2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 91owner reports
- 57,000median miles
- $4,500median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
585 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the engine. 91 of those describe engine failure.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (46 reports)
Tick what matches of 91 reports
Engine failure on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (82 reports), the timing chain (10 reports) and the turbo (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the F-150
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
15 of the 91 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,026 to $7,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 65 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after your vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time, or as a knocking noise when ...
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise ...
Some 2018-2019 F-150 and Mustang vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a light to moderate knocking type noise at idle (600-700 RPM) that is sometimes described as a quiet diesel type sound.
What owners wrote
“Loss of engine oil pressure. Just had engine replaced with used 6 months ago for the same issue. This new to me motor had 40k miles on it. So two motors under 121k miles oil pressure failure. Causing total engine replacement”
Filed Mar 15, 2026 · 40,000 miles
“This pickup has been regularly maintained with the manufacturer suggested maintenance. At 86k miles the engine seized while we were traveling down the road.”
Filed Apr 6, 2025 · 86,000 miles
“First is the automatic 10 speed transmission. Started with hard shifting then skipped gears then the whole transmission had to be replaced. Next is the cam phasers, loud knocking, engine runs rough, poor acceleration, gets hot fast. Local Ford dealer has confirmed the problems. Have replaced transmission but have not had the money to replace cam phasers. Both known by Ford but not taking responsibility for it.”
Filed Sep 14, 2024
“Vehicles 2018. To. 2020 have excessive oil consumption can cause engine failure and emissions problems due to high oil being burned .manufacture fail to fix the engine problem a technical service bulletin has been issued to bypass the real problem with the engine and emissions problem”
Filed Aug 23, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 91 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 519 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 251 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 227 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 195 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 180 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 164 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 119 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 114 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 91 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 89 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 65 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 54 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 48 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 42 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 40 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 38 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 32 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 30 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 29 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 29 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 26 reports