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2017 Ford F-250 SD Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 1,155 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford F-250 SD, most often about the steering (62% of complaints, typically around 28,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about F-250 SD model year since 2000 and has 14 recalls.

Complaints1,155
Recalls14
Crashes reported12
Fires reported13
Injuries reported13

Most common 2017 Ford F-250 SD problems

  1. Steering

    717 complaints · 62%

    Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, steering wheel/handle bar.

    This vehicle is experiencing "death wabble" at about 40 MPH when hitting a bump in the road. Death wabble is uncontrollable shaking of the front axle that won't stop unless you reduce your speed or stop the vehicle. The vehicle has not been altered from original factory specs.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 26,000 miles
    While driving at posted highway speed and after hitting a bump the front end and steering wheel has started to bounce and wobble violently. The only way to get it to stop is to slow down to 25-30 miles per hour. This puts you in a very dangerous situation. It doesn't happen a lot but has happened to me 5 times in the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 30,000 miles

  2. Suspension

    587 complaints · 51%

    Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.

    Driving at leagal highway speed of 75 on US i30 in sulphur springs texas on 11/11/2018. Hit a bump on road and vehicles front end began to shake violently. Almost caused a major accident as I struggled to keep under control. Once I slowed to 45 shake went away. Happened again 15 later under similar circumstances.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 28,987 miles
    Traveling at around 75 MPH in a straight line on the interstate, I hit a bump then the front end and steering wheel will begin to vibrate and shake. I had to slow down to around 50 MPH before it stopped.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 29,000 miles

  3. Other or unspecified

    109 complaints · 9%

    Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles.

    The tailgate is electronic and is opening on it's own while in motion. With my 5th wheel rv connected I cannot tell when the tailgate opens and this time it damaged both the tailgate and my rv when I made a right turn. I also lost cargo that was in the bed.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 31,000 miles
    What is known as death wobble. Have video the situation. This is a terrible safety issue. Please force Ford to fix this problem . Traveled on fm 1462 brazoria county tx. Truck started violently shacking. Was travel 55 MPH had to slow to 30 then it stopped.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 32,000 miles

  4. Wheels and tires

    71 complaints · 6%

    Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.

    I was driving at 75 MPH on interstate 10 heading to junction texas. There was an area of highway construction and as I was coming off of this construction there was some uneven road and bumps. My front left tire started to shake, the steering wjheel started to shake and it progressively got so bad that the entire…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 28,666 miles
    Was traveling down the interstate and the truck started to shake violently and it took the steering wheel right out of my hands and I grabbed the wheel and slowed the vehicle down and tried to get to the right emergency lane,the shaking continued till I slowed to about 20mph and it stopped shaking, exiting of the road…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2020, at 29,000 miles

  5. Body and structure

    66 complaints · 6%

    Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.

    Doors do not securely close when exposed to freezing temperatures, particularly after exposure to sleet,snow or wind. This is a four door vehicle and most times all doors are affected. When this occurs doors do not secure and latching does not occur. Of course, door ajar audible and visual alerts occur. Basically you…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 30,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford f-250. When the contact attempted to close the front driver side door from outside the vehicle, the door would not close. When the contact attempted to close the door from inside the vehicle, the door would not close or latch properly. The contact had to make a few attempts before the door…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 31,000 miles

  6. Electrical

    54 complaints · 5%

    Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel, ignition.

    The contact owned a 2017 Ford f-250. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle caught fire at the bottom of the engine and the brakes failed. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 36,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford f-250. While driving 55 MPH, the automatic tailgate activated independently. The contact pulled the vehicle over off of the roadway and closed the tailgate. When the contact re-entered the vehicle, the tailgate activated independently again. The vehicle was taken to gjovik Ford inc…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 37,000 miles

  7. Fuel system

    54 complaints · 5%

    Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery, fuel injection system.

    The contact owns a 2017 Ford f-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the highway. The contact had the vehicle towed…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2023, at 80,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford f-250. When the contact entered the vehicle, he smelled diesel fuel emitting from the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over and noticed fuel leaking from the vehicle. The contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 16v778000 (fuel system, diesel). The contact called five star Ford…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 81,200 miles

  8. Engine

    40 complaints · 4%

    Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.

    My wife and daughter were traveling south on interstate 55 north of sikeston, missouri. My wife was driving the truck. And was at the time of the incident passing a semi-truck. She noticed the truck lost power in the engine and a light came on on the dash. A message appeared on the dash relating to the power loss. She…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 52,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford f-250. While driving various speeds over a bump in the road, the vehicle violently vibrated. The failure occurred intermittently and there were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 52,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2017 Ford F-250 SD recalls

  1. Backup camera: camera

    NHTSA 25V572000 · September 3, 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning january 2026 and june 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25v270. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning september 8, 2025.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 lincoln mkc, mustang, f-350 sd, f-250 sd, f-450 sd, 2015-2017 lincoln navigator, expedition, 2015-2018 edge, transit connect, 2016-2019 f-550 sd, transit, 2017-2019 econoline, and 2019 ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

  2. Transmission: driveshaft

    NHTSA 22V880000 · November 29, 2022 · 18,808 vehicles

    Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power. Additionally, a vehicle rollaway could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Either of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 27, 2023. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s74.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 f-super duty f-250, f-350, and f-450 4x4 vehicles. A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture.

  3. Backup camera: camera

    NHTSA 22V644000 · August 26, 2022 · 277,040 vehicles

    Risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 14, 2023. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s51.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 f-super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and 2017-2020 lincoln continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.

  4. Body and structure: underbody shields

    NHTSA 22V087000 · February 16, 2022 · 247,445 vehicles

    Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on april 7, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s09.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 f-250 and f-350 super duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

  5. Seat belts: pretensioner

    NHTSA 19V880000 · December 11, 2019 · 490,574 vehicles

    Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the b-pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin january 20, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s52.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 f-super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 supercrew cab vehicles with carpet flooring. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the b-pillar area.

  6. Doors and locks: latch

    NHTSA 19V864000 · December 4, 2019 · 231,664 vehicles

    Risk: Unintended tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and will install a new tailgate handle release switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin january 20, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s48.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 super duty f-250, f-350, and f-450 trucks equipped with an electric tailgate latch release switch mounted in the tailgate handle. Water may enter the electrical wiring system and cause a short circuit, activating the switch and releasing the tailgate latches.

  7. Engine

    NHTSA 19V278000 · April 8, 2019 · 131,068 vehicles

    Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: 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, free of charge. The recall began may 31, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s11.

    Full defect summary

    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. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

  8. Doors and locks: latch

    NHTSA 17V652000 · October 16, 2017 · 1,101,107 vehicles

    Risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began october 12, 2018. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17s33.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 ford f-150, and 2017 f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 super duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.

  9. Seats

    NHTSA 17V599000 · September 25, 2017 · 504 vehicles

    Risk: The seat belt buckle weld may fail, preventing the occupants from being properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger manual seat track, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin november 6, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17c17.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks with manually-adjusted front passenger seats. The seat belt anchor may not be adequately welded to the seat cushion frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages," and 207, "seating systems."

  10. Seat belts: rear/other

    NHTSA 17V526000 · August 28, 2017 · 117,423 vehicles

    Risk: If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed october 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17c12.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 f-150, and 2017 f-250 and f-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."

  11. Seats: recliner

    NHTSA 17V332000 · May 22, 2017 · 2,204 vehicles

    Risk: If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on june 7, 2017. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17c08.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017 ford explorer, f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450 and f-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) numbers 202a, "head restraints" and 207, "seating systems."

  12. Transmission: automatic transmission

    NHTSA 17V225000 · March 31, 2017 · 48,443 vehicles

    Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement such as a vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the park rod actuating plate and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on june 1, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17c06.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017 ford f-250 super duty trucks equipped with 6.2l engines and six-speed automatic transmissions. These transmissions may have a damaged park rod actuating plate that can result in unexpected vehicle movement even though the transmission has been shifted to 'park.' as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 102, "transmission shift lever sequence/starter interlock/transmission braking effect", and number 114, "theft protection."

  13. Fuel system: mounting

    NHTSA 16V945000 · December 29, 2016 · 7,105 vehicles

    Risk: A fuel tank strap that separates and allows the fuel tank to contact the ground may cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install the reinforcement bracket, free of charge. The recall began on february 7, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16s45.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017 ford f-250 and f-350 super duty trucks manufactured august 10, 2016, to september 17, 2016. The frame reinforcement bracket may not have been attached to the front fuel tank strap, allowing the fuel tank strap to separate from the frame.

  14. Fuel system: fuel system, diesel

    NHTSA 16V778000 · October 26, 2016 · 170 vehicles

    Risk: If the shield becomes dislodged, the drain valve may open resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire. Under certain conditions, significant liquid fuel on the road surface may cause a slip hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the protective shield, free of charge. The recall began november 11, 2016. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16s39.

    Full defect summary

    Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 ford f-250 sd, f-350 sd, f-450 sd, and f-550 sd trucks manufactured march 21, 2016, to august 28, 2016. The protective shield on the fuel conditioning module may have inadequate adhesion, allowing the shield to become dislodged.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2017 Ford F-250 SD

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford F-250 SD?
By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (717 complaints, typically around 28,000 miles); suspension (587 complaints, typically around 28,500 miles); other or unspecified (109 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford F-250 SD have?
14 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 3, 2025 (backup camera). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2017 a bad year for the Ford F-250 SD?
It is the 2nd most complained-about F-250 SD model year since 2000, with 1,155 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Ford F-250 SD years

Ford F-250 SD problems by year