Photo: Bull-Doser / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
2017 Ford F-150: common problems and reliability
One of the weaker F-150 years.
3,262 owner complaints, most about power train. 18 recalls.
Should I buy a 2017 F-150?The 2017 Ford F-150 has 3262 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 18 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag misaligned body panels (hood light bar, headlight gaps, trunk lids): reported across multiple models and generations, including the lightning and 2015+ mustang (same qc concerns).
Safety record for the 2017 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Ford F-150 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other F-150 years only. How we score it
Is 2017 a good year for the F-150?
Across the 30 F-150 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 324 (2009) to 8,388 (2013). With 3,262 complaints, the 2017 F-150 sits above the model's median of 2,537.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2017 F-150
engine
Campaign 18V894000Ford 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.
engine
Campaign 19V278000Ford 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.
seat belts:pretensioner
Campaign 18V568000Ford 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.
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 17V652000Ford 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.
Show 14 more recalls
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 17V529000Ford 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.
seat belts:rear/other
Campaign 17V526000Ford 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."
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 17V331000Ford 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."
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 17V053000Ford 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."
seats:front assembly:recliner
Campaign 17V332000Ford 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."
power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Campaign 17V671000Ford 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.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 18V213000Ford 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.
seats
Campaign 17V599000Ford 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."
service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Campaign 20V332000Ford 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.
suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Campaign 21E027000Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
service brakes, hydraulic:power assist
Campaign 22V150000Ford 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.
service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Campaign 25V236000Ford 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.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 26V237000Ford 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.
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Campaign 26V370000Ford 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."
What owners say across generations
Owners express strong overall satisfaction, particularly with the Lightning EV model, which is praised as the best vehicle many have owned. The spacious rear seat is highlighted as excellent for families with three car seats.
- Very frequentMisaligned body panels (hood light bar, headlight gaps, trunk lids)
Reported across multiple models and generations, including the Lightning and 2015+ Mustang (same QC concerns).
Owner insights cover all generations of the F-150. See the full F-150 owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used F-150 listings typically run $16,400–$34,944.
Other F-150 model years
Compare every F-150 year side by side to see how 2017 ranks against the rest.
Compare the F-150 against its rivals
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