2017 Ford F-150: won't start

Filed May 12, 2026 · Transmission · MA

About 6 months ago, while driving my kids to school, the transmission aggressively downshifted causing the truck to skid momentarily. This occurred on the highway so the transmission was most likely in 6th gear. The event was so abrupt, it felt like it either switched into Park or 1st gear and felt like we hit something. A wrench icon appeared and the fan was abnormally loud so I pulled over and turned the truck off to see if there was any damage which there wasn't any. The truck wouldn't start so we were stuck on the side of a busy highway during morning rush hour traffic. When it finally started about 2 1/5 hours later, I hooked up a code reader which indicated codes P0706 and P0707. Ever since, this condition occurs after the truck's been driving for about 5-10 mins without exception. The truck seems to stay in the current gear that was engaged at the time that the wrench icon appears. So if the truck is a stop and the issue occurs, it'll be stuck in 1st and run at high rpm. If it happens when the gear is in 5th or 6th and you then come to a stop, it makes pulling out in traffic dangerous due to the lag while getting the truck up to speed. I've been out of work and couldn't spare the $1200 repair cost. I've had to avoid highways and speeds above 30 mph in fear of crashing or damaging the transmission. Even at low speeds, transmissions shifts are hard and abrupt so I'm concerned that there's transmission damage. There's a burning belt smell in the cabin so I'm also concerned that's there's advanced belt wear damage due to the high fan condition caused by this. I have to leave the truck running if I have to go anywhere since it won't restart for approx 2 1/2 hours after I turn the truck off. Other symptoms noticed while driving: the gear indicator below the speedometer glitches. It'll change to other gears on the indicator while not actually changing physical gears. The gear indicators will disappear then reappear randomly.

Filed May 5, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · VA

going down highway (60mph) a sudden rear wheels lock up jerking the steering wheel out of my hand sudden down shift causing me to be put in the median...wrench symbol pops up trucks in limp mode... no 1-6 gear light or light to show if i am in P.R.N.D.M.1.2. Truck won't start back up until it wants too if you cut it off in limp mode (factory reset) unhooking negative battery cable dosent work. Check engine light appear had is scanned showed issues with body control, modules power control modules and the Transmission range sensor power steering loss of voltage.. It constantly does it when ever it wants to with no warning with conditions getting worse truck now pops out of gear when stopped if in limp mode. Wrench symbol never disappears still no 1-6 light on the dash.the sudden down shift only occurs sometimes but down shift is called a money shift its catastrophic to all mechanical components (Transmission.Motor. Rear End) truck being diagnostic at Ford in a few days..Cooperate contact has been made multiple times with no help!!!

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 Apr 29, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · OH

My vehicle started and then shutoff on its own, wouldn't start up again. Dashboard indicators showed blind spot and rear cross traffic fault, also battery, 🔧 and other icons appeared, so vehicle was towed to Terry Hendricks Ford for repair

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Transmission · NV

Had powertrain engine light come on in Jan 2026 and transmission would hesitate and had problems with downshifting on interstate. Fiord said no recalls on the vehicle.. I, had transmission service done and still had problems with it downshifting while on freeway. On March 29,2026 truck would not start. Message came on stating it was in drive when it was actually parked. Had to tow it in. Diagnostic test was done with Powertrain Control Module Parking Aid module Body control module etc problems reported. The same problems that other Fords were having but Ford said this truck wasn’t included. Auto shop got the part directly from manufacturer and installed the parts. Battery was low because of this and had to be replaced. Total cost $1730.64. We only have this vehicle and had to get a rental car while in shop. Also we are on a limited income on social security and therefore this put a huge financial strain on us. We and other could have been seriously hurt and truck damaged as we were on interstate 80. Itemized bill and diagnostic report is available. I am requesting Ford to reimburse me as they stated no recall and now as of April 20, 2026 there is a recall on this very issue

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Transmission · WV

Transmission Lead Frame causing sudden shift to first gear during travel, no start, erattic shifting. This seems to be an on going issue with Ford 6 speed transmissions.

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 Jan 29, 2024 · Transmission · TX

Very scary and I was only going about 25 mph. Had I been in a freeway it could’ve been much worse. Transmission display started glitching in and out. Truck started shifting on its own violently, even screeching its tires at one point. It could not decide what gear it was supposed to be in. I pulled over and turned truck off. Attempted to restart but truck would not start because it apparently did not think it was in park. Tow truck showed up. Vehicle then started and check engine light appeared. Truck was towed to Ford dealer-transmission control module deemed bad and had to be replaced. Problem had happened weekend before and check engine light came on. I took to auto zone right next to where I was and they pulled the code “P0706.” But code was cleared and check engine light went off. I managed to make it home and called ford and told them what truck was doing. They told me there was nothing they could do without the check engine light on to diagnose it and to keep driving it until it happened again and the check engine light came on. The next weekend was the first time I had attempted to drive it because I did not feel safe in it.

Filed Jul 21, 2022 · Steering · IL

The truck uses start stop technology. When you start to move after it has stopped the power steering does not start working initially making turns nearly impossible. Once the power steering builds pressure it returns to normal steering. This has occurred multiple times and seems to get worse as the truck ages.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · MD

My safety was put at risk when the the truck would not start after stopping at a light. This happened three times. The last two times on July 18th and August 11th, after shutting off the truck would not restart and the speed limit on each road is 45-55 mph. Police had to come block the road because it was unsafe. The dealer took the vehicle in on Aug 2-6th and advised that it was fixed, only for it to happen again on the 11th. No warning messages were present.

Filed Jan 18, 2021 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · GA

My vehicle battery is dead every morning I took it to two different ford dealers and they could not tell me the issue but still had to pay for the diagnosis fee. At first my 17 ford f150 would make almost a jerking next day my vehicle would not start. I replaced the starter and battery and the vehicle started after that but the next morning dead again.

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.