How common are structure and body complaints on the 2018 Ford F-250?

NHTSA lists 17 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-250, which is 4% of the 397 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall related to the 2018 F-250 tailgate issue?

Yes. Recall campaign 19V864000 covers 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks with an electric tailgate latch release switch that can let water enter the wiring and cause the tailgate to open unexpectedly.

At what mileage do these structure and body problems tend to show up?

The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-250 is 19,000 miles.

Were there any fires or crashes linked to these complaints?

NHTSA data shows 2 fire reports and 0 crash reports among the 17 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-250, with 0 injuries.

2018 Ford F-250 Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints account for 17 of 397 total complaints (4%) filed against the 2018 Ford F-250. The dominant pattern is the tailgate opening or dropping on its own, tied to a related recall (19V864000), with a median mileage at failure of 19,000 miles.

Structure & Body complaints: 17; 4% of 397
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 19,000 mi
Related recalls: 2

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

The tailgate releases or drops open on its own while the truck is parked, in park, or with the parking brake released.
Owners describe the tailgate opening spontaneously while driving, including at highway speed in rain or snow, sometimes striking a trailer being towed.
Door latches freeze in cold weather, causing doors to not close or, in some cases, to pop open while driving.
Water intrusion through rear cab louvers leads to a musty smell and a wet back seat carpet, requiring the bed to be removed for repair.
Some owners report the tailgate reopening after a recall repair was supposedly completed.

When 2018 Ford F-250 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 8, 2018, latest Oct 10, 2024.

17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2018 to Oct 2024; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Ford F-250

NHTSA 22V087000Feb 16, 2022Structure & Body247,445 vehicles
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S09.
NHTSA 19V864000Dec 4, 2019Structure & Body231,664 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks equipped with an electric tailgate latch release switch mounted in the tailgate handle. Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches.
Risk: Unintended 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: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle release switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S48.

Structure & Body complaints by F-250 model year

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

20103 (3%)
201114 (4%)
201213 (4%)
20136 (5%)
20145 (3%)
20157 (2%)
20165 (2%)
201780 (7%)
201817 (4%)
201929 (2%)
202015 (6%)
202113 (8%)
20227 (6%)
20232 (5%)
20243 (8%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are structure and body complaints on the 2018 Ford F-250?: NHTSA lists 17 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-250, which is 4% of the 397 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall related to the 2018 F-250 tailgate issue?: Yes. Recall campaign 19V864000 covers 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks with an electric tailgate latch release switch that can let water enter the wiring and cause the tailgate to open unexpectedly.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems tend to show up?: The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-250 is 19,000 miles.
Were there any fires or crashes linked to these complaints?: NHTSA data shows 2 fire reports and 0 crash reports among the 17 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-250, with 0 injuries.