Ford F-250 problems
1,155 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced.
- 6 fire-related complaints on the electrical system
- Body: 47 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 6,900–40,000 mi
- Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Stories from the shop
I’ve had plenty of these in the bay, and the 2017 Super Duty is mostly a solid truck — but it’s got a handful of weak spots that show up like clockwork. Here’s the straight talk.
If yours has the 6.2L gas V8 mated to the 6R140 transmission, that’s what’ll bite you first. We see the pump start to slip somewhere between 70 and 90 thousand miles, especially on trucks that pulled hard or didn’t get fluid changes on schedule. Symptoms creep up slow — harder shift between 2nd and 3rd, maybe a delayed engagement when you drop it in drive. By the time the dealer’s quoting you four to six grand for a rebuild, you’ve already been driving on a sick transmission for a while. Catch it early and a fluid-and-filter service might buy you another 30,000 miles.
Second weak spot’s the transfer case. The BorgWarner BW4464 in these is known to break a shift fork — you’ll go to switch into 4-high and the dash light just blinks at you. Cheaper fix than the trans, usually $1,500 to $2,000 at an independent shop, but it’ll strand you off-road if you’re not paying attention.
If you’re shopping a used one, get under it. Verify the recall fixes are done — especially the Takata airbag and the shift cable roll pin from campaign 18V-274. Pull a clean ATF sample if you can. And don’t let anyone tell you the body control module gremlins are normal. They’re not. They’re a sign the truck’s been through some weather it shouldn’t have, and you’re going to be chasing electrical ghosts for as long as you own it.
For most folks this is still a truck worth owning. Just go in with eyes open, and budget for the items above before something else does it for you.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Crossed rail road tracks truck start shaking so bad like to have lost control at 65 miles per hour
I have filed an earlier complaint about the same issue(tracking number is 11289041). I made an appt at Ford to get truck fixed for the "death wobble" problem that seems to be reoccurring and they told me they didn't have me set up for a loaner vehicle and I would have to…
When vehicle travels over a rough spot or a change in grade on the road such as a bridge joint the front end shakes violently and you have to almost stop to get it to correct itself. This has happened 3 times in the past month. Most recent was on interstate traveling 70 MPH.…
The "death wobble" started after 15k miles on my truck. I've brought my truck to Ford dealership. Ford dealership in san jose, ca told me the dampners on my truck needs to be replaced, but the parts are in back order and doesn't know when Ford will have the parts for…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. PE24014 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2017 Ford F-250 reliable?
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 1,155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Ford F-250 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2017 Ford F-250?
On the NHTSA data, the 2017 Ford F-250 is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 6 fire-related complaints on the electrical system; Body: 47 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 6,900–40,000 mi; Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2017 Ford F-250?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 717 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 32,079 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 32,079 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-250 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2017 Ford F-250?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,155 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.