2018 Ford F-250 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 SD years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 9 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 398 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-250 SD. That ranks 3rd out of 32 F-250 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (252 complaints, 63%), typically at around 28,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 9 fires, 4 injuries. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 398owner complaints
- 9safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Ford F-250 SD problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 252 | 63% | 28,000 | “death wobble” (56%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 198 | 50% | 26,250 | “death wobble” (61%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 46 | 12% | 30,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 29 | 7% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 4% | 15,300 | — | — |
| Structure | 16 | 4% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 15 | 4% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 3% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 10 | 3% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 2% | 28,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 7 | 2% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 2% | 18,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 1% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 23,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 1% | 527 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 32,612 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 73,785 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 4,300 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 6,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Ford F-250 SD recalls (9)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 4x4 vehicles. A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture.
Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power. Additionally, a vehicle rollaway could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Either of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S74.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
Risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields; power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S09.
Tires
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S52.
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks equipped with an electric tailgate latch release switch mounted in the tailgate handle. Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches.
Risk: Unintended tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle release switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S48.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2019 F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty trucks. The Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may not dim when the headlight switch is moved into the "On" position. 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."
Risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module (BCM) software, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C10.
Engine; equipment:electrical
Problem: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak (PE24014) — opened May 9, 2024, still open.
- Power Tailgate Release Systems (RQ21001) — opened Jan 15, 2021, closed Jan 10, 2024.
- Power tailgate opens unintended (PE18011) — opened Oct 12, 2018, closed Dec 12, 2019, led to recall 19V864000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact researched and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V087000 (Structure, Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of…
Truck started loosing power And caught fire at the red light
Low fuel pressure alert came on the truck. It went away and then came on again a few days later. We took the truck to Joe Meyers Ford in Houston, TX. They verified the code/alert and replaced the fuel filter, then re-tested. The alert returned and once they continued their diagnosis, it was…
My backup camera went black. There is a recall on this product 25V572 or Ford 25S89. My vin number is not on the list. How do i get my vin number on this list since the problem is identical to the recall prolem?
100k miles and the high pressure fuel pump is failed. Created small metal particles that got into fuel lines. Everything needs to be replaced. Thereâs a recall on over 80k trucks with the same issue. Local ford said this is the same issue as all the recalls but because we donât have the recall…
Other Ford F-250 SD years
← 2017 F-250 SD · 2019 F-250 SD →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-250 SD | 9 | 6 |
| 2025 F-250 SD | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 F-250 SD | 40 | 4 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 43 | 16 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 126 | 17 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 166 | 12 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 265 | 14 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 1,164 | 11 |
| 2018 | 398 | 9 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 1,155 | 14 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 290 | 3 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 296 | 2 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 57 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 122 | 0 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 23 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 141 | 0 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 54 | 1 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 274 | 1 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 295 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 254 | 2 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 178 | 4 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 245 | 3 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 288 | 2 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 233 | 2 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 249 | 2 |
| 1998 F-250 SD | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 39 | 2 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 9 | 1 |
See all Ford F-250 SD problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?
Owners most often report steering, suspension, unknown or other problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 252 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?
Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Ford F-250 SD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 SD model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.