2017 Ford F-150: start-stop system problems

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · MS

When the vehicle is started, the cam phasers rattle, and yes, it is available for inspection upon request. Ford mechanics and other mechanics have stated that if not replaced, the cam phasers will eventually fail. This puts others at risk as the auto start/stop feature shuts the engine off anytime the vehicle comes to a stop. If the cam phasers failed while stopped in the road, the vehicle would not start back up, causing a rear end collision and possible injury/death to anyone on the road. The problem exists in the 2015-2018 Ford F150 3.5L ecoboost. Ford resolved the issue in the 2019 model F150 by replacing the cam phasers with ones that are built with better quality. I am unsure if the vehicle issue has been inspected by others. There have been no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. It first appeared in my vehicle around this year.

Filed Feb 28, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 154,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Auto START/STOP inadvertently activated, causing several other electrical systems to malfunction. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, removed the ignition key, and then restarted the vehicle. The failure had recurred twice within 4 months. The last failure occurred while driving approximately 70 MPH, and the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and waited to restart the vehicle. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 154,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2023 · Transmission · SC

When the auto start/stop function kicks back on at a stop light, it often causes the truck to lurch forward suddenly. Then, it occasionally cuts out, momentarily stalling the vehicle in the middle of the intersection. After a couple of seconds, it re-engages and takes off. The lurching is jarring and potentially harmful; stalling in an intersection is dangerous.

Filed Aug 18, 2023 · Electrical · AZ

Engine start stop does not work anymore when at a stop but is causing a rough idle and sometimes will stall in traffic at low speeds.

Filed Jun 9, 2022 · Transmission · PA

On two occasions, my 2017 F150 failed to restart after the auto stop/start shut the engine off. April 29, 2022, I stopped at a crosswalk to allow pedestrians to cross. My truck auto stop engaged and the engine stopped. I took my foot off the brake peddle to continue driving and my truck would not restart. Error messages flashed telling me to restart my truck. After attempting to restart my truck, nothing happened. All electronics continued to work (radio, air conditioning, power windows, etc.); however despite numerous attempts to restart the truck, it would not restart. Three pedestrians had to assist by pushing the truck off of the street to a parking lot as it was blocking the flow of traffic at a very busy intersection. As I sat waiting over two hours for a tow truck and periodically attempted to restart the truck, around 2 1/2 hours later the truck restarted and I drove it to the dealer. The dealer noted that the truck may have restarted since it "had time to reset". The dealer checked the truck but could not get it to replicate the problem but did note an error code of p164c. They made no attempt to offer any solutions or probable cause for the issue. We continued to drive the truck and had the auto stop/start issue repeat itself on May 8, 2022. The same scenario happened where the truck went into auto stop during a complete stop and failed to restart. Again, the truck was on an open roadway and impeding the flow of traffic. After numerous attempts to restart the truck, the truck continued to not start while all electronics continued to work. My husband was driving the truck this time and was able to use a tool to disconnect the battery for a few minutes to "reset" the truck. We then drove it to the same dealer who again reviewed the issue. They again concluded that since they could not replicate the problem, they could do nothing to fix the issue to avoid the problem in the future. This is a safety issue as it is extremely dangerous to stop in moving traffic.

Filed Nov 3, 2021 · Electrical · IN

About a month after purchasing the truck in April 2021 with About 35,000 on the truck when stopped at a traffic light the trucks auto stop/start kicked in and the vehicle would not restart and had to be pushed out of the road during rush hour. Since then the truck has been in the dealership atleast 5 times for this issue and has not been resolved. They keep giving the truck back saying they don't know

Filed Feb 19, 2020 · Engine · 32,000 miles · CA

Vehicle will abruptly change first gear in the morning causing a whiplash movement. After that first abrupt change it operates normally. Also occasionally, while on a hill the vehicle will turn off due to the stop/start function but it will not turn on.

Filed Dec 5, 2019 · Steering · 31,000 miles · OH

After the auto start/stop feature engages the power steering does not immediately return. So when I am stopped at a traffic light, stop sign or left turn and the auto start/stop restarts the engine when I release the brake it can take up to 3 seconds for the power steering to reengage. I have had this to the dealer and was advised that this is functioning as designed. The vehicle did not behave this way when I first purchased. This could be very dangerous in an emergency situation require a rapid restart and turn.

Filed Dec 18, 2018 · Steering · 42,000 miles · TX

This vehicle has the automatic stop/start feature and for a few seconds after the vehicle starts back up after being stopped- there is no steering control

Filed Jun 21, 2017 · Brakes, Electrical · 2,000 miles · CA

Engine stalls at stop (after letting up on brake and auto start stop re-starts the engine) followed by "hill start assist not available" error flashes along with other brake related errors; vehicle engine won't turn over/start unless transmission is put back into park. Upon restarting all engine error/fault messages are cleared and things seem back to normal. Today was the second time this has happened. The first time was about 7 days ago. This is dangerous should it happen entering an intersection. I reported the problem to livermore ford and they said that since it is intermittent without a check engine light on they cannot diagnose it.

Filed Mar 14, 2017 · Engine · 1,600 miles · OH

Ecoboost engine, auto stop/start option disabled by pushing dash button. Truck shuts off when stopped at stop light like the auto stop function is still enabled but the engine will not restart when you release the brakes. Have to put the transmission in neutral and manually restart the engine using the key. This has happened to me on 3 occasions within the last week.