2018 Ford F-150 Structure Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 193 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 193 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2018 Ford F-150, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 10,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “door latch” (30% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Door latch: mentioned in 58 of 193 complaints (30%)
  • Below freezing: mentioned in 27 of 193 complaints (14%)
  • Cold weather: mentioned in 16 of 193 complaints (8%)

At what mileage do structure problems happen?

Based on 114 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles53 · 46%
10k–25k miles35 · 31%
25k–50k miles23 · 20%
50k–75k miles2 · 2%
75k–100k miles0 · 0%
100k–150k miles1 · 1%
150k+ miles0 · 0%

How serious are the reports?

Of 193 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.

Ford F-150 structure complaints by model year

Peak: 1997, with 226 complaints
1995: 1819951996: 71997: 2262261998: 13819981999: 952000: 662001: 6520012002: 452003: 322004: 10420042005: 772006: 442007: 3120072008: 232009: 342010: 9220102011: 332012: 242013: 4820132014: 312015: 1472016: 19920162017: 1112018: 1932019: 3220192020: 222021: 362022: 1420222023: 222024: 32025: 320252026: 1

n = 2,016 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearStructure complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 F-15018%—
2025 F-15033%—
2024 F-15032%3,700
2023 F-150225%7,000
2022 F-150142%32,500
2021 F-150364%46,000
2020 F-150223%7,800
2019 F-150322%9,000
2018 F-1501938%10,000
2017 F-1501118%22,250
2016 F-15019910%20,000
2015 F-1501479%27,500
2014 F-150312%71,000
2013 F-150482%50,000
2012 F-150241%78,000
2011 F-150332%59,500
2010 F-1509211%52,000
2009 F-1503410%36,834
2008 F-150236%54,000
2007 F-150316%93,300
2006 F-150448%84,000
2005 F-150777%71,000
2004 F-1501045%72,500
2003 F-150328%74,640
2002 F-150455%85,000
2001 F-150655%119,000
2000 F-150666%67,500
1999 F-150959%85,245
1998 F-15013810%85,000
1997 F-1502268%130,000
1996 F-15072%181,000
1995 F-150183%77,775

When owners reported it

Peak: 2019, with 68 complaints
2018: 192018192019: 682019682020: 352020352021: 9202192022: 192022192023: 122023122024: 152024152025: 102025102026: 620266

n = 193 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (2)

Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillarsAug 31, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V568000 · 1,619,112 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsSep 25, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V598000 · 39 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Super Cab pick-up trucks not equipped with a moonroof. The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.

Risk: If the structural integrity is reduced, in the event of a rollover crash, there may be an increased risk of injury .

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install the rivets for the roof brace attachments, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S29.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

I am getting heavy water intrusion from the rear sliding glass window after any rain. It creates a very musty unpleasant odor in the cab. I am concerned that my young children, my wife, and myself are breathing mold spores and or other dangerous airborne particles from this problem.

Received Sep 11, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11763544

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the lock mechanism to drop the spare tire was rusted and failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the failure failed to allow for the spare tire from being lowered. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was…

Received Aug 26, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11759756

Tried to open door to put my 2 year old in her car seat and it wouldn't open, assume this was due to the extreme cold. So I took our other vehicle, few days later when it warmed up I again went to leave with my daughter and this time the door opened but will no longer latch shut. Tried toggling…

Received Feb 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11719599
Ford F-150
Ford F-150 (fourteenth generation) at Rutesheimer Autoschau 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2018 Ford F-150s have structure problems?

No. NHTSA has 193 owner complaints about structure for the 2018 Ford F-150 (8% of the 2,318 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford F-150 structure?

Yes: 2 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do structure problems start?

The median reported mileage is 10,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about structure problems on the 2018 Ford F-150?

The most frequent phrase is “door latch”, in 58 of 193 complaints, followed by “below freezing” (27).

Other 2018 Ford F-150 problems

See all 2018 Ford F-150 problems or structure problems across all F-150 years.