Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Ford F-150 body problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 26 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 2018-2025 F-150 and 2018-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a tailgate step may exhibit a step assembly that binds/will not open or opens/pops up while driving. This could be due to an incorrect adjustment of the tailgate step assembly. Before replacing any components for this concern, follow the revised Tailgate Step Adjustment procedure in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-04.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2023 F-150, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles may exhibit dust ingress into the cabin through the doors or air extractors. This may be due to the climate control system being in recirculation mode as a result of the recirculation button being on or automatic strategies for heating/cooling efficiency. To minimize dust ingress when driving in off-road or secondary road conditions, make sure that all doors and windows are fully closed and the climate control system is switched to defrost on and the instrument panel and footwell air vents are switched to off. Temperature and fan settings may be adjusted as desired. Alternatively, max defrost can be activated which w
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2022 F-150 and 2017-2022 F-Super Duty vehicles may experience issues with the tailgate center step moulding. If there is an issue with the center molding (warped, damaged condition, loose, or if the molding is missing), the trim cover is now available separately. It is no longer necessary to replace the entire rear step assembly (402A48).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report pervasive paint quality issues, starting with rail dust (metal particles) embedding in the clearcoat within 2 years. Ford has issued technical service bulletins but refuses recall, citing the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. Water infiltration is widespread: defective door seals and roof manufacturing defects flood cabin interiors, causing mold and component failures; A/C evaporator and condensation line leaks precede mold growth; rear window glass cracks at the body connection, letting rain in.
Door hardware fails repeatedly. Latches pop open while driving, especially in cold weather below 20°F when doors freeze shut and won't latch. One owner reported all four doors creaking from loose hinges by 9,460 miles. Tailgates open unexpectedly during motion, sometimes without driver input, and handles corrode and stick.
Safety gaps include an unfastened crash bar in the front passenger door (discovered at 6,800 miles, paint intact from factory), loose A-pillar cracks, and a driver door handle design allowing easy break-ins. One truck caught fire from a dash component while parked. Cold-weather operation exposes systemic problems: doors freeze shut, locks inoperable, and security compromised. Multiple owners report buying used and inheriting these faults immediately.
Same Ford F-150 body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Rail dust and brake dust embedded in paint
Metal particles (rail dust or brake dust) adhering to clearcoat paint on aluminum body panels, appearing as rust flakes. Owners report this starting within 2 years of ownership. Ford has issued TSBs but refuses to recall, citing 3-year/36,000-mile warranty limits.
When: Within 2 years; one owner reported at approximately 2 years/36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rust-colored flakes visible on paint surface; Tailgate affected worst; Rear bed inner panels affected; Occurs on Ingot Silver and other colors
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report paint touch-up or repainting needed; dealer denies coverage beyond warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSBs issued; Ford denies recall; warranty covers only 3 years/36,000 miles
Rear window glass cracks and water leaks
Cracks in rear window glass where glass connects to body, causing rainwater infiltration into cabin and damage to electronic components. Ford part 1542006 mentioned. One owner's modem failed due to water damage.
When: Within a few months of ownership (owner discovered at unspecified mileage); reported at 4,000 miles in another case
Symptoms owners cite: 1-inch cracks where glass meets body frame; Water leaks into cabin during rain; Electronic component failure (modem)
Repairs/costs cited: Full rear window replacement required; owner paid out-of-pocket; extended warranty does not cover glass
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford extended warranty excludes glass; no recall issued
Doors popping open while driving
Door latches fail to hold doors closed during normal driving. Doors pop open spontaneously or will not latch at all. Owners attribute this to poor latch mechanism design and cheap plastic strike hardware inside the door latch.
When: Reported early in ownership (truck purchased 12/07/18, purchased used in October 2022 with pre-existing issue)
Symptoms owners cite: Doors pop open while vehicle in motion; Doors refuse to latch; Doors appear closed but pop open when pushed; Occurs repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Owners learned to manually test doors before driving; one purchased replacement latch mechanism
Roof manufacturing defect causing water ingress
Water leaks into passenger side of vehicle during inclement weather due to manufacturing defect in roof. Windshield and side mirror fog over due to moisture.
When: 4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water enters passenger side of vehicle during rain; Windshield fogs over; Side mirror fogs over; Visibility hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified manufacturing failure but did not repair
Door seal leakage and interior mold
Water infiltration through defective door seals causes damp carpet, mold growth under carpet and dashboard. One owner also reports vinegar smell from HVAC vents associated with moisture issue. A/C system leak also reported as contributing cause in one case.
When: Approximately 1 year old at 13,500 miles; reported at 59,902 miles in another case
Symptoms owners cite: Wet front passenger floor mat and carpet; Significant mold under carpet and dashboard; Vinegar smell from HVAC vents on startup; Dampness persists after dealer repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Carpet replacement required; multiple dealer visits needed; one dealer reassembled intake incorrectly upon return
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 19-2345 referenced; manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA hotline
Evaporator core failure and interior mold
A/C evaporator fails, causing water to leak under passenger dash and carpet before first year of ownership. Significant mold growth results. Ford allegedly knew of the issue but continued sales.
When: Before 1 year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks under passenger dash; Water leaks under carpet; Significant mold growth in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Evaporator replacement required; owner reports at least 3 vehicles at local dealership had same issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued at time of complaint
Tailgate handle corrosion and stuck latch
Tailgate handle mechanism fails, with handle sticking in open/unlatched position. Internal torsion spring and hinge pins corroded and rusted. If closed in open position, tailgate can fall open while vehicle moving.
When: Pre-existing at purchase on used 2019 truck
Symptoms owners cite: Handle sticks in open/unlatched position; If closed with handle open, tailgate falls down; Torsion spring and hinge pins rusted; Handle corrosion
Repairs/costs cited: New tailgate handle purchased and installed; old handle available with visible corrosion
Tailgate opens unexpectedly while driving
Power tailgate opens spontaneously during vehicle operation. One owner reports tailgate opens when driver door is closed or doors locked with key fob, not from tailgate handle switch. Another owner reports tailgate fell open while parked and moving in lot, causing damage to trailer. Falling tailgate presents injury risk.
When: Occurs while vehicle in motion or parked; reported at 8,800 miles for security alarm issue
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate opens on its own while driving; Opens when driver door is closed; Opens when vehicle locked via key fob; Tailgate falls open; Security alarm triggered
Repairs/costs cited: One owner used wrench strap or bungee cord to hold tailgate closed
Front passenger door crash bar not fastened
Structural crash bar inside front passenger door was not fastened at factory. Paint on stud threads remained intact, proving it was never tightened from production. Owner repaired himself; structural integrity in side impact unknown.
When: Present at factory; discovered at 6,800 miles on used vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattle from front passenger door area; Crash bar loose inside door; Paint intact on unfastened stud threads indicating factory defect
Repairs/costs cited: Owner self-repaired by fastening crash bar; requires paint-cutting acorn nut
Door hinge creaking and loosening
Door hinges creak and crack when opening and closing, suggesting loose mounting. Noise present on driver side door; one owner reports all four doors developed creaking from hinges and door check rods.
When: Driver side at 6,000 miles, 3 months into ownership; progressed to all 4 doors by 9,460 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Creaking noise from hinges; Cracking noise from hinges; Noise from door check rods; Suggests loose mounting
Door lock freeze-up in cold weather
All four door locks freeze and become inoperable below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Doors will not latch in cold. Owners resort to bungee cords or wrench straps to hold doors closed. Vehicle cannot be locked for security until warmed. Doors can swing open while driving in cold, creating ejection risk.
When: Occurs when ambient temperature below 20°F; reported overnight low temperatures in low teens
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks freeze up in cold weather; Doors will not latch; Doors swing open while driving; Vehicle cannot be locked for security
Repairs/costs cited: Owners use external straps (bungee cord, wrench strap) to hold doors closed; vehicle must be heated to thaw mechanism
Door latch failure in cold weather
Doors and sometimes tailgate freeze shut in very cold weather, preventing opening. Reported during overnight temperatures in low teens.
When: Overnight temperatures in low teens
Symptoms owners cite: Doors freeze shut; Tailgate freezes shut; Cannot open doors in cold weather
Rear window spontaneous failure
Rear window glass spontaneously exploded with no impact. Owner remote-started truck in cold weather with rear defrost enabled. Upon opening driver door, rear window shattered completely. Power slider window remained intact.
When: Cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window exploded without impact; Shattered glass everywhere except power slider; Triggered by thermal stress from rear defrost in cold
Repairs/costs cited: Complete rear window replacement needed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford refuses to acknowledge issue despite reports of similar failures in F-150 online forums
Touch-sensitive door control intermittent operation
Side passenger door touch-sensitive lock/unlock control operates erratically and intermittently. Creates hazard when parked on street and vehicle remains locked without warning. Owner must retreat and use key fob to unlock remotely. Locking function also affected but less hazardous.
When: Intermittent, timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Touch control operates intermittently; Door remains locked unexpectedly; No warning before malfunction; Locking function also erratic
Driver door handle security vulnerability
Driver door handle design creates security risk. Door lock tumbler can be easily broken by criminals and door opened through vertical rod mechanism without triggering security system.
When: Design defect present from production
Symptoms owners cite: Easy vehicle break-ins; Lock tumbler easily damaged; Door openable without security alarm; Criminal vulnerability
A-pillar structural crack
Substantial body crack observed in top section of driver-side A-pillar near front windshield. Discovered during routine vehicle drying after washing, vehicle stationary.
When: Discovered after washing at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Visible crack in A-pillar near windshield; Top section of pillar affected
Driver door latch failure
Driver side door does not latch periodically, preventing door from remaining closed. Intermittent failure.
When: Intermittent, timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Door does not latch; Door will not stay closed; Intermittent failure
EGR assembly missing fasteners
EGR cooler bypass control assembly missing mounting screws, triggering check engine light at 4,360 miles. Same part number that had recall on 2018 F-150 diesels; was not supposed to be installed after October 20, 2018, yet truck built February 4, 2019 received it.
When: 4,360 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; See dealer immediately indicator illuminated
Codes mentioned: P245B - EGR Cooler Bypass Control Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1)
Repairs/costs cited: EGR assembly replaced at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer investigated and issued case number; no recall or follow-up provided
Dashboard fire
Vehicle caught fire from component inside dashboard, possibly behind touch screen. Fire started while vehicle parked and unattended. Vehicle totaled.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Fire originating from dash area; Possible component failure behind touch screen; Rapid fire spread
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The drivers door handle was built in such a manner it leads to easy vehicle break ins. Criminals have determined it is very easy to beak door lock tumbler and open the door thru the vertical rod. This all occurs without setting off the security system of the vehicle.
Had body trouble with your 2019 Ford F-150?
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 2019 Ford F-150?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 4,000 and 13,000 miles, with the median around 8,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,000; a quarter make it past 13,000. 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/2019/Ford/F-150.
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.