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2018 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 10% of relevant complaints.
Better than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2018 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 397 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 8% and the 2019 scores 8%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Ford F-250 years
Of the 14 Ford F-250 years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (10%). The worst is the 2020 (46%), the best the 2019 (8%). By volume, the 2018 drew 397 complaints (38 drivetrain), against 1,155 for the 2017 and 1,158 for the 2019.
Ford F-250 years to avoid and best years →
2010 F-250 problems · 2011 F-250 problems · 2012 F-250 problems · 2013 F-250 problems · 2014 F-250 problems · 2015 F-250 problems · 2016 F-250 problems · 2017 F-250 problems · 2018 · 2019 F-250 problems · 2020 F-250 problems · 2021 F-250 problems · 2022 F-250 problems · 2023 F-250 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Ford F-250
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 38 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Ford F-250 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Ford F-250? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Ford F-250
Does the 2018 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 397 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Ford F-250?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Ford F-250 is steering: 252 of 397 complaints (63%) name it, followed by suspension (198) and wheels (29). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 10% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 10% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-250 years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 18V894000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-250 years are better?
Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%) and the 2019 (8%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (10%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-f-250
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.