YearToAvoid

2017 Ford E-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#8 most-complained of 15 E-450 years

The 2017 Ford E-450 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and a complaint index of 50, ranking 8th worst of 15 model years with a "Caution" verdict. Visibility & Wipers issues lead the problem areas at 27% of complaints.

Complaints
11
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2017 Ford E-450 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers3 (27%)
  2. Engine2 (18%)
  3. Other2 (18%)
  4. Steering2 (18%)
  5. Structure & Body2 (18%)
  6. Brakes1 (9%)
  7. Electrical System1 (9%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Steering feels loose at highway speeds above 50 mph, with delayed response and strong drifting when passed by other vehicles.
  • Engine indicator lights up and cabin heat rises from the floorboard, tied to a cylinder misfire that some owners say recurred after an engine rebuild.
  • Front passenger window has fractured while driving at 50 mph.
  • Windshield wipers fail to clear enough of the windshield in rain or snow, leaving part of the driving lane and oncoming lanes obscured.
  • Sudden loss of brakes and power steering accompanied by a grinding noise and visible fluid leaking from underneath the vehicle.
  • Transmission shows premature failure with torque converter issues that can cause stalling in the roadway or sudden stops going uphill.
2017 Ford E-450 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2017Jan 2019Sep 2019Nov 2019Aug 2022Oct 2022
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2017 to Oct 2022; peak Jun 2017 (3).

2017 Ford E-450 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V466000Jun 18, 2019Other52 vehicles

    Equipment

    SVO Group Inc. (SVO Group) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350 and E-450-based shuttle buses equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.

    Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: SVO Group will work with ASA to notify owners, and ASA will provide a harness relay capacitor module to eliminate the image reversal, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-800-384-4400.

  2. NHTSA 19V342000May 3, 2019Electrical System17 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights

    Taylor Made Ambulances is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350, F-450, E-450, F-550, and GMC G3500-based ambulances equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

    Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.

2017 compared with other E-450 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Best2161—
2016Avoid93174—
2017Caution50112—
2018Best1454—
2019Good2950—

All Ford E-450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ford E-450 reliable?
NHTSA lists 11 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2017 E-450, giving it a complaint index of 50 and a "Caution" verdict, ranking 8th worst out of 15 model years for this model.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford E-450?
Visibility & Wipers issues are the top problem area, accounting for 27% of complaints, including windshield wiper coverage and a window fracture reported at 6,000 and 2,000 miles respectively.
Does the 2017 Ford E-450 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for back-up camera monitors that could revert on certain shuttle buses, and one for Whelen brake lights on ambulances built on this chassis.
How does the 2017 E-450 compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 50 is worse than 2014 (7), 2015 (21), and 2018 (14), which are rated "Best," but better than 2016 (93) and 2021 (100), which are rated "Avoid."
What mileage do 2017 E-450 problems typically appear at?
The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints is 6,000 miles, while Steering complaints show a median of 10,547 miles and Brakes complaints 20,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.