YearToAvoid

2017 Ford F-350 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 30 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Ford F-350, about 5% of that year's 573 total complaints. Owners report engine compartment smoke/fire, sudden unintended acceleration, and violent front-end shaking, with median failure mileage at 24,465. A related engine block heater recall (19V278000) exists for F-250/F-350/F-450/F-550 trucks including the 2017 model.

Engine complaints
30
5% of 573
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
24,465 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine compartment emitting smoke and a diesel smell shortly after a dashboard fuel injector warning light flashed and disappeared.
  • Some describe sudden unintended acceleration from low speed up to highway speed with RPMs spiking toward 6000, in one case ending in a crash.
  • Several owners describe violent shaking or 'death wobble' in the front end when crossing bumps or bridges at highway speed, sometimes forcing a slowdown to regain control.
  • Owners report coolant leaking from loose tee connections near the engine air intake, discovered by smell while driving on the freeway.
  • Some describe unexpected engine RPM increases to around 4,000 on cold start without foot on the accelerator, even though braking still worked.

When 2017 Ford F-350 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 29, 2017, latest Jul 20, 2026.

2017 Ford F-350 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2017Oct 2018Feb 2019Jul 2021Mar 2024Oct 2024Jul 2025Feb 2026
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2017 to Jul 2026; peak Dec 2018 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Ford F-350

  1. NHTSA 19V278000Apr 8, 2019Engine131,068 vehicles

    Engine

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

    Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

Engine complaints by F-350 model year

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

  1. 200596 (29%)
  2. 200659 (22%)
  3. 20078 (13%)
  4. 200886 (37%)
  5. 20099 (19%)
  6. 201011 (21%)
  7. 201148 (26%)
  8. 201251 (28%)
  9. 201320 (23%)
  10. 201413 (13%)
  11. 201542 (20%)
  12. 201630 (14%)
  13. 201730 (5%)
  14. 201810 (5%)
  15. 201924 (5%)
  16. 202015 (8%)
  17. 202117 (18%)
  18. 202219 (17%)
  19. 20234 (10%)
  20. 20246 (14%)
  21. 20255 (36%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Ford F-350?
NHTSA lists 30 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Ford F-350, which is about 5% of the 573 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2017 Ford F-350?
Yes. Recall 19V278000 covers the engine block heater on 2017-2019 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks (plus 2015-2019 F-150). It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall; Ford disables the block heater and addresses the power cable.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2017 F-350?
The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints on the 2017 F-350 is 24,465 miles.
Were any crashes or fires linked to engine complaints on the 2017 F-350?
Within the engine problem area, NHTSA recorded 2 crashes, 3 fires, and 1 injury among the 30 complaints filed.

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.