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 Oct 2, 2026
47 of the 2,311 complaints on this car describe wheels.
Tick what matches of 47 reports
Wheels 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: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This sheet gathers complaints about the parts that meet the road: tires that wear out early or blow out, wheels that crack or bend, lug nuts that come loose, and wheel bearings that start to hum. The median mileage owners give is about 21,000, among the lowest on the site, so many of these are fairly new cars.
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.
On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the wheels on the F-150
Tire valve cracking. Closed apr 9, 2009.
Wheel separation. Closed may 29, 1998, led to recall 98V-095.
Wheel separation from vehicle. Closed dec 24, 1997.
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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,572 and 80,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 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.
Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE).
Some 2013-2018 F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration.
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. 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 91 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
- 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