YearToAvoid

2017 Ford F-150 Seat Belts Problems

NHTSA lists 17 seat belt complaints for the 2017 Ford F-150, about 1% of that year's 1,437 total complaints. Two related recalls exist: 17V526000 for a rear seat belt buckle attachment issue and 18V568000 for pretensioner sparks that could ignite nearby materials. Median mileage at failure was 44,500.

Seat Belts complaints
17
1% of 1,437
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
44,500 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical seat belt symptoms owners report

  • Owners report delays getting the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle recall (17V526000) repaired due to parts unavailability at dealers.
  • A parked truck reportedly caught fire near the roof and center seat belt area, producing a strong electrical burn smell, linked to the pretensioner recall (18V568000).
  • Some owners describe difficulty scheduling recall repairs, citing dealers that were unresponsive or required leaving the vehicle for a full day without a loaner.
  • One owner reported not being able to take delivery of a new F-150 because the seat belt recall part was not yet available.
  • Owners describe frustration with lack of communication from Ford about recall timing and parts availability.

When 2017 Ford F-150 seat belt complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 30, 2017, latest Mar 21, 2023.

2017 Ford F-150 seat belts complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2017Dec 2017May 2018Oct 2018Apr 2019Feb 2020May 2020Mar 2021
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2017 to Mar 2023; peak Dec 2018 (2).

Seat Belts recalls for the 2017 Ford F-150

  1. NHTSA 18V568000Aug 31, 2018Seat Belts1,619,112 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

    Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

  2. NHTSA 17V526000Aug 28, 2017Seat Belts117,423 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

    Risk: If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed October 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C12.

Seat Belts complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20108 (1%)
  2. 20118 (0%)
  3. 20123 (0%)
  4. 20137 (0%)
  5. 20149 (1%)
  6. 201526 (2%)
  7. 201614 (1%)
  8. 201717 (1%)
  9. 201816 (1%)
  10. 20194 (0%)
  11. 20203 (0%)
  12. 20215 (0%)
  13. 20222 (0%)
  14. 20232 (0%)
  15. 20243 (2%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many seat belt complaints does the 2017 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 17 seat belt complaints for the 2017 Ford F-150, roughly 1% of the 1,437 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a seat belt recall for the 2017 Ford F-150?
Yes. Recall 17V526000 covers a left rear inflatable seat belt buckle that may be inadequately attached, and recall 18V568000 covers front seat belt pretensioners that could spark and ignite nearby materials.
At what mileage do seat belt problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for seat belt complaints on the 2017 F-150 is 44,500 miles.
Were there any injuries or fires linked to seat belt issues?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 5 injuries associated with the seat belt complaints for this model year.
Is the 2017 F-150 worse than other years for seat belt complaints?
The 2017 F-150 has 17 seat belt complaints, similar to 2018's 16 and lower than 2015's 26, so it is not the worst year in this category among F-150 model years.

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.