Is the 2018 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
400 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-250 SD years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Ford F-250 SD are in line with other F-250 SD years. Steering and suspension stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 F-250 SD owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 28,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 253 (63%) | 18k–38k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 199 (50%) | 17k–38k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Wheels | 29 (7%) | 14k–38k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Body structure | 16 (4%) | 8k–40k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (4%) | 14k–55k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 15 (4%) | 20k–104k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 9 (2%) | 18k–77k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Stability control | 6 (2%) | 12k–29k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 21 (5%) | 51k–140k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Backup camera | 10 (3%) | 38k–79k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 5 (1%) | 13k–26k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 28,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 400 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2018 Ford F-250 SD: 11
The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. 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.
A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture. 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.
Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image. 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.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture. 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.
On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production. 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.
The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up. If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area. A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches. 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.
The Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may not dim when the headlight switch is moved into the "On" position. DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 243
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Ford F-250 SD. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper…
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P264F after powertrain control module…
Some 2011-2022 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak
Power Tailgate Release Systems
Power tailgate opens unintended
Neighbouring years
2017 F-250 SD: 1,155 complaints, keep it · 2019 F-250 SD: 1,166 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford F-250 SD year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-250 SD years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
400 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-250 SD years. At 28,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (253), suspension (199), wheels (29), body structure (16), transmission and drivetrain (16).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-250 SD have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-572), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-880), Backup camera (NHTSA 22V-644), Body structure (NHTSA 22V-087) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.