2018 Ford F-150

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford F-150 has 2742 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 34.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: not all the time but when engine starts front axle jumps and makes a clunk noise. doesn't happen all the time. also erratic shifting and clunking in driver train again not always. called dealer said there been some reports of these problems but service bulletins yet.. ⚠️ 31 fire reports filed.

31 fire reports 52 crash reports 45 injuries

2742

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

34.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

928 complaints

34%

• NOT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN ENGINE STARTS FRONT AXLE JUMPS AND MAKES A CLUNK NOISE. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ALSO ERRATIC SHIFTING AND CLUNKING IN DRIVER TRAIN AGAIN NOT ALWAYS. CALLED DEALER SAID THERE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT SERVICE BULLETINS YET.
• MY TRUCK SINCE DAY ONE 12-08-2017 HAS HAD DRIVETRAIN ISSUES ERRATIC SHIFTING , CLUNKING IN REAR AND FRONT DRIVE TRAINS . THIS MORNING WENT PULL OUT IT FELT LIKE IT POP OUT OF GEAR THEN IN THUMPED BACK INTO GEAR THIS HAPPENED TWICE. BEFORE TODAY THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE FIRMWARE WITH THEE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, IT REVERSED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT BEING SHIFTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“NOT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN ENGINE STARTS FRONT AXLE JUMPS AND MAKES A CLUNK NOISE. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ALSO ERRATIC SHIFTING AND CLUNKING IN DRIVER TRAIN AGAIN NOT ALWAYS. CALLED DEALER SAID THERE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT SERVICE BULLETINS YET.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

575 complaints

21%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE LOW OIL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARROWAY FORD (519 N BEDFORD RD, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
• THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING WIDESPEAD AMONGST OWNERS OF FORD'S NEW 3.5L HIGH OUTPUT POWERTRAIN. UPON OPEN THROTTLE, THE ENGINE WILL INSTANTLY DROP OFF ALL POWER, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO DANGEROUSLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROP TO ZERO MILES PER HOUR. VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING WHILE ENTERING ROADWAYS OR
• VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND MAKES A POPPING NOISE FORM ENGINE . SOUNDS LIKE A MISFIRE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON SOMETIMES DURING THIS EVENT. ALSO WHEN CRANKING IT MISFIRES SOMETIMES. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME DAY ONE BRAND NEW.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE LOW OIL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARROWAY FORD (519 N BEDFORD RD, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

233 complaints

• MY 2018 FORD F-150 WITH 7,800 MILES WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY WHILE WORKING IN MY GARAGE AT MY HOME. THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3" TO KEEP THE HEAT FROM BUILDING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS 84 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. WHEN I WAS ROLLING UP MY WINDOWS TO PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN MY GARAGE, T
• THE DASH PANEL IS WARPING ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AT THE TOP IN THE AREA OF THE DEFROSTER DUCTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE DIVERTING THE AIR FROM THE DEFROSTER OUTLETS AND CAUSING A REDUCED EFFECIENCY OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE DRIVER HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BEFORE STRIK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“MY 2018 FORD F-150 WITH 7,800 MILES WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY WHILE WORKING IN MY GARAGE AT MY HOME. THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3" TO KEEP THE HEAT FROM BUILDING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS 84 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. WHEN I WAS ROLLING UP MY WINDOWS TO PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN MY GARAGE, T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

191 complaints

• IN COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LATCHES FREEZE CAUSING THE DOORS TO REMAIN UNLATCHED. THIS CAUSED MY REAR DOORS TO FLY OPEN WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T COVER THE 2018 MODEL YEAR. MY TRUCK WAS MADE IN OCT 2017, AND I TOOK DELIVERY IN MID DEC 2017. THE DEALER WILL INSPEC
• DOORS WILL NO SHUT AND LATCH IN COLD TEMPERATURES. VERY UNSAFE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE DAYS.
• THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE PASSENGER DOOR IS UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB THE TAILGATE FAILS DOWN. WHEN THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE THE TAILGATE FALLS DOWN. BY FALLS DOWN I MEAN THE TAILGATE ON THE PICKUP IS CLOSED AND IN THE VERTICAL POSITION AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE TAILGATE IS WIT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“IN COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LATCHES FREEZE CAUSING THE DOORS TO REMAIN UNLATCHED. THIS CAUSED MY REAR DOORS TO FLY OPEN WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T COVER THE 2018 MODEL YEAR. MY TRUCK WAS MADE IN OCT 2017, AND I TOOK DELIVERY IN MID DEC 2017. THE DEALER WILL INSPEC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

165 complaints

• DURING COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. CONDITION REMAINS WHEN IN PARK OR WHEN DRIVING
• IN COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LATCHES FREEZE CAUSING THE DOORS TO REMAIN UNLATCHED. THIS CAUSED MY REAR DOORS TO FLY OPEN WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T COVER THE 2018 MODEL YEAR. MY TRUCK WAS MADE IN OCT 2017, AND I TOOK DELIVERY IN MID DEC 2017. THE DEALER WILL INSPEC
• 2018 F150 MFG DATE OCT 2017- FREEZING DOOR LOCKS IN COLD WEATHER (<30F) THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR DO NOT OPEN...OR IF THEY DO, AND THE DOOR OPENS IT WILL NOT LATCH SECURELY. THE DOORS HAVE FLOWN OPEN AS I'VE GONE AROUND CORNERS...WHEN I THOUGHT THEY WERE CLOSED. TOOK TO DEALER YESTERDAY, THEY ARE TRY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“DURING COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. CONDITION REMAINS WHEN IN PARK OR WHEN DRIVING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2742 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: NOT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN ENGINE STARTS FRONT AXLE JUMPS AND MAKES A CLUNK NOISE. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ALSO ERRATIC SHIFTING AND CLUNKING IN DRIVER TRAIN AGAIN NOT ALWAYS. CALLED DEALER SAID THERE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT SERVICE BULLETINS YET.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE LOW OIL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARROWAY FORD (519 N BEDFORD RD, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: MY 2018 FORD F-150 WITH 7,800 MILES WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY WHILE WORKING IN MY GARAGE AT MY HOME. THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3" TO KEEP THE HEAT FROM BUILDING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS 84 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. WHEN I WAS ROLLING UP MY WINDOWS TO PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN MY GARAGE, T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: IN COLD WEATHER THE DOOR LATCHES FREEZE CAUSING THE DOORS TO REMAIN UNLATCHED. THIS CAUSED MY REAR DOORS TO FLY OPEN WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T COVER THE 2018 MODEL YEAR. MY TRUCK WAS MADE IN OCT 2017, AND I TOOK DELIVERY IN MID DEC 2017. THE DEALER WILL INSPEC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)