AI Damage2017 Ford F-150: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Ford F-150 filed 77 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and vehicle speed control. The maker issued 220 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 77
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 220
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 70% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 54 complaints (70% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 46.
- Vehicle speed control: 11 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 57.
- Engine: 9 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 77 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 54 | 0 | 46 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 0 | 57 |
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Structure | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 42 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 70 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 0 | 0 | 10 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (Structure, Suspension). The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH around a bend, the rear wheels spun out, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle.
To the Office of Defects Investigation:I am writing to formally report a critical data reporting error on NHTSA.gov involving a 2017 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX]).This vehicle is covered under NHTSA Campaign 26V370000 (Ford Recall 26S28) for the transmission downshift defect.
Given the unpredictable shifting, loss of power, and other transmission issues described above, I do not believe this vehicle is safe to operate. My truck is currently at the deal
I recently went in for fords recall regarding 2015-2017 6R80 Transmissions and their limp mode and sudden downshift issues. I got the recall done July 31st (if memory serves) But the fix did not work.
Vehicle failed Pennsylvania state safety inspection due to structural rust holes and perforation in the high-strength steel frame rails. The vehicle has only 40,000 miles and has been safely operated, indicating premature structural metallurgy failure."
Months ago, experienced loss of power, deacceleration and a grinding noise as it downshifted by itself. I ran an ODB-II on it and got 4 codes. Had it towed to dealership and was told it was the manifold arm and paid over $4,200 to replace it.
The engine was not overheating; a $40 CHT sensor fixed it. Evidence: I watched live data on an Autel MaxiCheck MX808S-TS while driving during the events. CHT dropped to implausibly low values for brief moments, then immediately returned to normal values matching coolant temp. Coolant temp stayed normal throughout.
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 appeared securely…
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 682 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the F-150 has 35 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 77, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Customer Satisfaction Program 26N04 Certain 2015-2017 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped with a 6R80…
Customer Satisfaction Program 26N04 Certain 2015-2017 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped with a 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Replacement
- Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest…
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure…
For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the…
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless…
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
- Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles…
Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles Transmission Control Assembly Reimbursement
- This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected…
This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently…
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure
Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns …
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in…
- Reason for update
update the Part List Description. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift *…
- Certain Model Year Multiple Vehicles Ford Pass/Lincoln Way Connectivity Concerns
- Reason for update
update the Part List and Service Procedure. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed…
NHTSA lists 220 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford F-150?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, vehicle speed control, electrical system. Total complaints: 77. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), loss of power / limp mode (18%), jerking, harsh shifts (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 220 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Ford F-150 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.