2018 Ford F-250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford F-250 has 616 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: was going around 80 mph on the interstate this morning and came upon a bridge approach and when i hit the bridge approach i got the 'death wobble'. this happened as i was passing someone the only thing i could do is squeeze tight and slow down to pull over. the wobble would not stop until i was com. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 8 crash reports 3 injuries

616

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

243 complaints

39%

• WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COM
• HIT BUMP ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES NOW. FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER BEING IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN ONLY STOP THE SHAKING BY SLOWING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS IT
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-10 GOING EAST ON I-10 AND CROSSED THE BRIDGE AT THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA LINE. I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE GOING ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND HIT A BUMP. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

193 complaints

31%

• WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COM
• HIT BUMP ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES NOW. FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER BEING IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN ONLY STOP THE SHAKING BY SLOWING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS IT
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-10 GOING EAST ON I-10 AND CROSSED THE BRIDGE AT THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA LINE. I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE GOING ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND HIT A BUMP. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

45 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.
• ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE TAILGATE CAME DOWN UNEXPECTED WHILE DRIVING. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, WE OCCURRED DAMAGE TO THE TAILGATE AND THE 5TH WHEEL. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. WE WERE TOWING OUR FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER IN MOTION, TURNING AND DRIVING. TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN VEHICLES TOLD US OUR TAILGAT
• FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED THE WHOLE WAY ACROSS AFTER USING DEFROSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND THE DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON AS I WAITED FOR VEHICLE TO WARM UP I WENT BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT AND GOT IN THE VEHICLE THE WINDOW WAS CRACKED ALMOST THE WHOLE WAY ACROSS IN A PERFECT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

28 complaints

• HIT BUMP ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES NOW. FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER BEING IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN ONLY STOP THE SHAKING BY SLOWING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS IT
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-10 GOING EAST ON I-10 AND CROSSED THE BRIDGE AT THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA LINE. I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE GOING ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND HIT A BUMP. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AT 70 MPH (POSTED SPEED LIMIT) EXPERIENCED EXTREME VIBRATION/WOBBLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES AFTER DRIVEN OVER SLIGHT ROUGH PATCH ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK TO GET IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY THROUGH TRAFFIC.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“HIT BUMP ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES NOW. FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER BEING IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN ONLY STOP THE SHAKING BY SLOWING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS IT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

20 complaints

• BOUGHT A 2018 FORD F250.. DROVER IT FOR ABOUT 1500 MILES. WENT ON A TRIP TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK , ON THE WAY BACK. WE WERE ON THE 5 FWY BACK TO LOS ANGELES WE ARE GOING 70 AND ALL THE SUDDEN LOST GAS PEDAL IN LINE ONE WITH A BUNCH OF RIGGS AROUND ME. TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER LINE JUST WITH
• ON 4/19/19 I MISFUELED MY DIESEL VEHICLE. I STOPPED THE PROCESS IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED FORD FROM THE FILLING STATION. THE FORD SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT I SHOULD AVOID TURNING THE ENGINE ON, OR EVEN PLACING THE ENGINE IN ACCESSORY MODE BECAUSE IT WOULD ENGAGE THE FUEL PUMP AND FLOOD THE SYSTEM WITH G
• WHILE IN MOTION ON A SATURDAY NIGHT 10/19 ON A FARM TO MARKER ROAD, AS WE WENT OVER A RAILROAD TRACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE WARNING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" SHOWED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN. THE TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT HOME WITH NO REAL ISSUES, ONLY WITH R

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“BOUGHT A 2018 FORD F250.. DROVER IT FOR ABOUT 1500 MILES. WENT ON A TRIP TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK , ON THE WAY BACK. WE WERE ON THE 5 FWY BACK TO LOS ANGELES WE ARE GOING 70 AND ALL THE SUDDEN LOST GAS PEDAL IN LINE ONE WITH A BUNCH OF RIGGS AROUND ME. TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER LINE JUST WITH ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 616 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: HIT BUMP ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES NOW. FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE STEERING DAMPENER. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER BEING IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN ONLY STOP THE SHAKING BY SLOWING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)