CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2018 Ford F-250 SD

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

397

Complaints

7

Crashes

9

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Ford F-250 SD have filed 397 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2018 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 252 of them (63%). The typical failure was reported at 28,000 miles, the median across the 293 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints fell 42% year on year: 11 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 19 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 9 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (9)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V572000 · September 4, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,456,417 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

22V880000 · November 29, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 4x4 vehicles. A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 18,808 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

22V644000 · August 26, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 277,040 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

22V087000 · February 16, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 247,445 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES

21V155000 · March 10, 2021

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
The risk
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 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 15,769 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

19V880000 · December 11, 2019

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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.
The risk
A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 490,574 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

19V864000 · December 4, 2019

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks equipped with an electric tailgate latch release switch mounted in the tailgate handle. Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches.
The risk
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 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 231,664 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

19V808000 · November 12, 2019

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2019 F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty trucks. The Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may not dim when the headlight switch is moved into the "On" position. 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."
The risk
DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 86,296 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

19V278000 · April 8, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 131,068 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (3)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak

PE24014

Still open preliminary evaluation · opened May 9, 2024

the diesel fuel system, the fuel system

The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has received 27 complaints alleging diesel fuel leaks due to a fracture in the secondary fuel filter housing in model year (MY) 2015-2021 Ford Motor Company (Ford) F-250, 350, 450, and 550 Super Duty vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. Of these complaints, 12 describe an engine compartment fire. The proximity of the secondary fuel filter to high heat sources creates a potential for autoignition thermal events and fires. ODI has contacted the vehicle manufacturer, Ford, and the filter manufacturer, Allevard Sogefi USA (Sogefi), and learned that the low-pressure fuel system is capable of a maximum operating pressure of 8.5 Bar, while the secondary fuel filter is only tested to seven (7) Bar during the manufacturing process. Additionally, changes starting in 2022 by both Ford and Sogefi align with a lack of similar complaints on MY 2022 and newer vehicles. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to evaluate the severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related problems. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Power Tailgate Release Systems

RQ21001

Closed recall query · opened January 15, 2021 · closed January 10, 2024

the body structure

In January 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ21-001) to assess allegations of post-recall remedy uncommanded tailgate openings in model year (MY) 2017-2019 F-250/350/450 Ford trucks. Besides the recall remedy launched in January 2020, Ford also implemented a production update in November 2019.  At the time of the RQ opening, ODI had received eleven (11) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs). ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Ford in February 2021. In numerous meetings after receiving their IR response, Ford highlighted the drop in claims since the recall and production update and communicated how they were unable to verify the owners’ complaints or replicate the concern. Despite this, Ford began developing ways to prevent uncommanded tailgate openings from various human, mechanical or electrical causes. Based on testing, Ford issued a Customer Satisfaction program, 21M05-S1/S2/S3, to further address the potential of unintended tailgate openings. This work was applied to vehicles being produced as of December 20, 2021.  The program began for already delivered vehicles on July 22, 2022. The covered models include 2017-2022 F-250, 350, 450, 550, 650 and 750 Super Duty and 2020-2022 F-600 Super Duty trucks. ODI has received 39 VOQs between February 24, 2020, and December 15, 2023, alleging uncommanded tailgate openings.  In a detailed analysis, none of the vehicles in the VOQs were found to have received the Customer Satisfaction update. Since ODI has not received any complaints of post-Customer Satisfaction program tailgate openings, this office is closing this Recall Query. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Power tailgate opens unintended

PE18011

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened October 12, 2018 · closed December 12, 2019 · led to recall 19V864000

the electrical system, the body structure

By letter dated December 4, 2019, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in model years (MY) 2017 through 2019 Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 vehicles equipped with an electric tailgate. Following the receipt of five consumer complaints alleging unintended tailgate opening without vehicle operator knowledge, while the vehicles were in motion, NHTSA opened this investigation to assess the manufacturer's data including warranty claims, field reports, design changes, etc.In vehicles equipped with an electric tailgate, water can enter the electrical wiring system and may cause a short circuit resulting in the unintended activation and release of the tailgate latch. This could allow unintended opening of the tailgate while the vehicle is in motion.Analysis of the data provided by Ford found that the frequency of a tailgate opening unintended was high in vehicles equipped with electric tailgates. Unintended tailgate opening without vehicle operator knowledge may result in loss of unrestrained cargo, increasing the risk of a crash. In response to this investigation, Ford decided to conduct recall 19V-864.Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer to 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. With recall action 19V-864 taken by Ford Motor Company this investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other model or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 10984283,11004227,11082643,11090089,11104638,11115381,11140680,11141071, 11141075,11141174,11141200,11141331,11141447,11141547,11141548,11142572, 11142618,11142657,11153541,11153959,11157225,11160936,11165124,11165590, 11166199,11166802,11170049,11171409,11171509,11171685,11180009,11182035, 11186146,11191151,11191353,11193045,11194958,11203615,11206443,11209199, 11229482,11230768,11233349,11233436,11255126,11265643.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 397.

STEERING 252 63%
SUSPENSION 198 50%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 46 12%
WHEELS 29 7%
ENGINE 15 4%
POWER TRAIN 15 4%
STRUCTURE 15 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13 3%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 10 3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 7 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 6 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 141.

2018 2019 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 injured · crash · towed

On 05/13/2020 truck was in an auto accident and declared total loss on NICB. Crash report doesn't reflect injuries. Speed limit on the highway says 60, on Google maps. Also, the officer's description doesn't make sense. There are 3 units, including trailer. Other vehicle is unit 3.... I also don't understand how the person in the 3rd unit did not have injuries. TXDOT Crash ID: 17689202.1 / 2020186795 Case ID: 2020-1548 USDOT: 1086178 Truck # 327 When I contacted the tow company, was informed there is no history of ever towing the truck! Owner of truck listed was not correct. Actual owner was Vertical Limit Construction which has two branches of the name. (TX) Vertical Limit Construction LLC

NHTSA complaint 11434605, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

PARKING BRAKE

1 injured · crash · towed · 4,300 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE WITH THE DOOR OPEN. WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK, IT KNOCKED HIM OVER; INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARSHAL MIZE FORD (5348 TENNESSEE HWY 153, HIXSON, TN 37343, (423) 875-2023), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE

NHTSA complaint 11103744, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

Vehicle has been involved in 2 major accidents and no airbags deployed either time. In the most recent accident, the vehicle struck a light pole (splitting it in half) and then went into a ditch.

NHTSA complaint 11553260. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · crash · towed · 5,500 miles

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HWY 77 IN VA ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRI-AXLE DUMP TRUCK GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED. UPON IMPACT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AND MY HUSBAND STRUGGLE TO GET THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. FORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH THE HELP OF THE DUMP TRUCK DRIVER PULLING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRUCK DOOR. THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND THE ALUMINUM MELTED AWAY. HE LOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK AND SOME THINGS IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. HE WAS PULLING AN ENCLOSED TRAILER WITH TOOLS AND

NHTSA complaint 11151182, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

Truck started loosing power And caught fire at the red light

NHTSA complaint 11744899. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Low fuel pressure alert came on the truck. It went away and then came on again a few days later. We took the truck to Joe Meyers Ford in Houston, TX. They verified the code/alert and replaced the fuel filter, then re-tested. The alert returned and once they continued their diagnosis, it was determined that the fuel pressure control valve had failed, allowing fuel, DEF, and water into the fuel filter. The fuel pressure would no increase to minimum spec of 55 psi. Ford then said that without replacing the Fuel Pressure Control Valve, Fuel pump, fuel filters, and flushing all the lines, the risk for the engine to seize up was very likely. They noted this was a similar issue happening to 2020

NHTSA complaint 11721668, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My backup camera went black. There is a recall on this product 25V572 or Ford 25S89. My vin number is not on the list. How do i get my vin number on this list since the problem is identical to the recall prolem?

NHTSA complaint 11705175. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
100k miles and the high pressure fuel pump is failed. Created small metal particles that got into fuel lines. Everything needs to be replaced. There’s a recall on over 80k trucks with the same issue. Local ford said this is the same issue as all the recalls but because we don’t have the recall on our VIN, we have to pay $20k for replacement.

NHTSA complaint 11681553. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

crash

Fuel pump faulted, engine would just cut off in middle of driving whether on highway, street, or interstate. Engine would randomly shut off. Took to ford dealership, they had to replace low pressure and high pressure fuel pumps, the dealership says this model is notorious for that, the fuel pumps tear apart and send metal into the fuel rail. This caused the truck to not get diesel and shut off. An extreme safety issue. Several times it happened while driving, and nothing prepared you for it to happen. Just saw where models I believe starting with 2020 have been recalled for same issue. Don’t understand why 18 models weren’t.

NHTSA complaint 11672696. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

32,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle displayed the death wobble. The failure had occurred three times. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was not able to speak with a representative. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA complaint 11672833. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-250 SD

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 15 7
2024 37 4
2023 43 16
2022 119 17
2021 162 12
2020 260 14
2019 1,161 11
2017 1,155 14
2016 287 3
2015 296 2
2014 26 0
2013 21 0
2012 57 0
2011 122 0 1
2010 32 0

Other 2018 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst