How common are structure and body problems on the 2018 Ford F-350?

NHTSA lists 24 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-350, which is 12% of the 201 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford F-350 tailgate?

Yes. Recall 19V864000, reported December 4, 2019, covers 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks where water may enter the electric tailgate latch wiring and cause it to open unexpectedly. Ford's remedy adds jumper pigtails to the wiring harness.

At what mileage do these tailgate problems typically show up?

NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 21,261.5 miles for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-350.

Did the tailgate issue cause any crashes or injuries?

NHTSA records one crash tied to Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-350, with no reported fires or injuries.

Is the 2018 F-350's tailgate problem worse than other model years?

The 2018 F-350's Structure & Body complaints made up 12% of that year's total complaints, compared to 10% for 2017 and 6% for 2019, indicating the issue was relatively more prominent in 2018.

2018 Ford F-350 Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body issues account for 24 complaints, 12% of all 2018 Ford F-350 complaints, mostly centered on the electric tailgate opening unexpectedly. Median mileage at failure was 21,261.5 miles, and one related crash was reported. A recall (19V864000) addresses water intrusion in the tailgate latch wiring.

Structure & Body complaints: 24; 12% of 201
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 21,262 mi
Related recalls: 2

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

Electric tailgate releases and drops open unexpectedly while the truck is moving, sometimes at highway speed.
Tailgate drops occur while towing trailers, causing the tailgate to strike or damage the trailer being pulled.
Tailgate opens after hitting bumps in the road, with owners reporting repeated occurrences over months of ownership.
Doors, including the driver-side door, have opened on their own while driving, particularly in freezing temperatures, which owners link to moisture freezing in the door latches.
Owners report dealership visits where technicians could not find a fault despite repeated tailgate failures.

When 2018 Ford F-350 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 28, 2018, latest Sep 23, 2022.

24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2018 to Sep 2022; peak Jun 2020 (3).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Ford F-350

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-350 model year

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

20102 (4%)
20116 (3%)
20125 (3%)
20134 (5%)
20142 (2%)
20155 (2%)
20162 (1%)
201756 (10%)
201824 (12%)
201927 (6%)
202016 (9%)
20217 (7%)
20229 (8%)
20235 (12%)
20244 (9%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are structure and body problems on the 2018 Ford F-350?: NHTSA lists 24 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 F-350, which is 12% of the 201 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford F-350 tailgate?: Yes. Recall 19V864000, reported December 4, 2019, covers 2017-2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks where water may enter the electric tailgate latch wiring and cause it to open unexpectedly. Ford's remedy adds jumper pigtails to the wiring harness.
At what mileage do these tailgate problems typically show up?: NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 21,261.5 miles for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-350.
Did the tailgate issue cause any crashes or injuries?: NHTSA records one crash tied to Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 F-350, with no reported fires or injuries.
Is the 2018 F-350's tailgate problem worse than other model years?: The 2018 F-350's Structure & Body complaints made up 12% of that year's total complaints, compared to 10% for 2017 and 6% for 2019, indicating the issue was relatively more prominent in 2018.