Certain 2018 Model Year Expedition and Navigator Vehicles Equipped With R-1234yf Refrigerant - Special R-1234yf Refrigerant Service Information. Certain 2015-2018 Model Year F-150 and 2017-2018 Model Year F-250-F-550 - Vehicles - Door Latch Freezing Concerns
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford F-250 body problems
severe 47 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
47
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1fire
2injuries
What stands out
Of the 15 model years of Ford F-250 we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 47.
Owners have filed 47 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2015-2018 F-150, 2017-2018 F-Super Duty, 2018 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit binding while opening or closing of the movable glass panel. The roof opening panel glass brackets are available for service. Both brackets must be replaced, FL3Z-1651070-A right side and FL3Z-1651071-A left side. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-17 for removal and installation procedure. For claiming, use causal part 1651070 and applicable labor operations in section 12 of the service labor time standards (SLTS) manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 F-250's body components show two dominant failure patterns that owners characterize as safety hazards.
Door latches freeze solid below 25°F, preventing doors from closing or latching securely. Owners describe slamming doors repeatedly in the cold without success, then holding them shut while driving. The problem persists even after Ford's Field Service Action 18N03, which introduces redesigned latches and ethanol treatments. Multiple owners report the fix did not work and continue experiencing frozen latches months or years later. Door locks become unresponsive—both manual and electronic controls fail—and interior "door ajar" lights stay illuminated even after forced closure.
Power-assisted tailgates open unpredictably while driving, with no warning light or driver notification. Owners report tailgates dropping open during highway travel, turns, and even while parked. One owner's tailgate opened while towing, damaging propane tanks; another's opened on the freeway, causing luggage to fall into traffic. Ford issued recall 19V864000 and TSB 19S48B (wiring harness and jumper wire repair), but owners report the tailgate continues opening after repair completion—sometimes at least four times after the recall was performed.
Other structural issues include rear windshield frames detaching while driving, hoods popping up during crosswinds, panoramic sunroof glass fracturing, cabin pressure vent leaks causing mold under carpet, water seeping through door handles and body seams, and rear window glass exploding spontaneously. One owner's truck caught fire at the oil filter area hours after a dealership oil change.
Same Ford F-250 body reports on nearby years: 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Door Latches Freeze in Cold Weather
Door latches ice up in freezing temperatures, preventing doors from closing or latching securely. Owners report being unable to secure doors after opening them in cold conditions and having to hold doors shut while driving. Problem occurs below freezing (mid-20s F and lower). Interior lights may not shut off properly, and door locks become inoperative both manually and electronically.
When: Below 25°F, typically after overnight parking in cold weather; occurs from first occurrence at 19,700 miles through multiple model years
Symptoms owners cite: Doors will not latch closed despite multiple attempts; Doors swing open while driving; Interior door ajar lights and audible alerts remain on; Door locks do not respond manually or electronically; All four doors may be affected simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Ford FSA 18N03 issued for affected vehicles; owners report the fix is often unsuccessful. Ethanol or windshield washer treatments applied as temporary fixes. Redesigned latch/actuator assembly provided under FSA but many owners report continued freezing after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Field Service Action 18N03; letter sent to some owners alerting them of potential fix for vehicles that have experienced problem; repair limited to vehicles that had already failed
Tailgate Opens Unexpectedly While Driving
Power-assisted tailgate opens on its own while vehicle is in motion, without operator activation. Occurs at various speeds including highway speeds and during turns. No warning indicators or alerts notify driver. Tailgate may also open while parked or stationary. Owners report the tailgate can only be operated via key fob or manual push button when unlocked, yet it opens independently.
When: Occurs unpredictably; first reports at low mileage; continues after recall repair attempts; instances documented on highways, city streets, during turns, and while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate drops open during motion without operator input; Tailgate opens while turning, including slow-speed turns; Tailgate opens while parked in driveway; No warning light or indicator before opening; No indication tailgate is open once in motion; Key fob in driver's pocket did not trigger opening
Codes mentioned: 19V864000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages), 19S48B (Wiring harness modification)
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 19V864000 addressing tailgate latch issued; wiring harness replacement performed under TSB 19S48B with jumper wire addition; owners report continued random opening even after multiple dealer repairs and recall completion; tailgate hinges greased in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V864000 issued for latches/locks/linkages; TSB 19S48B provided for wiring harness and jumper wire repair; dealer responses vary from repair refusal to multiple repair attempts; manufacturer case numbers assigned but repairs unsuccessful
Rear Windshield Frame Detachment
Rear windshield frame separates and detaches from vehicle body while driving, allowing windshield to fall. Owner heard something fall and felt rush of wind into cabin. Dealer acknowledged failure is common but stated remedy is insufficient.
When: At approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Audible sound of something falling from vehicle; Rush of wind entering cabin; Rear windshield visibly detached from frame
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield was initially replaced; investigation revealed dome light was source of leak; dome light was replaced; rear windshield frame detachment deemed out of warranty and not repaired; dealer acknowledged remedy was insufficient
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but referred contact to dealer; no repair performed; vehicle declared out of warranty
Hood Pops Up During Crosswinds
Hood lifts up 1-2 inches (up to 3-4 inches in high winds) at the rear edge during crosswinds, especially when passed by semi-trucks on two-lane roads. Normal vibration distinct from the popping. Rear hinges allow hood rotation; front latch experiences excessive upward force. Issue present since new vehicle.
When: Occurs since new; ongoing/repetitive issue
Symptoms owners cite: Hood pops/jumps up 1-2 inches at rear edge during crosswinds; Hood lifts 3-4 inches in high crosswinds; Vibration/shaking of hood; Occurs when passed by semi-trucks or during strong crosswinds; Vacuum effect created by passing vehicles increases upward force
Repairs/costs cited: None documented; dealer consulted but no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford chat line suggested reporting to NHTSA; no remedy provided
Panoramic Sunroof Glass Fracture
Vista/panoramic sunroof glass fails and fractures across entire pane after roof became bound during operation. Owner reports popping noise and roof failure to open. Front glass rail/track system fractures, causing rear glass to fracture as well. Ford aware of issue but refuses repair claiming design is not defective.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise when attempting to open sunroof; Sunroof fails to open; Sunroof becomes bound to rear glass; Entire rear glass fractures; Rail/track system fracture
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; warranty expired; owner concerned glass could shed large shards into cab while driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford aware of common issue on F-series with panoramic roofs but refuses replacement/repair citing warranty expiration and claiming no design defect
Door Latch Mechanical Failure
Door latches fail to close or latch properly, requiring multiple attempts. Front passenger and driver doors affected. One case involved bent actuator cable preventing secure closure. Door ajar indicator illuminates after door is closed. Dealer diagnosed bent interior actuator cable in one instance.
When: Occurs at 31,000 to 36,010 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not close from outside or inside of vehicle; Multiple closure attempts required before latching; Door ajar indicator illuminates after door is supposedly closed; Interior actuator cable bent
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suspected fractured door locking mechanism; bent actuator cable noted in one case; vehicles not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted in one case but system was down; no follow-up documented
Cabin Pressure Vent Leak Causing Mold
Cabin pressure vent located between truck bed and cab develops plastic clip looseness, causing slow water leaks into vehicle interior. Water seeps beneath floor covering causing mold growth, including black mold. Issue ongoing since 2007 models per owner report. Out-of-warranty vehicles bear full replacement cost for carpet and remediation.
When: Slow leak develops over time; identified by owner after 3 years of ownership; issue documented as recurring since 2007 models
Symptoms owners cite: Floor soaked with water for no apparent reason; Black mold growth under carpet; Slow leak from cabin pressure vent; Plastic clips lose tightness over years
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced entire carpet out-of-pocket after warranty expired; truck unusable for several weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Water Leaks Through Multiple Body Seams
Water enters vehicle through dome light, door handles, instrument panel, and body cab seams. Cracking seals allow water to seep into doors and underneath floor covering, causing water damage and mold growth. Dealer attempted dome light replacement but acknowledged seam seal cracks are a manufacturing defect.
When: Identified during recall service and windshield replacement; occurs on new vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Water entering through dome light; Water leaking from door handles; Water entering through instrument panel; Cracking body cab seams allowing water ingress; Water and mold damage inside vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dome light replaced; dealer tried to charge customer for seal repair despite acknowledging it is manufacturing defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged failure is common but remedy used was insufficient; manufacturer referred customer to dealer
Rear Sliding Window Sudden Glass Failure
Rear sliding window glass explodes spontaneously while driving at highway speed (60 mph) with no impact or external cause. Glass shattered into cabin, landing on seats, clothes, and into back area. Extremely sudden with loud bang; glass scattered throughout interior.
When: During highway driving at 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang with no warning; Glass exploded into cab; Shattered glass scattered throughout interior; Glass landed on seats, clothing, and cargo area
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; glass removed by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Engine Fire After Oil Change
Vehicle caught fire on freeway immediately after oil change at Ford dealership. Fire started on lower right side of engine bay at oil filter location with flames shooting out and dropping down about one foot from front passenger tire. Vehicle soon fully engulfed. Incident occurred approximately 3.5 hours after dealership oil change.
When: Same day as dealership oil change; occurred at approximately 3:30 PM
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power with dashboard warning light; Smoke coming from under hood; Flames shooting from engine bay; Fire originating at oil filter location; Rapid spread to full vehicle engulfment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in fire; truck towed to D & K Towing in Sikeston, MO; Scott County Fire Department responded; thousands of dollars in personal property destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; incident involved Ford Groves dealership in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My vista sunroof on my 2017 F250 Super Duty Platinum made a popping noise and failed to open when I attempted to open it. It became bound to the rear glass which in turn commenced to fracture across the entire piece. Fortunately no one was injured as this glass could have dropped large shards into the cab. I an concerned that this could still present a problem when driving and is an imminent…
Had body trouble with your 2017 Ford F-250?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2017 Ford F-250?
It's a meaningful issue. 47 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 6,900 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,900; a quarter make it past 40,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Ford/F-250.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.