While driving catalytic converter heats up and starts leaking black liquid on sensor wires and smoking real bad with a burning smell.
2017 Ford F-350 powertrain problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 17 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 14 model years of Ford F-350 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The narratives describe multiple distinct powertrain failures in 2017 Ford F-350s. Driveshaft detachment is the most frequent complaint—occurring at 18,400 to 140,000 miles. Owners report sudden violent vibration, clunking noise, and complete driveshaft separation while driving at highway speeds (55–80 mph), leaving them stranded and creating immediate safety hazards. One owner's rear axle suspension was confirmed cracked; another found the driveshaft too long and carrier bearing misaligned at the dealership.
Transmission failures include sudden loss of engagement (one with valve body malfunction at undisclosed mileage, rebuild cost $8,300), a harsh shift from 3rd to 6th gear with converter/flex plate failure near 62,000 miles, and one vehicle rolling backward from Park while idling at 60,000 miles with no warning.
Engine-related issues include intermittent surging/bucking while towing uphill with temporary power loss and OBD port electrical dropout at higher mileage, rough idling with smoke and odor from the tailpipe, and a catalytic converter leaking black liquid onto sensor wires.
Several owners cite NHTSA Campaign 22V880000 (Power Train) but report parts unavailable for months or longer. One complaint references a fuel tank capacity discrepancy (advertised 36 gallons, actual usable ~26 gallons) that owner claims Ford knows about. All failures described are unverified owner allegations.
Same Ford F-350 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Driveshaft detachment/fracture
Driveshaft separates or fractures during highway driving, often preceded by severe vibration and noise. One case involved a cracked rear axle suspension; another involved misalignment (driveshaft too long, carrier bearing too high). Multiple occurrences at varied mileage suggest design or manufacturing defect.
When: 18,400 to 140,000 miles; incidents occur at 55–80 mph during normal highway driving and acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration in middle and rear of vehicle; Loud clunking and clanking noise from underneath; Driveshaft detaches or falls off; Rear axle suspension cracked; RPM rises but vehicle speed does not increase
Repairs/costs cited: Driveshaft replacement, carrier bearing lowering, rear end shimmy/differential pinion angle adjustment, rear axle replacement; one owner declined repair due to cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V880000 (Power Train); parts reported unavailable for extended periods; one owner given case number CAS-21793867; manufacturer advised to await second notification
Transmission failure – valve body/torque converter
Complete or near-complete transmission failure rendering vehicle undriveable. One incident involved valve body malfunction causing total loss of gear engagement; another involved torque converter failure paired with flex plate degradation. Flex plate starter grinding is reported as early warning sign.
When: 61,800 miles (converter failure at 6R140); undisclosed mileage (valve body malfunction); within 60,000-mile powertrain warranty per owner
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden harsh downshift or upshift (3rd to 6th gear with loud bang); Complete loss of transmission engagement; vehicle will not move; Starter grinding or miss-hitting when engaging (early warning); No warning lights prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter and flex plate replacement; transmission rebuild cost $8,300 out of pocket; owner was quoted $2,000+ for what they believe is manufacturer defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin SSM 47976 referenced by owner; dealership requested customer pay for warranty-period failure; complaint submitted to dealership but not resolved in owner's favor
Transmission erroneous reverse engagement (unattended vehicle)
Vehicle shifted into reverse on its own while parked with engine idling and no operator input, causing vehicle to roll and strike parked vehicle. No operator in vehicle. Cause not determined.
When: 60,000 miles; occurs while parked at idle
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifted to reverse without driver input; Unattended vehicle rolled away and collided with parked vehicle
Engine surge/power loss while towing uphill
Vehicle intermittently surges and bucks under load while towing uphill, accompanied by loss of power and electrical loss to OBD-II port. Occurs multiple times at varying speeds; dealer reportedly states behavior is 'normal.' No diagnostic trouble codes generated.
When: Higher mileage (unspecified); occurs at 30–60 mph while towing
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent surging and bucking under load; Loss of power and acceleration; Electrical power loss to OBD-II diagnostic port; No diagnostic trouble codes or fault codes generated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer reportedly claims behavior is normal operation
Vehicle stall without warning lights
Vehicle stalled while driving at highway speeds with no warning lights illuminated. Owner associated stall with pending powertrain recall but parts unavailable.
When: Unknown mileage; occurs at 55–70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalled while driving; No warning lights illuminated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V880000 (Power Train); parts unavailable; manufacturer advised to await second notification
Catalytic converter leak with sensor contamination
Catalytic converter overheats, leaks black liquid onto oxygen sensor wires, and produces smoking and burning smell. Failure mode not fully investigated by owner.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Catalytic converter overheating; Black liquid leaking from converter onto sensor wires; Smoking and burning smell
Rough idle with exhaust smoke and odor
Vehicle idles roughly with smoke and abnormal odor from tailpipe. Owner received recall notices but parts unavailable for extended period.
When: 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idling; Smoke from tailpipe; Abnormal odor from exhaust
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) and 22V880000 (Power Train); parts unavailable; manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall repair
Fuel tank usable capacity discrepancy
Owner's manual specifies 36-gallon tank capacity but vehicle only holds approximately 26 gallons of usable fuel. Owner believes this causes vehicle to stall during highway driving when running on fumes and claims Ford is aware but declined to repair.
When: Unspecified; issue affects normal refueling operations
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unable to fill to advertised 36-gallon capacity; Only ~26 gallons of usable fuel available; Risk of vehicle stalling on highway if fuel math based on advertised capacity
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner claims Ford is aware and knows how to fix but declined to take care of safety repair
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the driveshaft fractured, causing both the passenger’s and driver’s side rear tires to detach from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer awaiting a diagnostic test. Upon investigation, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V880000 (Power Train) however, parts for the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2017 Ford F-350?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2017 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 49,000 and 85,951 miles, with the median around 74,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,000; a quarter make it past 85,951. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Ford/F-350.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.