Ford F-250 2019 Recall: Unintended Tailgate Opening Risk
Ford is recalling 2019 F-250 trucks with electric tailgate latches that may open unexpectedly, causing cargo to fall and create road hazards. Owners must contact Ford by January 20, 2020 for free repairs.
Use caution until it’s fixed
Unintended tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
Ford is recalling 2019 F-250 trucks with electric tailgate latches that could open unexpectedly, potentially causing cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard. This could increase crash risk if the falling cargo strikes another vehicle. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1223758-ford-f-250-2019-recall-unintended-tailgate-opening-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1223758-ford-f-250-2019-recall-unintended-tailgate-opening-risk · Updated October 5, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #19V864000
Cite this page
“Ford F-250 2019 Recall: Unintended Tailgate Opening Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1223758-ford-f-250-2019-recall-unintended-tailgate-opening-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #19V864000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V864000).
Why it’s dangerous
Water can enter the electrical wiring system, causing a short circuit that activates the tailgate release switch. This may cause the tailgate to open unexpectedly while the truck is moving, allowing cargo to fall out of the truck bed.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2019 Ford F-250 trucks with electric tailgate latches are affected. Drivers using these trucks for cargo transport face the highest risk of accidents.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2019 Ford F-250 has an electric tailgate latch release switch mounted in the tailgate handle. The recall applies to trucks sold between 2017 and 2019.
- Brand
Ford- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Ford
Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 to schedule a repair by January 20, 2020.
2020-01-20
What NHTSA says to do
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle release switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S48.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #19V864000 (April 12, 2019)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.