2017 Ford F-150: engine stalls while driving

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Transmission · SC

My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fails to downshift to 1st gear when coming to a stop. Instead, it remains in 3rd gear, requiring the truck to pull away from a complete stop in 3rd gear. The dealership did perform the software update on 08/20/2026 ,yet the issues remain the same. The vehicle has set diagnostic trouble code P0722 for the transmission output speed sensor. I have been informed that the output speed sensor is molded into the transmission lead frame and cannot be replaced separately, requiring replacement of the lead frame. Today, the transmission malfunction created an immediate and potentially life-threatening safety situation. As I pulled out of my driveway, the truck remained in 1st gear and would not properly progress through the gears. It then abruptly jumped into 2nd gear and caused the vehicle to stall/lose forward progress while I was entering the roadway. Oncoming traffic was nearly upon me and I was almost struck. The vehicle eventually engaged the proper gear and continued moving, but by that time I was in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. This is not an isolated incident or an occasional inconvenience. The transmission has been repeatedly malfunctioning, including going into limp mode in 5th gear and failing to downshift appropriately when stopping. The vehicle's inability to properly select and engage the appropriate gear creates a serious risk when pulling into traffic, stopping, accelerating, or attempting to avoid another vehicle. Ford has a customer satisfaction program related to the transmission lead frame/output speed sensor issue. However, I was told that my vehicle is not covered because P0722 is not one of the diagnostic codes included for coverage.

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine, Steering · SC

On XXX, my [XXX] son was driving this 2017 Ford F-150 when the transmission suddenly downshifted while traveling on the road. The downshift was severe enough that the rear tires lost traction and the vehicle fishtailed, nearly resulting in an accident. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Ford dealer on 8/18/2026. We reported the sudden downshift, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the condition. The dealer performed Ford Recall 26S28/the federal safety agency 26V‑237 and campaign 19G01, and the vehicle was returned on XXX. On XXX, only two days after the recall repair, the engine unexpectedly shut off while the vehicle was being driven. It restarted afterward. On XXX, the engine again unexpectedly stalled while the vehicle was moving. When the engine stopped, power-steering assist was lost and the driver had to coast the vehicle safely to the side of the road. The engine restarted immediately. When attempting to drive away, the transmission appeared to be starting in approximately third gear rather than first gear. After the vehicle was moving, the transmission eventually began operating normally again. Ford Customer Relationship Center was notified on XXX and formally documented these incidents. The vehicle is available for inspection. I am concerned because the original sudden downshift closely resembles the safety defect addressed by Recall 26V‑237/26S28, and serious intermittent stalling and abnormal transmission operation have continued after the recall remedy was performed. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document and evaluate these post-recall safety symptoms and whether the recall remedy adequately addresses the underlying defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Transmission · 99,750 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted independently, the dashboard flashed on and off, a wrench icon appeared on the instrument panel, and the vehicle stalled. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several local dealers were contacted however, they all confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 failure mileage was approximately 99,750.

Filed May 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · IL

While driving the car immediately downshifted and I could not accelerate. The Hill assist came on and service advance trac came on. This happened 3 times. The first time we towed it to the dealership April 17th, and they changed the oil and tested the battery secured wires and verified after the repair on April 26th. After we picked the truck up on April 26th it stalled on the highway on the home and we had it towed again. They kept it for 4 days drove it 80 miles and said nothing was wrong no repair was done or needed. On May 13 it stalled again in front of train tracks. Luckly I was able to stop and start it quickly to drive it to a near dealership. We picked up the truck today, and it stalled again on the way home. We drove it back to the dealership today, May 23rd, hopefully they can figure it out. We are again without a car for a long period of time. We have paid $1,964.10 in repairs that have not fixed the problem. The way the truck stops so suddenly is very dangerous as it happened once getting on the highway and once in front of a train track.

Filed May 4, 2026 · Engine · VA

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)

Filed Mar 13, 2026 · Engine · FL

I own a 2017 Ford F‑150 equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 70,500 miles. The dealer diagnosed a ticking/rattling noise coming from the top left side of the engine near the timing cover. Using a stethoscope, the technician determined the noise was related to the timing system. The dealer recommended replacing the cam phasers, timing chain guides, and timing tensioners, along with all related seals and gaskets. The total estimated repair cost is $5,957.08. After researching the issue, I found that this cam‑phaser rattle/ticking problem appears to be widely reported by many owners of F‑150 trucks equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. I also learned that Ford Motor Company issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03, which extends cam‑phaser coverage for certain vehicles with this engine. However, when I contacted Ford Customer Service, I was informed that my VIN was not included in the program and that no financial assistance was available. I was directed back to the dealership. Given the relatively low mileage of the vehicle and the number of similar reports from other owners, I believe this may represent a systemic defect in the cam‑phaser/timing system. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated and considered for a recall or broader coverage program so affected owners are not responsible for costly repairs caused by this defect. If the cam‑phaser or timing components fail while driving, it could potentially affect engine performance, create a stall condition, or lead to loss of power, which may pose a safety risk.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Transmission · KY

I slowed down to make a turn, when I accelerated after completing the turn the transmission shifted from 1st gear to 5th gear, skipping 2nd, 3rd, & 4th gear. This caused the truck to stall. I shifted the transmission to neutral and back to drive to try to get it moving again. It moved a little and stalled again. I shifted to park and back to drive, the truck moved a little and stalled again. I shifted the transmission to park and shut off the ignition. I restarted the engine and shifted to drive and the truck started moving, shifting perfectly as if nothing is wrong.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Transmission · TX

Frequently I will be driving at highway speeds and the truck will unexpectedly downshift. This will happen around every 500 miles. I have only had it drop from 6th to 5th/4th, never any lower at highway speeds. I have had this occur multiple times at slower speeds but it will go away. During each time the code P0720, output speed sensor, will appear and I will have to clear the code and it will work like normal again. There has only been one instance, in my 2 months of ownership, in which the unexpected downshift happened, I then came to a stop and then the truck stalled at a stop light. The truck is available for inspection. My safety and others were put at risk since I lost the ability to control my throttle making my acceleration and deceleration erratic. Also, when I was stalled at the green light it was on a road that had a speed limit of 70 which I could have been hit by another vehicle predicting me to drive away from the stop light when I could not. It hasn't been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center but matches the description of the federal safety agency investigation into the issue. The vehicle component has not be inspected yet. Prior to the issue, no warning lights have popped up. It is only when the issue occurs and I feel the truck unexpectedly downshift and no longer upshift that a yellow wrench will show up with the code i had mentioned previously.

Filed Jan 5, 2026 · Transmission · SC

2017 f150 with only 48,330 original miles. Having issues with transmission stalling,jerking in between gears. After last night I have had enough due to an almost potentially fatal accident. While making a left hand turn the transmission stalled for way too long and an 18 wheeler came over the hill ( it’s a blind spot turn) and came very close to hitting me broad side of my truck. This issue could have costed me my life. The transmission fluid is fine as it was checked very recently at my last service less than 100 miles ago. The dealership wants 200 dollars just to hook it up to a computer just to see if the TCM is showing any codes. I have already had that checked for free somewhere else and it is not. The dealership will not do anything unless I pay for that to be done first. I cannot afford to give away 200 dollars for free. But if I give them 200 dollars then they can give me an estimate for repair that ranges from 1000 to 10,000 dollars which is what other customers have paid or been taken advantage of for that amount.

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Engine · GA

Complaint Summary (What Happened): The cam phasers (variable camshaft timing system) failed on my 2017 Ford F-150 4x4 with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. This is a widely known issue on these engines. The failure causes a loud rattling/knocking sound during startup and can lead to engine timing problems or internal damage. My truck only has 108,000 miles, has been well maintained, and is just outside of the extended warranty coverage Ford issued for this exact issue. Safety Risk: The cam phaser failure causes erratic engine timing, which can lead to power loss or stalling during operation. This creates a safety hazard while merging, towing, or driving at highway speeds. The loud knocking sound and hesitation also distract the driver and reduce confidence in the vehicle’s reliability and acceleration when needed for safety. Problem Confirmation: Yes, the problem was confirmed by a Ford dealership. They diagnosed cam phaser failure and quoted approximately $6,300 for the repair. Inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership service department. Ford Motor Company was contacted but declined to assist financially since the issue occurred just after the extended warranty expired. Warning Signs: No warning lights or messages appeared before the failure. The first symptom was a loud rattling/knocking noise on cold start, which worsened over time. The issue started around 85,000 miles. The check engine light just came on at 108,000 miles. Availability for Inspection: The failed components remain installed on the vehicle and are available for inspection upon request. However, I am looking to get this fixed as soon as possible.

Filed Oct 18, 2025 · Transmission · AR

Truck has roughly 185,000 miles & is equipped with the 10r80 transmission. Transmission recently began experiencing harsh & hard shifts, skipping or slipping gears, gear searching and randomly shifts to neutral. Had transmission fluid/filter changed with little to no change in erratic transmission. Issues have been intermittent and I am unable to reproduce manually. 4 transmission shops and a ford dealership have all advised the most likely diagnosis is a failed CDF drum that has been a common issue with these transmissions but they cannot confirm without a teardown of the transmission. Vehicle is still drivable, if issues occur I park, turn the truck off for at least 1 minute. After starting the truck again the issue resolves itself. This issue leaves the vehicle susceptible to stalling/neutral on the roadway and at highway and city speeds.

Filed Oct 8, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · ME

There was an unknown problem with a fuel injector that resulted in the a vapor lock of the engine. This incident happened in traffic while idling at a stop light. There was zero stress on the engine at the time of the incident. This was a busy intersection, and I could have been pushed into oncoming traffic. There were no warning lights(check engine or otherwise) indicating and engine related failure or that an issue could be present in the fuel or engine systems. Upon trying to restart after what appeared to be a simple stall out, all indicator lights were on and every warning possible was present My local service center reviewed the truck and did confirm the resulting issues. They have also advised they would have expected such issues to trigger a warning light. I believe this was a catastrophic failure on Fords part and as a result has landed me as the consumer with concerns for the safety and a large bill for the work needed just to get it back on the road.