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2017 Ford F-150: shudder or vibration when accelerating

21 of the 1,469 complaints about the 2017 Ford F-150 describe shudder or vibration when accelerating.

owner complaints
21
of this car's complaints
1%
typical mileage
93,000
recalls
3
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls and 44 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Shudder or vibration when accelerating by model year

What owners say

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Transmission · KY

The torque converter has malfunctioned and the vehicle is currently at the dealership for repairs. The truck experiences significant vibration and shuddering at speeds above 45 mph. There is an existing recall for this exact issue; however, our VIN is not included in the affected vehicle population. With only 60,000 to 70,000 miles on the truck and less than 10 years of service, a major component such as the torque converter should not require replacement, especially on a vehicle that has been properly maintained throughout its life.

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Transmission · NC

The 10-speed transmission exhibits severe and dangerous shifting behaviors. It frequently shudders and jerks extremely hard when shifting between gears.Most critically, the transmission fails to properly engage into gear. While driving, I came to a complete stop at a red light in active traffic. When the light turned green and I attempted to accelerate, the transmission would not engage into gear, leaving the vehicle completely immobilized and just sitting there in the middle of traffic. Because the truck failed to take off and move forward, it created an immediate road hazard and almost caused me to be severely rear-ended by the traffic behind me.This transmission hesitation and failure to engage poses an immediate and severe safety risk of a high-speed collision.

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Transmission · FL

Sudden and harsh downshifts happening at speeds above 40mph in normal drivign conditions. The vehicle now shudders while crusing and clunks into and out of gears. The 6R80 transmission now feels like it is slipping when giving the vehicle gas from a standstill.

Filed Mar 22, 2026 · Transmission · IL

I've had the transmission replaced under fordprotect warranty and subsequently another torque converter and subsequent to that, a new program installed to repair low RPM Shudder. Under mild acceleration at interstate speeds (65 TO 75 mph) it now hunts for gears with random upshifts and downshifts while failing to maintain or increase speed which constitutes a safety hazard.

Filed Mar 12, 2026 · Transmission · LA

Transmission started shuddering then it downshifted to 1st gear while driving 45. Almost blew the motor up and scared the living hell out of me. No accident thankfully. 2 days later transmission went out completely. 5300 dollar repair bill from Coburns in shreveport Louisiana.

Filed Mar 3, 2026 · Transmission · TN

Torque shudder , involuntary downshifts , gets stuck in 2nd ,

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Transmission · GA

Downshift in transmission, now shudder when going 45-70. Started around 65,000 miles now I have around 87,000 miles on it.

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Transmission · 198,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission fluid was flushed, and the filter was replaced. The failure recurred approximately 8 months later. On another occasion, while driving 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear and flashed between drive(D) and manual(M), and the rear tires locked up. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, but the transmission fluid was checked by an independent mechanic, who observed a full reservoir. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2025 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to second or third gear. The contact stated that the vehicle felt like the brake pedal was depressed, and the engine revved to over 5,000 RPMs. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle shuddered, and felt like the vehicle was being driven over rumble strips on the roadway. The contact stated that the unexpected downshifts only occurred while driving approximately 60-70 MPH. The contact was able to reset the transmission by turning off and restarting the vehicle initially; however, the failure reoccurred, and the transmission could no longer be reset to normal functionality. The contact called a local dealer and was advised that the transmission was a closed system, and the transmission case could not be opened. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle, and the mechanic determined that the valve body needed to be replaced, and that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Sep 26, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 48,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission shuddered while attempting to accelerate. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine at start-up. The cam phasers were replaced by an independent mechanic. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Brakes, Transmission · 115,426 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the transmission vibrated and downshifted before slamming into gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that four days later, the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired after the most recent failure due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,426.

Filed Jun 23, 2025 · Transmission · 175,000 miles · MN

The contact called on behalf of his grandson who owns a 2017 Ford F150. The contact stated that while his grandson was driving at slower speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter had failed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer for assistance or a transmission specialty center. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported April 14, 2026 · 1,392,935 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.
Risk
Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on April 15, 2026.

Recall number 26V237000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported April 4, 2018 · 142 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Risk
Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

Recall number 18V213000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shiftReported October 24, 2017 · 11,783 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles equipped with ten-speed transmissions. The pin that attaches the transmission shift linkage to the transmission may come out, preventing the transmission from responding to movement of the shift lever.
Risk
The disconnected linkage may cause the vehicle to not move forward or backward as selected by the driver with the shift lever. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the roll pin with an updated part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S36.

Recall number 17V671000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2017 Ford F-150 shudder

Is shudder or vibration when accelerating a common problem on the 2017 Ford F-150?

21 of 1,469 owner complaints about the 2017 Ford F-150 (1%) mention shudder or vibration when accelerating. The model year with the most reports is 2012.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2017 Ford F-150?

There are 3 recalls and 44 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 34Engine failure 33Slipping 33Fire or smoke 32Hesitation 29Brake failure 26Grinding brakes 25Power steering loss 25Adaptive cruise 21Backup camera 21Overheating 21ABS 12No deployment 12Won't start 12Start-stop 11Misfire 10Wipers 10Key fob 9Screen failure 7Warning lights 7Tire blowout 5

All model years of the Ford F-150

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