2018 Ford F-150 5.0L Cold Engine Rattle - TSB 18-2354 Does Not Fix 

Thank you for this very clear video about what this rattle actually sounds like. Other videos on RU-vid just left me confused about what I was hearing.

Mine does the exact same thing. Great video with great capture of that ratcheting/rattling sound in the engine!

I just had mine looked at for the whine and whistling noise and the rattle. I was told the same thing. I can't even get mad at the dealership. It's Ford that needs to do something about ASAP

Brought mine into the dealer yesterday. They rolled their eyes and said “yeah, we’re familiar with that service bulletin”. An hour later they sent me on my way with the latest PCM software update...STILL MAKES THE NOISE.

Just got mine back from dealer service for this tsb and so far the issue is fixed on my 2018. Edit: well next morning cold start and the noise is back. Damnit

Mine does this too... this must go viral.

My truck makes the same noise. Took it to the dealer and they said they didn’t here anything. I’ve also been dealing with rough idle on cold start and several check engine lights for misfires. There are definitely issues with these motors. Also my dashboard is starting to heave up in several spots. The dealers answer was “we don’t know what to tell you. The manufacturer doesn’t have a fix yet and dashboards are on back order.

My 5.0 does this too, though it doesn't bother me. The engine knocks too at idle, worse out of the passenger side. Sounds like it might have a diesel in it, LOL. Then there is that hump on the dash where it meets the windshield on the passenger side. All of these things really don't bother me. They ain't nothing. I love my F-150, it's a great truck. I bought the STX version as it's the best bang for the buck and I'm not filthy rich. I drove it from Denver, down to OKC, through the deep south, on up to Kentucky, and then back home to Denver through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. She drove great and is really comfortable. Just give your F-150 a kiss and love her, don't let these little things get under your skin, she'll love you back.

After 11K, I traded my 2018 RC with 5.0 and HDPP for a 2016 5.0/6spd. The 2018 handled like a sports car, sounded like a diesel and never knew what gear to be in town.

I have a 2018 f150 does the same thing. The dealership I brought it to said that ford put out a bulletin saying that it was in fact a normal sounds that it was the cam phasers going back to the neutral position. called ford myself they told me bulletins were vin specific and there was no bulletin stating that noise on my vehicle and instructed me to get a second opinion.

My 2018 is doing that I think this is happening at low speed but I still love my truck I think it’s because of the new transmission 10 speed

That good ol 5.0 coyote. Mine does the same thing sometimes at startup but it stops within seconds. And this is after having all my vct solenoids replaced…

This is gonna cost FORD their number one spot. They left alot of people hanging with these trucks including myself. What a shame to because in my opinion they are sharp .

Yep same thing here, same TBS and same result, Rattle still present, at least it's documented now

I wonder if my truck does this. I put aftermarket exhaust on it and it runs so much better without all the resistance. Cherry bomb extreme to dual 4 inch tips.

Think it's the ten speed transmission. Watch every time the noise happens in this video. Gears jump from 1st, to third. Also happens when I road test them from 4th to 6th. Plastic pan makes it noisier. In this video its every time 1st to 3rd. Watch his instrument cluster.

Mine does then same. I complained they did the tsb. Still rattled, now they can't hear it. But also say its normal. Mine also uses oil. Currently doing the consumption test, and I have burned 1 liter in 2300km. So they should be swapping my engine soon.

Thinking of adding some seafoam addative to clean gunk .i have heard ppl do it and fixes it

Yes my 2019 is doing this

My 2018 5.0 makes the same noise. Had mine in to the dealer 3 times for this and still does the rattling. If ford issued TSB 18-2354 for this issue then they obviously know that it’s a problem. Now that the “rattle” is so widespread and the TSB-2354 fix didn’t work, Ford is now saying that it’s a “normal characteristic” of the vehicle! 🤔

Same here. Its only when you let off throttle.

I really wanted a 5.0 when I bought my F-150 a couple months ago, but this and the oil consumption issue scared me away, went with a 2.7 instead. It’s been trouble free so far, but it’s still very early.

Yep I’ve posted videos of mine I have that same rattle exactly also a whine coming from the transmission and knocks finally ford is replacing my long block only due to the qt of oil I’m burning every 1k miles

Within a few weeks of having mine. I took it in to the dealer. They told me that this sound was a purge valve in the exhaust and is completely normal. Trusting my dealer I thought ok. I'll let it go for now. However it had gotten worse. 2nd visit they claimed they could not hear it. 3rd visit to another dealer said yup. We hear it, but dont know what it is. Lol after waiting to see what Fords engineers had to say. They called me to have the VCT solenoids replaced and possibly cam phasers. After 2 days of it being in the shop. I made it approx 1 mile from the dealer when it started to sound like a diesel. When I pulled over it died on me. I got it to run again and limped it back to the dealer. 2 days later I found out the the technician working on the truck did not set the timing correctly and that it would he another week until parts arrived. At this point I dont even want it back. I've spoken to Ford mo co, and are currently looking into the matter. It's a real shame. I love everything about the truck. But I'll likely never buy another. Just keep taking it back to them. Dont stop

2019 Mustang GT here with the exact same rattle Please keep us updated Here is mine: ​@​

My 2017 3.5 v6 Ecoboost does the samething. Any updates?

My 2018 5.0 V8 does the exact same thing. I got the software updated, it temporarily stopped but it's back again. When they can't fix it, they say its normal. Now what?

Sounds like a transmission issue to me, once it hits right on the dot, the shift to 3rd

Honestly it sounds more like the timing chain tensioner, slot of the newer 5.0 have a timing chain tensioner problem that makes the engine sound like crickets

Been to the dealer twice and second time they want to keep it for the day

My 2018 5.0 I got in Nov of last year does the same thing. I took it to the dealer twice. The first time they did atleast 3 TSBs and it still made the noise. The service dude told me that it's normal for a 5.0 to make that noise. He must've thought I had the name Boo-Boo The Fool written on my forehead, because I took it back a month later for the same thing and the dash. He was still sticking to the same story: Its normal. They called corporate and corporate is telling them that It is the VCT's but is considered normal after the 5.0 was redesigned for 2018. What options do I have? Take it back one more time and have them lemon it, or tough it out until a recall happens, but no one knows how long thatll take. I love my truck and i dont want to get rid of it but I'm paying too much money for this damn thing not to be running properly.

my 2018 does it too. Along with a shifting hickup that makes a noise and jolt. I'd like to see the warranty extended for this issue

To get rid of the rattle when engine is cold try turning off the traction control or push the traction control button twice to take it to advance trac sport mode. I think the fuel & air mix is lean when cold.

I have same problems. How I fix ?

I have a 2019, does the same exact thing. My solution, let it warm up to operating temperature first, noise goes away! What it is doing is adjusting your timing on the fly for max power / efficiency. If it was me, I’d keep the dealers hands off my engine! I would also make sure you keep a good oil level and use what Ford recommends, you’ll be fine, yes a little irritating but I think listening to the noise would be better than doing the TSB to basically slow the oil to the VCT system - not a good solution.

Mine does it even when warm I have 4,300 miles and the 10 speed transmission is acting up

Any idea on how to fix

Would ford still buy it back even after the manufacture warranty runs out? Mine does the same thing

I believe it just the exhaust VCT solenoids chattering. Read somewhere they dont close fast enough when you take your foot off of the throttle. Need to wait until they update the solenoids or for a decent aftermarket replacement. Not too much of a deal to replace them. Valve/cam covers have to come off. You can put your hand on the electical connectors to the exh. Vct solenoids and feel them clatter. Nothing serious is being damaged. It just sounds bad. Just drive it normal and dont try to focus on the noise it will just make you nuts. Just give it normal throttle and it doesnt make the noise much. Mine almost totally goes away after it heats up. My guess is the warm oil viscosity dampens the noise. Or the warm engine calls for less aggressive movement if the phasers.

My 2019 5.0 does it. Just started at 44,000 miles.

Does the rattling cause any damage if not addressed?

Timing chain and tensioner I think

I seen so many issues with the 2018 and new f-150. Theres a really nice still new 2018 f150 for sale near more. Xlt 302A fx4 with the tow package for 35k. I wanted to buy it but after researching I think I'm going to go with a Colorado ZR-2

Good luck , have had mine @ the dealership 3 time for the very same issue. You can put it in drive with your foot on the brake and power brake the engine, and mine will do it consistently. After three visits, they are telling me it's a normal engine operation sound.. I have the extended warranty, and dont put to many miles on the truck. If a recall happens, or if something breaks, they're flipping the bill.

2018 f-150 super crew 5.0 L V8 ford dealer technician said : I don’t hear 👂🏽 anything ! But truck is in good condition! I hate that noise every morning! I’m already had 85k miles on it

Just took my 2018 F-150 5.0L to the Dealership for the same exact TSB and was told by the technician that there was nothing wrong, that that was just a normal sound for that Ford engine. That being a V8 302 5.0L Ford engine, is there a real fix and if there is, what is it?

hell they are doing good things with ya'lls 5.0s... I have a 18 Mustang and it is 10x fold more annoying than that.

Exact same situation here. The TSB did not work. problem is now with vehicle shortage and i bought it used. It is definitely under warranty with only 38,000 miles on it. I like the truck feels it runs well. I just want that noise fixed because I don't know what damage is being done inside the engine. Also the buy back process seems like a huge pain even if I were able to do that. Like I said we have little to no trucks on any lots around here now. Also I agree, I hate letting the dealership touch my vehicles. Nothing against the mechanic, I just know the advisors I have dealt with are not honest. Recently they tried to tell me all kinds of things I need fixed including air filter and cabin air filter. I told them I just replaced both myself (a week prior). and put the date and mileage on sticker next to filters so there was no way they checked the air filters. They just glanced past that like they never even said to replace them. Crooks. But will having a compression test done on the engine result in getting this issue fixed? I am under full warranty. Am willing to pay for compression test if it results in just getting it fixed and or new engine (that also does not make this noise). However I might run into the same shortage issue.

Damn... Di you fixed ?

Timing chain tensioner

Your engine sounds like it has a knock as well, like mine did. Had the engine replaced. Check my vids about it.

They are going to tell you what they told me "This is a normal characteristic of this motor."

I have the 2.7 zero issues over 61 k miles it's a 17 ....these 5.0 been having issues .......the 15 17 5.0 are really good tho

Have them take a look at the iwe actuator sounds like a vacuum leak

Dont know but your running it cold maybe try warming it up at least 8 min till you hear a low Idling, dam heard a lot of problems from these trucks I have one with 32k nothing yet dam....

Have a theory. What if it's multiple issues coming together. Phaser drives cam. Cam drives hpfp. Hpfp charges rail. Let off gas and injectors close. Pressure builds resisting the fuel pump lobe. This makes the phaser or chain rattle until the pressure disipates. Could we just need expansion chamber in the fuel rail? Or change the fuel pump to a twin lobe and 2 pistons where it pumps all the time not just on half a turn on the cam.

oh man i think just saw a TSB fix video for this issue. let me see if I can find it and i'll post the link for you all.

I was considering a new F150 but decided to keep I’m driving my 2002 f150 4.6 2v. I would rather spend $$$ on pimping up my 2002 than invest $40k in a new truck with this issue along with all the oil consumption reports. Ford better act quickly on design and quality before they lose too many long term customers. If you look at the car data, Honda Ridgeline has none of these issues. It’s probably where my money is headed next.

This is a cleaning cycle on the vct solenoids. Completely normal. If you want to test the theory unplug them and take it for a drive the noise will be gone.

Mine has been doing that for the last 8000 miles or so. I had them do tsb at last oil change. Didn’t work. It is really embarrassing as mine does it twice in a day. In the morning and when I leave work. I did notice the truck has to been in gear. It won’t do it in neutral. Did you ever get it fixed?

I don't know what engine you have but I have the 5.0 coyote

Bought a 2018 f150 mine does the whistle and the rattle on a cold engine. Guys at the ford dealership changed my valve covers and a said that was the problem. I crank it the next morning there’s the rattle? Takes it back, they said it’s the oil and changed the oil because when the oil gets thin it will cause it to rattle like that sometimes?? About to trade this sucker in never again ford!

I have a 2018 f150 5.0 and it does the same thing... is it something I should get looked at or is it safe to still drive?

I just got back from the ford dealer they all say “it’s normal”. That is bs because that rattle is annoying .

Mine does this too and is as loud. I have a 2018 f150 with 5.0 and it has been a horror story. Bought truck january of 2018. At 3975 miles it needed a new engine due to oil consumption. This did not fix the problem. After the new engine i had the same noise again. At 6k miles i noticed the new engine was using about a quart and a half of oil every 600 or so miles. Truck went back to deal and i was put on oil consumption list again. I applied for buyback from ford in june of 18. Buyback was approved but still to this day waiting to hear back. Terrible terrible frustrating process. Shit customer service. They are the masters of putting you on hold and milking the process. I dont think i could ever buy another ford.

Upvoting, might be time to get a lawyer for this lemon

I got a 2018 5.0 in canada 6 months ago. 4000km on the motor. At 7k it started doing that. Watched many of these vids. Thought id wait it out but took it for oil change told them what i was hearing i think the service department is trained to deny it deny it deny it. Anyhow i was polite and curteous and got attitude, and treated like a criminal. I explained the tsb they said if we cant replicate it we wont look at it cause ford wont pay them. I said so suggestion is? Their reply drive it til its bad and come back. I explained it was only when its cold. I left it overnight said ill be back in the morning. Now conveniently they warmed it the following morning and i said well lets try anyhow it was very evident and the guy denied it. So no work done and i was told to drive it. I take my kids 80k into the bush to chase snow. I cant be stuck there with them on a new lemon. They are 6 and 4 what the heck. So i traded it in before i lost too much on depreciation. After the bad service, fords inability to produce a permanent fix for amy of this i just need peace of mind. Its a shame cause i really liked the truck otherwise. It had everything going for it except for this issue. Had the service department not been such jerks to me and been deceiptful i might have taken another method.

Also, don’t point fingers at just Ford. GM had many problems with there valvetrain from cylinder deactivation, many models with timing chain stretch, and rocker arms breaking off.

Well I’ve got this problem and my new engine has 4,000 miles on it oh it’s also my 3rd engine so far due to oil consumption might need another engine as well going through another oil consumption test now it’s a 2018 F150 5.0

Any update or fix to this. Mine has always done it. Now at 27,000 miles, had the TSB “fix” with no change.

2018 5.0 and mine does the same thing. I did the same thing with the dealer and while they looked at it they gave me a brand new loaner basically the same truck which did the same thing. Almost all of them do it and until ford figures it out don't waste your time trying to get it fixed it wont happen. Other than that the truck has been amazing but I am, however, getting sick of people complaining about the transmission whine. It's a modern electronic 10 speed transmission and that's how it sounds. There is nothing wrong with it that's just how it is get used to it and stop bitching it is a great tranny.

My truck does it not as loud but cold or warm doesnt matter. The 10 speed is a pile of hot garbage as well i absolutly hate it as someone who builds engines. The torque converter is lazy and shifting from 3 to 4 sometimes feels like running over a curb or "slips" as if you have a worn clutch on a manual it will go from 3000 rpm to 5500 as if in N the shift HARD. Dealer says everything is perfectly fine and normal as usual

Mine does this as well.. 2019 5.0 4200 miles.. Ford dealer says its normal... what do we do?? I would love to just get my money back

Mine doesnt rattle but it has that high pitched squeal when I accelerate and when the rpms go up to gear shift and I can't stand it and it's not a normal sound a truck should make anybody know what that is yet?

My 2019 does the same damn thing

My 2018 F150 5.0L is doing the same thing.

I don’t know what’s causing the noise but it isn’t right and it won’t last long either.

That is exactly what happens to mine ... 2019 f150 5.0 XLT ... 3 times in the dealership... TSB did not work... I don’t know what to do.. dealer says it is normal noise... really?

Any update on this resolution?

My Tundra... Never an issue, never been in the shop, rock solid. Enjoy your Fords.

My 2020 5.0 same thing

My truck does the same , ford needs to make a recall or give my money back !

I have the same damn rattle in my 2020 mustang gt. It's so embarrassing

I have brought my 2018 in 4 times for this noise, did every fix possible. Just today they finally are going to replace the solenoids, what is happening is they they rattle against the engine after throttle. Only cold right? If interested I’ll share the service update and if it fixes it

for a 30k truck you should crash it right into the ford dealer front door

My new 2020 F150 5.0 with 3,400 miles makes the same noise (along with many others). Between all of the nasty sounding engine noises and the horrible shifting of the 10spd, I really regret trading in my 120,000 mile 2016 Ecoboost Expedition. No funny engine noises at all with that motor.

My truck makes that noise and has made that noise on a cold start that's your cam phasers I am on my 5th generation of phasers I've gone through four generations of phasers already in my 2018 f150 and it's doing it again at 13800 me it's been doing it since 20000 mile remember it's your cam phasers

Normal?! That noise will be normal for about 3 weeks till the camshaft phaser breaks off the end of the cam and destroys the engine.

Yo my 19 mustang gt does the same thing

My 2018 5.0 is doing this. Is there a known fix yet?

Same noise on my xlt 2018 5.0 SHIT

I'm starting to think this is a replay of 2004 when they come out with those horrible 5.4 Triton engines

Does Letting it warm up help? That thing is stone cold.

It is somewhat normal. It's piston slap. The piston skirts weren't cast correctly. It won't hurt it. It's just because there's a little bit too much slop between the skirt of the piston and the cylinder wall. No while it doesn't really sound that great in reality it won't hurt anything.

Do you have after market tires on? That shit sounds like tires rubbing up against the fenders because of bad fitmemt

my truck has done this since a couple months after i bought it from the dealer at 5 miles on the odometer, so a couple thousand in it did this to me, it also does the random slamming from the trans / diff on startup.. it had a spark knock ( they gave me shit for not using premium fuel, manual only said premium fuel for high elevation ), truck also whines drivin down the road ..its just a load of BS these new trucks arent built that well.. i've had it into ford a dozen times, for oil consumption etc, its all the same deal... " within spec " they say.

I hate that ford tried to charge 100 for the deductible on the warranty trying to fix this. Luckily I got my money back only after I made a big stink about it. And with my truck it’s a bit longer of a rattle. Has anyone contacted ford to see if they are working on a fix or they just gunna keep on putting out trucks with rattles to wake the neighborhood? It’s a shame having saved up for a couple years to purchase my very own platinum f150 only to be let down with this annoying bullshit!

That truck is a diesel you can hear the turbo . But Iv seen a lot of videos on the problem you are talking about . I think I would buy the 3.5 eco instead of the 5.0 until they get the problem fixed maybe the 2021 will be better

Go with the best ever, Tundra.

engine noise lol you should hear my 7.3 idi