2016 Ford F-150 body and structure problems
201 of the 2,059 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-150 name the body and structure (NHTSA’s “Structure” heading — body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted). Filed under the same heading: 33 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 201 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 17 · 2017: 46 · 2018: 36 · 2019: 33 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 3
Half of the 132 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 6,000 and 40,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
2,059 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford F-150, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Structure” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford F-150 body and structure problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the body and structure. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Rear end collision on I-25 in denver, co 80112 9/28/2016 4 PM, sunny and clear weather, traffic moderately heavy "slow and go" in motion appx 25mph, no injuries
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. When the contact lifted the aluminum covering on the bed of the vehicle, he noticed a large hole. The dealer advised him to cover the hole with plywood or to pay for a bedliner. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and promised to have a regional manager call the contact back.
The bed of the truck is separated from the side wall of the truck , this is around the fender wells, allowing water and vapors into the bed area of the vehicle
Driver door of 2016 Ford F-150 will not latch when closing. Problem primarily occurs after vehicle has been in use. After opening the door, the door will not latch in a secure position when attempting to close. Will occasionally latch when pressing the unlock button after opening.
Door catch is missing and miss drilled in cab frame. Ford wants to cut a section of the cab frame out and weld in new section. This truck had 86 miles when discovered. All cab interior needs to be completely removed down to bare metal and all glass and the cab needs to be removed completely from the truck frame to be repaired.
What is on file about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 18V568000 CriticalAug 31, 2018 · 1,619,112 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
- 17V331000 HighMay 22, 2017 · 14,410 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
33 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 588 complaints
- engine problems 347 complaints
- brake problems 341 complaints
- electrical problems 188 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre body and structure problems common on the 2016 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 201 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (10% of everything owners filed about it), and 33 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the body and structure on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 18V568000, 17V331000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do body and structure problems show up on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 20,000 miles; half of them between 6,000 and 40,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Structure" heading cover?
Body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.