Ford Body Problems

Body issues make up roughly 12% of all Ford owner complaints. The majority of the issues have been reported by Explorer owners.

The complaint we hear about most often is cracked panel below the rear window in the 2004 Explorer.

Common Ford Body Problems

  1. Why Do Ford Hoods Corrode So Easily?

    Cars are prone to rust, unfortunately that's just the way it is. This is especially true for those who live in rust belt states where salt is used to clear ice from roads. We can fight the onslaught with regular washes and waxing ... unless…

    Continue reading article "Why Do Ford Hoods Corrode So Easily?" A large patch of hood paint is missing right above the grille, revealing the hood's bare metal.

  2. Cracked Rear Explorer Panels

    If you own a 2002-2005 Explorer, chances are your rear lift-gate is cracked. It’s a widespread problem in all Ford-family SUVs from that generation, including the Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Aviator. But what’s causing the split?…

    Continue reading article "Cracked Rear Explorer Panels" A large crack runs heightwise down a rear body panel, just to the right of the Ford emblem

Where Body Complaints Happen

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

Worst Models

Recent Body News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. An investigation is being opened into why electric tailgates are opening on their own in 2017 Ford Super Duty trucks.

    The F-250 and F-350 trucks are equipped with electronic tailgates that can be opened with the key fobs, but five owners filed complaints saying the tailgates opened without warning and uncommanded.

    In TSB #17-2196, Ford told its dealers that water could get into a wiring harness and cause “uncommanded tailgate openings” in Super Duty trucks. If the tailgate is down while driving, all the jostling can cause extensive damage.

    Besides, no-one likes getting caught with their tailgate down.

    keep reading article "Electric Tailgates Opening on Their Own? Investigation Targets 2017 Super Duty Trucks"

  2. 2012–13 Ford Focus owners made enough noise about their unreliable doors to spark an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) back in January.

    The owners were tired of their doors flying open while driving, the "door ajar" light never turning off, and whatnot. The investigation found that the problem ran much deeper and it eventually led to a recall of 2.3 million vehicles spread out across 6 Ford and Lincoln models, including the Focus.

    Now that the investigation is closing, we'd like to raise a glass of eggnog – the spiked variety – to the owners who filed their complaints online and got the problem fixed.

    More details about the recall→

    keep reading article "Focus Door Latch Investigation Closed Following Recall"

  3. Ford has once again expanded a door handle recall, this time affecting 2.3 million vehicles.

    It's likely NHTSA asked Ford to expand the recall because all affected vehicles weren't included in the August recall. That recall was for only certain areas of the country which Ford said had higher ambient temperatures. Vehicles outside those specific areas weren't included in the recall, but Ford said they could be included in a "customer satisfaction program.

    So much for the "solar loading" defense.

    keep reading article "Goodbye Regional, Hello Nationwide Recall of Ford Door Handles"

  5. Ford is having a problem keeping its vehicle's doors closed, prompting another massive recall.

    If they keep it up, they might have trouble keeping their doors open too. Ford says about 830,000 vehicles in North America need fixes to stop the doors from popping open while driving. This isn't the automaker's first time dealing with this problem. In 2015 they recalled nearly 550,000 vehicles for a similar issue.

    Unlike the previous recall, however, this one will only take place in what Ford is calling areas of "higher ambient temperature."…

    keep reading article "A Recall to Keep Doors Closed While Driving"

  6. **Fo

    d's pawl spring issues have had their doors blown wide open. Yes, I went there. Ford says a recall of 830,000 vehicles in North America is needed to fix doors that may open while driving, but only if those vehicles are in certain areas.

    This comes after the feds opened an investigation into 400,000 Focus cars experiencing similar problems to a door latch recall from last year.…

    keep reading article "Regional Recall For Another 830,000 Vehicles with Busted Pawl Springs"

  7. A Ford Focus door latch lawsuit might be forthcoming as attorneys investigate failures of the door latches that allow the doors to open while driving.

    The legal investigation includes the 2012-2013 Ford Focus, the same model currently under a safety investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    This isn't surprising.

    If the current investigation determines that the Focus uses the same defective pawl springs that were recalled last year, and Ford knew about it, then that's potentially a criminal offense. Or, at the very least, really crappy of them.

    keep reading article "Attorneys Investigate Ford’s History of Door Latch Failures"

  8. 2015 was a terrible year for Ford door latches. 2016 isn't starting off any better.

    Ford Focus door latch problems are under investigation by the government, an investigation that could possibly lead to a recall of 400,000 Ford Focus cars.

    The original investigation involved the Fiesta. It was later expanded to include the Fusion. And now the 2012-2013 Focus will get an investigation of their own.

    The problem can be traced to busted pawl springs which allow the door to shut without ever latching. When that happens, owners may see a "door ajar" warning light or have their doors open while going around a corner.

    My guess is the investigation will be to determine if the Focus used the same pawl springs as the other cars. If so, Focus owners should expect a recall soon.

    keep reading article "Ford Focus is the Next in Line for a Door Latch Investgation"

  9. The pawl spring problem continues to grow, as Ford has announced an expansion of their previous door latch recall.

    That recall is now expanded by 156,000 cars bringing the total to almost 546,000 cars recalled for door latch problems. The expanded recall includes the 2011-14 Ford Fiesta, 2013-14 Ford Fusion and 2013-14 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

    The question becomes, how many other Ford vehicles use the same defective pawl springs?

    keep reading article "Ford's Door Latch Recall Expands by Another 156,000 Cars"

  10. Following an investigation into door latch failures in Ford Fiesta small cars and later expanded to include the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, Ford is recalling about 390,000 of those cars to replace the door latches.

    Ford says the affected model years are the 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ.

    The expanded investigation found issues with the pawl spring tabs, which can break and allow the doors to open while driving. Needless to say, that's a safety no-no and led to the recall.

    keep reading article "390,000 Ford and Lincoln Cars Recalled for Doors That Fly Open While Driving"

  11. Add the 2013 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ to the list of vehicles being investigated for door latch issues.

    Complaints have kept pouring in since the original investigation was opened, and now the government says 207 reports have been filed with NHTSA and another 451 reports were filed directly with Ford. NHTSA says 65 of its complaints claim the doors opened while the cars were in motion.

    The original investigation was opened late last year.

    keep reading article "Fiesta Door Latch Investigation Expanded to Include the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ"

  13. The feds have opened a "preliminary investigation" into 6th-generation Fiesta door latch concerns.

    "The government says it's received 61 complaints about doors that won't latch in the 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta. Some Fiesta owners said the doors opened after being shut and while the cars were moving. One person reported an injury after the door flew back open and struck the individual."…

    keep reading article "Investigation Opened Into Fiesta Doors That Open When They Shouldn't"