Is the 2018 Ford F-350 reliable?

The 2018 Ford F-350 has 304 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.2x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Ford F-350?

Top problems: STEERING (100 complaints, avg repair $500); SUSPENSION (77 complaints, avg repair $500); WHEELS (25 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Ford F-350?

Yes, there are 2 recall(s): ENGINE, EQUIPMENT. 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-350?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Ford F-350 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-350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford F-350 has 304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 252. The most common issue is steering problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: driver experiences wobbling or shaking in the vehicle at highway speeds (>45 mph). it stops at lower speeds. the symptoms are consistent with ford's tsb 18-2268.. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 2 crash reports 7 injuries

304

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

100 complaints

33%

• DRIVER EXPERIENCES WOBBLING OR SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (>45 MPH). IT STOPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH FORD'S TSB 18-2268.
• STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATES ABOVE 50MPH CAUSING A STEERING TO BE COME LOOSE AND UNPREDICTABLE. HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORE WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE.
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AT SPEEDS OF 55-70MPH I'VE HIT A SMALL BUMP OR ROUGH PATCH ON THE RODE. THIS SENDS THE STEERING WHEEL/FRONT END INTO A VIOLENT, UNCONTROLLABLE, OSCILLATING WOBBLE WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS VEHICLE IS UN MOD

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

“DRIVER EXPERIENCES WOBBLING OR SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (>45 MPH). IT STOPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH FORD'S TSB 18-2268.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Ford F-350

Based on 219 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 24K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

137

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 73 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 58 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 21K mi · 20 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

In line with typicalmedian 15K mi · 19 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 4K mi · 7 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 (2)

ENGINE18/12/2018

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. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

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 risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Ford F-350

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-350 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-350, 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

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 304 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: DRIVER EXPERIENCES WOBBLING OR SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (>45 MPH). IT STOPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH FORD'S TSB 18-2268.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE HAULING A TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TRAILER DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING FROM THE PINS AND ALUMINIUM CONNECTION. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL HAD NOT INDICATED THAT THE TOWING CAPACITY EXCEEDED THE G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: ALUMINUM WHEEL VALVE STEM LEAKING - TIRE LOOSING APPROXIMATELY 10 PSI PER DAY. TPMS ALARM NOTIFIED ME OF A PROBLEM ON HIGHWAY WHEN PRESSURE REACHED 50 PSIG (SPEC =65) BUT IDENTIFIED THE WRONG TIRE BECAUSE THE SENSORS ARE INCORRECTLY MAPPED. APPARENTLY A THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THE 2017 AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE HAULING A TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TRAILER DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING FROM THE PINS AND ALUMINIUM CONNECTION. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL HAD NOT INDICATED THAT THE TOWING CAPACITY EXCEEDED THE G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)