YearToAvoid

2020 Ford F-150 Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints account for 34 of 727 total complaints (5%) on the 2020 Ford F-150, with a median failure mileage of 12,000 miles. A related seat structure recall (19V633000) covers this year, and 2 crashes with 2 injuries were reported in this category.

Structure & Body complaints
34
5% of 727
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
12,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Tailgates open on their own while driving or parked, sometimes spilling cargo or damaging towed equipment.
  • Water leaks into the driver's side floor during rain, leading to mold growth and rust buildup on the carpet.
  • Frame, rear axle, and fasteners show premature rust and pitting despite factory corrosion treatment.
  • Seats drop suddenly when the truck hits a pothole, with one owner reporting a roughly three-inch drop at highway speed.
  • Door latches freeze in cold weather and fail to open, with owners noting the issue persists after attempted fixes.
  • Infotainment and rear camera malfunctions occur alongside water intrusion complaints.

When 2020 Ford F-150 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 29, 2020, latest Mar 6, 2026.

2020 Ford F-150 structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2020Jan 2021Jul 2021Dec 2022Jan 2024Sep 2024Feb 2025Mar 2026
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2020 to Mar 2026; peak Apr 2021 (3).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2020 Ford F-150

  1. 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.

Structure & Body complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010106 (13%)
  2. 201143 (2%)
  3. 201240 (2%)
  4. 201362 (2%)
  5. 201446 (3%)
  6. 2015222 (13%)
  7. 2016248 (12%)
  8. 2017146 (10%)
  9. 2018254 (11%)
  10. 201946 (3%)
  11. 202034 (5%)
  12. 202142 (4%)
  13. 202223 (4%)
  14. 202325 (6%)
  15. 20245 (3%)
  16. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are Structure & Body complaints on the 2020 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 34 Structure & Body complaints for the 2020 F-150, which is 5% of the 727 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall related to Structure & Body issues on the 2020 F-150?
Yes. Recall campaign 19V633000, reported August 28, 2019, covers seat structure inspection and replacement on 2018-2020 F-150 and other Ford models.
At what mileage do Structure & Body problems typically appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 12,000 miles for this problem area on the 2020 F-150.
Did any Structure & Body complaints involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 2 crashes and 2 injuries tied to Structure & Body complaints on the 2020 F-150, with 0 fires reported.
What is the most common Structure & Body complaint for the 2020 F-150?
Owners most frequently report the tailgate opening on its own while driving or parked, based on sample complaints filed with NHTSA.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.