2018 Ford F-250 Safety Report

The 2018 Ford F-250 presents a mixed safety picture, primarily due to a significant number of owner complaints despite a limited recall history and no available NHTSA crash test ratings. With 396 total complaints, the most prominent issues revolve around the STEERING and SUSPENSION systems, accounting for 101 complaints for 'STEERING,SUSPENSION' and an additional 91 for 'STEERING' alone. These complaints frequently describe the dangerous 'death wobble' phenomenon, where the vehicle experiences violent shaking at speed, as reported by multiple owners. This suggests a potential systemic issue with the front-end components that could severely impact vehicle control and occupant safety. Beyond steering and suspension, the vehicle has also seen a notable number of complaints related to the FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (9 complaints) and POWER TRAIN (6 complaints), with several owners reporting sudden loss of motive power, engine shutdowns, and high-pressure fuel pump failures. These failures, sometimes occurring at highway speeds, pose a direct risk of crashes, as evidenced by 7 reported crashes and 4 injuries among the total complaints. The single recall for this model, NHTSA Campaign Number 18S45, addresses a potential engine block heater issue that could lead to overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of fire, and 8 fires have been reported in total for this model year. While NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2018 F-250, the high volume of critical mechanical failures reported by owners indicates areas of concern that could compromise safety in real-world driving conditions. The lack of NHTSA crash test data makes it difficult to assess the vehicle's passive safety performance in a collision. However, the active safety concerns, particularly the 'death wobble' and sudden power loss, are significant. The recall related to engine block heater wiring, while specific, highlights a potential fire risk. The recurring theme of fuel system failures, including high-pressure fuel pump issues leading to complete system replacement, is also a serious concern, often resulting in unexpected vehicle disablement. Overall, while direct crash test data is absent, the substantial number of complaints regarding critical components points to potential safety vulnerabilities that prospective buyers should be aware of.

Our recommendation: Prospective buyers should be highly cautious of the 2018 Ford F-250 due to prevalent 'death wobble' and critical fuel system failures; a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on steering, suspension, and fuel system components is strongly recommended.