YearToAvoid

2018 Ford F53 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 F53 years

The 2018 Ford F53 has a Complaint Index of 80, ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other F53 years. NHTSA lists 11 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 reported fire for this year.

Complaints
11
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 Ford F53 problems

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

  1. Structure & Body5 (45%)
  2. Electrical System2 (18%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (18%)
  4. Brakes1 (9%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (9%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (9%)
  7. Steering1 (9%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Roof leaks allowed water inside the vehicle, and an inverter unit shorted out and caught fire while the vehicle was parked.
  • Emergency brake chime stayed on and could not be silenced even after the brake assembly was replaced twice, at a median mileage of 3,000 miles.
  • Bunk-area doors detached in transit when door hinge screws or welds failed, with one door falling off at highway speed.
  • Steering became unstable and uncontrollable at 65 mph with no warning indicators lit, reported at 781 miles.
  • A rear-view camera detached and stopped working during driving, traced to a loosened electrical wire.
  • A main door hatch plunger broke, locking occupants out of the vehicle while it was parked.
2018 Ford F53 complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2018Jul 2018Jun 2019Jul 2020May 2021Oct 2022
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Oct 2022; peak Jul 2020 (2).

2018 Ford F53 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V470000Jul 16, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires162 vehicles

    Wheels

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F53 stripped chassis vehicles equipped with 22.5 inch front wheels. The front wheel hub assembly may have wheel studs that were not properly heat treated.

    Risk: If a sufficient quantity of wheel studs break on one hub, vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace any suspect front wheel hub studs, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customers service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S21.

2018 compared with other F53 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
2016Caution73151—
2017Best2061—
2018Avoid80111—
2019Good3360—
2020Avoid100322—

All Ford F53 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ford F53 a good year?
No. Among 16 model years of the F53, 2018 has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 4th worst, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F53?
Structure & Body issues make up 45% of complaints, including roof leaks, a fire in an inverter unit, and doors detaching, with a median failure mileage of 9,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Ford F53 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (18V470000) for front wheel hub studs on 22.5 inch wheels that were not properly heat treated; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 F53 compare to other years?
The 2018 F53's Complaint Index of 80 is worse than 2017 (20, Best) and 2019 (33, Good), but still better than 2020 (100, Avoid).

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.