2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 42owner reports
- 40,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
275 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 42 of those describe windshield.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Windshield 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: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Many windshield complaints are about cracks owners can't explain: a line that starts at the edge of the glass, or a small chip that spreads. Nearly one in five of these complaints mentions it happening again or a second windshield.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (42 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the windshield and wipers on the F-150
Windshield trim molding item detachment. Closed feb 8, 2024, led to recall 24V-031.
Spare tire wear. Closed jul 27, 1999.
Spare tire mounting. Closed mar 17, 1999.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 19,000 and 59,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 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 2015-2021 F-150, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty and 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit a binding/sticking, glass stuck open or closed, noisy operation including chatter, rattling, or grinding.
Some 2015-2020 F-150 and 2017-2020 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a rear defroster may have factory installed or service replacement rear glass that uses rear defroster electrical terminals with a plastic overmolded cover.
Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent.
Some 2015-2019 F-150, 2017-2019 F-Super Duty, 2018-2019 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit a binding/sticking, glass stuck open or closed, noisy operation including chatter, rattling, or grinding.
3 more on the 2018 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“Rear window exploded after starting the truck. Glass shards and chunks flew into the truck . This is the 3rd F150 truck that I've owned that has had this happen.”
Filed Nov 28, 2023
“Rear Slider Windshield Randomly Shattered glass everywhere while vehicle parked no signs of impact no force entry just glass everywhere. vehicle parked in secure area. the only plossible clause I can think of is Remote start I assume it was the remote start. I verified AC status and no defrost was on.”
Filed Oct 20, 2023
“Windshield wipers will not completely shut off. Wipers come on approximately every 12 seconds after being turned to the off setting. Besides being irritating, it eventually will wear down the wiper blades and scratch the windshield which becomes a safety concern. Searching the internet this seems to have been a chronic problem with the combination wiper/turn singal switch on Ford F-150 dating back several years.”
Filed Feb 18, 2023
“truck rear glass shattered . I went inside the truck and when I closed the door I heard some shattering behind me , I turned back and saw little glass part falling down”
Filed Jan 11, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 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
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 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