2018 Ford F-550 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-550, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure222.2%
- Steering222.2%
- Suspension222.2%
- Airbags111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-550. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that the frame was cracked between the bed and the cab. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired under a related unknown recall and declined to perform the recall repair on a second occasion. The dealer determined that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-550. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the subframe suddenly fractured in half. The contact stated that the fracture occurred near the rear cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed from the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 268,967.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHCILE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEARTLAND FORD (5979 WEST, US HWY 136, COVINGTON, IN 47932, (765)793-2233) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE STEERING DAMPER, 3 BALL JOINTS, AND TRACK BAR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO LAFAYETTE FORD (2051 SAGAMORE PKWY S, LAFAYETTE, IN 47905, (765) 447-9444) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. ## VIN PASSED ## FORD F550 2018 ##
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER LEFT OR RIGHT ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN ITSELF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (DORSCH FORD LINCOLN KIA 2641 EATON RD, GREEN BAY, WI 54311; (920) 469-3000) WHO REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, A FEW TIE RODS, AND A FEW WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. THE FAILURE STILL PERSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2018 FORD F550 ##
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHCILE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEARTLAND FORD (5979 WEST, US HWY 136, COVINGTON, IN 47932, (765)793-2233) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE STEERING DAMPER, 3 BALL JOINTS, AND TRACK BAR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO LAFAYETTE FORD (2051 SAGAMORE PKWY S, LAFAYETTE, IN 47905, (765) 447-9444) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. ## VIN PASSED ## FORD F550 2018 ##
FRONT END VIOLENTLY SHAKES ON VEHICLE ABOVE 45MPH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. BEEN TO DEALER 2X FOR ISSUE WITH NO RESOLVE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR BAG COVERING HAS FAILED ALONG THE SEAMS.*DT*JB *DT *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact's company owns a 2018 Ford F-550. The contact stated while an employee was driving at 55 MPH, the service vehicle soon warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the turbocharger to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but experienced failure a second time on July 28, 2023. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the turbocharger to be replaced a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,265.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-550. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact observed a humming sound coming from the rear-end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ring and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ring and pinion needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .