Owners of 2018 F-150s report multiple suspension failures that raise safety concerns. Front coil springs snapped on at least two vehicles with no warning, in one case sitting parked in a driveway, causing the truck to lean dangerously to one side. Front wheel hub bearings have failed repeatedly, with owners reporting grinding noise, heavy vibration, and disabled ABS/traction control; one owner waited on a parts backorder with 6,500+ trucks ahead.
Control arm bolts came loose at 12,300 miles on a one-year-old truck, creating steering wander and clunking; when they re-loosened, the second repair shop denied warranty coverage. A driveshaft sheared completely in two during highway braking, immobilizing the truck. Front struts leaked hydraulic fluid within a year of warranty replacement, and the dealership refused the repair while flagging it as a safety hazard.
Owners report violent steering wheel shake hitting bumps at highway speed, and chassis vibration starting at 60 mph that persisted even after driveshaft replacement. One owner also reported loss of brake pedal pressure during hard braking, nearly causing a crash. A brake pedal issue and rear suspension rattling round out the complaints. The narratives show Ford and dealerships have struggled to diagnose some issues after repeated repair attempts.
Failure modes owners describe
Front coil spring fracture
Driver's side front coil spring snapped or sheared while driving or at rest, causing the vehicle to lean dangerously and creating suspension collapse risk. No warning signs reported before failure.
When: Under 80,000 miles reported in one instance; one case occurred while parked in driveway under no load
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle leaning to one side; Spring slipped off collar and resting on shock absorber; Sudden loss of suspension height on one side
Repairs/costs cited: Spring replacement at local repair shop. Replaced at dealer service.
Front wheel hub bearing failure
Front wheel hub bearings, primarily driver's side, failed prematurely causing grinding noise and vibration. ABS and traction control systems became inoperative. Parts reported on backorder with extended wait times.
When: 79,542 miles; 106,000 miles; 83,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Heavy front-end vibration while driving on interstate; Grinding noise from front of vehicle; ABS warning or traction control malfunction; Service Wrench warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Front left wheel hub assembly replacement; replacement of front driver's side wheel hub bearings; extended backorder situation reported with 6,500+ units waiting.
Driveshaft shear fracture
Driveshaft separated into two pieces while vehicle was operating, resulting in total loss of motive power and immobilization on highway. Owner suspects transmission-brake system conflict during hard braking.
When: Occurred during traffic stop; timing/mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang sound; Violent shuddering to a stop; Check engine light illuminated; Complete loss of vehicle motion; Driveshaft visible in two pieces on ground
Repairs/costs cited: Driveshaft required replacement
Front strut/shock fluid leakage
Front struts and shocks leaked hydraulic fluid within one year of warranty-covered replacement. Dealership declined repair, stating it is a safety hazard. Recurrence after initial replacement suggests design or manufacturing defect.
When: One year after initial warranty replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Visible fluid leakage from struts/shocks; Reduced dampening performance
Repairs/costs cited: Initial replacement covered under warranty; subsequent leakage refused repair and flagged as safety hazard by dealership.
Loose control arm bolts
Control arm bolts came loose on a 12-month-old truck at 12,300 miles, causing clunking noise and steering wandering. Bolts re-loosened after first tightening at dealership. Replacement parts initially ordered incorrectly, and subsequent repair at second dealer was denied warranty coverage.
When: 12,300 miles; 12-month-old vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise while driving; Loose steering feel; Steering wanders during motion
Repairs/costs cited: Control arm bolts tightened at first dealer; parts ordered and replaced at second dealer. Second dealer denied warranty coverage despite defect occurring well within warranty period.
Chassis and steering vibration
Owners report violent shaking in steering wheel when hitting bumps at highway speeds, and chassis vibration starting at 60 mph. One instance involved attempted driveshaft replacement that failed to resolve vibration, suggesting undiagnosed root cause.
When: Reported throughout ownership; vibration symptoms at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking in steering wheel over bumps; Chassis vibration at 60 mph and above; Vibrations persist despite repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Driveshaft replacement attempted but vibration persisted; underlying cause unresolved.
Brake pedal loss of pressure
Brake pedal became unresponsive during hard braking, feeling loose with no pressure and pedal traveling to floor. Owner nearly crashed as a result. Cause not diagnosed.
When: Occurred during emergency braking situation
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal felt loose; No pressure behind pedal; Pedal traveled to floor; Reduced braking response
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; cause not diagnosed
Suspension rattling noise
Rear suspension produces rattling noise confirmed by dealership during service. Cause and repair not detailed in narrative.
When: Unspecified timing
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling noise from rear suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed the noise; repair not documented
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.