It had a tailgate recall, when recall first came out, they wouldn't look at it. It hadn't caused any damage, or wasn't bad enough. Then they didn't have the parts. Now when they have the parts, they will not fix it because it has to many miles on it. Well DUH! It is a work truck. Causing major insurance claims. and I can't get it fixed?
2019 Ford F-350 body problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Ford F-350 in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Ford F-350s report the tailgate opening unintentionally and without warning, sometimes multiple times within the first few months of ownership. The issue happens randomly while parked, during slow-speed driving, turning, or transitioning between gears—operators often don't notice until they visually check the rear or see a backup camera alert. No dashboard warning lights activate when this occurs.
Multiple owners had incidents while towing trailers at low speeds, resulting in damage to both the tailgate and the trailer itself. Tonneau covers prevent the rear camera from detecting the open tailgate, leaving drivers unaware. Ford issued recall 19S48 (NHTSA 18E021000) to address tailgate opening, but several owners report the failure happened again after the recall repair was completed. Dealers have denied repairs citing vehicle mileage or claiming the vehicle "operated outside design boundaries." One owner's tailgate was rewired but the malfunction continued immediately.
Two owners reported driver door latches freezing solid in cold, dry conditions around 22 degrees Fahrenheit, with the latch refusing to engage until the truck warmed up—this occurred even after a prior Ford recall service. One complaint also described cabin air-conditioning leaking water into the cab below the passenger dashboard, causing mold and water damage.
Same Ford F-350 body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Tailgate opens unintentionally while driving or parked
Tailgate unlatches and opens without driver input or warning, occurring randomly during normal operation, while parked, or during low-speed maneuvers. No warning lights or alerts. Occurs with or without tonneau covers and affects visibility. Happened at least a dozen times across owners within first 800 miles to 6 months of ownership.
When: First 800 miles to 6 months of ownership; some reported incidents at 5,000, 8,800, and 44,473 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate opens without warning; No dashboard warning lights when tailgate opens; No alert system in cab; Tonneau covers obstruct rear camera detection; Most frequent during low-speed driving or parking transitions; Operator unaware until visually inspecting or noticing via rear camera backup alert
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #8 reported tailgate was rewired at dealer but failure reoccurred consistently. Recall repair (Ford #19S48, NHTSA 18E021000) performed on some vehicles but failure continued post-repair. Owner #5 noted recall parts were unavailable for extended period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford recall 19S48 (NHTSA 18E021000) issued and performed on some vehicles, but failures continued post-repair. Dealer denials citing mileage limits or design operation boundaries. Manufacturer declined open case submissions. Some dealers refused repair citing mileage on work trucks.
Driver door latch freezes in cold conditions
Door latch becomes unresponsive in cold, dry weather despite vehicle being dry. Latch engages only after truck warms up and thaws, creating extended inability to close driver door.
When: Cold weather, approximately 22 degrees Fahrenheit
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not latch or engage; Issue resolves when vehicle warms up; Occurs in dry, cold conditions despite no apparent moisture
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #7 had door latch serviced per Ford recall 18N03 (2017–18 models) on 1/19/18, but latch failed to engage again immediately after repair in the same cold conditions.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford recall 18N03 applied to 2017–18 models for frozen door latch issue, but remedy did not resolve the problem.
Cabin air conditioning unit leaks water into cab
Water leaks from interior A/C unit into cabin area below passenger dash, causing mold growth and water damage to carpet and flooring on passenger front side.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Water drips below passenger dashboard; Mold growth on carpet and flooring; Water damage to multiple interior areas on passenger side
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Previous complaint #11160684. I took my new f-350 to framingham Ford for a "frozen" door latch on 1/17/18. They followed Ford recall 18n03 for 2017-18 models. I picked it up on 1/19/18 and the door would not latch again! It had been dry for three days. I don't think it is necessarily a frozen water issue. It might be something to due with cold. It was dry and cold, around 22 degrees both days the…
Had body trouble with your 2019 Ford F-350?
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-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 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 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 8,800 and 44,473 miles, with the median around 18,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,800; a quarter make it past 44,473. 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-350.
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.