2017 Ford F-150 Engine Problems

368 owners have reported engine & cooling problems with the 2017 Ford F-150 to NHTSA — 25% of all 1,455 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 69,000 miles. That ranks #7 of 32 F-150 model years for engine complaints (a typical year has 158). 2 related recalls have been issued.

368complaints
69ktypical miles
2related recalls
1crashes
5fires
3injuries

Which parts fail

  • Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor
    5
  • Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
    2
  • Exhaust system
    1
  • Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger › Hoses/plumbing
    1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    2512%
  • 25k–50k
    3617%
  • 50k–75k
    5627%
  • 75k–100k
    4220%
  • 100k–150k
    3216%
  • 150k+
    157%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2010 Newmar Essex RV hauling a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor. The stated that while driving at 60 mph, he was alerted by another driver that the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, had caught fire. The contact stated that the fire started from the hood and grille assembly of the vehicle. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. The fire engulfed both vehicles. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report and fire department reports were filed. No medical attention was received however, the contact stated that his cat was injured. Both vehicles were towed to a wrecking yard and was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicles will later be towed to salvage yard for the insurance company to perform an investigation. The dealer was made aware of the failure. …

46,000 miles · May 2021 · fire

The contact owned a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving an unknown RV hauling a 2017 Ford F-150 at 70 MPH, the vehicle caught fire from the front end. The contact's husband attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. Police and fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The vehicle has not been diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

60,000 miles · Feb 2023 · fire

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal after stopping at a traffic light, the vehicle accelerated to approximately 10 MPH and the engine started to shudder. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was an intermittent at first and occurred during cold start but became a recurring failure. The contact stated that the failure caused the vehicle to lurch forward while attempting to move. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic; however, he had spoken to a dealer. The contact stated that he previously received Customer Satisfaction Program: 21B10 (Software Update PCM) and the update was performed. …

21,000 miles · Apr 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, and up a slight grade, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted. The contact was towing an empty 12-foot, single-axel, flatbed trailer. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was on a two-lane road and was unable to pull over. The vehicle lost motive power and failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was unable to exceed 20 MPH while driving. The contact pulled into a service station where a mechanic checked the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine had overheated and that the oil level was low by 3 quarts. The contact had the mechanic top off the oil and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. …

88,000 miles · Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The power train failure warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated from 60 MPH to approximately 40-50 MPH. The contact stated that when the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate, but eventually started to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a CAM shaft sensor failure. The contact was informed that the CAM shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. …

Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor · 90,000 miles · Dec 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the transmission independently downshifted into first gear. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to NAPA Auto Parts where it was diagnosed with transfer case failure. The contact was informed that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred three months later. …

120,000 miles · Jun 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact had previously received notification of Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Engine Cam Phaser Replacement), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no repair was needed. The contact stated that a year and a half later, the vehicle made an abnormal ticking sound while idling and while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the starter was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with cam phaser failure. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Engine Cam Phaser Replacement). The dealer replaced the cam phasers, the timing chain, the gaskets, the water pump, and other unknown parts. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. …

65,000 miles · Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown error message was displayed on the instrument panel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and failed to restart. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact pushed the vehicle over to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred in the middle of the highway with his two minor children seated inside the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured oil valve cover, allowing oil to drain onto the alternator and connector. The contact was informed that the oil valve cover and alternator needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact was informed that the oil pressure sensor needed to be replaced. …

80,000 miles · Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon start up, there was a rattling sound coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a grinding sound while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the solenoid, VCT solenoid, ECM, and crank case needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact state that a week later she noticed that oil had leaked onto the hatch of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the cam phaser and cam shaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the technician had changed the mileage on the odometer. …

51,000 miles · Jul 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle. The contact had to add additional oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred and two weeks later, oil was again leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was determined that there was too much pressure on and that a plastic oil pan was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. …

62,000 miles · May 2023

Related recalls

Engine

NHTSA recall 19V-278 · Apr 8, 2019 · 131,068 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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,…

Engine

NHTSA recall 18V-894 · Dec 18, 2018 · 410,289 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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.

Engine complaints in other F-150 years

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’27732654418724615827826297257228151146755113851149856719028234436858937413910141281652
Engine complaints per model year, Ford F-150.

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2017 Ford F-150?

NHTSA has 368 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2017 Ford F-150, 25% of the model year's 1,455 complaints. The component named most often is engine › crank/camshaft position sensor (5 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2017 Ford F-150 engine problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-278 (engine, Apr 8, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-894 (engine, Dec 18, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2017 Ford F-150 engine problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 1 crash, 5 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.