2017 Ford F-150 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 1,449 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other F-150 years
More complaints than other years 10th of 33 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1,449 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford F-150. That ranks 10th out of 33 F-150 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (546 complaints, 38%), typically at around 83,700 miles. Complaints mention 42 crashes, 21 fires, 34 injuries. There are 17 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Ford F-150
Ford F-150 (fourteenth generation) at Rutesheimer Autoschau 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2017 Ford F-150 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Power Train546 · ~83,700 mi
Engine313 · ~61,000 mi
Unknown or Other162 · ~24,000 mi
Electrical System134 · ~44,500 mi
Structure111 · ~22,250 mi
Service Brakes85 · ~10,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling70 · ~80,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control65 · ~14,000 mi
Steering59 · ~30,500 mi
Wheels44 · ~44,197 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Power Train problems54638%83,700“lead frame” (10%)$2,500
Engine problems31322%61,000“cam phasers” (23%)$4,550
Unknown or Other16211%24,000——
Electrical System problems1349%44,500“lead frame” (7%)—
Structure problems1118%22,250“door latches” (16%)—
Service Brakes problems856%10,000“went floor” (21%)—
Engine and Engine Cooling problems705%80,000“cam phasers” (54%)—
Vehicle Speed Control problems654%14,000“lead frame” (17%)—
Steering problems594%30,500“steering assist” (27%)—
Wheels443%44,197——
Latches/locks/linkages433%18,000——
Visibility/wiper393%40,894——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic302%92,000——
Fuel/propulsion System272%23,000——
Air Bags232%27,220——
Seat Belts171%44,500——
Visibility161%52,000——
Suspension121%23,900——
Back Over Prevention91%65,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)81%31,576——
Exterior Lighting50%87,043——
Lane Departure50%24,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance40%36,000——
Tires30%81,500——
Fuel System, Gasoline10%60,000——
Seats10%———
Service Brakes, Air10%95,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2026, with 281 complaints
2017: 462017462018: 10120181012019: 10920191092020: 802020802021: 722021722022: 10320221032023: 15020231502024: 22720242272025: 28020252802026: 2812026281

n = 1,449 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2017 Ford F-150 recalls (17)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panelJun 9, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V370000 · 4,445 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V053. The instrument cluster may lose power after initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

Risk: An instrument cluster that fails to display critical safety information, such as gear position or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will update the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

Power train:automatic transmissionApr 14, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V237000 · 1,392,935 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder; service brakes, hydraulic:power assistApr 11, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V236000 · 123,611 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.

Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder; service brakes, hydraulic:power assistMar 11, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V150000 · 195,864 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.

Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder; service brakes, hydraulic:power assistJun 8, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V332000 · 292,311 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2017 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.

Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel and feel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, possibly requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and inspect the brake booster, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners an interim notification on June 30, 2020. The recall began on October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S31.

Engine; equipment:electricalApr 8, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V278000 · 131,068 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

EngineDec 18, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V894000 · 410,289 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillarsAug 31, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V568000 · 1,619,112 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. 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.

Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

Power train:automatic transmissionApr 4, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V213000 · 142 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.

Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift; power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shiftOct 24, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V671000 · 11,783 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles equipped with ten-speed transmissions. The pin that attaches the transmission shift linkage to the transmission may come out, preventing the transmission from responding to movement of the shift lever.

Risk: The disconnected linkage may cause the vehicle to not move forward or backward as selected by the driver with the shift lever. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the roll pin with an updated part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S36.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latchOct 16, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V652000 · 1,101,107 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. 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.

Risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S33.

Seats; seat belts:front:anchorageSep 25, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V599000 · 504 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks with manually-adjusted front passenger seats. The seat belt anchor may not be adequately welded to the seat cushion frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk: The seat belt buckle weld may fail, preventing the occupants from being properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger manual seat track, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C17.

Seat belts:rear/otherAug 28, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V526000 · 117,423 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk: If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed October 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C12.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleAug 28, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V529000 · 650 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 and Mustang vehicles. The air bag inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may rupture in the event of a crash.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S26.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch; structure:body:doorMay 22, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V331000 · 14,410 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.

Seats:front assembly:reclinerMay 22, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V332000 · 2,204 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk: If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)Jan 24, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V053000 · 6,792 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 trucks equipped with an eight-inch productivity screen. In these vehicles, the instrument cluster may lose power after the initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect."

Risk: If the transmission gear position indicator fails to illuminate, the driver may be unable to tell the transmission shift position, increasing the risk of a crash or injury from unintended vehicle movement.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C01.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up (EA26001) — opened Jan 30, 2026, still open, led to recall 26V237.
  • Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up (PE25002) — opened Mar 21, 2025, closed Jan 30, 2026.
  • Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire (PE18008) — opened Aug 3, 2018, closed Dec 17, 2018, led to recall 18V568000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

My vehicle is experiencing the exact severe safety risk detailed in NHTSA Recall 26V237 (Ford Campaign 26S28) - dropping gears and risking a crash. The dealer technician confirmed the lead frame has physically failed but is denying the remedy due to a technicality over ancillary speed sensor codes…

Power Train · received Oct 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770807

During light deceleration or light acceleration in the 10 speed gear ranges of 3 to 5, my transmission gives a sudden CLUNK noise and jerk. I have about 85K miles of light in town and highway use. The last date of occurrence is documented in additional details.

Unknown or Other · received Oct 9, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770190

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the hood latch sensor or electrical system on my 2017 Ford F-150, currently at 151,895 miles. On three occasions (10/3/26, 10/4/26, and 10/7/26), the "Hood Ajar" warning appeared while driving, accompanied by an audible chime, although the hood…

Structure · received Oct 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769845

Phil long ford motor city Colorado Springs worked on my truck July for injector 6 and other oil gaskets on [XXX] the fuel rail o rings fails on that side and leaks gas from Santa Fe New Mexico to Chalmers ford Rio rancho to seek diagnostic for fuel leak today is October 7 2026 and Phil long ford is…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769724

Sudden downshifts too 1st gear and 3rd gear from highway speeds. Also goes into limp mode. The codes needed to replace the molded lead frame are present, was at the dealer yesterday and Ford will not let them make the needed repairs under warranty. Ford said I must wait an undetermined amount of…

Power Train · received Oct 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769223

Other Ford F-150 years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford F-150?

Owners most often report power train, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 546 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Ford F-150?

Yes, 17 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 Ford F-150 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-150 model years, the 2017 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.