Ford F-350 SD Structure Problems
Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Ford F-350 SD across 26 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (45). The words owners use most often: “tailgate opened” (15% of reports).
- 168structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tailgate opened: mentioned in 26 of 168 complaints (15%)
- 5TH wheel: mentioned in 13 of 168 complaints (8%)
- Super duty: mentioned in 9 of 168 complaints (5%)
- Door latch: mentioned in 9 of 168 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 168 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford F-350 SD structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 F-350 SD | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2023 F-350 SD | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2022 F-350 SD | 8 | 7% | 37,500 |
| 2021 F-350 SD | 3 | 3% | 23,000 |
| 2020 F-350 SD | 12 | 6% | 2,510 |
| 2019 F-350 SD | 23 | 5% | 10,000 |
| 2018 F-350 SD | 24 | 12% | 21,262 |
| 2017 F-350 SD | 45 | 8% | 21,611 |
| 2016 F-350 SD | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2015 F-350 SD | 4 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2014 F-350 SD | 1 | 14% | 9 |
| 2013 F-350 SD | 1 | 11% | 21,320 |
| 2012 F-350 SD | 1 | 3% | 77,271 |
| 2011 F-350 SD | 1 | 2% | 68,500 |
| 2010 F-350 SD | 1 | 2% | 32,461 |
| 2009 F-350 SD | 2 | 11% | 3,756 |
| 2008 F-350 SD | 3 | 3% | 91,000 |
| 2007 F-350 SD | 1 | 4% | 2,000 |
| 2006 F-350 SD | 1 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2005 F-350 SD | 3 | 1% | 13,115 |
| 2004 F-350 SD | 6 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2003 F-350 SD | 3 | 2% | 27,671 |
| 2002 F-350 SD | 3 | 2% | 58,347 |
| 2001 F-350 SD | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2000 F-350 SD | 6 | 4% | 89,000 |
| 1999 F-350 SD | 5 | 4% | 99,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera; structure:body:tailgate
Model years: 2023, 2024
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. Water may enter the Tailgate Park Assist Sensor Interface Module (TPASIM) and cause the rearview camera image to display intermittently or appear blue or black.
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display can decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tailgate top camera, wire harness, TPASIM module, and update the Image Processing Module A (IPMA) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S66.
Structure:body:door
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Super Duty F250, F350, F450, and F550 vehicles. If the driver and front passenger door module experiences a low power condition and resets while the window is moving, the anti-pinch function may not detect an obstacle near the top edge and may not automatically reverse direction.
Risk: A window that does not automatically reverse when an obstruction is encountered increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S37.
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields; power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S09.
Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillars
Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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 apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S52.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Overhead clearance lights leaking water when it rains.
Box Separation from the box side to the box rear. box integrity compromised. Truck has always been used under the capacity ratings. I have 2 ford doing the same thing.
My truck had a recall for the door locks freezing, which my truck had an issue with. The dealer performed the recall and 1 of the doors continued to freeze. The door will not latch and it will open when driving down the road. I took it back to the dealer and they charged me to diagnose and confirm…
Our truck is currently experiencing issue with the driver side door. In cold temperatures, the door will not open from the outside of the vehicle nor the inside of the vehicle. This is a known Ford recall with the F150 series as well. TSB/SSM 50543: SSM 50543 is a Ford Special Service Message…
Ford Panoramic Sunroof P/N: ml3z-16500a18-c Spontaneously shattered while driving. No foreign object came in contact with the glass. No harsh or unique road conditions during event. No occupants of the vehicle came in contact with glass prior to shattering. The sunroof operation itself, or…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-350 SDs have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 168 owner complaints about structure for the Ford F-350 SD. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-350 SD structure?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Ford F-350 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “tailgate opened”, in 26 of 168 complaints, followed by “5th wheel” (13).
Other Ford F-350 SD problems
- Steering problems (1,091)
- Suspension problems (868)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (368)
- Electrical System problems (332)
- Power Train problems (288)
- Tires problems (247)
- Wheels problems (222)
- Engine problems (220)
See all Ford F-350 SD problems.