2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Doors, latches or locks fail
- 164owner reports
- 13,800median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
237 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the structure. 164 of those describe door latch.
Tick what matches of 164 reports
Door latch on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Door complaints sound minor until you read them. The most common is a "door ajar" warning with every door shut. Others describe a door that won't open from inside, one that won't latch at all, locks that cycle on their own, and occasionally a door that opened while the car was moving.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (152 reports), the handle (11 reports) and the actuator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the structure cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
The structural roof braces may be missing rivets at the attachment of the roof rail, thereby reducing the structural integrity.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the F-150
Windshield trim molding item detachment. Closed feb 8, 2024, led to recall 24V-031.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,200 and 41,000 miles, from the 97 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
On your vehicle, moisture and water entering a power door lock actuator housing could cause the actuator motor to momentarily freeze in cold temperatures and may also cause actuator motor corrosion over time.
In some of the affected vehicles, moisture and water entering a power door lock actuator housing can cause the actuator motor to momentarily freeze in cold temperatures and may also cause actuator motor corrosion over time.
Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03 - Supplement #7 Certain 2015-2018 Model Year F-150 and 2017-2018 Model Year F-250-F-550 Vehicles - Door Latch Freezing Concerns
Certain 2015-2018 Model Year F-150 and 2017-2018 Model Year F-250-F-550 Vehicles - Door Latch Freezing Concerns
2 more on the 2018 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“Frozen door latch,unable to close or lock,must hold door closed with one hand while steering with the other hand,extremly unsafe!!!”
Filed Dec 26, 2022
“After loading groceries into the rear seats, I shut the passenger door and thought it was latched. I started to drive off and the door came open. I spent 20 mins trying to get it to latch and although I could move the door latch mechanism with my fingers, the door would not latch and remain shut. I ended up tying the door shut in order to drive home 7 miles.”
Filed Dec 23, 2022
“The truck was sitting in the driveway and out of nowhere the alarm went off. Go out to inspect and the vehicle is showing that the driver and left back door are not closed. The driver side door will not latch it opened up out of nowhere and will not latch. Apparently this issue is know with Ford trucks when it gets too cold. This is a safety issue because the door will just open while driving.”
Filed Dec 22, 2022
“Drivers door fails to latch, appears to be similar to Freezing issue on NHTSA Recall ID: 17V652000.”
Filed Dec 16, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 164 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 519 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 251 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 227 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 195 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 180 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 119 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 114 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 91 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 91 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 89 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 65 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 54 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 48 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 42 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 40 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 38 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 32 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 30 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 29 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 29 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 26 reports