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#BS-2018-FORF25-54272018 Ford F-250Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Based on reports from 644 owners and 11 recalls for this exact model.
Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 644 complaints, 13 crashes, 16 fires, and 11 recalls.
Top reported problems
death wobble
7 complaints • Severity 10/10
death wobble
2 complaints • Severity 9/10
sync 3 black screen
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
engine failure
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
water in fuel
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
253 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 28K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (271 reports) • Median: 28K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Steering (253 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2018 Ford F-250: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 39% of all reports filed for the 2018 Ford F-250, with 253 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 27,890 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 28K-mile mark.
Suspension Issues
Suspension complaints account for 31% of all reports filed for the 2018 Ford F-250, with 199 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Wheels & Tires Issues
Wheels & Tires complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2018 Ford F-250, with 29 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Fuel System Issues
Fuel System complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 2018 Ford F-250, with 19 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Ford F-250. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (11 recalls)
ENGINE
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. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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."
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
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.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
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.
+ 6 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
2018 Ford F-250 NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall
Not ratedFrontal crash
Not ratedSide crash
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Rollover
★★★★★3 of 5 stars
From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.
NHTSA Defect Investigations (3)
1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.
Power tailgate opens unintended
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Power Tailgate Release Systems
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
The worst model year for the Ford F-250 is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 644 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 11 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.
Other Ford F-250 Model Years
2018 Ford F-250: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 2018 Ford F-250 Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 644 owner reports. Know before you buy.