repaired · 2026 Q3
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
NewRisk. Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
2018 Ford F-150Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 2,335 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford F-150, most often about the power train. It is covered by 18 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-155 the manufacturer reports only 37% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Ford F-150 has problems
2,335 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
1,022Power train20 crash/fire/injury
512Engine13 crash/fire/injury
193Structure5 crash/fire/injury
173Electrical system15 crash/fire/injury
88Engine and engine cooling
83Steering
73Vehicle speed control
72Service brakes
57Latches/locks/linkages
37821 other systems56 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 1022 | 20 |
| Engine | 512 | 13 |
| Structure | 193 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 173 | 15 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 88 | 0 |
| Steering | 83 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 73 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 72 | 9 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 57 | 1 |
| 21 other systems | 378 | 56 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
18 recalls
2018 Ford F-150 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Exterior lighting: headlights
NewRisk. Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Other: labels
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.
Show 14 more recalls
repaired · 2024 Q1
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and…
repaired · 2024 Q4
Tailgate: latch
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.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Tires
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.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Front assembly: recliner
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…
repaired · 2020 Q3
Engine
Risk. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Engine
Risk. When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk. A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been…
repaired · 2019 Q3
Power train: automatic transmission
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…
repaired · 2019 Q1
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
repaired · 2019 Q1
Engine
Risk. Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q1
Body: roof and pillars
Risk. If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 336 power train complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 44% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
113under 30k miles257under 100k miles79100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
64 owners mentioned a cost$8,150median
Middle half: $4,650 – $9,925
Engine
30 owners mentioned a cost$4,700median
Middle half: $3,244 – $7,475
Unknown or other
12 owners mentioned a cost$1,098median
Middle half: $415 – $3,480
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other F-150 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-150 median. How we score
01034232510152861911392242753044705866766263242,7581,3811,0441,0761,2368214232,0291,1125854883693248432,1951,7842,9941,5411,7532,0981,4692,3351,3507461,052608420197111140
'73'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Ford F-150, and the recalls they led to.
- Seatbelt Pretensioner FireLed to recall 18V-568
- Low-pressure fuel pump failureLed to recall 25V-455
In owners' words
What F-150 owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
At approximately 89,000 miles, my vehicle experienced a suspected CDF drum bushing failure in the Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. Symptoms included delayed, harsh, and erratic shifting, intermittent loss of gear engagement, and unexpected gear changes that created serious safety…
At around 45 miles per hour the transmission shifted hard between gears and almost like a jerk and routinely does this now. Had diagnosed and find its known tech bulletin on this transmission. Ford now has me on hook for new transmission. Just adding my complaints to long list of others with 10r80…
My 2018 Ford F-150 is a regular-cab, long-bed pickup with a 10-speed automatic transmission and approximately 115,000 miles. The transmission frequently delays or misses both upshifts and downshifts. At times, the truck feels as if it goes into neutral for two to three seconds before the next gear…
Own a 2018 F-150?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.