2018 Ford F-150 Problems: Transmission / driveline (2,313 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2018 Ford F-150 is Transmission / driveline (38% of 2,313 owner reports). There are 19 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 2,313 complaints · 19 recalls

What problems show up on the 2018 Ford F-150?

878 of 2,313 filings named Transmission / driveline (38% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (446 reports).

There are 19 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame, Transmission / driveline, Fuel system, Seat belts, Lights, Suspension, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2017 has 1,444 reports on file; this year has 2,313. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2018 Ford F-150

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 19 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 878 complaints · 38.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 64
  • Fires 33
  • Injuries 52
  • Deaths 3
Compare with 2017 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 878 of 2,313 owner complaints (38.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 878 complaints, 38.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 9 crash reports 1 fire reports 878 · 38.0% Engine (ENGINE): 446 complaints, 19.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 5 fire reports 446 · 19.3% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 158 complaints, 6.8% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 158 · 6.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 94 complaints, 4.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 4 fire reports 94 · 4.1% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 78 complaints, 3.4% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 fire reports 78 · 3.4% Steering (STEERING): 74 complaints, 3.2% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 74 · 3.2% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 72 complaints, 3.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 6 crash reports 72 · 3.1% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 46 complaints, 2.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 3 crash reports 46 · 2.0% Wheels (WHEELS): 44 complaints, 1.9% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 44 · 1.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 577 complaints, 25.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 21 crash reports 14 fire reports 577 · 25.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 878 38.0% 9 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 446 19.3% 3 crashes · 5 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 158 6.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 94 4.1% 2 crashes · 4 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 78 3.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Steering (STEERING) 74 3.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 72 3.1% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 46 2.0% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 44 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 577 25.0% 21 crashes · 14 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2017; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2017. 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2018-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2018-Q4: 52 owner reports 52 2019-Q1: 118 owner reports 118 2019-Q2: 43 owner reports 43 2019-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2019-Q4: 38 owner reports 38 2020-Q1: 71 owner reports 71 2020-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2020-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2020-Q4: 38 owner reports 38 2021-Q1: 41 owner reports 41 2021-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2021-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 2021-Q4: 27 owner reports 27 2022-Q1: 45 owner reports 45 2022-Q2: 34 owner reports 34 2022-Q3: 49 owner reports 49 2022-Q4: 58 owner reports 58 2023-Q1: 72 owner reports 72 2023-Q2: 62 owner reports 62 2023-Q3: 69 owner reports 69 2023-Q4: 70 owner reports 70 2024-Q1: 83 owner reports 83 2024-Q2: 102 owner reports 102 2024-Q3: 115 owner reports 115 2024-Q4: 87 owner reports 87 2025-Q1: 153 owner reports 153 2025-Q2: 163 owner reports 163 2025-Q3: 126 owner reports 126 2025-Q4: 83 owner reports 83 2026-Q1: 97 owner reports 97 2026-Q2: 109 owner reports 109 2026-Q3: 101 owner reports 101 2026-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 Owner reports Sep 2017 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 17V598000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V598000 Recall campaign 17V669000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V669000 Recall campaign 17V672000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V672000 Recall campaign 18V213000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V213000 Recall campaign 18V214000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V214000 Recall campaign 18V392000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V392000 Recall campaign 18V568000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V568000 Recall campaign 18V894000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V894000 Recall campaign 19V278000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V278000 Recall campaign 19V633000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V633000 Recall campaign 20V097000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V097000 Recall campaign 21V155000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V155000 Recall campaign 21E027000 ◆ Recall campaign 21E027000 Recall campaign 21V983000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V983000 Recall campaign 22V150000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V150000 Recall campaign 24V852000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V852000 Recall campaign 25V236000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V236000 Recall campaign 26V373000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V373000 Recall campaign 26V375000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V375000 Investigation PE18008 ● Investigation PE18008 Investigation PE24019 ● Investigation PE24019
  • Campaign 18V213000 was reported 75 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V214000 was reported 75 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V568000 was reported 45 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V633000 was reported 541 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V097000 was reported 639 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21E027000 was reported 716 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V983000 was reported 1,382 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V150000 was reported 1,218 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V852000 was reported 2,440 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V236000 was reported 2,345 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V373000 was reported 2,939 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V375000 was reported 3,063 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 11
2018-Q2 Owner reports 13
2018-Q3 Owner reports 30
2018-Q4 Owner reports 52
2019-Q1 Owner reports 118
2019-Q2 Owner reports 43
2019-Q3 Owner reports 31
2019-Q4 Owner reports 38
2020-Q1 Owner reports 71
2020-Q2 Owner reports 17
2020-Q3 Owner reports 38
2020-Q4 Owner reports 38
2021-Q1 Owner reports 41
2021-Q2 Owner reports 29
2021-Q3 Owner reports 32
2021-Q4 Owner reports 27
2022-Q1 Owner reports 45
2022-Q2 Owner reports 34
2022-Q3 Owner reports 49
2022-Q4 Owner reports 58
2023-Q1 Owner reports 72
2023-Q2 Owner reports 62
2023-Q3 Owner reports 69
2023-Q4 Owner reports 70
2024-Q1 Owner reports 83
2024-Q2 Owner reports 102
2024-Q3 Owner reports 115
2024-Q4 Owner reports 87
2025-Q1 Owner reports 153
2025-Q2 Owner reports 163
2025-Q3 Owner reports 126
2025-Q4 Owner reports 83
2026-Q1 Owner reports 97
2026-Q2 Owner reports 109
2026-Q3 Owner reports 101
2026-Q4 Owner reports 5
Recall campaign 1 17V598000
Recall campaign 1 17V669000
Recall campaign 1 17V672000
Recall campaign 1 18V213000
Recall campaign 1 18V214000
Recall campaign 1 18V392000
Recall campaign 1 18V568000
Recall campaign 1 18V894000
Recall campaign 1 19V278000
Recall campaign 1 19V633000
Recall campaign 1 20V097000
Recall campaign 1 21V155000
Recall campaign 1 21E027000
Recall campaign 1 21V983000
Recall campaign 1 22V150000
Recall campaign 1 24V852000
Recall campaign 1 25V236000
Recall campaign 1 26V373000
Recall campaign 1 26V375000
Defect investigation 1 PE18008
Defect investigation 1 PE24019
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (19)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame, Transmission / driveline, Fuel system, Seat belts, Lights, Suspension, and Brakes.

  1. Recall campaign 17V598000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury .
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S29.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 17V669000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 17V672000

    Safety recall 17V672000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Without a proper supply of lubrication, the engine will fail, causing a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford is not aware of any affected vehicles outside of dealer control. Should owner contact subsequently be required, arrangements will be made to transport their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the engine replaced.The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S37.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 18V213000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 18V214000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 18V392000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 18V568000

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 18V894000

    Safety recall 18V894000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 19V278000

    Safety recall 19V278000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 19V633000

    Safety recall 19V633000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 20V097000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 21E027000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Recall campaign 21V155000

    Safety recall 21V155000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Recall campaign 21V983000

    Safety recall 21V983000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S53.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Recall campaign 22V150000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Recall campaign 24V852000

    Safety recall 24V852000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  17. Recall campaign 25V236000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  18. Recall campaign 26V373000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  19. Recall campaign 26V375000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S42. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 5 of 2,313 complaints · page 1 of 93
2026-10-06Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11769433
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Premature transmission failure under 45k miles. While driving transmission will not shift gears causing the vehicle to stall and then suddenly engaging propulsing the vehicle forward unexpectedly. Multiple complaints online, Ford will not fix.
2026-10-06Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11769354
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Hello, so while driving I am noticing a loud, hard thunk between gears. It is really noticeable when pulling our camper. When pulling our camper it is so loud and so hard I that if I have coffee in my cup holder, it would spill. We have contacted Ford about this and they are denying there is a transmission issue with their 10 speed transmissions. I feel there should be a recall on these transmissions because there are thousands of F150 owners having the same issue and replacing a transmission the way prices are for everything, who can afford to pay thousands of dollars for a new transmission and have it replaced.
2026-10-05Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11769184
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2018 Ford F-150 5.0L with 10R80 10-speed transmission, approximately 86,000 miles. The transmission began exhibiting abnormal shifting, including missed shifts and loss of propulsion. On multiple occasions while traveling approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power/propulsion. During these events, the gear indicator changed from 10th to 1st and engine RPM appeared to increase. I do not believe the transmission physically engaged 1st gear; the actual gear engaged is UNKNOWN. The unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speed created a safety concern because the vehicle would not respond normally to accelerator input while traveling with traffic. The transmission also malfunctioned when accelerating from a stop. It would sometimes have difficulty shifting through approximately 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears and lose propulsion for approximately 3–5 seconds. I would release and reapply the accelerator trying to get the transmission to engage a gear. This could be particularly dangerous when entering or crossing traffic. An independent transmission shop inspected the vehicle and documented codes P0732, P0734, and P07F7. The shop found the transmission fluid full but dark and diagnosed an internal transmission failure requiring replacement. The transmission was replaced on October 5, 2026. To my knowledge, the original transmission was not disassembled, and the exact internal failure is UNKNOWN. The vehicle was not inspected by Ford. There was no crash or injury.
2026-10-05Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11769152
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My truck has the 3.5 ecoBoost twin turbo engine with the known cam phaser problem. Ford dealership replaced cam phasers 4 years ago and told they were putting in new designed cam phasers to prevent this from happening again. Last week, I changed the v v t cylinder because of a p0018 code, and found that the replacement was the old cam phasers prone to break again. Truck is just now out of warranty. And ford is doing nothing to help. Drivability is not the same has hesitation. So far, and I'm sure it's going to get worse. Check engine light just went on last week. This truck is at dealership now. My biggest problem with this situation is Ford. Dealer lied said they put in new cam phasers, which they put in old ones. I would have got an extended warranty if I knew they were the old cam phaser. Now, I will be out 3 to 5 thousand dollars because ford dealership lied to me. I have all paperwork. Service reports everything on the truck. The truck was babied. There's no reason why in 70000 miles catastrophic engine failure twice. Fixing the problem with the same problem. Parts is not a fix. It's a bandade until warranties are over. And let the people deal with it.
2026-10-01Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11768226
CrashFireInjuryDeath
About 1 year ago the rear door on the drivers side locked and I have been unable to open it manually, with the interior unlock buttons or with the key fob. However, there have been 3 occasions during this passed year when the door inexplicably opens, twice when the truck is parked and once when I was driving down the freeway. To be clear, the door doesn’t just unlock, it opens. On those 3 three occasions, when I closed the door, it again locks and I’m unable to open it. I’ve taken the problem to 2 Ford dealerships. Both indicated they had never heard of this problem and there were no recalls related to the problem. One dealership diagnosed the issue, charging $100 and determined it was the door latch and offered to replace it ($472 for the latch and labor to be determined). I opted not to repair it thinking that the problem should be further diagnosed to determine if there are flaws in factory parts that create safety issues in this particular truck, make and model.

Ford F-150 Years With the Most NHTSA Complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ford F-150?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 878 of 2,313 reports (38%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150?

NHTSA lists 19 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame, Transmission / driveline, Fuel system, Seat belts, Lights, Suspension, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2018 Ford F-150?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources