2,102 of the 47,801 complaints filed about the Ford F-150 are about the body and structure — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
2,102
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
54
Crashes
34
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
See attached document for complaint
NHTSA complaint #11758506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (Structure, Suspension). The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH around a bend, the rear wheels spun out, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The front end and rear then struck the center median, and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway. The contact had not sustained any injuries. A Police report was not filed. The contact stated that there were unknown fluids leaking from the vehicle, possibly due to the crash. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The dealership sold this vehicle to me with a rusted frame
NHTSA complaint #11754518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle abruptly lost power, decelerated and stalled. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the driveshaft had sheared off inside the shaft and the vehicle was undrivable and informed the contact that the drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V986000 (POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 212,000.
NHTSA complaint #11752017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that rainwater was leaking from the headliner and caused water damage to the front seats and carpet, and there was mold inside the headliner of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, and the moon roof seals were replaced and the drainage tubes were installed, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was recently taken to a second dealer who diagnosed that the water was entering the vehicle from the rear of the ceiling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the mold aggravated a previous health condition. No medical treatment was required. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,487.
NHTSA complaint #11751481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
This vehicle has been a lemon ever since we purchased it new. To start the 3rd brake light would always leak during rain and ruined the headliner took it back to andy mohr ford were we purchased approx 25 times for this issue. Then we have had oil leaks about a year after purchase and it still leaks. Third the fender wells are rusting. And also all the lights on the dash are lit because the computer board failed. To date the truck only has 147k miles. This truck has been a lemon the whole time we have owned it and i am tired of sinking money in this junker. Ford needs to be held responsible for every vehicle off there assembly line.
NHTSA complaint #11749202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Got into the Truck on Thursday 7/2/26. When I shut my door I heard what sounded like something falling out of the bed of the truck. When I got out to investigate I realized the back glass of the truck had shattered and was laying in the bed of the truck. There was no indication of vandalism, the glass had pushed out from the inside, apparently related to the recent high heat in my area. i parked the truck on 6/30 and the morning of 7/2 was when i found the shattered rear glass.
NHTSA complaint #11748436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I purchased this truck from Don’s Ford, Rt12,Utica,NY in February 2025 didn’t even leave the dealership every light in the dash came on turned around they had my truck for 5 months while I made 6 months of payments, there has been numerous problems since, I took the extended warranty out and was still being charged, I had to change dealer ships because they refused to fix my truck, now there is a recall and there saying I purchased the truck in Canada which I have a bill of sale stating I purchased the vehicle in Utica,NY, the vehicle was in and accident and I was told it had a clear car fax the airbag and the horn don’t work, I have tried to work with Dons Ford and getting no where I shouldn’t have to drive my vehicle to Canada for recalls when I purchased it in NYS I still have numerous problems with this vehicle and getting no where I have all the service orders and need help
NHTSA complaint #11745457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
There is a manufacturing defect that is causing water to to enter the vehicle when driving in the rain. Where this becomes a significant safety issue is that the water enters somewhere near the bottom of the windshield (source still not determined) and runs down the pillar over the fuse box and BCM (neither is protected from the water). This could lead to an electrical short on any of the major modules of the vehicle unpredictably. the leak is confirmed but source is still to be determined by the dealership after 2 visits. In searching the web, this seems to be a fairly common issue on this generation of F150 trucks. I'll attach the pictures I could get but can never get one with the water actually coming in live
NHTSA complaint #11744763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11742957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
After a day of heavy rain, the vehicle stalled at a stop light and would not restart. The steering wheel and transmission locked, preventing the vehicle from being placed in neutral, creating a safety hazard as the vehicle was immobile in traffic. No warning lamps appeared prior to the failure. The vehicle required a tow. The dealer confirmed water had intruded through the passenger side cowl/firewall seam due to inadequate factory sealing, tracking down and pooling directly onto the Body Control Module (BCM) mounted on the passenger side firewall. The BCM failed due to water damage, causing PATS desynchronization and the no-start condition. The BCM failure subsequently shorted out the starter motor. Dealer replaced the BCM, repaired the leak, and replaced the starter. Total repair cost approximately $3,200. Failed components are available for inspection at the dealership. This identical failure; passenger side cowl water intrusion leading directly to BCM damage — is documented across numerous 2021+ F-150 owner forums, indicating a widespread factory sealing defect at the cowl/firewall/inner fender seam junction.
NHTSA complaint #11742278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The front driver door lock/latch actuator is failing. The driver door does not lock or unlock using the key fob or the interior power lock button. The only way to lock or unlock the door is manually with the key or by pushing/pulling the lock from inside the vehicle. This issue started shortly after we had a historic/unusual cold freeze in Florida. The vehicle is kept outside, so it was exposed to the freezing temperatures. This creates a safety and security concern because the driver door power lock system does not work properly and may prevent the door from locking or unlocking normally when needed. The issue has not yet been inspected by a dealer or independent repair shop. No warning lights or messages appeared before the failure. The component is still installed on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11737759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The passenger door lock/latch actuator is failing. The passenger door will not open from the outside at all. The door has to be opened from the inside. The power lock button and key fob do not unlock the passenger door. I can hear the lock/actuator trying to operate, but the door does not unlock or release from the outside handle. This issue started shortly after we had a historic/unusual cold freeze in Florida. The vehicle is kept outside, so it was exposed to the freezing temperatures. This creates a safety and security concern because the passenger door cannot be opened from the outside in an emergency, and the power lock system does not work properly. The issue has not yet been inspected by a dealer or independent repair shop. No warning lights or messages appeared before the failure. The component is still installed on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11737751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT STATEMENT Prepared for NHTSA Submission Regarding Recall 26V237 / 26S28 To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Report of Accident and Vehicle Control Loss Due to Defect Specified in Recall 26V237 VEHICLE INFORMATION: Year/Make/Model: 2016 Ford F-150 VIN: [XXX] INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: In March, while driving during a snowstorm, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of traction and stability. Without warning, the rear wheels appeared to lock or drastically reduce speed, causing the truck to slide uncontrollably and strike a roadside barrier. Following the initial impact, while attempting to move the vehicle to a safe location as instructed by insurance/authorities, the engine suddenly stalled and shut down completely while in motion, nearly resulting in a second high-speed collision with the vehicle ahead. CORRELATION WITH RECALL 26V237: In May, I received a Safety Recall Notice (Ford Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Recall 26V237). The description of the defect—an "unexpected downshift to a lower gear causing abrupt wheel speed reduction and rear tire slide"—exactly matches the catastrophic event I experienced in March. The recall also notes that the engine may malfunction or stall, which occurred during my incident. IMPACT & DAMAGES: The insurance company evaluated the damage at approximately $6,000 for structural repairs. However, the vehicle remains unsafe and mechanically compromised. Despite the structural fixes, the core safety defect involving the transmission and engine software remains unresolved as Ford has stated that a remedy will not be available until July 2026. REQUEST: I am filing this formal complaint to document that the defect in Recall 26V237 resulted in a real- world accident and total loss of vehicle utility prior to the notification being sent. I request that NHTSA takes note of this incident as part of its oversight of Ford's recall execution, as the vehicle is currently un-dri INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
NHTSA complaint #11736995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Tailgate opened while driving. Cargo flew out of truck onto roadway. Has happened multiple times.
NHTSA complaint #11730594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The driver-side rear tail lamp on my 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning developed a crack and internal condensation/moisture without a known impact event. The condition was confirmed by a Ford dealer, which recommended replacement of the LH tail lamp assembly. Ford denied warranty coverage and classified the lamp as non-warrantable cracked housing / outside-force damage. My concern is that cracking and moisture intrusion in a rear lamp assembly may affect lamp integrity, visibility, and safe operation, especially if similar failures are occurring in other recent F-150 Lightning vehicles. I had no crash, no fire, no injury, and no police report. The vehicle remained drivable, but the rear lamp assembly is available for inspection and the condition has been documented by the dealer and in photographs.
NHTSA complaint #11729676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact noticed an unusual grinding sound. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact noticed a lot of unusual clicking or rattling sounds. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed a fire underneath the vehicle. In addition, the drive shaft was detached. The contact stated that the fire burned out independently. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the drive shaft had scorching around it. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V986000 (Power Train, Structure), was performed on the contact's VIN about six months ago. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #11729380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint is peeling in several separate area's on the truck
NHTSA complaint #11727459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Astro white exterior paint is chipping on the roof of the vehicle in multiple locations. See pictures attached of sever chipping above windshield and wear the roof meets. Also chipping occurring above both rear doors on roof. This was not due to an accident or normal wear and tear.
NHTSA complaint #11726170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Previous recall for my vehicle seemed to have been reported as fixed with out an actual fix. My locks/handles are getting water in them and when the weather gets below freezing it causes them not to lock. I asked one of my local dealerships to fix while I was able to see active recall on my app and they were unable to because they said the issue had to be occurring when I brought it in. Since the issue goes away when the sun warms up the lock I was unable to do so. Now when I check my app and on the nhtsa website when I check my VIN no recalls show up.
NHTSA complaint #11724507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.