What 198 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-350 Crew

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.

NHTSA ODI 11486067

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.

NHTSA ODI 11440698

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.

NHTSA ODI 11439147

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.

NHTSA ODI 11415389

UNCOMMANDED TAILGATE OPENING. TAILGATE FELL DOWN GOING ABOUT 30MPH IN DOWNTOWN PORT TOWNSEND, WA. ..PORTABLE GENERATOR AND CABLE FELL IN FRONT OF SEVERAL CARS..TEMPORARILY SHUTTING DOWN BOTH LANES. THE NEXT DAY THE TAILGATE WOULD NOT RESPOND UNTIL THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RESET. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11390563

I HAD THE TAILGATE RECALL COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, I WAS STILL EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE TAILGATE FALLING WHILE DRIVING. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO FORD AGAIN TO REPORT THE ISSUE. THE FORD DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE FOR 2-3 DAYS AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME AGAIN STATING IT HAD BEEN FIXED. THE RECALL DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE TAILGATE OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY, CITY STREET OR WHILE TURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11389009

UNCOMMANDED TAIL GATE OPENING..CONTINUES TO OPEN EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS COMPLETED.. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TAILGATE WOULD OPEN PERSONAL BELONGINGS WOULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. AFTER HAVING THE TAILGATE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11348594

TAILGATE CAME OPEN ON ITS OWN YET AGAIN..TOWING A 5TH WHEEL..WAS ABLE TO SEE IT OPEN IN A SHARP TURN AND STOP..CAUSING A TRAFFIC JAM ON HIGHWAY 12. SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT EACH OTHER...THIS IS AFTER RECALL WAS COMPLETED .*DT*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330697

TAILGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN...TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAILER...THIS IS SECOND TIME SINCE TAILGATE RECALL WAS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330252

LOSE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL ON HIGHWAY ..DUE TO UNCOMANDED TAILGATE OPENING.. TAILGATE COMES OPEN ON ITS OWN...THIS IS AFTER RECALL WAS COMPLETED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328034

TAILGATE OPENS ON ITS OWN...NO INDICATION THAT IT IS OPEN...CAN NOT SEE IN THE MIRROR.

NHTSA ODI 11287650

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.

NHTSA ODI 11279540

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKIING A TURN, THE TAIL GATE DROPPED AND STRUCK A HORSE TRAILER. THE TAI LGATE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,200.

NHTSA ODI 11265959

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.

NHTSA ODI 11258295

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.

NHTSA ODI 11235009

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I26 INTO ASHEVILLE AND THE TAILGATE OPENED WE HEARD A NOISE WENT TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE POISE WAS WORSE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY GOT OUR TAILGATE HAD COME OPEN AND WAS SHREDDED BY THE HORSE TRAILER. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHILE PULLING THE TRAILER BUT IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIME PREVIOUSLY BUT I ASSUMED I HIT THE BUTTON ON THE KEY. DIDN'T THINK MUCH MORE BUT NOW SEEING THIS IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. SCARY

NHTSA ODI 11228293

THE TAILGATE WILL COME DOWN WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD OR AFTER HITTING A BUMP. VERY UNSAFE WHILE HAULING OR TOWING. THERE IS NO INDICATOR IN THE CAB TO TELL YOU THE TAILGATE HAS DROPPED. HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE AT LEAST 4 TIMES. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD.

NHTSA ODI 11205304

ELECTRIC TAILGATE HAS RELEASED AND DROPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AT LOW SPEED. TWICE WHILE PULLING FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER AND ONCE NOT TOWING ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11184310

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.

NHTSA ODI 11171673

TAILGATE OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11160639

TAILGATE WILL OPEN RANDOMLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP ON THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NO PROBLEM. RESULTED IN LOOSING MY PAYLOAD ON THE INTERSTATE, VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11155215

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. I INFORMED MY DEALERSHIP (RYAN FORD OF SEALY,TX.) MULTIPLE TIMES OF THE INCIDENT HOWEVER WAS REPLIED WITH ONLY THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE TSB ISSUES FOR MY VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11141476

THE REMOTE TAILGATE DEPLOYED (OPENED) AT 60MPH ON I-40 EAST OF NASHVILLE, TN. WHILE TOWING OUR FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WE HEARD A LOAD BOOM, AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNTIL WE STOPPED AND THE TAILGATE WAS DOWN. THERE WERE NO EXTERNAL INPUTS CAUSING DEPLOYMENT OF THE TAILGATE

NHTSA ODI 11141510

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. *TT CONSUMER STATED FACTORY INSTALLED GOOSENECK HITCH FAILED. UPDATED 11/29/18*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11123097