Ford F-250 problems
381 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
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.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
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…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. PE24014 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 381 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 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
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 381 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.