The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal rattling sound on cold starts. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the cam phasers; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
2017 Ford F-150 engine complaints
Page 4 of 13: complaints 71 to 100 of 369, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I had a slight oil leak that was getting worse over time. It got to the point one day, I was seeing minimal smoke coming out from the hood and wheel wells. I was on my way home from work one day, and as soon as I got off the interstate, as soon as I stopped at the stop light, the whole hood was covered with smoke billowing out everywhere, and the scent of fire. I quickly shut the truck off and grabbed my fire extinguisher, thinking my truck was on fire. I took it to a local shop I’m familiar with, and he said both valve covers were warped, and there is a TSB out from Ford about this issue. The valve covers, over time, will warp, causing oil to slosh out onto the hot exhaust manifold, and everything else. He said they have had multiple 3.5 EcoBoost motors in, and everytime they have an oil leak, it’s a warped valve cover. He told me that Ford makes a replacement valve cover with a different material, but I see this as a MAJOR fire risk! Oil getting out and combusting on an exhaust manifold, that’s not safe at all, and could easily ignite. It really upsets me that Ford will make the new part, but not recall the vehicle to fix the issue. I had to pay $1,700 to have it all fixed and safe. I have a Foster Child and it jeopardizes his safety, along with my wife and I.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon cold start-ups, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the engine. During the failure, the rattling noise was present for approximately 20 seconds before self-correcting; however, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the cam phasers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in an extended coverage related to the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while parked and occupying the vehicle, there was a rattling sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. Neither the independent mechanic nor dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The contact related the failure to an article online. The approximate failure mileage was 91,500.
While traveling at highway speeds, my truck will downshift from 6th gear to first gear. On occasion, the heads up display will randomly flash between different driving modes (reverse, M, Neutral) as if it is resetting. This also happens at medium speeds (20-30 mph)
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? VCT Cam Phasers x4 How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This is a major engine component that provides power to the vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes at two separate locations this has been a persistent issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes I discovered upon this issue when I purchased this vehicle through Enterprise Car sales
During cold start and sometimes during a warm start the engine rattles. Took to local mechanic and the cam phasers and timing chain are bad. Truck was not covered on recall of newer engines. Truck just went over 100,000 miles outside of the recall. Mechanic said if the timing chain was to come disconnected the truck will stop running and cause heavy damage to the engine.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the CDF hub or transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormally loud sound and hesitated to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine timing camshaft sprocket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that during cold starts, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle could not be diagnosed free of charge because the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 69,500.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with intake manifold runner control failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the intake manifold runner control was stuck in bay 2. The contact was informed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The intake manifold on this series of trucks is a commonly found failure. It is costly as it requires complete disassembly and reinstall for internal components, that lead to poor performance and eventual engine damage if not repaired. I had a SES code 2019 flag for this and required me to have >$1500 repair to resolve by a reinstall of a new intake manifold by the Ford Dealer on May 21, 2025. This should have been recalled with the vast number of problems seen online and that the dealer had this part in stock as it is so common. I was only 50d after my extended ESP warranty when it went.
Truck has been downshifting at low gears prior to this main incident. Usually at low speeds between the 1-3 gears. But today I was driving down the highway at approximately 65 mph in the 6th gear and without warning it seemed to electrically down shift into 1st gear. I describe it as electrically because the Rpm’s dropped almost instantly for a second and seemed to reboot. Which is extremely dangerous especially on a busy highway. Not only could I cause me to crash but also others to wreck into my self and poses a incredible risk for my fellow drivers And this is the reason for my complaint. Going from the 6th gear to 1st has to be some sort of recall and or an indication of far greater problem. What is even more odd there have been no check engine lights on for any of these instances.
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)
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
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was idling rough. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired, and the cam phasers and timing chain was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a cold start rattling sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Certain 2017-2020 Model Year F-150 Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI Engine Cam Phaser Replacement). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the engine was making an abnormal rattling sound on cold starts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could be experiencing a cam phaser failure. The contact related to the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
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 the vehicle was making an abnormal rattling sound on cold starts. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine lifters made an abnormal sound while driving. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle was not covered under Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the cam phasers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
Cam phaser rattle and need to be replaced on 3.5L eco boost. Ford had acknowledged this has been a larger problem and addresses a consumer report to notify public. Cam Phaser were upgraded in 2020 due to mechanical errors.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven twice and towed to a local dealer; where the cam phasers were replaced on three occasions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer where it was diagnosed with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000. The VIN was not available.
For the 4th time I am driving my truck, unexpectedly out of nowhere the transmission shifts, tires lock up, I am perked into the steering wheel and can't accelerate over 15 mph. Cars forced to dodge around me, horns blowing and I have no choice other than creeping on side of road until I decides to move. Please do something about thus hazard before something more serious happens
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clattering sound coming from the engine at start up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the cam phasers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that during cold starts, there was an abnormally loud rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 76,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed on an incline, the vehicle suddenly jolted and briefly started to shudder until reaching the top of the hill. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied at the residence, while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started to hesitate. The vehicle was taken to dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,137.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, and the contact became aware of an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with failed cam phasers. The contact was informed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. Additionally, the contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, there was a loud noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, the mechanic observed the rattling sound and associated the sound with the cam phaser. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
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