2017 Ford F-450 Body & structure Problems

Tailgate opens in transit and allows contents of bed to fall out of vehicle causing issues for drivers behind truck

NHTSA ID

11495099

Incident

Nov 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V087000 (Structure, Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11480070

Incident

Feb 16, 2022

Tailgate opens unexpectedly while vehicle is in motion. This has happened repeatedly over the past 12 months. After confirming that the tailgate was not inadvertently left open or opened while the vehicle was moving, we realized that the problem was internal. We could not find a cause of the problem with the tailgate opening. It caused damage to the tailgate and the towed fifth wheel. Cargo items stored in the truck bed (under the tonneau cover) have fallen out onto the road when the tailgate opens unexpectedly. This could have caused a major accident or death. I believe this truck has an electric tailgate latch release switch in the tailgate handle and I'm not sure whether this is a possible cause. We took the truck to the Ford dealer who advised that the tailgate was not covered by any recall or warranty other than the extended warranty we purchased, for which we had to pay a deductible. The Ford dealer is also denying any responsibility for damage to the tailgate itself, damage to the fifth wheel, or damage from and loss of loose cargo falling out. We paid for the fix to the defective tailgate mechanism but feel strongly that this should be recalled due to the high risk of death or injury when the tailgate opens unexpectedly. Below date is only the most recent occurrence; as stated above, this has occurred multiple times including approximately June 12, 2021, April 20, 2021, September 24, 2020, September 30, 2020, August 9, 2020, and November 24, 2019.

NHTSA ID

11444986

Incident

Jun 16, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD CRUNCHING SOUND AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE TAILGATE HAD FALLEN ONTO THE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHAWNEE MISSION FORD (11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203) WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THOROUGHBRED FORD (8501 N. BOARDWALK AVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64154) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DENT WAS BEING REPAIRED AND THE PART WAS BEING REPAINTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT A CLAIM NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

11389367

Incident

Dec 20, 2020

Mileage

69,000 mi

TAILGATE TO TRUCK HAS OPENED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER 2019. I AM NOT SURE AT THE EXACT TIME AND CONDITIONS THAT THE TAILGATE OPENED BUT WEATHER WAS RAINING MID-DAY ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS, THE THIRD WAS EARLY MORNING. ONE OF THE TIMES THE TAILGATE OPENED WAS WHILE TOWING A CARGO TRAILER WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE TAILGATE AS IT FELL ON THE TRAILER TONGUE JACK HANDLE. AS A NEWLY RETIRED NAVY PILOT I 'PRE-FLIGHT' MY TRUCK AND TRAILER BEFORE EVERY DRIVE CHECKING SAFETY CHAINS, LOCKS, TIRES AND LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11289792

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

80 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND HAULING A TRAILER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE TAILGATE DISENGAGED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE TAILGATE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,700.

NHTSA ID

11286313

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

55,700 mi

I HAVE A 2017 FORD SUPER DUTY F450 PLATINUM. MULTIPLE TIME THE TAILGATE HAS DROPPED O ITS OWN WHILE IM DRIVING THE TRUCK. KEYS ARE RESTING IN CONSOLE NOT TOUCHING RELEASE BUTTON AND DROPS ON ITS OWN. HAVE CHECKED AND DOUBLED CHECKED CLOSING FIRMLY. STILL OPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE WITNESSES WATCH IT HAPPEN. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED WHEN TOWING AND DESTROYED THE TAILGATE AND COULD OF CAUSED AND ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11194683

Incident

Apr 6, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

BROUGHT MY TRUCK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS NOT LATCHING CLOSED AT ALL. THE TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS LESS THAN 20K MILES. LATER THAT DAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS FIXED AND READY TO BE PICKED UP. LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER THE LATCH AGAIN WOULD NOT WORK. I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED WITH ONE HAND SO IT WOULDN'T FLY OPEN IN TRAFFIC. THEY AGAIN SAID IT WOULD BE FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS GIVING THEM 'ATTITUDE' BECAUSE I WAS UPSET THAT IT DIDN'T GET FIXED THE FIRST TIME. ONCE I GOT HOME I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. MY BIGGEST GRIPE IS THAT THE FIRST DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME OF A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AFTER BRINGING IT IN TWO TIMES WITHIN A THREE DAY PERIOD. I FOUND IT TO BE ALARMING THAT THEY WOULD SEND ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITHOUT FIXING OR EVEN INFORMING ME ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11173364

Incident

Jan 31, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD F-450. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOT COLD. THE CONTACT CALLED SIEMANS FORD AT (269) 465-5344 (LOCATED AT 8961 RED ARROW HWY, BRIDGMAN, MI 49106) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE VEHICLE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO KEEP THE MOISTURE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID

11063372

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

7,000 mi