2018 Ford F-350 Sd Problems and Recalls (201 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2018 Ford F-350 Sd is Suspension (26% of 201 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Suspension — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 201 complaints · 10 recalls
What problems show up on the 2018 Ford F-350 Sd?
52 of 201 filings named Suspension (26% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Steering (43 reports).
There are 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights, Seat belts, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2017 has 566 reports on file; this year has 201. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Suspension 52 complaints · 25.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 1
- Fires 5
- Injuries 5
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 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.
“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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 52 | 25.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 43 | 21.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 21 | 10.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 18 | 9.0% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) | 9 | 4.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 9 | 4.5% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 7 | 3.5% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 6 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Tires (TIRES) | 3 | 1.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 58 | 28.9% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 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.
- Campaign 19V808000 was reported 243 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V864000 was reported 463 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V572000 was reported 1,029 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V278000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V808000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V864000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V880000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20E090000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V155000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V087000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V644000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V880000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V572000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE18011 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ21001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE24014 |
Safety Recalls (10)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights, Seat belts, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety.
-
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.
-
Recall campaign 19V808000
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 has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module (BCM) software, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C10.
-
Recall campaign 19V864000
Safety recall 19V864000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- Unintended 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:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle release switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S48.
-
Recall campaign 19V880000
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 apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S52.
-
Recall campaign 20E090000
Safety recall 20E090000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Icon customer service at 1-951-689-4266.
-
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.
-
Recall campaign 22V087000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S09.
-
Recall campaign 22V644000
Rear camera / backup safety
- Report date
- Component:
- Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
- Consequence:
- Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
-
Recall campaign 22V880000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power. Additionally, a vehicle rollaway could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Either of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S74.
-
Recall campaign 25V572000
Rear camera / backup safety
- Report date
- Component:
- Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
- Consequence:
- A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
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 2026-09-07
Showing 9 of 201 complaints · page 1 of 9
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway of their residence, the DPF regeneration process activated and completed, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact exited the vehicle. Approximately 15 minutes later, the contact discovered flames coming from under the hood. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was not determined. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Ford Motor Company deployed an over-the-air software update to my 2018 Ford F350 that corrupted the Body Control Module. The software error permanently locked the vehicle into a speed-restricted 'MyKey' safety mode, leaving me with an altered vehicle and no admin access to bypass it. Ford Corporate is refusing to fix the corrupted software deployment. I do not and never have had a second key and they are now saying I must purchase this and pay for my truck to be reset.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Our 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty diesel with the 6.7L Power Stroke engine has a well-known, massive fuel system concern involving the Bosch CP4 high-pressure fuel pump. This pump failed and it sheds metal shavings throughout the entire fuel system. Repair cost $13k. Per other consumer and google results: The CP4 Fuel Pump Issue. The Defect: The Bosch CP4 pump is designed for European diesel fuel, which has more lubrication than American diesel. When it lacks sufficient lubrication, it can score itself and self-destruct. The Damage: Metal debris floods the fuel rails, lines, and injectors, requiring a complete replacement of the fuel system components.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My wife reported a strong smell fuel in the passenger compartment of my 2018 F350 6.7L Diesel vehicle while returning home from work. Upon inspection under the hood when power was turned on I discovered a strong stream of fuel from the filter cap.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My truck's tailgate has started opening on its own while driving, again. Previous recalls on this issue were performed when parts were available. This is a safety hazard to anyone behind me if anything falls out of the truck bed while driving. Today, 2/3/2026, it opened again. A bucket fell out of the truck bed. Fortunately no one was behind me. My truck is available for inspection. I have not contacted the dealer yet for their inspection/diagnosis. There are no warnings when this happens. It has forced me to strap the tailgate so it can't open unexpectedly.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Steering Effort Control Module failed. This is a known concern with these vehicles. Many Super Duty's have this happen. It is a very expensive repair. The steering effort changes, the vehicle becomes out of alignment and other things like cruise control, wipers, etc may fail as part of this issue.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and hauling a boat, the vehicle made abnormal banging sounds and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted but was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but the diesel mechanic was unavailable to service the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with a blown engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred in Vancouver Island, Canada, where the vehicle remained for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The car had not been driven and was only in use for about 20 minutes. Then, the check engine light came on. I was planning to take the next exit to investigate. About a minute after the check engine light came on, several other lights came on. They stopped about 20 seconds later. The car began to smoke and as I was pulling over, smoke began to enter the cab. When I pulled over, the car began was on fire. Highway patrol and Cal Fire arrived. Cal Fire put the fire out. It was a total loss. Highway 101 was shut down for a bit while the truck was on fire.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Truck went into limp mode wile driving on highway had to have trailer towed 980 miles egr cooler rubbing on wire harness on firewall staffing wires ro short out fuel injection this is a manufacturer defect.why would egr cooler and electrical wire harness be placed so close is a big safety and fire hazard ....cost of repairs at ford dealer in Columbia Tennessee $800 for repairs
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ford F-350 Sd?
Owners named Suspension most often — 52 of 201 reports (26%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2018 Ford F-350 Sd?
NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights, Seat belts, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety. 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-350 Sd?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues. 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.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
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 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.