2018 Ford F-150 Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 254 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150, about 11% of all complaints filed for that year, with 8 crashes, 6 fires, and 7 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 14,051 miles, and three related recalls cover tailgate latches, seat structures, and roof brace rivets.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 254
- 11% of 2,308
- Crashes reported
- 8
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Median mileage
- 14,051 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Doors and tailgates unexpectedly unlatch or fall open while driving or parked, especially in cold weather when latches freeze.
- Owners describe fires breaking out inside the cabin, sometimes near the driver or passenger seat, after crashes or with no apparent cause.
- Rear-end and side-impact crashes were followed by reports that airbags failed to deploy as expected.
- Some owners report the dashboard panel and airbag housing near the front defrost area appear bumped or broken from the factory.
- A vehicle reportedly rolled forward on its own while parked and in gear, striking another vehicle's open door.
When 2018 Ford F-150 body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 16, 2018, latest Sep 11, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150
- NHTSA 21V983000Dec 16, 2021Structure & Body57,591 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S53.
- NHTSA 19V633000Aug 28, 2019Structure & Body639,137 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
- NHTSA 17V598000Sep 25, 2017Structure & Body39 vehicles
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Super Cab pick-up trucks not equipped with a moonroof. The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
Risk: If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury .
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S29.
Structure & Body complaints by F-150 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Ford F-150?
- NHTSA lists 254 complaints in the Structure & Body category for the 2018 F-150, which is about 11% of all 2,308 complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there fires or crashes linked to these complaints?
- Yes. Among the Structure & Body complaints, NHTSA records 8 crashes, 6 fires, and 7 injuries.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 F-150 tailgate?
- Yes. Recall 21V983000 covers 2018 F-150 trucks with manual and power release tailgates, where latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving. Dealers replace both tailgate latches free of charge.
- At what mileage do these structure problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 14,051 miles at the time of failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-150.
- Does the 2018 F-150 have other body-related recalls besides the tailgate?
- Yes. Recall 19V633000 covers seat structure inspection and replacement, and recall 17V598000 addresses missing rivets on roof braces for F-150 Raptor Super Cab trucks without a moonroof.