2018 Ford F-250 SD: complaints, problems and recalls

NEW F250 PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE FOUR HEADLIGHTS SHOWING AT ALL TIMES WHEN OPERATED IN HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM. THIS GIVES OTHER DRIVERS THE IMPRESSION THAT HIGH BEAMS ARE BEING USED AT ALL TIMES, WHICH CAN LEAD TO OTHER DRIVERS FLASHING THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT F250 DRIVERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THEM DIM THEIR HIBEAMS. HOW WERE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THESE VEHICLES CERTIFIED FOR HIGHWAY USE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11064893 at NHTSA ↗

I THINK THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON ALL NEW FORD SUPER DUTY PICKUPS. EVEN ON LOW BEAMS THEY HAVE AN EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND BLINDING DOUBLE STACK OF LIGHTS ON EACH SIDE. THESE LIGHTS ARE THE MOST BLINDING LIGHTS COMING AT YOU FROM THE FRONT OR REAR THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THESE ARE LEGAL? I EVEN DRIVE A PICKUP SO THIS ISN'T JUST A COMPLAINT FROM SOME PERSON WHO HATES TRUCKS. THESE LIGHTS I'M REFERRING TO ARE REALLY BLINDING TO OTHER DRIVERS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11078813 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103744 at NHTSA ↗

TRUCK HAS AUTO TAILGATE RELEASE. TRUCK WAS STATIONARY. THE TAILGATE HAS DROPPED / RELEASED TWICE BY ITSELF. TAILGATE RELEASED AND DROPPED WHILE TRUCK WAS NOT IN PARK. ONE TIME THIS OCCURED WHEN I RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I NEED TO EXIT AND CLOSE THE TAILGATE. CONCERNED THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS CARGO COULD DROP OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR CARGO COULD BE STOLEN FROM THE TRUCK BED.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118654 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS CLEANING MY 2018 FORD F250 WINDSHIELD IN MY GARAGE WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER WIPER ARM FELT LOOSE. I WENT OVER TO CHECK THE DRIVERS SIDE AND GAVE IT A WIGGLE AND NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAY FELL OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WIPER ARM WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE SHAFT TO MAKE YOUR WIPERS MOVE. I THEN WENT BACK OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE A NOTICED THE KEY WAY LAYING ON SHROUD AT THE BASE OF THE WIPER ARM.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124433 at NHTSA ↗

BOUGHT A 2018 FORD F250.. DROVER IT FOR ABOUT 1500 MILES. WENT ON A TRIP TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK , ON THE WAY BACK. WE WERE ON THE 5 FWY BACK TO LOS ANGELES WE ARE GOING 70 AND ALL THE SUDDEN LOST GAS PEDAL IN LINE ONE WITH A BUNCH OF RIGGS AROUND ME. TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER LINE JUST WITH IMPULSE OF THE TRUCK ,STOP ON THE SHOULDER AND TURN IT OFF WAITED LIKE 5 MINUTES AND RESTARTED AND GOT HOME. AT HOME WHEN TRY TO RESTART IT WOULD NOT STAR AT ALL. TOOK THE DEALER THEY SAY GOT FIX . DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 50 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11130002 at NHTSA ↗

WAS GOING AROUND 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING AND CAME UPON A BRIDGE APPROACH AND WHEN I HIT THE BRIDGE APPROACH I GOT THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PASSING SOMEONE THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS SQUEEZE TIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. THE WOBBLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. I CURRENTLY HAVE 10,959 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. SAME THING HAPPENED AT THIS SAME BRIDGE APPROACH IN MY 2013 F350.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,959 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131155 at NHTSA ↗

WITH LESS THAN A 1,000 MILES ON MY 2018 F-250 THE TRUCK SHOWED SIGNS OF "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST 5,000 MILES. THE EARLY SIGNS HAVE TURNED INTO FULL "DEATH WOBBLE" NOW AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, TYPICALLY CROSSING BRIDGES.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144412 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)

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.

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

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.

Reported: 2019-11-12 (November 12, 2019)

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."

Consequence: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Reported: 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2019-12-11 (December 11, 2019)

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.

Consequence: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

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.

Reported: 2021-03-10 (March 10, 2021)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2022-02-16 (February 16, 2022)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2022-08-26 (August 26, 2022)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2022-11-29 (November 29, 2022)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2025-09-03 (September 3, 2025)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.