2018 Ford F-150
The Verdict
The 2018 Ford F-150 has 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (55 complaints) and engine (19 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 75/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford F-150, consider the 2020 model year which has 41% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2020 has 41% fewer complaints
View the 2020 Ford F-150 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 12
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V669. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of ...
Risk
Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332....
Reported Sep 6, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamp...
Risk
Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Fo...
Reported Sep 6, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Super Cab pick-up trucks not equipped with a moonroof. The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of t...
Risk
If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury .
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.3L engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to...
Risk
Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L engines. The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing j...
Risk
Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford is not aware of any affected vehicles outside of dealer control. Should owner contact subsequently be required, arrangements will be made to transport their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln deale...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Esc...
Risk
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford cu...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Risk
Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activ...
Risk
DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numb...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warni...
Risk
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for thi...
Reported Aug 11, 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or mo...
Risk
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control...
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4...
Reported Oct 3, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition, F-150, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI V6 engines. These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblie...
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service a...
Reported Dec 6, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automat...
Risk
If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite ...
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford cust...
Reported Apr 4, 2018
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
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Complaints
I had a recall on my replacement transmission. Recall stated it may be missing a part. I had all the problems listed. It was replace 4 years ago. The dealer said i don't qualify for the recall. Their reason was i had more then 8k miles. That average is 2000 miles a year. My truck rolls back be shifting to neutral. Please help I
The brake hydraulic system on my 2018 Ford F-150 failed. The vehicle rapidly lost brake fluid, the brake pedal began sinking, and there was no obvious external brake-fluid leak. An independent repair facility later replaced both the brake master cylinder and the power brake booster. I have the repair invoice and service records available. I do not know whether the removed components were retained by the repair facility. This failure created a serious safety risk because the vehicle was losing brake fluid and braking ability could have been reduced or lost. I had to repeatedly add brake fluid because the reservoir level would drop again after only a short distance. The sinking brake pedal made the vehicle unsafe to continue driving normally. The problem was confirmed and repaired by an independent service center. The master cylinder and power brake booster were replaced, along with a brake-system flush. The symptoms are similar to those described in Ford Recall 25S37 / NHTSA Recall 25V-236, which involves certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 vehicles where the master-cylinder rear seal can allow brake fluid to leak into the brake booster. My VIN is not currently included in that recall. The vehicle has not, to my knowledge, been inspected by Ford specifically for this failure. The independent repair facility performed the repair. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether this vehicle may represent the same or a similar defect occurring outside the current recall population. Before the original brake failure, I did not receive a brake-system warning lamp or message that alerted me to the rapid brake-fluid loss. The main symptoms were the brake-fluid reservoir repeatedly becoming very low and the brake pedal sinking. After the master cylinder and brake booster were replaced, a new warning began appearing stating “Park Brake Limited Function.” This warning was not present before the repair. The vehicle has been returned to the repair facility four times for this warning. T
Truck has inconsistent, erratic shifting. Transmission seems to get confused or lost for a second or two when accelerating from a stop which has been dangerous a few times due to almost being rear ended. Also has shifted from 10-1-9th gear at 60-70mph at least 10 times now leaving the 10th gear unavailable and a wrench on the dashboard. Sometimes it is violent enough slamming back into gear that if roads were icy, loss of control could result. We’re having a baby in December and I wont feel safe with the child in the truck. According to many online forums, YouTube videos and talking to mechanics this is a known issue and more or less a manufacturer defect in the cdf drum that Ford should recall but wont unless its considered a safety issue, which it should be.
Excessive oil consumption of approximately 1 qt every 1000 miles. I am filing the oil to the acceptable level monthly.
Mandatory recall 24E12 reprogrammed the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to stricter emissions monitoring standards. This caused the Check Engine light to appear within 24hrs showing code P0430. There were NO codes showing and the Check Engine light was not on before the recall was performed. Ford is denying responsibility and charging me $2,500+ out of pocket to replace the converter. I feel like they a FORCING me to purchase parts because if I don't, my vehicle wont pass emissions tests and is un-drivable (legally). Ford case#: CXH0966043220H4B3 Apparently, this has happened to THOUSANDS of F150 owners and needs to be addressed ASAP!!!!!
The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in XXX to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in [XXX] to get a diagnostic done October 5,2026 and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford XXX again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an ongoing issue and they refuse to do anything about this. I will continue to fight until something is done. This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This vehicle is equipped with the 10 speed transmission that is know to have issues that Ford refuses to resolve. The shifting in my vehicle has become delayed and rough to the point that it is dangerous to drive. Ford says the only recourse is to have the transmission replaced or rebuilt which will cost several thousand dollars.
My F-150 previously experienced an unintended tailgate opening while the vehicle was being driven. I brought the vehicle to Sugar Loaf Ford on May 14, 2025, specifically because of this problem. According to my repair documentation from that visit, Sugar Loaf Ford performed extensive work addressing the unintended tailgate-opening condition, including: •Installed a relay jumper harness •Installed a bypass harness •Installed a body-length harness •Replaced the tailgate switch •Reprogrammed the Body Control Module (BCM) •Changed BCM parameters Despite this extensive repair, the vehicle has now experienced another unintended tailgate opening while being driven. The recent incident resulted in the loss of property from the truck. Most significantly, a Remington Model 552 Speedmaster .22-caliber rifle with a 3x9 powered scope and its hard case were lost. Firearm identification: •Make: Remington •Model: 552 Speedmaster •Caliber: .22 •Serial Number: 1443879 Upon parking the vehicle at my home, I discovered the tailgate was open and that the rifle and its case were missing. I immediately backtracked my route in an attempt to locate the firearm but was unable to find it. I then called my son, who lives very close by, and together we backtracked the route a second time to no avail. Following this second unsuccessful search, I immediately reported the firearm loss to local law enforcement and filed a police report. I sent a certified/return receipt letter explaining all of this to FORD MOTOR CO. Customer Relationship Center on 9-24-2026 (Receipt was acknowledged), and hand delivered a letter, on 9-24-2026, addressed to Mike Harrison, Parts and Service Director at Sugar Loaf Ford Inc. To date, neither Ford Motor Co. or Mike Harrison has contacted me to resolve this issue. NOTE: Winona County Sheriff (about 4-5 days afterwards) did find the gun and it's case and returned it to me. But I do NOT trust the tailgate to hold securely hold my property.
The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in April 2026 to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in Beavercreek, Ohio to get a diagnostic done [XXX] and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford 10/7/2026 again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an on going issue and they refuse to do anything about this.I will continue to fight until something is done.This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Hello, so while driving I am noticing a loud, hard thunk between gears. It is really noticeable when pulling our camper. When pulling our camper it is so loud and so hard I that if I have coffee in my cup holder, it would spill. We have contacted Ford about this and they are denying there is a transmission issue with their 10 speed transmissions. I feel there should be a recall on these transmissions because there are thousands of F150 owners having the same issue and replacing a transmission the way prices are for everything, who can afford to pay thousands of dollars for a new transmission and have it replaced.
Premature transmission failure under 45k miles. While driving transmission will not shift gears causing the vehicle to stall and then suddenly engaging propulsing the vehicle forward unexpectedly. Multiple complaints online, Ford will not fix.
My truck has the 3.5 ecoBoost twin turbo engine with the known cam phaser problem. Ford dealership replaced cam phasers 4 years ago and told they were putting in new designed cam phasers to prevent this from happening again. Last week, I changed the v v t cylinder because of a p0018 code, and found that the replacement was the old cam phasers prone to break again. Truck is just now out of warranty. And ford is doing nothing to help. Drivability is not the same has hesitation. So far, and I'm sure it's going to get worse. Check engine light just went on last week. This truck is at dealership now. My biggest problem with this situation is Ford. Dealer lied said they put in new cam phasers, which they put in old ones. I would have got an extended warranty if I knew they were the old cam phaser. Now, I will be out 3 to 5 thousand dollars because ford dealership lied to me. I have all paperwork. Service reports everything on the truck. The truck was babied. There's no reason why in 70000 miles catastrophic engine failure twice. Fixing the problem with the same problem. Parts is not a fix. It's a bandade until warranties are over. And let the people deal with it.
2018 Ford F-150 5.0L with 10R80 10-speed transmission, approximately 86,000 miles. The transmission began exhibiting abnormal shifting, including missed shifts and loss of propulsion. On multiple occasions while traveling approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power/propulsion. During these events, the gear indicator changed from 10th to 1st and engine RPM appeared to increase. I do not believe the transmission physically engaged 1st gear; the actual gear engaged is UNKNOWN. The unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speed created a safety concern because the vehicle would not respond normally to accelerator input while traveling with traffic. The transmission also malfunctioned when accelerating from a stop. It would sometimes have difficulty shifting through approximately 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears and lose propulsion for approximately 3–5 seconds. I would release and reapply the accelerator trying to get the transmission to engage a gear. This could be particularly dangerous when entering or crossing traffic. An independent transmission shop inspected the vehicle and documented codes P0732, P0734, and P07F7. The shop found the transmission fluid full but dark and diagnosed an internal transmission failure requiring replacement. The transmission was replaced on October 5, 2026. To my knowledge, the original transmission was not disassembled, and the exact internal failure is UNKNOWN. The vehicle was not inspected by Ford. There was no crash or injury.
About 1 year ago the rear door on the drivers side locked and I have been unable to open it manually, with the interior unlock buttons or with the key fob. However, there have been 3 occasions during this passed year when the door inexplicably opens, twice when the truck is parked and once when I was driving down the freeway. To be clear, the door doesn’t just unlock, it opens. On those 3 three occasions, when I closed the door, it again locks and I’m unable to open it. I’ve taken the problem to 2 Ford dealerships. Both indicated they had never heard of this problem and there were no recalls related to the problem. One dealership diagnosed the issue, charging $100 and determined it was the door latch and offered to replace it ($472 for the latch and labor to be determined). I opted not to repair it thinking that the problem should be further diagnosed to determine if there are flaws in factory parts that create safety issues in this particular truck, make and model.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while stopped at a stop sign and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the gear shifter independently shifted to neutral(N) and remained stuck into neutral(N). The gear shifter was shifted back and forth between park(P) and drive(D) and the vehicle responded as needed. A local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
Transmission would go from 7th gear to 1st gear causing stalling in busy traffic. Also the truck would be stuck at 7th gear when coming to a stop light and when the light turned green would not shift down to one which caused a power loss. This is a known problem with ford transmission, the dealership diagnosed the issue as a hydraulic circuit leak, which is caused by the cdf cylinder sleeve. This can be found in Ford TSB 25-2126
I own a 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. The vehicle currently has approximately 70,000 miles. The transmission has developed intermittent harsh shifting and, more concerningly, has repeatedly appeared to slip or disengage from gear while the vehicle is moving. On multiple occasions while driving at highway speeds, pressing the accelerator did not result in acceleration because the transmission was no longer effectively transferring power to the wheels. This caused a temporary loss of motive power while traveling in traffic. The transmission subsequently re-engaged. The vehicle has also stored diagnostic trouble code P0734, indicating an incorrect 4th-gear ratio. The transmission fluid has been serviced, the vehicle software is current, and an adaptive transmission relearn has been performed by a mechanic. The P0734 code and transmission symptoms returned after these measures. Ford has issued Technical Service Bulletin 25-2475 for 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission. The bulletin includes P0734 and harsh or delayed transmission operation and identifies axial movement of the CDF clutch-cylinder sleeve causing hydraulic circuit leakage as a possible cause. I am reporting this because the unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speeds creates a safety concern, particularly when merging, changing lanes, or traveling in surrounding traffic.
The vehicle is stalling/jerking and long idling. I was told that the transmission needs to be replaced. Less than 80,000 miles. 2018 Ford 150
2018 Ford F-150 Limited with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. At approximately 60,000 miles the engine began making a rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold start, lasting several seconds. Over the last three months the noise has become progressively worse and now occurs at every cold start and lasts longer. The check engine light is currently illuminated. The vehicle has not stalled or lost power. A Ford dealer (Wynne Ford, Hampton, VA) diagnosed the condition on September 24, 2026 at 104,661 miles as cam phaser failure, requiring replacement of the variable camshaft timing (VCT) units and associated timing components. This matches Ford's Technical Service Bulletin 23-2143, which covers 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine built on or before November 30, 2019. Ford previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21B10 and warranty extension 21N03 for this same defect on March 2, 2021, but 21N03 expressly excluded the F-150 Limited trim, and both programs have since expired. The dealer additionally reported that it has submitted multiple other cam phaser repairs on 2017-2020 3.5L EcoBoost vehicles for manufacturer assistance in the past two months, including vehicles newer and with lower mileage than mine, and that all were denied. The quoted repair is $5,414.11 at my expense. I am filing this report because cam phaser failure in these engines can progress to timing chain damage and engine failure, and because Ford has documented this defect since at least 2021 without issuing a recall. I contacted Ford (case CXH-09424982) and was denied any financial assistance.
Driving highway I70 over Vail Pass, vehicle downshifted on it's own nearly causing someone to rear-end my vehicle. Took it to three local automotive business's for a diagnostic service; they all reported the same issue PP07F7-00 CDF drum and the 10th-gear not engaging. This should not be occurring when I've maintained service of my vehicle. I've paid for one diagnostic and shouldn't have to pay for one at my Ford dealer where it was purchased by I will have to again. I know of several owners with the exact same issue and no one is supporting them for this. I've owned four Ford trucks and this is unacceptable. Ford Case# CXH-09395547-R9D3S2
91 total