2018 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 10% of relevant complaints.
Better than 97% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Looking at a specific F-250?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2018 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 397 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 8% and the 2019 scores 8%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
Three of 38 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2018 Ford F-250
- No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- 1 recall campaign on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2018 Ford F-250
Does the 2018 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 397 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 18V894000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-250 years are better?
Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%) and the 2019 (8%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (10%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2018 Ford F-250?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2018 Ford F-250 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.