-550 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Ford F-550 has 8 NHTSA complaints and 13 recall campaigns, giving it a complaint index of 15 but a Caution verdict because of the heavy recall load. Its main reported issue area is steering.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 F-550 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 8
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 13
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Steering
Top 2018 Ford F-550 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering2 (25%)
- Structure & Body2 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (25%)
- Airbags1 (13%)
- Engine1 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (13%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front end shakes violently above 45 mph, sometimes despite two dealer visits with no fix.
- Steering veers left or right on its own without warning and won't self-straighten, leading to steering box replacement.
- Vibration at 45 mph traced to a worn steering damper, ball joints, and tie rod components.
- Turbocharger warning light comes on intermittently at highway speed and the turbo was replaced, then failed again.
- A humming noise from the rear end at 65 mph was diagnosed as a failed ring and pinion needing replacement.
- Subframe or frame cracks were found near the cab-bed junction, in one case fracturing while driving at low speed.
2018 Ford F-550 recalls
13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 driverâs 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.
- NHTSA 19V880000Dec 11, 2019Seat Belts490,574 vehicles
Seat belts:pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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 apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S52.
- NHTSA 19V414000Jun 5, 2019Other4 vehicles
Equipment
Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-550 vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which can cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Farber will notify owners, and dealers will add a harness relay capacitor module, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188 or ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400.
2018 compared with other F-550 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Ford F-550 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 8 complaints for the 2018 F-550, giving it a complaint index of 15, which is low compared to other years like 2022 at 100. However, its verdict is Caution because of 13 recall campaigns.
- Why is the 2018 F-550 rated Caution instead of Good?
- The complaint index of 15 alone would suggest a low-risk year, but the verdict is capped to Caution because the truck has 13 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2018 Ford F-550?
- Steering is the top problem area, making up 25% of complaints, with reports of the vehicle veering on its own and needing steering box or steering damper replacement.
- Does the 2018 F-550 have a camera or seat belt recall?
- Yes. Recall 25V572000 covers rearview camera replacement, and recall 19V880000 covers seat belt pretensioner carpet heat protection on 2017-2019 F-Super Duty SuperCrew models including the F-550.
- How does the 2018 F-550 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 15 and rank 18 out of 21 model years by worst-first order, 2018 has fewer reported complaints than years like 2019 (index 90) or 2022 (index 100), which are rated Avoid.