Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford F-350 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In my 2018 F350, I experienced my power tailgate opening on its own. It happened when the vehicle was unattended and while the vehicle was in motion. I brought it to the dealership for the recall repairs to be performed on March 2nd, 2022 at 115k miles. I received the truck back and in the time since the recall repair was performed, the tailgate has opened, on its own, while the vehicle was in motion 3 separate times. One time I was towing, which caused the tailgate to ride on the tongue jack controls, a second time was without a trailer attached, but I had lots of gear in the bed which, thankfully, did not fall out and create a traffic hazard. I am planning on having the dealer reassess the repairs when I next bring in the truck for an oil change, but I am concerned that this safety issue persists after the repairs were performed.
Tailgate opened while driving on interstate, this has happened two times in the last 2 months. I have already had the recall repairs done for this issue but it is still happening. The Ford dealer can not find a cause. There is no way to know when the tailgate has opened until something falls out of the back of the truck and other driver alerts you of the issue.
The tailgate continues to open randomly while driving or backing up the truck. The recall for this was completed but the issue continues to occur. Most recently this caused $525 worth of damage to my 5th wheel camper and $450 worth of damage to my tailgate. This is very dangerous and should be addressed by Ford immediately.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford f-350 SD. While hauling a trailer at highway speeds, the trailer detached without warning from the pins and aluminium connection. The failure damaged the rear of the vehicle and the trailer. The owner's manual had not indicated that the towing capacity exceeded the guidelines. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified. The insurance adjustor towed the vehicle to a repair facility to inspect the damages. The contact was waiting for a response from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not available. Consumer stated factory installed gooseneck hitch failed. Updated 11/29/18
While pulling from a fuel pump I began turning when I heard a loud noise. The tailgate had inadvertently opened and pierced through the front of a 5th wheel camper I was pulling. This caused significant damage to the camper as well as the to the top of the tailgate. This 1st incident happened ~ 3700 miles. I latched the tailgate and picked up another trailer (pintle hitch). I pulled into a parking lot to drop off the load and noticed that the tailgate had came down a second time. After dropping trailer off I began to drive home. Half way home to get fuel (un laden) I noticed the tailgate down again. The remote nor the dash button had been touched. The tailgate has since been removed as I can not risk further damage caused from my tailgate opening by itself. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford f-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18e021000 (structure). The contact responded by forwarding his information, per the manufacturer's instructions, to www.readingbody.com/warrantyinfo. The contact was informed that no repairs were necessary because there was no failure with the vehicle. A couple of months later, while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle was pulled over when the contact was flagged down by a motorist. The contact stated that the bumper bracket snapped and detached from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact should have contacted the dealer for the recall and not the distributor via their website. The contact was not called back and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 24,000.
We are experiencing numerous uncommanded tailgate drops while the vehicle is in motion or just running. We recently were towing our 5th wheel trailer and when we pulled into fuel up our tailgate dropped and damaged both the truck's tailgate (top molding) and put a hole in the front compartment door of the fifth wheel. (pictures provided). We have taken the truck into two Ford dealerships and they have not been able to duplicate or diagnose the problem and per Ford motor company, they have stopped trying to diagnose the problem. On another day, we experienced three different uncommanded tailgate drops while we were towing our boat. One time, my husband was backing the truck and I was standing alongside the truck and the tailgate dropped uncommanded.
Doors will not close, open, and or come open while driving usually on below freezing temperature days. This has happened while stationary and driving while making a turn drivers side door whipped open fortunately there was no oncoming traffic. Moisture in door latches freezing is the problem. Unfortunately there is no way toknow if the latch is fully engaged while in motion. Also circumstance can occur that leave you locked in vehicle with only escape thru a window. Ford has called this repair customer servive advisor 18n03. However this has been a ongoing problem with for vehicles for several years and Ford keeps putting out repairs that are often ineffective.
Tailgate still randomly opens after Ford issued recall to correct. Seems to occur primarily when truck is parked on hill with ebrake set. When releasing emergency brake on a hill, the release is quite violent in terms of the truck vibrating/shuddering. It appears the proximity of the remote open tailgate switch and the vibration with the ebrake handle release, May be activating the remote switch. Truck has already had the Ford issued tailgate opening recall applied which has not corrected the issue.
I ordered this vehicle, f350 king ranch, and took delivery February 2018. Since then the tailgate has intermittently opened on its own. The first time was February 27, 2018. The truck does have the power tailgate release option. This has happened both when the truck is stationary and in motion. In the 19 months I have had the truck the tailgate has opened approximately 15 times. Fortunately, I haven't lost anything out of the bed while driving, so far. I have no idea what the cause is.
Related recalls
Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022.
NHTSA investigations
Power Tailgate Release Systems
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.
Body complaints in other F-350 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2018 Ford F-350 SD?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the body & structure of the 2018 Ford F-350 SD, 12% of the model year's 203 complaints. The component named most often is body (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford F-350 SD body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-087 (underbody shields, Feb 16, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford F-350 SD body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 60% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.