2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty body and structure problems
66 of the 1,155 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty 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, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations. 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 database0 of the 66 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 16 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 1
Half of the 53 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 8,000 and 40,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,155 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 1 filed in 2025. 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-250 Super Duty 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.
Power tailgate is coming open while driving. Tailgate was damaged due to it coming open while towing a trailer. Tailgate has opened on two occasions and requiring replacement both times. Both times the tailgate has come open it has been while there was a trailer connected.
Tailgate has been opening on its own while driving. The last time this happened I was driving with a trailer attached and the tailgate dropped while driving and the tailgate and trailer were damaged. Not sure what caused the tailgate to open on its own. Key fob was on the dash when this happened so couldn't of been pushed on accident.
Twice now i've had the tailgate of my truck (lariat) has opened on its own. I'm unable to reproduce the fault so I haven't taken it in yet, but both openings were unexpected
My 2017 Ford Sd F-250 tailgate has opened by itself on several occasions. Several times last year both stationary and in motion. It has happened twice this year while stationary. I've never seen it happen in real time only after it has happened.
I recently parked my tt at our new RV campground. While backing it up the gate opened randomly in the middle of a turn and dented the top of my tailgate. Extremely upset I new it was going to be a hard case to submit to warranty for them to believe that it wasn't user error.
What is on file about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 19V880000 CriticalDec 11, 2019 · 490,574 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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.
NHTSA investigations
- RQ21001 Power Tailgate Release Systemsopened Jan 15, 2021 · closed Jan 10, 2024
- In January 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ21-001) to assess allegations of post-recall remedy uncommanded tailgate openings in model year (MY) 2017-2019 F-250/350/450 Ford trucks. Besides the recall remedy launched in January 2020, Ford also implemented a production update in November 2019. At the time of the RQ opening, ODI had received eleven (11) Vehic…
- PE18011 Power tailgate opens unintendedopened Oct 12, 2018 · closed Dec 12, 2019
- By letter dated December 4, 2019, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in model years (MY) 2017 through 2019 Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 vehicles equipped with an electric tailgate. Following the receipt of five consumer complaints alleging unintended tailgate opening without vehicle operator knowledge, while the veh…
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-250 Super Duty
Source: the same files- steering problems 717 complaints
- fuel system problems 56 complaints
- electrical problems 55 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre body and structure problems common on the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 66 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 30 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations 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-250 Super Duty?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 19V880000. 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-250 Super Duty?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 8,000 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.