2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty: AVOID — 205 owner complaints, 20.5× the F-350 Super Duty median year by raw count.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.79, where 1.00 is a typical F-350 Super Duty year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.19. Severity drives it: 61% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-12 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
205
NHTSA complaints
20.5×
vs. median F-350 Super Duty year
253
Service bulletins
10
Recall campaigns
2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty recalls
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018, reported between Apr 8, 2019 and Sep 4, 2025.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V572000 | Sep 4, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 22V880000 | Nov 29, 2022 | Powertrain / transmission › Driveline › Driveshaft |
| 22V644000 | Aug 26, 2022 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 22V087000 | Feb 16, 2022 | Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields |
| 21V155000 | Mar 10, 2021 | Tires |
| 20E090000 | Dec 10, 2020 | Steering |
| 19V880000 | Dec 11, 2019 | Structure › Body › Roof and pillars |
| 19V864000 | Dec 4, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages › Tailgate › Latch |
| 19V808000 | Nov 12, 2019 | Exterior lighting › Headlights |
| 19V278000 | Apr 8, 2019 | Engine |
2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 253 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2018 — close to the 234 of the median F-350 Super Duty year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (68), engine & cooling (55), powertrain / transmission (40). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2018 vs. the year before and after
From the 2017 to the 2018, owner complaints jumped 34.2× (6 → 205) — a step backward. The 2019 that followed fell by more than half (205 → 5), so the 2019 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 F-350 Super Duty | AVOID | 6 | 323 | 14 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | AVOID | 205 | 253 | 10 | — |
| 2019 F-350 Super Duty | AVOID | 5 | 252 | 12 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ford F-350 Super Duty years to avoid.
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FAQ
Is the 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty reliable?
2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty: AVOID — 205 owner complaints, 20.5× the F-350 Super Duty median year by raw count. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.79, where 1.00 is a typical F-350 Super Duty year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.19.
What are the most common 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty problems?
The 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty has 205 NHTSA owner complaints and 253 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty have?
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty, most recently 25V572000 (Sep 4, 2025, backup camera / back-over prevention); 22V880000 (Nov 29, 2022, powertrain / transmission); 22V644000 (Aug 26, 2022, backup camera / back-over prevention). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.