2017 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

2017 Ford F150 5.0 w/6speed transmission experienced the following: While stopped at the redlight with brakes applied, my vehicle lunged forward as if hit from behind. After the light turned green, I accelerating, my truck throws up a message on dashboard with the orange wrench saying See Manual while at the same time, the transmission downshifted to 2nd gear for a few seconds then accelerated normally. After about 30 seconds, the message disappeared. No check engine light yet. Two evenings later, my truck downshifted to 2nd gear again for 2-3 seconds while driving at 60 mph then upshifted to 6th gear, the gear indicator (P R N D M 1 2) started to show that I was not in any gear then showed then I was in neutral. This neutral indication lasted until I got home 5 mins later.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle jolted forward. Additionally, the driver's side front wheel was shaking. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,882.

To Whom It May Concern, I am filing a complaint regarding a premature engine failure in my 2017 Ford F-150 Platinum (VIN: [XXX] ), which has only 88,000 miles and has been meticulously maintained at an authorized Ford dealership. Despite following all scheduled maintenance, I am told I must replace the entire engine for nearly $20,000. Over the past two years, I have spent over $2,000 on repairs (outside of standard maintenance), including replacing the cam phasers due to a known issue. After that, I experienced engine bank problems. The turbo was not properly reconnected during a later service, requiring immediate correction. The truck ran fine until one day, on a short 10-mile drive, I received a low oil pressure warning and had it towed back to Chapman Ford, where I was informed that the engine had failed. This failure is unexpected and unreasonable for a vehicle that has been properly maintained and used primarily for highway driving. It has created a severe financial burden, especially as I transition to self-employment, support a college-bound daughter, and manage transportation as a one-vehicle household. Given numerous reports of similar 3.5L EcoBoost engine failures, I urge the NHTSA to investigate whether this is a systemic issue. Consumers should not face catastrophic engine failures at such low mileage, especially in a vehicle marketed for durability. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to any steps the NHTSA may take. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and shifted out of gear independently. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

I was driving at 65mph on the freeway when suddenly the gear selection starts to blink and the truck went from 65mph on 6th gear to 2nd gear. The truck would not shift to 3rd gear, the service light came up and the wrench light. The codes that came up at P0706 and P0707. I noticed via forums and YouTube that this is a problem multiple drivers have been experiencing. To fix this issue is from $800 to 3,500 due to the Frame lead going out.

Lead frame failure on 6R80 transmission. Caused loss of 3 gears, sudden downshifts, hard clunky shifting of the ones that do work, and loss of manual shifting function. After replacement, use of all gears returned but manual shifting still does not function.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver’s side door, the power door lock actuator failed. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 20M04 (Power Door Lock Actuator Failure); however, the VIN was not included in the CSP. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and determined that the cam phaser needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N03 (Engine Cam Phaser Replacement) Engine and Engine Cooling. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission sensor. The contact was informed that the transmission sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,112.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the valve sensors were abnormally loud. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed cam phaser sensors. The contact was informed that the cam phaser sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

The transmission will lurch often, which results in significant engine acceleration hesitation and overall sense of temporary loss of control.

Loss of gear at highway speeds. Went from 10th gear to 1st. Tires locked up and an error for the drive train showed up on the dash. Pulled over, restarted vehicle and it seemed to work. This has happened 3 times since. I was luck that no vehicles were around me or I would have caused an accident and potentially chasing injury to myself, my family or another driver. Dealership was not able to locate issue. Told me to keep driving and report back when it happens again.

While parking my truck in my shed the passenger side flexible brake hose ruptured and all the brake fluid gushed out. I almost immediately lost my front brakes. I pull a 9,000 lb camper and was fortunate I was not pulling it when this occurred or this could have put my family and anyone in other vehicles on the road at risk of severe injury or death. I had the truck towed to a local Ford dealership. The technician there confirmed that the front passenger side brake line flexible hose ruptured and that the driver's side needed to be replaced as well. There was no warning lights prior to the event. But soon after the brake hose ruptured a warning that the brake fluid level was low came on.

While driving steering gets locked

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the sunroof failed to close as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof motor and framework on the sunroof needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer by the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed about Technical Service Bulletin: 18-2374, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

See attached document for complaint.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the failure had gotten progressively worse. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers and differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

rattle during start up. VCT Cam phaser/timing chain tensioner rattle when starting up. Possible loss of oil pressure in the tensioner.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. In addition, the contact stated the transmission would remain stuck in 1st gear. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

While I was driving on the highway at 70 miles an hour with adaptive cruise control on the transmission unexpectedly down shifted gears causing me to almost crash. Once I got off the highway at a stop light the truck wouldn’t shift into first gear for ten minutes. Once it finally was able to shift gears I barely made it to my destination and the truck would not shift into reverse. Now it won’t go over 30 miles an hour because it’s unable to shift to the higher gears. My family was in the truck at the time and fortunately no one was hurt but it was too close of a call. I have the truck at a local ford dealer now and they are looking at it now but said it could cost be 6k which I cannot afford to pay. I don’t know what I am going to do. I don’t have a vehicle to drive and now I am stuck without a vehicle to drive my family around.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it diagnosed that the timing chain and cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

When driving on hills or moving from a stop to get into traffic the vehicle will go from 4th gear to 1st and won’t accelerate. After this happens I’m alerted with “Powertrain system fault”. This causes a safety issue for me and others because on hills it won’t accelerate and it rolls backwards. From a stop trying to get into traffic it won’t move and becomes a collision waiting to happen. This problem happens very frequently but hasn’t been confirmed or inspected yet. The only warnings are “Powertrain System fault” No systems and first appeared late June of 2024

During a 5,000 mile vacation trip thru mountainous terrain the transmission wouldn't downshift properly and has continued since during everyday driving. There is vibration felt through the truck and steering wheel. I made an appointment at the Hanover Pa dealership and they verified the problem. The Ford garage had it 4 days and put in an entire rear drive shaft which didn't fix it. The next trip there, they replaced the torque converter which they immediately told me still didn't fix it and it's been there a week torn apart. They have now replaced almost $4,000 worth of apparently functional parts. Our last conversation was they don't know what is wrong and they need to contact Ford. The first hazard l face is the truck won't shift down in a timely manner, especially on hills to come to a full stop. The next hazard is the truck sitting at the Hanover Ford dealership, torn apart for yet another week and they aren't equipped with an answer.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle jerked forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a failure of unknown internal transmission parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure with an unknown Technical Service Bulletin; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available.

This vehicle has a fatal flaw in the design of the oil pan, that results in consistent leaking regardless of repair that brings up environmental concerns as well as safety concerns in leaving the vehicle stranded in potentially unsafe conditions. Ford has admitted fault with TSB 20-2051 but has made the scope of vehicles far too narrow in order to skirt responsibility for what is clearly a design mistake by engineers at Ford. They further admitted fault by redesigning the oil pan on the 2018+ F150 models, yet refuse to help the majority of 2017 F150 owners not covered by the TSB due to careful wording. The fact of the matter is this issue affects all F150s of this year, and they are refusing to offer any assistance despite my particular truck about to be receiving its 4th replacement pan. I believe Ford should be held accountable for this and a recall be issued so that owners of these trucks are not expected to pay thousands of dollars to continually fix a blatant design error.

Camshaft phaser failure. We had code P051B which led to sensor replacement. Shortly after cold start engine rattle. Suspect was cam/phaser from web investigating. At 50k miles this should be covered. Ford wants $6,000 to change VCT, Timing belt & faulty cam phasers. Ford acknowledged in 2021 their fault, but this was never issued as recall. We never got ANY letter from Ford. For people like us that have low miles, ONLY get oil changes at Ford regularly, should not be punished for bad installed parts. Camshaft phasers need to be recalled.

I’ve taken the truck to a ford dealership and after running diagnostics they’ve told me they have to replace the whole transmission the problems I reported before they ran diagnostics were that when driving on hills or moving from a stop to get into traffic the vehicle will go from 4th gear to 1st and won't accelerate. When going into reverse it buffers and takes a second to engage in gear. After this happens I'm alerted with "Powertrain system fault" This causes a safety issue for me and others because on hills it won't accelerate and it rolls backwards. From a stop trying to get into traffic it won't move and becomes a collision waiting to happen. Before I took it in to a Ford dealership to look at , these problems became an everyday issue and the problems always happen and I was forced to not drive it to avoid further damage. The only warnings are "Powertrain System fault" No symptoms and first appeared late June of 2024.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted and started jerking and shuddering. The contact stated several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

In multiple cases the transmission will shift from its current gear down to first. The incident has happened at various speeds and various gears.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made ticking and rattling sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cam phaser and camshaft timing unit failure. The dealer replaced the cam phaser and gasket. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 23-2143 (Cold Start Ticking/Tapping/Rattle with Possible No Restart During Auto-Start-Stop Operation); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became abnormally stiff, making it difficult to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with electronic power steering failure. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 97,215.

I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND VERY UNSTABLE THAT I ALMOST CRASHED, IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY (MY WIFE AND MY 2 DAUGHTERS)

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 3rd gear to 1st gear causing the vehicle to dramatically slow down. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission lead frame assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 83,400.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster failed to indicate the transmission shift position. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V053000 (Power Train, Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 159,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission downshifted from tenth gear to first gear unexpectedly. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission C-valve was locked cold. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 156,800.

The drivers airbag cover is cracked. This has happened to everyone I have talked to with the same vehicle. Also is a topic on many f150 public forums. I think this should be addressed by Ford.

Truck makes loud clanking noises while shifting. Has very hard shifts between gears upon acceleration and braking. Holds transmission in certain gear till the truck almost redlines before it very aggressively shifts. Makes a grinding type sound when accelerating at low rpm.

Vehicle would randomly shift in an out of gear while driving.

Sudden downshift while driving approximately 35-40MPH. Truck bucked hard and caused significant change in speed. This happened multiple times between approximately 5/13 and 6/2/24. On 3 occasions the transmission slipped out of gear with the "wrench" warning light. On incident of warning light was while backing down a boat launch. The vehicle was not inspected by a mechanic or dealer.

The contact's son owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that whenever her son started the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the issue, the vehicle had a coolant leak in an unknown location. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam phaser failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 60-70 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact's son was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could be related to a defective oil pump, and that there were metal shavings inside the oil. The vehicle was then towed to the private dealer where it was purchased, and the same assessment was made. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

F150 lug nuts have a cap that is prone to "swelling" after many tire rotations, especially if mechanic uses a pneumatic wrench with poor sockets. "Swollen lug nuts" make them extremely difficult to remove to change tires. Fortunately, I caught this in time on my truck and with much difficulty, replaced them with better lug nuts. If I had a flat tire with swollen lug nuts, I would probably would now have the right tools to remove the tire causing a possible safety hazard on the road.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the transmission downshifted from sixth gear to first gear, causing the vehicle to decelerate abruptly. During the failure, the gear display began to flash, and the wrench icon was illuminated. While continuing to drive the vehicle, the failure recurred intermittently. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 147,000.

Driver front brake hose ruptured and pedal went to the floor (thankfully while parked). Upon inspection, found the passenger front brake hose to be swollen in the same place directly below the crimp where the fitting is attached. There were no warning signs or symptoms prior to this failure and I hate to think what could have happened if this failure occurred somewhere like an interstate off ramp or some emergency braking situation. The parts can be made available for inspection before Dec 31 2024.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated when the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the rear driver’s door had failed to close properly. The contact attempted several times to close the door and was able to lock the door and when he attempted to open the door the door would remain locked and would not open. The contact was concerned for the safety of a passenger inside the vehicle with the failure to lock or unlock the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Rear window shattered this morning during start up. I auto started the vehicle this morning at approximately 3:35. When I went out to get on about 7 minutes later, smoke bellowed out the door. I quickly shut off the vehicle and opened the hood, nothing indicated an issue.m but when I walked around the vehicle I noticed the rear window buldging out and shattered, the window was hot to the touch.

Front passenger brake line burst after leaving dealership for PA state inspection (which the truck passed) 70k miles on truck no lift or other modifications stock f150

Paint peeling off from roof area exposing bare metal.

When driving pulling a trailer going up hill truck goes into limp mode will not shift down too pull the hill have too shut truck off then restart before it will move it happens in all modes tow haul and also in regular mode also tried putting in Manuel mode and still makes no difference sometimes it does it even without a trailer hooked up when I have trailer hooked there is a horse on it which makes it dangerous with cars behind you no lights come on on the dash when it happens