2017 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  5
• Driveline › Differential unit
  2
• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  1
• Automatic transmission › Internal › Clutches/bands
  1
• Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  2615%
• 25k–50k
  2514%
• 50k–75k
  3017%
• 75k–100k
  2313%
• 100k–150k
  5029%
• 150k+
  2112%

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 2017 Ford F150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (POWER TRAIN). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH on a country road, the vehicle independently veered to the right, went down a ditch, and hit a tree. Both driver-side and front passenger-side air bags were deployed. The contact sustained minor injuries, a bruise on the left arm below the elbow, a small bump on the forehead, and lower back pain. A police report was filed. The contact's wife was called and stopped by the scene of the accident and picked up the contact. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The insurance company was notified and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. While the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that the transmission seized. The vehicle then crashed into a rock wall before coming to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Vehicle would downshift into 1st gear even at highway speeds locking tires up, sometimes would downshift into 3rd. At one time it caused truck to slide off into ditch hitting mailbox and a culvert. Was charged $2,000 for a new lead frame and months later back at ford with transmission failure where they say I'm responsible for full cost of transmission

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. …

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. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to second or third gear. The contact stated that the vehicle felt like the brake pedal was depressed, and the engine revved to over 5,000 RPMs. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle shuddered, and felt like the vehicle was being driven over rumble strips on the roadway. The contact stated that the unexpected downshifts only occurred while driving approximately 60-70 MPH. The contact was able to reset the transmission by turning off and restarting the vehicle initially; however, the failure reoccurred, and the transmission could no longer be reset to normal functionality. …

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. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that when attempting to make a left turn and depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPMs increased to the redline indicator, and the contact immediately released the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred twice, and the vehicle jerked while the accelerator pedal was depressed and proceeded forward. While driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into sixth gear, and the failure became persistent. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to shift into sixth gear and suddenly downshifted to third gear. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal whistling and dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the powertrain malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle independently downshifted, and the rear driver's side of the vehicle slid to the left, and the front passenger's side of the vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that due to the impact, there was windshield fluid leaking out of the windshield washer fluid reservoir onto the ground, and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact entered a local AutoZone, retrieved a fire extinguisher, and extinguished the fire. The local fire department was contacted. The contact stated that no air bag was deployed. A police report was filed. A Fire Department report was not filed. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission downshifted and upshifted erratically. The power train and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the PCM software update was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact later received a notification that the molded leadframe would be replaced as necessary under an extended coverage program. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the leadframe had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the program because the diagnostic trouble codes did not meet the required specifications. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Transmission complaints in other F-150 years