2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close
- 48owner reports
- 28,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jul 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
236 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the structure. 48 of those describe tailgate or liftgate failure.
Tick what matches of 48 reports
Tailgate or liftgate failure on other F-150 years
No other F-150 model year has enough reports of tailgate or liftgate failure for a sheet of its own. See every F-150 year.
What this problem usually is
Two different problems share this sheet. Pickup owners report tailgates that drop open on their own, sometimes at speed with cargo in the bed. SUV and minivan owners report liftgates that won't latch, won't stay up, or come down on someone.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (18 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 15,000 and 50,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 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.
Some 2018-2025 F-150 and 2018-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a tailgate step may exhibit a step assembly that binds/will not open or opens/pops up while driving. This could be due to an incorrect adjustment of the tailgate step assembly.
Some 2015-2022 F-150 and 2017-2022 F-Super Duty vehicles may experience issues with the tailgate center step moulding. If there is an issue with the center molding (warped, damaged condition, loose, or if the molding is missing), the trim cover is now ...
In the affected vehicles, some customers report experiencing an unintended tailgate opening and may have previously serviced their vehicle for this concern.
Certain 2015-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped with a Power Release Tailgate - Unintended Tailgate Opening - In the affected vehicles, some customers report experiencing an unintended tailgate opening and may have previously serviced their vehicle for ...
What owners wrote
“tailgate latch does not work all the time . sometimes just drops open when driving.”
Filed Dec 20, 2024
“Tailgate keeps falling down while traveling down the road. This has happened several times. This time after it hit the trailer after backing it up at the end of the trip.”
Filed Jun 14, 2024
“The tailgate on my truck has opened while driving down the road. This has happened several times since I have owned the truck. There are several recalls for 2018 F 150 tailgate issues. I have taken it to the Ford dealer, but was told there is no recall on trucks in my VIN range.”
Filed Apr 16, 2024
“Tailgate actuator sometimes does not open completely. Pressin the button engages the operation, I can hear it trying to unlatch, but the tailgate does not completely release. If the tailgate is not in use for awhile, opens as intended for few times.”
Filed Jan 18, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 48 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
- Doors, latches or locks fail 164 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
- 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