Not sure if I can file an issue for this, but I wanted to let you know that a Ford Safety recall caused other issues after it was applied. In late July 2026, my son received a Ford safety recall notice (Recall #26S28) for his 2017 F 150 requiring a PCM software update. I brought the truck to Crown Motors in Redding on August 11th for the recall service. Before this appointment, the truck had no performance issues. Immediately after picking up the truck, a noticeable pinging sound occurred under acceleration. I returned the vehicle on August 12th, where Crown Motors confirmed the issue and advised spark plug replacement. This did not resolve the problem. I was also told that continued driving could damage the engine, so the truck remained at the dealership. Over the following days, Crown Motors worked with Ford engineering and repeatedly attempted software-related fixes. Crown staff informed me they believed the recall update caused the issue, and the first internal Ford team reportedly agreed. However, on August 25th, Ford’s second internal review determined the software update was not responsible and stated that all repair costs would fall on me—despite the clear timeline showing the problem began immediately after the recall service. Customer Service provided no assistance and refused to escalate my concern. As a result, my truck is currently non-operational, Crown Motors does not have a fix, and Ford will not cover repairs triggered only after Ford’s own safety recall. I believe the Spark Knock issue is an additional safety issue caused by the PCM recall update that was I was told could cause engine failure.
2017 Ford F-150: engine failure
33 of the 1,467 complaints about the 2017 Ford F-150 describe engine failure.
- owner complaints
- 33
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical repair cost reported
- $5,449
- typical mileage
- 82,000
- recalls
- 2
Engine failure by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. While the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that the transmission seized. The vehicle then crashed into a rock wall before coming to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was filed. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
At 87,336 miles, my 2017 Ford F-150 (3.5L EcoBoost) would not start. The engine clicked and buzzed but failed to turn over, leaving me stranded with no warning. There was no prior check engine light. I brought the truck to Roy Hendrick Automotive in [XXX] (Invoice XXX, completed 03/05/2025). Their diagnosis determined the cam phasers and timing components had failed. The shop performed a full timing chain and cam phaser replacement, including both camshaft sprockets, timing chains, tensioners, timing chain guides, variable timing solenoids, water pump, seals, gaskets, and spark plugs. Total cost: $5,449.36, entirely out of pocket. This is a serious safety defect. Cam phaser failure in the 3.5L EcoBoost can cause catastrophic loss of engine timing, resulting in sudden engine stall or failure to start. A stall at highway speed, in an intersection, or while merging creates an immediate risk of collision, serious injury, or death. Even a no-start condition is a safety issue when it strands a driver in an unsafe location. I use this vehicle daily to transport my two young children (ages [XXX] and [XXX] ) to and from daycare. A sudden engine failure while driving with them in the vehicle could have had fatal consequences. Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost cam phaser failures are extensively documented, with numerous TSBs and owner complaints on file. An engine should not require over $5,000 in internal timing repairs before 100,000 miles. Ford has failed to issue a recall or provide an adequate remedy. I am filing this complaint to ensure the federal safety agency has a complete record of another 3.5L EcoBoost timing failure that put vehicle occupants, including small children, at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
An unknown coolant leak with my 2017 2.7 engine causing sufficient damage due to a manufacturer error and needing a new engine. I had several people tell me this is a common issue with 2.7 engines.
I took my 2017 Ford F150 XLT super cab 4 x 4 into Matthews-Currie Ford dealership. It was diagnosed unsafe to drive. They replaced the transmission & driveshaft. The truck still was not functioning correctly. Took it back into the same dealership where they determine the engine was also bad. They ordered a junkyard engine that leaked all of the oil due to a loose or faulty oil pan plug. & had the truck in their possession for well over two months. The truck still does not operate correctly & they are refusing to stand behind their work. No warning lights. No indications of problem other than how it drove. There is no cooperation from another dealership due to this one working on it prior. I pay for an extended warranty that nobody wants to honor due to the fact that this dealership has worked on it and they don’t want to get involved after having all of this work done by somebody else. My safety was put at risk due to the fact that the driveshaft & transmission & engine were all failing at the same time & the dealership proved that by not letting me leave with my vehicle. Once they diagnose the issue. They said it was on roadworthy. This put me in a position of having to rent vehicles out of my own pocket & be reimbursed 50% of the cost of rental. They had the truck returned to them due to problems. They did not diagnose when I asked them to do a full diagnosis of the vehicle when I noticed it had an immediate problem one day into owning it. This worries me because not only do they want to not honor their work. They have caused additional electrical problems to the radio. & the air conditioner not cooling as it did before they replaced the engine. They stated maybe I should try to buy a more extensive Extended Warranty & they would consider fixing it. They treated me very unprofessionally & could not give a descriptive explanation of where they got the replacement used engine who rebuilt the transmission & why the electronics & air conditioner failed.
The oil pan has a rtv gasket from factory and started leaking, I’ve replaced it twice and is still leaking. It’s expensive and cumbersome. It runs the risk of oil starvation, this would cause catastrophic engine failure, ford has TSB for this issue. UNKNOWN UNKNOWN
My vehicle cam phasers went bad. Cost to repair is in the upwards of $5000. Called Ford was unwilling to help pay for repairs. There was a TSB put out a year or so ago that stated that FORD knows about the cam phaser issue and would help pay for repairs. My cam phasers went bad this week and if not fixed can cause complete engine failure. They have apparently redesigned them a couple of times. I just don't get it, if it's a known defect in the 3.5 EcoBoost engine s how come there is no recall on them. I'm not the only one complaining check the ford forums online. I have to get it repaired or pay for a whole new engine. Plus I have an active recall on my braking system for about9 months know.
- Cam Phasers failed. Ford installed faulty Cam Phasers in their 2017-2020 Ford F150 trucks that cost $5,700 to fix. It is a very well known issue. No, you can not inspect the issue due to the fact that you have to take apart the engine to get to them. - When Cam Phasers fully malfunction the engine is blown and will need to replace the engine. - Yes, it was diagnosed by a dealership - No warning lamps. There is a rattling sound when starting the vehicle and after research there is a ton of videos with the exact same thing happening to others.
Internal coolant leak issues leading to engine failure. Know defect publicly acknowledged by Ford as there is a class action lawsuit for the later models, but same engine (2.7L eco boost) My gauges do not register that my coolant is low or empty. I have taken it to the dealership twice in 6 months for the complaints of coolant loss. An independent mechanic suspects the same issues as the known defect leading to engine failure
My apologies, I sent prematurely, case number 11664674 is already open, but I wanted to add to it. My 2017 Ford F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost engine has experienced recurring coolant loss and is now showing signs of internal engine damage. I initially reported the issue to the Ford dealership in November 2024, but no issue was found. On May 23, 2025, the dealership told me I need a new engine. My independent mechanic suspects cracked intake valves or internal coolant intrusion — a known defect in the 2.7L EcoBoost engine. This appears to be the same issue identified in class action lawsuits and previous the federal safety agency complaints. I feel the vehicle is now undrivable due to my fear of imminent engine failure. My extended warranty expired in December 2023, but the problem started well before that with white smoke coming out of the tail pipe upon cold starting. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate these recurring issues, as this appears to be a widespread and unsafe defect affecting multiple years of the Ford 2.7L EcoBoost engine. VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The cam phasers wear prematurely causing possible issues with engine timing and engine failure
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 60-70 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact's son was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could be related to a defective oil pump, and that there were metal shavings inside the oil. The vehicle was then towed to the private dealer where it was purchased, and the same assessment was made. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This article supersedes TSB 23-2330 to update the Parts List
- Tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an...
- This article supersedes TSB 23-2083 to update the Service Procedure and the Part List
- Ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover area of the engine on initial start-up after...
- Oil leak from the oil pan RTV seal
- Some 2015-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L, 3.5L or 5.0L engine may require replacement of the...
- Ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover area of the engine on initial start-up after...
Related recalls
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
- Risk
- A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Recall number 19V278000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 18V894000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2017 Ford F-150 engine failure
Is engine failure a common problem on the 2017 Ford F-150?
33 of 1,467 owner complaints about the 2017 Ford F-150 (2%) mention engine failure. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
How much does it cost to fix engine failure on the 2017 Ford F-150?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,449 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2017 Ford F-150?
There are 2 recalls and 70 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2017 Ford F-150
Check engine light 113Door locks 97Jerking 71Harsh shifting 64Won't shift 64Transmission failure 59Stalling 49Loss of power 45Knocking 34Slipping 33Fire or smoke 32Hesitation 29Brake failure 26Grinding brakes 25Power steering loss 25Adaptive cruise 21Backup camera 21Overheating 21Shudder 21ABS 12No deployment 12Won't start 12Start-stop 11Misfire 10Wipers 10Key fob 9Screen failure 7Warning lights 7Tire blowout 5
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