Most common 2017 Ford F-550 problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-550 complaints by model year
Best F-550 years: 2013, 2016. Years to avoid: 2020, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2017 Ford F-550 recalls (5)
Equipment
VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used…
Remedy: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
Unruh Fire, Inc. (Unruh Fire) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550-based fire trucks equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Remedy: Unruh Fire has notified owners and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began in May 20, 2019. Owners may contact Unruh Fire customer service at 1-800-856-7080.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
Taylor Made Ambulances is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350, F-450, E-450, F-550, and GMC G3500-based ambulances equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Remedy: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.
Engine
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Ford 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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.
What 2017 Ford F-550 owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2017 Ford F550. The contact stated that while one of the employees was driving at highway speeds, a diesel fuel-burning odor was coming from the engine and entering the cabin of the vehicle through the A/C vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and noticed oil dripping from underneath the vehicle. The driver opened the hood and noticed diesel fuel all over the engine compartment. Upon further investigation, the driver noticed that the plastic drain valve on the bottom of the water separator had cracked, and oil was spewing upwards. The driver called the company mechanic, and the mechanic went to the site of the failure. The mechanic repaired the vehicle on-site by replacing the filter. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-550. The contact stated that after two to three minutes after the engine was idled, a ticking noise was heard in the engine. The noise would dissipate however, a rattling noise was heard next. The contact stated works as an independent mechanic and diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the #3 cylinder had a low oil pressure and that the camshaft and follower needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 213,720.
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-550. The contact stated that while driving, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the brake dust cover, but the sound persisted. The vehicle was taken to EarthRoamer (5073 Silver Peak Ave, Dacono, CO 80514), who replaced the suspension bushing and shock mount; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to EarthRoamer, who determined that the frame was fractured and had the vehicle towed to a frame shop for repair. The contact stated that the drivetrain was misaligned, the vehicle had caved in the middle, and the RV built on the chassis damaged the cab of the vehicle while driving over a bump. The contact associated the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21B04; however, the VIN was not included. …
The front cab over is getting loose and separating worried it will fall off, have huge water leak coming into the cab from the top through auxiliary buttons and driver side. Have been reading forums and lots of people have the same issues this is very concerning that it's not being taken seriously.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Ford F-550 a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 F-550 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-550 at the same age. It is one of the F-550 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford F-550?
The engine & cooling — 3 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the body & structure (3) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford F-550 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2017 Ford F-550, the most recent from May 29, 2019 (equipment). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-550?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2019 and 2017. See the full Ford F-550 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Ford F-550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.