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ProblemsByVinFile / 2018-FORD-F-250NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Ford
2018 Ford F-250 problems
The 2018 Ford F-250 has 382 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2018 Ford F-250 has 382 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 243 complaints, typically surfacing around 32,783 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 F-250?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
1 recall campaign on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2018 Ford F-250? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
steering — 243 owner reports
· tends to show around 32,783 mi · ~$700 to fix
suspension — 48 owner reports
· tends to show around 33,380 mi · ~$900 to fix
body — 14 owner reports
· tends to show around 22,805 mi · ~$1,500 to fix
engine — 9 owner reports
· tends to show around 86,409 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: body is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 22,805 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2018 F-250· steering
I purchased the truck new, and it has never experienced the death wobble until dec.25, 2024. The truck now has only 45k miles on it. I was driving on the interstate and hit a rough patch in the road at 70 MPH, and the truck began to vibreate and shaking, my son was in the…
While driving at highway speed experienced death wobble multiple times over several days on a trip. Major safety issue!! Ford needs to accept responsibility for this design flaw. It is putting lives at risk!!
My 2018 Ford f-250 has the "death wobble". I purchased the truck in february 2018 and by december 2018 had driven less than 8,000 miles. While driving at 70 to 75 MPH on an interstate highway, I crossed an expansion joint on a bridge and the front-end started bouncing…
This submission is the second notice of "death wobble' on my 2018 Ford f-250 truck. The truck had less then 14,000 miles on it. It occurred on november 9, 2019. I was merging into traffic on an interstate highway at about 65-70 MPH and crossed a bridge joint which caused…
Had a problem with your 2018 Ford F-250?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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
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.
Common questions
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 382 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Ford F-250 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2018 Ford F-250?
The 2018 Ford F-250 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2018 Ford F-250?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 243 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 32,783 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 382 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 32,783 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2018 Ford F-250?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 243 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 32,783 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 32,783 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-250 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Ford F-250?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 382 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Ford/F-250.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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