2017 Ford F-450: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
42,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 20 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 15.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Power Train: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Electrical System: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Structure:Body:Tailgate: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 8 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2018: 2; 2019: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11063372 · 2018-01-17 (January 17, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD F-450. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOT COLD. THE CONTACT CALLED SIEMANS FORD AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 8961 RED ARROW HWY, BRIDGMAN, MI 49106) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE VEHICLE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO KEEP THE MOISTURE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102808 · 2018-06-20 (June 20, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY WITH A STRONG VIBRATION. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DECELERATED AS THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED OUTWARD FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAME CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIXSON FORD OF MONROE (6300 FRONTAGE RD, MONROE, LA 71202, [phone removed]) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MODIFIED. THE DEALER DID NOT PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11102808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11173364 · 2019-01-31 (January 31, 2019)
BROUGHT MY TRUCK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS NOT LATCHING CLOSED AT ALL. THE TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS LESS THAN 20K MILES. LATER THAT DAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS FIXED AND READY TO BE PICKED UP. LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER THE LATCH AGAIN WOULD NOT WORK. I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED WITH ONE HAND SO IT WOULDN'T FLY OPEN IN TRAFFIC. THEY AGAIN SAID IT WOULD BE FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS GIVING THEM 'ATTITUDE' BECAUSE I WAS UPSET THAT IT DIDN'T …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194683 · 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)
I HAVE A 2017 FORD SUPER DUTY F450 PLATINUM. MULTIPLE TIME THE TAILGATE HAS DROPPED O ITS OWN WHILE IM DRIVING THE TRUCK. KEYS ARE RESTING IN CONSOLE NOT TOUCHING RELEASE BUTTON AND DROPS ON ITS OWN. HAVE CHECKED AND DOUBLED CHECKED CLOSING FIRMLY. STILL OPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE WITNESSES WATCH IT HAPPEN. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED WHEN TOWING AND DESTROYED THE TAILGATE AND COULD OF CAUSED AND ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11254684 · 2019-09-11 (September 11, 2019)
DRIVE LINE VIBRATION SIMILAR TO FORD RECAL #17S08
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286313 · 2019-12-02 (December 2, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND HAULING A TRAILER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE TAILGATE DISENGAGED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE TAILGATE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289792 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)
TAILGATE TO TRUCK HAS OPENED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER 2019. I AM NOT SURE AT THE EXACT TIME AND CONDITIONS THAT THE TAILGATE OPENED BUT WEATHER WAS RAINING MID-DAY ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS, THE THIRD WAS EARLY MORNING. ONE OF THE TIMES THE TAILGATE OPENED WAS WHILE TOWING A CARGO TRAILER WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE TAILGATE AS IT FELL ON THE TRAILER TONGUE JACK HANDLE. AS A NEWLY RETIRED NAVY PILOT I 'PRE-FLIGHT' MY TRUCK AND TRAILER BEFORE EVERY DRIVE CHECKING SAFETY CHAINS, LOCKS, TIRES AND LIGHTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289903 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)
WAS PASSING BY THE TRUCK THE ALARM WAS GOING OFF, UPON OPENING THE DOOR THERE WAS WATER POURING OUT OF THE DOOR, THEN I NOTICED THE FRONT DASH WAS SOAKING WET. THE CONSOLE HAD SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER IN IT. THE TRUCK WAS FLATBEDDED TO COLUMBIA FORD, FOUND SUNROOF WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY FROM FORD FACTORY. TRUCK HAS 2" OF WATER IN CONSOLE, DRIPPING FROM HEADLINER AND SWITCHES, AND FLOOR. SEATS ARE SOAKED. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT FORD DEALERSHIP THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY CANNOT REMOVE THE SEATS OR THE FLOOR MATS BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT REIMBURS…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289903 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V331000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 2017-05-22 (May 22, 2017)
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. 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."
Consequence: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V894000 · Engine
Reported: 2018-12-18 (December 18, 2018)
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.
Consequence: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V342000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2019-05-03 (May 3, 2019)
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.
Consequence: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V401000 · Equipment
Reported: 2019-05-29 (May 29, 2019)
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 to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Consequence: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗