Problems · by component

2018 Ford F-150 engine problems

459 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-150 cite engine, 24% of all 1,929 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
459
24% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in XXX to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in [XXX] to get a diagnostic done October 5,2026 and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford XXX again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an ongoing issue and they refuse to do anything about this. I will continue to fight until something is done. This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2026EngineODI 11771697
“The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in April 2026 to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in Beavercreek, Ohio to get a diagnostic done [XXX] and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford 10/7/2026 again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an on going issue and they refuse to do anything about this.I will continue to fight until something is done.This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026EngineODI 11770145
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2026EngineODI 11769152
“2018 Ford F-150 Limited with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. At approximately 60,000 miles the engine began making a rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold start, lasting several seconds. Over the last three months the noise has become progressively worse and now occurs at every cold start and lasts longer. The check engine light is currently illuminated. The vehicle has not stalled or lost power. A Ford dealer (Wynne Ford, Hampton, VA) diagnosed the condition on September 24, 2026 at 104,661 miles as cam phaser failure, requiring replacement of the variable camshaft timing (VCT) units and associated timing components. This matches Ford's Technical Service Bulletin 23-2143, which covers 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine built on or before November 30, 2019. Ford previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21B10 and warranty extension 21N03 for this same defect on March 2, 2021, but 21N03 expressly excluded the F-150 Limited trim, and both programs have since expired. The dealer additionally reported that it has submitted multiple other cam phaser repairs on 2017-2020 3.5L EcoBoost vehicles for manufacturer assistance in the past…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11766591
“The 10-speed automatic transmission (10R80) shifts harshly and erratically, hangs in gear, and lost 2nd gear entirely, causing unpredictable acceleration and gear engagement in traffic. First reported to a Ford dealer on 6/8/2021 at 25,883 miles (dealer called it normal). Repairs: internal teardown at 32,920 miles (damaged clutch, input shaft, torque converter hub); valve body repair under TSB 24-2101 at 63,483 miles; CDF hub and friction plate failure diagnosed at 77,584 miles (TSB 25-2126 failure mode); loss of 2nd gear at 88,449 miles. Pre-repair scan 9/2026 shows P0732, P076F, P07F6 (incorrect gear ratio, gears 2, 7, 9). Transmission being rebuilt again 9/2026. The engine also suffered timing chain and crankshaft failures requiring a full engine replacement at 66,108 miles and another timing repair at 77,584 miles. Three catalytic converter failures. Nearly 200 days in Ford dealer service departments.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11766549

Showing 6 of 459 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Engine

Free remedy

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.

EngineReported Apr 8, 2019NHTSA 19V278000

Engine

Free remedy

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.

EngineReported Dec 18, 2018NHTSA 18V894000

Engine

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L engines. The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals.

EngineReported Oct 23, 2017NHTSA 17V672000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

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