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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 4 NHTSA variants

2018 Ford F-150Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 19 safety recalls and 1,929 owner complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150. Most complaints involve power train (763) and engine (459). The EPA rates it 18–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18–24mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
4–5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
19campaigns
Latest Jun 2026
Owner complaints
1,929
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

19 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. 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."

Exterior lightingReported Jun 9, 2026NHTSA 26V373000

Power train: control module (tcm

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V669. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral.

Power trainReported Jun 9, 2026NHTSA 26V375000

Service brakes

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Apr 11, 2025NHTSA 25V236000
See all 19 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,929 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2017 – Oct 2026
  1. Power train763
  2. Engine459
  3. Structure187
  4. Electrical system140
  5. Engine and engine cooling84
  6. Steering80
  7. Vehicle speed control60
  8. Service brakes57
  9. Latches/locks/linkages52

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each F-150 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996360
19972,855
19981,418
19991,121
20001,206
20011,340
2002955
2003464
20042,036
20051,121
2006589
2007492
2008369
2009324
2010851
20112,137
20121,717
20132,796
20141,362
20151,425
20161,798
20171,148
20181,929
20191,021
2020562
20211,042
2022605
2023419
2024195
2025119
20260
Crashes reported
58
Fires reported
29
Injuries reported
45
Deaths reported
3
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

763 reports11 crashes2 fires
“The transmission has been replaced once covered under Fords extended warranty at 90,700 miles by the previous owner in 2022. Today the transmission has 82,000 miles on it and requires to be replace again. This 10r80 Transmission has a known issue of in early models from 2017-2020. I was stopped at a stopped at a 3-way stop, and began to pull out into the intersection to make a right. Half way through the turn the truck would not go into 2nd gear and felt like as if it was in neutral and I lost power for about 6-8 seconds. During this period, another truck coming from the left, stopped at a stop sign as well, honked impatiently and then decided to go, driving in front of me. Just then my truck slipped into gear and lurched forward almost colliding with the other truck. On top of that there was a bystander waiting to cross the street, on the other side of the crossing truck, who would have sustained serious injuries if I could have not been able to stop by truck in time. Later when it would not slip into gear a wrench light came on and the transmission was stuck in 6th gear even at a stop. This light only went away once the tuck was turned off then on and the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026Power trainODI 11774526

Engine

459 reports6 crashes5 fires
“3 separate things recently happened. First the cam phasers went out, $4600. Second, only months later, the transmission went out, $7100. Third, it is throwing a p0420 and p0421 codes and the catalytic converts need replaced, at least $2000. All of this under 100k miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11774150

Structure

187 reports3 crashes3 fires
“I am getting heavy water intrusion from the rear sliding glass window after any rain. It creates a very musty unpleasant odor in the cab. I am concerned that my young children, my wife, and myself are breathing mold spores and or other dangerous airborne particles from this problem.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2026StructureODI 11763544
All 2018 F-150 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel · 2.7L 6-cyl turbo · 3.3L 6-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl turbo · 5.0L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S10) · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Diesel · Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
222824$3,900424
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900401
F150 2.7L 2WD GVWR>6649 LBS
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
192521$3,050420
F150 2.7L 4WD GVWR>6799 LBS
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
192421$3,050423
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
192421$3,050423
F150 2WD FFV BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
192421$3,050423
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400466
F150 3.5L 2WD GVWR>7599 LBS
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172119$3,400466
F150 4WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400468
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550493
F150 2WD FFV BASE PAYLOAD LT
Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550491
F150 3.5L 4WD GVWR>7599 LBS
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550494
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

6 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x4
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x2
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4x4
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4x2
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 12130Vehicle 12129Vehicle 12132
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 F-150 questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-150 have?

19 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

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

Owners filed 1,929 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (763), engine (459), structure (187). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Ford F-150 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Ford F-150 at 18–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

How safe is the 2018 Ford F-150?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Ford F-150 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026