The driver's side rear door locks freeze, and once the door is opened it will not stay closed/latched. I have a video of the door not latching shut, and bouncing back open when attempting to close it. This is the same issue as outlined in Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03; however, the dealer and Ford Corporate advised my VIN is not included on the recall for this issue. When the door lock…
2018 Ford F-250 body problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Ford F-250 have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 19,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 F-250 | 3 |
| 2015 F-250 | 3 |
| 2016 F-250 | 3 |
| 2017 F-250 | 47 |
| 2018 F-250 (this page) | 14 |
| 2019 F-250 | 14 |
| 2020 F-250 | 4 |
| 2021 F-250 | 8 |
| 2022 F-250 | 5 |
1fire
What stands out
Among the 15 model years of Ford F-250 in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three distinct body failures on the 2018 Ford F-250. The most common is frozen door locks and unlatched doors, especially in cold weather. Doors open but won't close or latch shut, sometimes bouncing back when pushed. One owner's door swung open while driving on the highway at 89°F, and another had it pop open while merging onto an interstate. Related to this, owners report that when the driver's-side rear door freezes, the automatic running board stays extended and interior lights remain on until the door is manually held closed. Some owners received recall notices (CSP 18N03 mentioned), but their VINs weren't included or the repair didn't stick.
Tailgate failures are also widespread. Owners report the liftgate unlocking or dropping itself while the truck is stationary, parked, or in motion—sometimes spilling cargo onto roadways or damaging the tailgate when it collides with trailers. One owner says it happened three times before a recall, then three more times after. Owners describe no warning lights when these occur.
Water intrusion is the third major issue: water leaking through cab louvers in the rear, soaking the back carpet, and water entering through the passenger A-pillar. One fire was reported with the engine off, though no clear cause is stated.
Dealers have been reluctant to help, and owners feel these are safety hazards.
Same Ford F-250 body reports on nearby years: 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Frozen/Inoperative Door Locks and Latch Failures
Driver's side rear door locks freeze in winter, preventing doors from closing or latching properly. Doors open but won't latch shut, bouncing back when closed. Also reported at 89°F. When frozen, related systems (running board, mirror lights) malfunction. One owner's door swung open while entering interstate highway.
When: Winter cold weather and at least one instance at 89°F; one owner at 20,000 miles reported issue recurring after dealer repair
Symptoms owners cite: Door will open but not close or latch shut; Door bounces back when attempting to close; Automatic running board fails to close when door lock is frozen; Mirror and interior lights remain on when door will not latch; Door swings open while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed Ford's recommended fix on one vehicle; issue recurred within days
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03 exists for this issue; however, some VINs not included on recall list despite identical symptoms. Recall notice sent to one owner; issue persisted after dealership repair on same day
Tailgate Unlatches/Opens Unexpectedly
Liftgate unlocks or drops itself while truck is stationary, parked, or in motion. No warning lights illuminate before occurrence. One owner reports cargo spillage onto roadway; another reports tailgate collision with towed trailer causing damage.
When: Stationary, parked, and while driving; one owner reports 20,000 miles; three occurrences before recall, three after
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate unlocks or drops without user intervention; No warning light illuminates; Cargo spills onto roadway; Tailgate struck by trailer during motion; Occurs while releasing parking brake; Occurs while putting truck in gear
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports damage to tailgate from trailer strike; dealership not covering replacement cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall completed in January for one owner; issue continued to occur after recall. Manufacturer offered no assistance in one case
Sunroof Bracket Failure (Plastic Brackets)
Plastic mounting brackets holding the sunroof glass deteriorated and broke, rendering sunroof inoperable and loose. Owner noted this is a known issue on YouTube and online forums. Brackets replaced at high cost; owner concerned they will break again due to heavy glass weight.
When: Unspecified; vehicle had extended cab with sunroof
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof cannot be opened or closed; Sunroof becomes loose; Both sides of plastic arm brackets broken
Codes mentioned: FL3Z 1651070 E :GUIDE
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of plastic guide brackets cost $945.47
Water Intrusion into Cabin
Water leaking into the truck cab from multiple sources: rear cab louvers and passenger-side A-pillar. Owners noticed musty smell and wet carpeting, particularly in back seat area. Dealer initially denied water leak before owner traced source.
When: At 12,000 miles for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Musty smell from unknown source; Back carpet wet; Water pouring in from rear louvers; Water entering through passenger A-pillar
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer had to remove truck bed and replace both rear louvers
Engine Compartment Fire
Fire started under interior cabin with engine off. Fire spread throughout vehicle and completely engulfed truck within minutes. No cause stated in complaint.
When: Unspecified; vehicle parked with engine off
Symptoms owners cite: Fire started under interior cabin; Fire spread throughout vehicle rapidly; Complete burn of vehicle
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Ford F-250?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 11,250 and 37,000 miles, with the median around 19,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,250; a quarter make it past 37,000. 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/2018/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.