YearToAvoid

2017 Ford F-550 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 F-550 years

The 2017 Ford F-550 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst of 16 model years, earning a "Good" rating relative to other F-550 years. NHTSA lists 15 complaints, 13 recalls, 2 crashes, and 1 fire for this year.

Complaints
15
Recalls
13
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2017 Ford F-550 problems

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

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (33%)
  2. Brakes3 (20%)
  3. Engine3 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (20%)
  5. Fuel System2 (13%)
  6. Other2 (13%)
  7. Steering2 (13%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (13%)

What owners report

  • Owners report brake hoses on the ABS unit failing suddenly, causing loss of braking with no warning light.
  • Some describe the rear end shaking, fishtailing, and making an echoing noise at highway speed, tied to driveline vibration damaging driveshaft components.
  • Several report the truck losing power or dying on the interstate, with reduced engine power warnings linked to water contamination in the fuel.
  • Owners describe the vehicle failing to drive in a straight line, with the dealer unable to diagnose or repair the issue.
  • Some report frame cracking near reinforcement braces installed under a prior recall, even after the recall period ended.
  • Others describe engine ticking and rattling noises after idling, later diagnosed as low oil pressure affecting a cylinder and camshaft.
2017 Ford F-550 complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2018Aug 2018Feb 2021Aug 2022May 2024Jul 2025
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2018 to Feb 2026; peak Feb 2018 (5).

2017 Ford F-550 recalls

13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V572000Sep 3, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,456,417 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 19V880000Dec 11, 2019Seat Belts490,574 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCrew Cab vehicles with carpet flooring. 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 apply heat resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation, and modify the B-Pillar insulation as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S52.

  3. NHTSA 19V401000May 29, 2019Other22 vehicles

    Equipment

    VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly 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: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.

See all 13 recalls for the 2017 Ford F-550 →

2017 compared with other F-550 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Caution67114—
2016Good40123—
2017Good471513—
2018Best13813—
2019Avoid80189—

All Ford F-550 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ford F-550 reliable?
Relative to other F-550 model years, the 2017 is rated "Good," with a complaint index of 47 and rank 9th worst out of 16 years tracked by NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford F-550?
NHTSA complaint data shows Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues make up 33% of complaints, followed by Brakes, Engine, and Structure & Body issues each at 20%.
Does the 2017 Ford F-550 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2017 F-550, covering areas including collision avoidance cameras, seat belts, electrical brake lights, engine block heaters, and door latch actuation cables.
At what mileage do 2017 F-550 problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 69,692 miles across all reported issues, though Suspension complaints show a lower median of 40,200 miles and Steering complaints show 22,000 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.