2017 Ford F-150 body and structure problems
110 of the 1,442 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 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: 30 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 110 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 6 · 2018: 23 · 2019: 19 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 6
Half of the 67 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 10,000 and 50,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,442 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford F-150, 6 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.
During below freezing temperatures after heavy rain the drivers side front door would not latch when attempting to close it. After roughly 45 minutes with the vehicle running, and heat on the door closed properly. The next day it happened again. 1/18/18 and 1/19/18 were the dates of occurrences
The truck has a recall 17s33 involving doors not latching due to water. My truck has this issue and the dealer cannot obtain the parts. I've called Ford twice and just get referred to the dealer who can't help me.
The driver door would not latch. It took 4 hours of a heater in a garage and some force to get door to latch. The actual latch would work, but the nob in the car would not work. The outside handle also worked, but felt like it was not engaging. I did have to hold the door closed whole I drove home from the store
Door latch recall ' my F-150 falls outside the door latch recall dates Ford provided, however, my truck is experiencing the exact same defect. Anytime the weather falls below freezing my doors will open and cannot be closed as the mechanism inside the door will not engage. My truck cannot be used in freezing weather.
Driver and passenger front doors will not latch all the time. Has been to the dealership twice. First time they did a temporary fix. The 2nd time on december 29, 2017 it was looked at a 2nd time and a 'permanent fix' was applied to the door latches. After picking the truck up it is still not fixed.
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."
30 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 2017 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 546 complaints
- engine problems 382 complaints
- electrical problems 134 complaints
- brake problems 116 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre body and structure problems common on the 2017 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 110 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 30 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 2017 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 2017 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 23,000 miles; half of them between 10,000 and 50,000. 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.