Is the 2018 Ford F-250 SD reliable?

The 2018 Ford F-250 SD has 23 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?

Top problems: STEERING (9 complaints, avg repair $500); SUSPENSION (5 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (2 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?

Yes, there are 10 recall(s): ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, STEERING, TIRES, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Ford F-250 SD?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Ford F-250 SD is approximately $1,607/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2018 Ford F-250 SD

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford F-250 SD has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 37. 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 . There are 10 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

9 complaints

39%

• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Ford F-250 SD

Based on 22 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 7K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 11K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 8K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (10)

ENGINE08/04/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Ford F-250 SD

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,607

Full coverage / month

$134

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1607

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford F-250 SD Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2018 F-250 SD, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 10 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)