U.S. public vehicle records

2017 Ford F-250 SD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,155 owner complaints analyzed

14 distinct recall campaigns

29,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 906 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 715 of 1,155 complaints (61.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	525	45.5%
Braking behavior	130	11.3%
Electrical and battery issues	32	2.8%
Fuel system concerns	24	2.1%
Transmission and shifting	13	1.1%
Engine operation	13	1.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

715

Suspension

579

Unknown Or Other

109

Wheels

Structure:Body

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine

Steering: 715; Suspension: 579; Unknown Or Other: 109; Wheels: 68; Structure:Body: 57; Electrical System: 48; Fuel/Propulsion System: 40; Engine: 37

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

354

25,000 to 49,999

391

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 354; 25,000 to 49,999: 391; 50,000 to 74,999: 93; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 10

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (391). 249 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2017

2018

2019

471

2020

232

2021

101

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2017: 9; 2018: 94; 2019: 471; 2020: 232; 2021: 101; 2022: 83; 2023: 64; 2024: 47; 2025: 40; 2026: 14

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 525 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 130 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11073393 · 2018-02-17 (February 17, 2018)

9800 MILES AND WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT 60-65 IT STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK OUT OF YOUR HAND. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO 25-40 BEFORE IT WILL STOP. DID IT 3 TIMES IN I-65 BETWEEN BOWLING GREEN AND LOUISVILLE KY. WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE OR RIDE IT ANYMORE. IN FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND RAINING TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SLOW DOWN IS VERY DANGEROUS

Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073393 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11075516 · 2018-02-28 (February 28, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEATH WOBBLE ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IMPACTED THE STEERING AND CAUSED A STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER (SCHMIDT FORD OF SALEM, 1815 W MAIN ST, SALEM, IL 62881, [phone removed]) STATED THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THAT THEY WOULD ADJUST THE CASTERS AND ROTATE THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TWO TSBS FOR THE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL B…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075516 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11003769 · 2017-07-08 (July 8, 2017)

TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER THE FACTORY TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN A TRAILER WITH ELECTRIC SERVICE BRAKES IS PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE TRUCK. THE CONTROLLER HAS ABOUT A 30 SECOND DELAY AND DOES NOT PUSH ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO THE TRAILER BRAKES TO ENGAGE THEM FULLY. THIS RESULTS IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE FOR THE TRUCK AND TRAILER COMBINATION, POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE FOR THE TRUCK DUE TO OVERLOADING OF THE BRAKES WHICH, COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD MY TRAILER BRAKES CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL. THEY ARE PERF…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11003769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11084855 · 2018-04-12 (April 12, 2018)

DEATH WOBBLE OCCURRED AT AROUND13K MILES. IT IS TRIGGERED BY HITTING A BUMP AT 45MPH OR FASTER. WHOLE FRONT END SHAKES SO BADLY YOUR ONLY OPTION IS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER. SHAKING GOES AWAY AT 25MPH. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A VISIBLE PROBLEM, BUT DID EXPERIENCE THE WOBBLE. MECHANIC WAS TERRIFIED. FORD HQ TOLD THEM TO RANDOMLY CHANGE COMPONENTS UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IT DID GO AWAY UNTIL NOW. TRUCK HAS 22K MILES ON IT AND THE DEATH WOBBLE IS BACK. DEALERSHIPS CANT SEE ANYTHING WRONG BUT WONT DRIVE TRUCK LONG E…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084855 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11153959 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TAIL GATE OPENS RANDOMLY WITHOUT DRIVER SELECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND TRAVEL TRAILER. NO INDICATION TAILGATE IS OPEN GIVEN TO DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST 100 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, THE FIRST TIME. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT. LAST INCIDENT I HAD JUST PULLED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY A PASSING TRUCKER WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH THAT MY TAILGATE HAD OPENED. IMAGINE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE BED OF MY TRUCK…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153959 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11154034 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON MOUNTAIN ROAD AT CADE'S COVE TN. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF , NO INDICATION BEFORE HAND. ALL SMALL ICON SHOWED ON DASH INCLUDING BATTERY. JUST MADE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF ROAD PULL OFF AREA OR OTHER WISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CENTER OF ROAD. NO POWER STEERING. TURNER KEY OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 1 MINUTE. TURNED KEY ON AND ENGINE STARTED UP. WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO OUR CAMPGROUND. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY / ACCIDENT AS THIS MOUNTAIN ROAD IS VERY NARROW AND MANY TURNS GOING BACK TO GATLINBURG TN. FROM CADE'S…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154034 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11185429 · 2019-03-08 (March 8, 2019)

WITH NO NOTICE THE TRUCK CUT OFF AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION THE POLICE ORDERED A TOW TO MOVE IT QUICKLY. LATER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD BUT THEY REQUIRED MORE THROUGH WORK TO QUOTE IT ALL. IT ENDED UP THE WHOLE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FUEL INJECTORS. FORD CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO WATER CONTAMENATED FUEL HOWEVER MY INSURANCE SENT A SAMPLE PULLED FROM THE TRUCK AND FOUND ONLY METALS CONSISTENT WITH THE MATERIAL F…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,855 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11286819 · 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A 34-GALLON FUEL TANK, BUT TOOK LESS THAN 24 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL UTTER FORD AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 4901 S INTERSTATE 35 E, DENTON, TX 76210) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 17-0046 (WHICH ADDRESSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11157225 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)

UNCOMMANDED TAILGATE OPENING. TAIL GATE OPENS AND DROPS ALL BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY BUT PERSISTENTLY. FORD DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX, AFTER REPEATED SERVICE VISITS INCLUDING INVOLVEMENT OF FORD FACTORY TECHNICIANS. UNCOMMANDED OPENING MOST FREQUENTLY OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE, RELEASING PARKING BRAKE AND/OF SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALONG TIME, MONTHS AND MONTHS. DEALER PERFORMED WORK CALLED FOR BY 10/17 TECH SERVICE BULLITEN, DIDNT FIXIT. HAS REPLACED WIRING HARNNESS, RELEVANT SWITCHES, CHECKED AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157225 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11290318 · 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)

IN NOVEMBER 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE WENT INTO A VIOLENT SHIMMY SITUATION COMMONLY CALLED THE DEATH SHAKE. IT WAS A SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEAKER FOR REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 21078. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPENER. ON DECEMBER 11, 2019 I WAS TOWING A 37 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER. I WAS GOING DOWN A 6% WINDING DOWNHILL GRADE AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN MY TRUCK SUDDENLY WENT INTO A VERY VIOLENT DEATH SHAKE.…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290318 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11503361 · 2023-01-24 (January 24, 2023)

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the low fuel pressure and reduced power warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed. The contact was informed that metal shaving had spread throughout the engine, resulting in engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11503361 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11503497 · 2023-01-24 (January 24, 2023)

A TSB has been made by ford for the wiring harness on the emission system that causes the Nox sensors to fail and can cause the unit to have a major reduction of power while moving. The TSB states water can potentially get in the harness connector that is mounted on the right outside part of the frame, and cause's corrosion which can cause a short and have the Nox sensor to throw a P2209 code and fail. I have experienced this while driving with a major loss of power. For having a TSB open and researching many other having the same issue, it sho…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11503497 at NHTSA ↗