Diagsheet

2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Wheel bearing, tires or wheels

  • 47owner reports
  • 45,824median miles
  • $140median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 26, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

47 of the 2,293 complaints on this car describe wheels.

Tick what matches of 47 reports

3
1
2
32

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the tires (27 reports), the wheel (17 reports) and the wheel bearing (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the wheels covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

21V-155Mar 10, 2021
Tires

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.

NHTSA investigations into the wheels on the F-150

PE08-060opened Oct 14, 2008
Tires · model years 2007 to 2008

Tire valve cracking. Closed apr 9, 2009.

NHTSA summary
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGE
EA97-027opened Dec 24, 1997
Wheels · model years 1997

Wheel separation. Closed may 29, 1998, led to recall 98V-095.

NHTSA summary
BY LETTER DATED MAY 6, 1998, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED NHTSA OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 1,520,000 OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INCLUDING F-250 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, AND NAVIGATOR VEHICLES BUILT AT THE NORFOLK, MICHIGAN TRUCK, KANSAS CITY, AND ONTARIO TRUCK ASSEMBLY PLANTS BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 1995 AND MID-APRIL 1998.NHTSA HAS DESIGNATED THIS RECALL ACTION AS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V-095.
PE97-033opened Jul 14, 1997
Wheels · model years 1997

Wheel separation from vehicle. Closed dec 24, 1997.

NHTSA summary
IN ADDITION TO THE A FAILURE REPORT TABULATIONS GIVEN ABOVE, THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT AN ADDITIONAL 33 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED WHICH REFER TO PROBLEMS (LUG NOT TORQUE LOSS, LUG BOLT FRACTURE) THAT DID NOT INVOLVE ACTUAL WHEEL SEPARATION, BUT WHICH MAY BE POTENTIALLY RELEVANT EVENTS.THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REPORTED THAT A TOTAL OF 815 WARRANTY CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR REPAIRS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE MATTER BY PURCHASING THE VEHICLES BACK FROM OWNERS AS A GOODWILL MEASURE.THE WHEEL SEPARATIONS CITED IN THIS PE INCLUDE MANY WHICH OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN; IN THESE CASES SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF ALMOST ALWAYS RESULTED FROM COLLAPSE OF THE SUSPENSION .THE CRASH INCIDENTS CITED IN THE TABULATIONS ABOVE ARE LIMITED TO THOSE INCIDENTS IN WHICH DAMAGE WAS ALSO SUSTAINED BY A SECOND VEHICLE OR A FIXED OBJECT.THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT PROBLEMS OF LUG NOT TORQUE RETENTION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE FINAL ASSEMBLY, AND FAILURE ANALYSES INDICATE THAT LUG NUT TORQUE LOSS COULD RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LUG BOLTS. THERE ARE ALSO INDICATIONS THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE LUG NUTS MAY BE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO OVER-TORQUING, RESULTING IN PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF THE LUG BOLTS WHICH IN TURN, COULD LEAD TO FATIGUE FAILURE.DUE TO THE OPEN ISSUES AND QUESTION RAISED BY THE PE, THIS MATTER HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

5 of the 47 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $130 to $141.

$130$140$141
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 10,572 and 80,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

118
319
220
321
1022
1723
824
125
226

What owners wrote

“Vehicle was taken in for service and told lug nuts were swollen and needed to be replaced. The vehicle is only 5 years old with approximately 37,000 miles. The poor quality of the original parts creates a safety risk for the driver and others.”

Filed Aug 18, 2023 · 37,000 miles

“The lug nuts on my 2018 F150 became swollen and distorted. The Ford dealer was unable to use the standard size socket to remove them. Dealer recommended I immediately replace them with solid steel lug nuts to prevent not being able to replace the tire/wheel while on the road in an emergency situation. I did replace them with a dealer recommended lug nut.”

Filed Apr 4, 2023

“Took truck in to have oil changed, filter changed, includes tire rotation. Informed tires could not be rotated due to swollen lug nuts. Told safe thing to do is buy new lug nuts. Apparently this is an ongoing issue with Ford OEM lug nuts that have a chrome finish.”

Filed Jan 20, 2023

“While getting tires rotated at Costco, it was recommended I replace all lug nuts as they were all swollen. Was advised this is a safety issue. Also advised this appears to be a common problem and complaint with Ford trucks although no known recall to date. Replaced all lug nuts totaling $35.44. Invoice available if needed.”

Filed Jan 9, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 47 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.

Other problems on this car