2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty · symptom sheet
Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close
- 39owner reports
- 25,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jan 10, 2024 · checked Oct 2, 2026
55 of the 573 complaints on this car are about the structure. 39 of those describe tailgate or liftgate failure.
Tick what matches of 39 reports
Tailgate or liftgate failure on other F-350 Super Duty years
No other F-350 Super Duty model year has enough reports of tailgate or liftgate failure for a sheet of its own. See every F-350 Super Duty 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 (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the structure cover the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches.
The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.
All 14 recalls on the 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the F-350 Super Duty
Power tailgate release systems. Closed jan 10, 2024.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 62,212 miles, from the 36 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty 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 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 ...
Certain 2017-2022 Model Year Super Duty 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 ...
In the affected vehicles, some customers report experiencing an unintended tailgate opening and may have previously serviced their vehicle for this concern.
What owners wrote
“Many times the tailgate has opened by itself. I ensured I didnât bump the button and found after my drive that it had opened”
Filed Feb 3, 2022
“Tailgate continues to open on its own primarily while driving on unmaintained dirt roads. Recently this happened while out hunting and had some cargo fall out of my truck. Fortunately, another hunter saw what happened, grabbed our gear and caught up to us to return it.”
Filed Nov 21, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 39 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
- Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble" 275 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 219 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 67 reports