YearToAvoid

2017 Ford F-150 Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 50 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2017 Ford F-150, about 3% of all 1,437 complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 48,125. No related recall exists for this area on the 2017 model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
50
3% of 1,437
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
48,125 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Rear windshields reportedly shatter or explode outward and inward on their own, often while parked or shortly after using remote start with the defroster on.
  • Several owners describe a burning plastic or electrical smell just before or during the rear window failure, including one case involving fire.
  • Windshield wipers reportedly bounce and lose contact with the glass because a steel key stop falls out of the wiper keyway, reducing visibility in rain.
  • Owners report windshield washer fluid freezing and failing to spray onto the windshield in cold weather.
  • Some owners describe halogen headlights as too dim for adequate nighttime visibility, prompting aftermarket LED bulb swaps.
  • One owner reported a sunroof track system failure that prevented the sunroof from opening properly.

When 2017 Ford F-150 visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 31, 2017, latest May 25, 2026.

2017 Ford F-150 visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2017Jul 2019Sep 2020Jul 2021Sep 2022Jun 2023Mar 2024Feb 2025
50 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2017 to May 2026; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2017 Ford F-150

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by F-150 model year

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

  1. 2005267 (24%)
  2. 200618 (3%)
  3. 20074 (1%)
  4. 20088 (2%)
  5. 20095 (2%)
  6. 2010171 (20%)
  7. 2011129 (6%)
  8. 2012114 (6%)
  9. 2013177 (6%)
  10. 2014128 (8%)
  11. 201597 (6%)
  12. 2016137 (7%)
  13. 201750 (3%)
  14. 201881 (4%)
  15. 201936 (3%)
  16. 202061 (8%)
  17. 2021130 (13%)
  18. 202246 (8%)
  19. 202324 (6%)
  20. 20245 (3%)
  21. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2017 Ford F-150 owners complained about visibility and wipers?
NHTSA lists 50 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers area for the 2017 Ford F-150, about 3% of the 1,437 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Ford F-150 rear window shattering?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls for the Visibility & Wipers area on the 2017 Ford F-150, despite multiple complaints describing rear windshields shattering spontaneously.
At what mileage do these visibility problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2017 Ford F-150 is 48,125 miles, according to NHTSA data.
Did any of these complaints involve crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 1 fire linked to Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2017 Ford F-150, with 0 injuries reported.

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.