Ford F-150 body and structure problems, 2016–2026
530 of the 10,822 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford F-150 2016–2026 name the body and structure (NHTSA’s “Structure” heading — body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted). The loudest years: 2016 (201), 2018 (193), 2017 (110). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ford F-150 body and structure problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the body and structure | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 7% | — | 10 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2025 | 3 | 2% | — | 16 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 22 | 3% | 30k | 11 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 0 | — | 9k | 18 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 193 | 8% | 10k | 33 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 110 | 8% | 23k | 30 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 201 | 10% | 20k | 33 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the body and structure. Nothing here is a rate.
When the body and structure complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 17 · 2017: 52 · 2018: 78 · 2019: 120 · 2020: 67 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 36 · 2023: 32 · 2024: 40 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 18
Across the model years, half of the 359 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 6,000 and 38,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the body and structure, from the model years with the most to say. 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.
When we left the house, the first left turn, my front passenger door flew open. My door would not latch. After looking on the internet this seems to be a huge problem. This is a huge safety issue I can not believe there is not a recall for this. At my niece house in north carolina 12-09-2018
Cold morning and the power door locks would not unlock with the remote or the key in the drivers door, after climbing in the back door to open the front neither the rear door or the front door would latch when the door was closed. Extremely unsafe, could not drive the truck to work because the doors would not latch shut
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
What is on file about the body and structure, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 26V550000 HighAug 25, 2026 · 23 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Maverick, F-150, and Bronco Sport vehicles. Certain vehicle joints may be improperly tightened. This can lead to detached parts, unsecured cargo, degraded crash protection, electrical system failure, or a loss of vehicle stability.
- 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.
- 17V598000 HighSep 25, 2017 · 39 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Super Cab pick-up trucks not equipped with a moonroof. The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
- 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."
NHTSA investigation
- PE23001 Windshield trim molding Item detachmentopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Feb 8, 2024
- On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injur…
2 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 22, 2026
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a headliner rattle or sagging condition around the roof opening panel. This may be due to the adhesive separating f
- Aug 14, 2026
- Some 2021-2026 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a concern of the windshield wipers not parking in the correct position on the windshield and/or over-traveling. This may be due to incorrect alignment of the wiper pivot arm on the wiper linkage assembly. Wiper pivot arms may or may not be equipped with an alignment key. Alignment keys are a manufacturing aid and are not needed for proper alignment and ope
Every one filed under the heading is listed. 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 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems
- electrical problems
- exterior lighting problems
- fuel system problems
- engine problems
- visibility and wiper problems
- brake problems
- backup camera and parking sensor problems
Every system, every model year: Ford F-150 problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford F-150 years have the most body and structure complaints?
2016, 201; 2018, 193; 2017, 110. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (10%).
Is there a recall for the body and structure on the Ford F-150?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V550000 (2026), 18V568000 (2018), 17V598000 (2018), 17V331000 (2017). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do body and structure problems show up on the Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 15,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 38,000. 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.