general problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 - part 1

160 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2018 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2018 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2018 F-150.

1 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 05/06/2026

I was driving down the road and then smoke started bellowing out of the cupholder area of the center console and it smelled like burnt wires and I could hear it cizzle so I pulled over as quick as I could and ripped out the center console to find that the connectors going to the glow rings on the cupholders had shorted out and were causing a small flame in melting the plastic so I ripped the wiring harness out that fed the power to the cupholders .

2 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/18/2026

I was on spencer street at the light about to cross on saint rose park way. When the light turned green my truck wouldn’t let me proceed and the it went into a low gear and make a lot of noise until I crossed and stoped at the horizon ridge light. At the light I turned off the truck like I have done every time this had happened after Ford said they did the recall but after they did the recall I’ve been having all these issues. I turned the vehicle back on and put into into drive and it went into reverse I immediately pressed my brakes knowing there is a car behind me. Thankfully the guy saw the truck with the hazards and going into reverse he immediately went into the next lane. I couldn’t move I was stalled. Had the shut the truck off again and then turn it back on and then I was able to go into drive and sit on the side of the road. Meanwhile I can smell like this burning smell. Now this had happened 2 days after they came out to supposedly fix the recall that was on the truck. I didn’t work the next day after they came out to fit it at my job but driving home that day it drove sort of ok I felt a little lack of going into gear. When I went to work it did a hard jerk while driving like if the transmission was going to fall out. I parked at work for my 10 hour shift and when I went to go home I turned on my truck and out it into drive and it went into reverse. Thankfully I was in park and no cars was behind me. I called Ford to tell them what had happened after they came and fix it and they told me it was not part of the recall. But yet when I looked up the recall when my insurance let me know if it people was saying they was having issues going into gears and possibly stalling. This is a serious matter and they keep brushing it off and telling me that I need to pay them to look at it. I don’t feel I need to pay if it is their mistake. I took it to my warranty company and they tried to fix it and found nothing on their end. At this point I gor into almost 5accident.

3 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/01/2026

Was slowing down to turn, engine cut out and received an “auto start/stop, shift to p and then restart engine” error on dash. Almost got in an accident because of it.

4 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parked and a rental trailer was hooked up to the vehicle, the trailers turn signals and brake lights did not work ad intended and did not illuminate as intended. The vehicle was then hooked up to another trailer where the turn signals did not work as intended and the brake lights did not illuminated as intended again. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the trailer control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

5 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/01/2026

The vehicle skips a beat when shifting and it jumps from 10-8 gear for no reason causing the vehicle to lag or shift rough and break.

6 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/27/2026

Sync screen, music, and charging are all dead. I think it’s the apid.

7 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/26/2026

According to repairman, water made it into the rear tail light, shorting out a module that controls all lights, windows, a/c and heating controls.

8 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/02/2026

I was not in an accident. I have a 2018 Ford f150 XLT and it has a 3. 5 eco boost. My truck is leaking some type of oil from the top and has very bad fuel injectors which is why my truck cant accelerate and shakes extremely bad. When I sit at a red light my truck dies and I think I have a leaking exhaust. I bought a new battery but it still dies. I know they used to do a recall for a new engine from what I’ve searched but they don’t do it anymore and I don't think its safe for me driving while I have all those problems. I have not been in an accident but with all these problems my truck could possibly die or go out while I’m on the highway and just makes me nervous driving something like that when the 3. 5 eco boost is already not a great engine. Thank you.

9 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/20/2025

Backup camera shows blue screen. Appears to be faulty wiring harness or connection. Impacted driver safety when backing up. Previously replaced camera due to suspected camera failure. Fix lasted less than a year before blue screen returned. No other warnings or indications.

10 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/15/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, he was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The contact stated the front end of his vehicle impacted the front driver-side wheel of the other vehicle. The contact stated that not a single air bag deployed during the impact, and no brake collision warning was activated. No warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the crash. The contact stated he received a pre-collision notification on his phone approximately 30 seconds after the accident occurred, but he was unable to avoid the collision. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact sustained neck pain, a herniated disc, and a bulging disk in the lower back. The contact was taking no pills and undergoing physical therapy. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.

11 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/08/2025

Taillight leaks water causing the blindspot sensor to burn up. Once the sensor is burned up the airbags, power door locks, power windows, heat/defrost, and the radio don't work. This is a known problem and Ford has no fix for it. It is several weeks wait to get it into Ford and costs several thousand dollars for a known problem that they are not addressing. Having no heat or defrosters in the winter make this a safety issue for everyone on the road not just the operator. Door locks and windows not working is a safety issue for the vehicle passengers.

12 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/01/2025

Water intrusion into the body control module (bcm) caused multiple safety-related electrical failures. The horn no longer functions, traction control activates and deactivates while driving, exterior lights remain on after vehicle shutdown, and the battery must be disconnected to turn off headlights. The issue presents a safety concern while operating the vehicle. Ford motor company was notified and documented the concern but declined assistance due to no active recall or program.

13 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/03/2025

-auto stop/start system failed and is available for inspection. I was driving down the road and braked for a vehicle about to pull in front of me, when I let off the brake and pushed the gas I noticed the vehicle had shut off there was an error message on the information center, error message: "auto startstop shift to p, then restart engine" -I could've been in an accident due to immobilized vehicle -vehicle taken to dealer. Was told the failure was unlikely to be duplicated. Was told to unplug(deactivate) auto stop/start system to hopefully avoid recurrence. -no -no messages or symptoms prior to failure.

14 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/17/2025

Was listening to my radio in my 2018 f150 1min and the next the music stopped my phone stopped charging touch screen went black tried the soft reset nothing checked fuses nothing . Found out it’s my apim ive also seen where a lot of people are saying they have had the same issue with this and it’s not a cheap fix one guy said he works at Ford and done 15 in one day . Ford is suppose to be the best why isn’t there a recall on these . 98k miles and I have to spend $500-$1000 to be able to use my touch screen this is not right for anyone and this should be on Ford . Believe I might be switching over to Dodge now.

15 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 09/03/2025

Auto start stop. This has happened on several occasions where I will be traveling at highway speeds and my 2018 F-150 10 speed 10r80 transmisson with a 5. 0-liter motor has died while traveling. I have talked to Ford engineering reps, and they say they have never heard of this. I have done research into the subject and there have been hundreds of reports of the same issue. I have an appointment scheduled for Ford to look into the issue.

16 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/13/2025

Loss of power to dashboard and all accessories while driving. The engine and transmission continued to operate until the vehicle could be parked in a safe location, and the vehicle could not be started again. The issue was reproduced by a dealership and repaired by changing a faulty apim module. No other inspections have been performed. After the repairs, the security alarm randomly engages and sounds the horn.

17 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2025

Apim module has failed. Very common on these models and should be recalled!.

18 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/29/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the gear shifter shifted independently, and the message "vehicle heisted gear ten error" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a vehicle safety complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 52,742.

19 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/01/2025

Back up camera stopped working on 2018 f150 XLT 2. 7 v6. Screen only shows blank screen or blue screen with the words, cameral not available.

20 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2025

My back up camera just shows blue or static. It just randomly happened but everything else works and the screen shows fine when not in reverse.

21 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/03/2025

I had a rear view camera problem where the screen went blue on my f150. No picture or beeps. I paid over $800 for software and hardware repairs and now there is a recall. Conveniently my VIN is not included even though I have the same repairs I had to pay for. Reciepts from Ford dealership available.

22 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 05/01/2025

The button on the steering wheel get hot then fail to work this has happened several times I have complained to Ford. The cruise control quits working and all the buttons for the dash menu quit working. I will be driving down the road with the cruise control on and all of a sudden it will quit working. Then it will just come back on like you never shut it off and when you least expect it. When this happens you can not shut the thing off its gonna cause an accident.

23 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/23/2025

My back up camera barely works now. Most of the times that I back up the screen is blue or black. Very rarely it will work. I brought it into my local for dealer and they said moisture somehow got into the sealed connector and started corroding the metal in there making it a bad connection. They told me I needed a new wire harness for over $500 and I don’t have the money to fix it. So now my back up camera is just broke.

24 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/30/2025

When backing up, my camera will either not work or be extremely slow. Then once it works the backup image or blank screen will show up when not in reverse. My screen will be blank, be extremely slow, or freeze when I turn the vehicle on or when driving. Unable to get carplay to work at all. When pushing buttons the lag time is so bad that it will take minutes for it to catch up. Unable to update the software.

25 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/26/2025

See attached document for complaint.

26 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/22/2025

When I tow my boat the starter overheats and when I stop to get gas I have trouble starting the engine or it won't start at all until the engine cools completely.

27 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/21/2025

While driving in manual mode on the road vehicle seemingly came out of gear and then slammed into a lower gear causing me to be slammed forward in my seat and nearly wrecked my vehicle, it then unprotected went to 1st then to 9the gear all while still in manual shift mode. Vehicle also dose not always fully engage park when p is illuminated.

28 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/25/2025

Radio went out not long after I bought it. Nothing on that end works. No back up camera, nothing. Bad apim module. 1400 to replace. It’s such a common issue and should be a recall.

29 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/04/2025

I had repeated issues with sudden downshifts while driving starting around 80,000 miles. By 83,000 miles it was doing it weekly or more frequently. It would shift down to first gear no matter what gear it was in. I would have trouble getting it to shift back even if I stopped and turned it off or tried the manual’s “fix” of pressing the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time for at least 30 seconds. I paid $2300 to fix a transmission barely past 80,000 miles. Besides the safety issue, the impact on daily life in general is a mess. Ford should have to recall all recent years and fix or repay the customers like me who had to pay Ford to fix their defects.

30 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/01/2025

Sync seems to return to factory setting at every start and I need to answer the same series of initial questions to access it. It dumps all of my saved preferences when I turn the truck off. It freezes, particularly when I try a manual soft reboot. Back up camera comes on while I'm driving. I don't have access to audio, navigation, or hands free support.

31 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/25/2024

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the radio and the rearview camera was inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The diagnostic result was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

32 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/31/2024

Accessory protocol image module (apim) failed, resulting in frequent loss of power to radio, display, and climate controls.

33 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 09/06/2024

The starter on my 2018 Ford f150 xtr (XLT trim to be sold new in canada) with the 5. 0l coyote v8 engine failed @ only 46,000 miles. I have done my own auto repair for years, and have replaced a few failed or failing starters, none of which were @ less than 100,000 miles. After a little research, I found out that Ford "created" their coyote engine with the auto stop/start feature as a fuel economy measure to satisfy usepa. However, this resulted in a several orders of magnitude increase in the number of starts within any given time frame (say, over the course of a year) and, since Ford did not re-design the starter to account for this radical increase in the sheer number of starts, starters are failing early. Mine failed @ 46,000 miles, and I've read multiple online posts from owners of this engine that had to replace the starter, one as early as 27,000. Check out owner comments @: [xxx] I should not have been required to pay for Ford motor company's design failure. Respectfully, [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

34 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/28/2024

I was driving, I looked down because my truck was unresponsive, my truck had died, a warning light had come on stating the following: "auto start/stop shift to p, then restart engine". I was on the interstate, in a two lane construction zone, I had to pull over into the construction area, stop my truck, and try and restart. After a minute or two, I was able to restart my truck and re-enter the road way. A very dangerous situation, luckily I did not have my children in the vehicle at the time. I scheduled a service appointment after this and was told it was the fuel pump control module. Unfortunately, it has happened twice since my service appointment. . . Something needs to me done!.

35 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/28/2024

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle, the vehicle would not immediately restart. Also, while at a stop light with the auto start/stop feature activated, the vehicle did not immediately restart after depressing the brake pedal, and the vehicle had to be jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who indicated that there was no issue with the battery and was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 102,602.



F-150 Service Bulletins
F-150 Safety Recalls
F-150 Defect Investigations