2018 Ford F-250 SD
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Ford F-250 SD has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: with less than a 1,000 miles on my 2018 f-250 the truck showed signs of "death wobble" and has become worse over the past 5,000 miles. the early signs have turned into full "death wobble" now and are getting worse. the truck is becoming increasingly difficult to control after hitting bumps in the . ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
23
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
9 complaints- • WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE
- • THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' UNCONTROLLABLE SHIMMYING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD ON MOSTLY HIGHWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY JUST KEEP TRYING TO BLAME MY TIRES. THEY TRIED ROTATING MY TIRES AND TELLING ME ITS GONNA FIX THE ISSUE BUT DOESN'
- • AT AROUND 7K MILES DEVELOPED A DEATH WOBBLE SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEN HITTING POTHOLES OR CRACKS IN THE ROADWAY AT 40 MPH AND UP. TOOK INTO DEALER AND UPPER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE SOMEWHAT LESS NOTICEABLE. NOW AT 10K MILES THE DW IS PREVALENT IN EVERYDAY DRIVING AND MAKES THE
“WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
5 complaints- • WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE
- • THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' UNCONTROLLABLE SHIMMYING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD ON MOSTLY HIGHWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY JUST KEEP TRYING TO BLAME MY TIRES. THEY TRIED ROTATING MY TIRES AND TELLING ME ITS GONNA FIX THE ISSUE BUT DOESN'
- • AT SPEEDS GREATHER THAN 50 MPH, HITTING A BUMP OR POT HOLE CAUSES A STEERING OSCILLATION KNOWN AS "DEATH WABBLE". THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND KNOWN BY MANY. VEHICLE STEERING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
“WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAN
- • WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE KNEW THIS PAST SATURDAY ONLY TO FIND THAT WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT TURN OR YOUR TURN THERE'S A THUMPING FOUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE THAT WE BELIEVE. WE ARE NOT SURE OF THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE ARE BEYOND UPSET THAT WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE TO FIND THAT THERE IS SOMET
“MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
2 complaints- • 2018 FORD F-250 4X4 WITH 6.2L GASOLINE ENGINE: UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, THE TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVER INPUT IS STOPPED. THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP (ALL THE WAY TO RED-LINE) WHILE IN GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED. THIS HAPPENS UND
- • METAL TYPE ENGINE NOISE ,SCRAPING ,TAPPING COULD HEAR LOUDER ONCE WARMED UP AND AT IDLE. SOUND PRESENT FORM DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AREA.METAL FOUND IN OIL SAMPLE AND FORD DETERMINED IT WAS A MAIN BEARING FAILURE. COULD HEAR WHEN STATIONARY BUT LESS NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING . 6.2L GAS EN
“2018 FORD F-250 4X4 WITH 6.2L GASOLINE ENGINE: UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, THE TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVER INPUT IS STOPPED. THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP (ALL THE WAY TO RED-LINE) WHILE IN GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED. THIS HAPPENS UND”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
1 complaints- • MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAN
“MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 2018 FORD F-250 4X4 WITH 6.2L GASOLINE ENGINE: UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, THE TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVER INPUT IS STOPPED. THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP (ALL THE WAY TO RED-LINE) WHILE IN GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED. THIS HAPPENS UND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford F-250 SD — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 23
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Ford F-250 SD