2018 Ford F-150: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Ford F-150: 18 recalls, 2316 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
Recalls
18 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #17V598000 · 2017 · 39 vehicles
What's wrong: The structural roof braces May be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
Why it matters: If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there May be an increased risk of injury .
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V669000 · 2017 · 12,429 vehicles
What's wrong: 3l engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever. Quickly moving the shift lever from park to drive May cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as reverse or neutral before the vehicle achieves drive function.
Why it matters: Unidentified or unintended gear selection May cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge.
Engine Vehicle recall #17V672000 · 2017 · 22 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engines. The cylinder heads May have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals.
Why it matters: Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford is not aware of any affected vehicles outside of dealer control. Should owner contact subsequently be required, arrangements will be made to transport their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the engine replaced.the recall began October 24, 2017.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V214000 · 2018 · 292,909 vehicles
What's wrong: The gear shift cable clip May not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
Why it matters: If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position May indicate that the transmission is in 'park' when it May be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle May…
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V213000 · 2018 · 142 vehicles
What's wrong: A roll pin May not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "park" function.
Why it matters: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'park,' the vehicle May roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V392000 · 2018 · 5,645 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l gtdi v6 engines. These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which May cause an oil or fuel leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018.
Seat belts, Body & structure Vehicle recall #18V568000 · 2018 · 1,619,112 vehicles
What's wrong: If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks May ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the b-pillar area.
Why it matters: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the b-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018.
Engine Vehicle recall #18V894000 · 2018 · 410,289 vehicles
What's wrong: Water and contaminants May get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Engine, Equipment Vehicle recall #19V278000 · 2019 · 131,068 vehicles
What's wrong: During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector May have been damaged.
Why it matters: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Seats, Seats Vehicle recall #19V633000 · 2019 · 639,137 vehicles
What's wrong: Also included are certain 2020 Ford explorer and Lincoln aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms May be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) numbers 202, "head restraints" and 207,…
Why it matters: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism May have reduced strength and May not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #20V097000 · 2020 · 166,196 vehicles
What's wrong: The daytime running lamps (drl) May remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the master lighting switch (mls) is manually rotated from the "autolamps" switch position to "headlamps on." as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Drl that cannot dim May reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020.
Tires Vehicle recall #21V155000 · 2021 · 15,769 vehicles
What's wrong: On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Why it matters: Over cured tires May develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #21V983000 · 2021 · 57,591 vehicles
What's wrong: The tailgate latches May unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Why it matters: Unexpected tailgate opening May allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022.
Brakes (hydraulic), Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #22V150000 · 2022 · 195,864 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder May allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Why it matters: A loss of brake fluid May result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification…
Equipment Vehicle recall #24V852000 · 2024 · 27,678 vehicles
What's wrong: The air bag warning label May be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants May have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners May call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24c39.
Brakes (hydraulic), Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #25V236000 · 2025 · 123,611 vehicles
What's wrong: The brake master cylinder May allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Why it matters: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #26V375000 · 2026 · 10,742 vehicles
What's wrong: Quickly moving the shift lever from park to drive May cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as reverse or neutral.
Why it matters: Unintended gear selection May cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #26V373000 · 2026 · 91,198 vehicles
What's wrong: When the headlight switch is turned from "autolamps" to "headlamps on," the daytime running lamps (drls) May remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Daytime running lamps that do not dim May reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: ,dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Suspension Equipment recall #21E027000 · 2021 · 2,394 vehicles
What's wrong: The ball joint May have a misaligned dust boot and May be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which May lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
Why it matters: An incorrectly installed ball joint May cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Driv will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 33 mention a fire, 52 injuries and 3 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (1014): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (791), warning light on (256), noise or vibration (165).
- Engine (507): the most common themes are noise or vibration (198), warning light on (190).
- Other / unknown (234): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (21).
- Body & structure (193): the most common themes are door / lock issues (146), leaks (10).
The 2018 Ford F-150 has 2316 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 37 F-150 model years for complaints (2.3× the average F-150 year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (525 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 40,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (1447 complaints, 17 recalls), 2019 (1333 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 30 | 25 | Diesel |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Diesel |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Ford F-150.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 18 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Ford F-150 problems?
Owners have filed 2316 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (1014), engine (507), other / unknown (234).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford F-150 get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S10)), across 14 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Ford F-150 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.