2017 Ford F-450 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (5) · Power Train (5) · Structure:body:tailgate (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-450 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Equipment 2019-05-29 · campaign 19V401000 · 22 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-05-03 · campaign 19V342000 · 17 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Engine 2018-12-18 · campaign 18V894000 · 410,289 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch 2017-05-22 · campaign 17V331000 · 14,410 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (12)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-23 · 25N10S1 · Other
certain 2017-2025 f-450 – f-600 chassis cab upfitted with an aerial bucket frame rail crack
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-07 · SSM 52787 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2017-2020 f-150 and 2017-2019 f-super duty vehicles may not successfully complete the transmission characterization/solenoid idn procedure using the integrated diagnostic system (ids) scan tool. this may be due to the ids not being at the latest software level
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-06-08 · SAN-Vol1 I1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the service awareness newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a tsb, ssm, gsb, or other electronic communication. this article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-08-19 · TSB 20-2272 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2019 transit vehicles equipped with a 3.2l engine, 2018-2020 f-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.0l engine, 2017-2020 super duty vehicles equipped with a 6.7l engine built on or after 13-may-2017 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (mil) with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p2
Steering 2020-04-30 · 20N04 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in some of the affected vehicles, customers may experience sustained steering wheel oscillation after hitting rough pavement or an expansion joint at speeds typically above 45 mph (72 km/h).
Engine 2018-09-14 · TSB 18-2278 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2017-2018 f-super duty vehicles equipped with a 6.7l engine may exhibit a concern where the def level indicator appears to be stuck in the full position. follow the service procedure steps to correct the condition.
Showing the 6 most recent of 12 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-29 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 90,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2017 ford f-450. the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, there was a loud pop coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle immediately caught fire. while attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. the contact exited the vehicle and called the fire department, and the fire was ex…”
2025-04-24 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“tailgate opens while driving could cause jackknife of trailer and truck has recall, recall has been performed 3 times and still having issues midway ford inspected and said the tailgate is functioning as intended no warning or indicators this is 2nd time this has happened and recalls have been performed also have surveillance video of me leaving a…”
2024-06-06 · Engine · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-450. the contact stated that the vehicle had been diagnosed with an oil leak coming from the injector seals. the vehicle was serviced by the dealer and the contact picked up the vehicle after it was serviced. while driving from the dealer at approximately 40 mph, the contact noticed white-grayish smoke coming from the…”
2023-05-05 · Power Train“vibration at 70 mph. safety concern as to possible vehicle damage/control due to excess vibration transmitted throughout vehicle. problem has been acknowledged by ford motor company by means of a safety recall notice # 22s74. correspondence from ford dated december 2022 stated parts to repair the problem were expected to be available q1 2023. as of…”
2023-02-23 · Power Train · 90,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-450. the contact stated while driving at approximately 70 mph there was a vibration coming through the steering and the entire vehicle. the contact stated there was an abnormal bang-like explosion that had come from under the floorboards. the contact stated that a section of the drive shaft had sheared off of the vehi…”
2023-02-14 · Power Train · 200,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-450. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v880000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated while driving 75 mph, the vehicle started to shudder violently, and the driveshaft detached. the contact was able to veer to the side of the road.…”
2022-11-28 · Structure:body“tailgate opens in transit and allows contents of bed to fall out of vehicle causing issues for drivers behind truck…”
2022-08-18 · Structure“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-450. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v087000 (structure, power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the conta…”
2022-07-12 · Air Bags“the vehicle air bag dash light warning lamp started to periodically come on and stay on, when it should have been off after the initial start cycle. when the air bag light is on, it reflects a defect in the system. vehicle is not safe to drive with malfunctioning air bag system. the vehicle has a warranty on safety issues until 60,000 miles. we hav…”
2022-05-27 · Power Train · 102,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-450. the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, there was an abnormal vibration and the driveshaft snapped. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the residence. the contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact called another lo…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.