2017 Ford F-550 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure (2) · Wheels (1) · Tires (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-550 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
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 2019-05-13 · campaign 19V358000 · 4 vehicles
Defect: Unruh Fire, Inc. (Unruh Fire) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550-based fire trucks 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: Unruh Fire has notified owners and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began in May 20, 2019. Owners may contact Unruh Fire customer service at 1-800-856-7080.
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 (16)
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.
Power Train 2023-05-03 · 20N04 S2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2017-2019 my f250/f350 and all f450/550 vehicles steering linage damper replacement. reason for this supplement: updated program terms, includes new mobile service repair assessment and updated owner letters with revised program terms.
Structure:frame And Members 2022-09-19 · 21B04 S4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2017 through 2020 model year f550 equipped with payload plus upgrade package frame rail crack program terms: program will be extended for an additional year; urgency/expiration date: program will be extended for an additional year owner refunds: refunds have been extended to december 31,
Structure 2021-10-07 · 21B04-S1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2017 through 2020 model year f550 equipped with payload plus upgrade package frame rail crack reason for this supplement ã¢â⢠technical instructions: updated to clarify amount of use for rotobroach cutter.ã¢â⢠attachment v: updated list of trucks that will not require bracket installati
Showing the 6 most recent of 16 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-05 · Structure · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-550. the contact stated that while driving, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the brake dust cover, but the sound persisted. the vehicle was taken to earthroamer (5073 silver peak ave, dacono, co 80514), who replaced the suspension bushing…”
2026-02-11 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 59,384 mi“the contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2017 ford f550. the contact stated that while one of the employees was driving at highway speeds, a diesel fuel-burning odor was coming from the engine and entering the cabin of the vehicle through the a/c vents. no warning lights were illuminated. the driver pulled over to the side of the road and tur…”
2026-02-03 · Structure:body“the front cab over is getting loose and separating worried it will fall off, have huge water leak coming into the cab from the top through auxiliary buttons and driver side. have been reading forums and lots of people have the same issues this is very concerning that it's not being taken seriously. …”
2025-07-25 · Fuel System, Diesel · 123,483 mi“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-550. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the engine seized. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start as intended. additionally, the contact stated that occasionally, when the vehicle…”
2024-11-22 · Engine · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“my truck exploded on the expressway on 11-21-24 due to a manufacturer default. …”
2022-08-08 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/Camshaft Position Sensor · 213,720 mi“the contact owns a 2017 ford f-550. the contact stated that after two to three minutes after the engine was idled, a ticking noise was heard in the engine. the noise would dissipate however, a rattling noise was heard next. the contact stated works as an independent mechanic and diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the #3 cylinder had a low oil pr…”
2021-06-28 · Wheels“national traffic and motor vehicle safety act of 1966 (safety act), s571.120 tire/rim selection, s5.1.2, requires the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to the axle shall be not less than the gross axle weight rating (gawr) of the axle system specified on the vehicle's certification label required by 49 cfr part 567. 567.77 require…”
2021-06-21 · Tires“national traffic and motor vehicle safety act of 1966 (safety act), s571.120 tire/rim selection, s5.1.2, requires the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to the axle shall be not less than the gross axle weight rating (gawr) of the axle system specified on the vehicle's certification label required by 49 cfr part 567. 567.77 requir…”
2021-02-05 · Suspension · 80,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2017 ford f-550. the contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle failed to drive in a straight line. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer freeway ford truck sales (8445 45th st, lyons, il 60534, (708) 442-9000) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacturer was informed of the f…”
2019-02-28 · Service Brakes · 118,000 mi · 💥 crash“ford put a 2 rubber brake hoses with outer braided steel outer casing on the build around the a.b.s. unit on the driver side engine compartment. one of these hoses failed instantly resulting in a low speed collision with no brakes.with no previous warning of any kind ie soft pedal etc. no kind light came on. this must be corrected before this start…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.