RoadVitals

2017 Ford F-150 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
82
Latest Aug 11, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 1,401 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 82 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 82, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2026

Ford Motor Company put out a recall on the PCM. I had the recall performed and it has caused more damage to my truck. It now has eratic shifting, stuck gears, and going into limpmode. Ford Forums show that this is an ongoing issue after the reset is performed creating an unsafe vehicle to drive. The check engine light is now on and was not prior to this recall reset.

NHTSA ID
11756355
Incident
Jul 13, 2026
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2026

I bought my f150 a year ago. now I’m experiencing timing issues, Vvt solenoid failure (all four) . Loss of power, limp mode, failure to shift etc … I’ve had several mechanics look at it .

NHTSA ID
11754844
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2026

My truck has shown wrench on dash multiple times, dropped gear several times suddenly. Less than 10 years old but over 150,000 miles so Ford has agreed to a fix under extended warranty program 26N04. Unfortunately they were allowed to add the phrase whichever comes first. This eliminates me from getting them to fix the cause which is the lead frame module. A PCM will not fix a bad part. This is a dangerous safety issue that should be fixed by Ford. Please save lives and get them to replace all lead frame modules if code finds it bad. It could affect anyone’s family member if an accident results.

NHTSA ID
11754626
Incident
Jun 14, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 28, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

To the Office of Defects Investigation:I am writing to formally report a critical data reporting error on NHTSA.gov involving a 2017 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX]).This vehicle is covered under NHTSA Campaign 26V370000 (Ford Recall 26S28) for the transmission downshift defect. I hold the physical manufacturer recall notification letter sent by Ford Motor Company confirming my truck's inclusion.The vehicle experienced the exact unexpected downshifting failure described in the campaign, resulting in a collision in [XXX]. However, when searching my VIN on both the Ford portal and the official NHTSA.gov VIN lookup tool, the database now erroneously reflects "0 Open Recalls."I request that the Office of Defects Investigation audit Ford's compliance reporting for this specific VIN. The manufacturer's database is generating false completion data, masking an active safety risk, and misrepresenting historical defect data to the public. I am having a hard time uploading my documents I will send via email. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11753381
Incident
May 7, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2026

Vehicle Safety Hazard & Recall Remedy Denial Recall: 26S28 / NHTSA Campaign 26V237 Summary of Issue: I am experiencing active, unsafe vehicle symptoms directly tied to Recall 26S28, including intermittent transmission signal loss, warning lights, and abrupt downshifts while driving. I initially contacted Ford in April/May 2026 immediately following the recall notice, but was informed no remedy or repair parts were available at that time, forcing me to operate a vehicle with a known driveability and safety hazard for three months. Now that the vehicle is at the dealership, Ford is refusing to perform the physical lead frame replacement under the recall/field action solely because the vehicle has not latched a permanent Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC), despite the technician confirming physical hardware failure. Safety Impact & Systemic Failure: 1. Defect Root Cause: The lead frame degradation is the primary root physical defect of Recall 26S28, not secondary damage. 2. Unreasonable Safety Risk: Forcing drivers to operate vehicles experiencing active downshifting and loss of drive power until a specific DTC latches poses an immediate highway crash hazard. 3. Inadequate Remedy Program: Ford’s requirement for a specific stored DTC creates an unreasonable barrier to recall execution, denying necessary hardware repairs to vehicles experiencing the exact safety failure described in the recall. Ford must be held accountable for providing a functional physical remedy for vehicles exhibiting active recall symptoms, regardless of whether a transient electrical fault registered a permanent DTC code.

NHTSA ID
11753033
Incident
May 1, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 23, 2026

While driving the car immediately downshifted and I could not accelerate. The Hill assist came on and service advance trac came on. This happened 3 times. The first time we towed it to the dealership April 17th, and they changed the oil and tested the battery secured wires and verified after the repair on April 26th. After we picked the truck up on April 26th it stalled on the highway on the home and we had it towed again. They kept it for 4 days drove it 80 miles and said nothing was wrong no repair was done or needed. On May 13 it stalled again in front of train tracks. Luckly I was able to stop and start it quickly to drive it to a near dealership. We picked up the truck today, and it stalled again on the way home. We drove it back to the dealership today, May 23rd, hopefully they can figure it out. We are again without a car for a long period of time. We have paid $1,964.10 in repairs that have not fixed the problem. The way the truck stops so suddenly is very dangerous as it happened once getting on the highway and once in front of a train track.

NHTSA ID
11739723
Incident
May 23, 2026
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 14, 2026

Hard downshift caused my truck to slow suddenly and became very hesitant where the vehicle behind me had to slam on their brakes. I then pulled over when it was safe, turned the truck off and then attempted to turn back on with no success due to the shift indicator no longer lighting up. This matches up with the current recall for this particular vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11737801
Incident
May 12, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 9, 2026

Took my 2017 Ford F-150 in for a diagnostic on May 8 2026 for wrench symbol check engine light and issues down shifting and sliding tires shop manager and technician claimed the vehicle is unsafe to drive and talked to the Service manager deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive wanted it grounded do to the safety concerns related to Recall 26S28 (PCM/TRS) stated the down shifting is cause catastrophic failure to all mechanical components transmission engine and rear end kidding the tires especially in wet weather the truck would cause a accident..cause the sliding of the tires..so my truck is at APPLE FORD OF LYNCHBURG GROUNDED as of May 9 2026 I still owe on the truck and have no ride dealer nor manufacture was willing to pay for a rental that cost $65 a day wanted me to pay then reimburse me once a remedy was available I cant afford that..1600 a month we are roughly 2 months away from hopefully a remedy being available stated by recall website.. so if my truck is showing all the signs of the described in the recall(26S28) has stated in it why is FORD not putting a DO NOT DRIVE on the recall for all these trucks if the technician seems them unsafe.. I shouldn't have to pay for a rental I cant afford cause ford is lacking a remedy and wont even buy it back cause of safety issues codes PO732 INCCORECT 2ND GEAR RATIO

NHTSA ID
11736757
Incident
May 8, 2026
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2026

My vehicle started and then shutoff on its own, wouldn't start up again. Dashboard indicators showed blind spot and rear cross traffic fault, also battery, 🔧 and other icons appeared, so vehicle was towed to Terry Hendricks Ford for repair

NHTSA ID
11734549
Incident
Apr 9, 2026
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel was stiff and failed to turn as needed. The message "Steering Assist Failure" was displayed with an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a third independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the electronic power steering and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was then taken to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

NHTSA ID
11732363
Incident
Feb 15, 2026
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 3, 2026

I was on the freeway in eastern Colorado going 75mph which is the speed limit. Luckily nobody was behind me. My truck went from 6th gear to 1st out of nowhere and I didn't know what to do, very fast deceleration and I almost lost control. I was able to manually shift with the buttons on the gear shifter back up to 6th gear. Recently on the freeway it's been acting awkward and not shifting out of 4th gear.

NHTSA ID
11729056
Incident
Mar 24, 2026
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2026

6R80- Unexpected downshifting at highway speeds without driver input causing the vehicle to slow down. Harsh/rough when shifting and sounds like I'm driving on the rudders on the side of the highway. No warning lamps or messages. Occasionally downshifts hard when I'm slowing down and then potentially locking up my rear wheels.

NHTSA ID
11728549
Incident
Mar 1, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 12, 2026

While driving vehicle shifts from 6 gear to first gear on 6r80 transmission amd hard shifts..wheels lock upbwhen vehicle downshifts abruptly.....spoke with ford mechanic and this is a known issue with lead shield and or speed sensor.. this item need a recalled and repaired...no codes are thrown but it is a well know issue...recalls are on 10r80 transmissions lead shield but not 6 speed. Please help

NHTSA ID
11723775
Incident
Mar 12, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 16, 2026

The transmission downshifted while driving 60 to 65 MPH and needed repairs. Transmission Specialist changed out transmission electric control unit.

NHTSA ID
11718306
Incident
Dec 30, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2026

I bought my 2017 Ford Shelby F150 (V8 5.0L, 6R80 transmission) used from a dealership in 2022, and noticed when depressing the Sport mode on the shifter, and hard acceleration, that the truck will suddenly downshift to a very dangerous gear while on the freeway. I heard the NTSA engineering analysis that is ongoing, and wanted to include my experience. Since I don't touch the Sport mode on the truck, it has not happened since. Ford needs to do a recall on this VERY dangerous issue.

NHTSA ID
11717608
Incident
Mar 22, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 7, 2026

While driving, my 2017 Ford F‑150 experienced a sudden loss of the Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor signal, causing the transmission to stay stuck in a higher gear and triggering the wrench light. The truck lost power and would not shift properly. A diagnostic scan showed two transmission codes: one for the OSS sensor and a second code indicating an intermittent electrical signal drop. I contacted a Ford dealer before the repair, described the symptoms, and asked for an estimate. The service advisor did not disclose any known issues and never called me back after saying he would check parts availability. These symptoms match the known failure pattern of the molded lead frame in the 6R80 transmission. My truck exhibited intermittent behavior, harsh shifting, and unsafe drivability. I had to pay $1,250 out of pocket to replace the lead frame to restore normal operation. I later learned that NHTSA has opened an Engineering Analysis into 2015–2017 F‑150 trucks for this exact issue (OSS signal loss due to internal electrical degradation of the lead frame). My vehicle’s symptoms, diagnostic codes, and required repair are consistent with the defect under investigation. This failure creates a safety hazard because the truck can suddenly lose the ability to accelerate or shift correctly, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA include my vehicle in the investigation and that Ford be required to address this defect.

NHTSA ID
11716402
Incident
Dec 10, 2025
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 19, 2025

The powertrain/transmission is not receiving the signal from the engine to accelerate. It can be inspected. The vehicle is slow to accelerate or will not accelerate at all, causing lurching motions and slow movement of the vehicle. This can cause my vehicle to rapidly accelerate or me to slowly decelerate, causing me to possibly run into others or be hit by others. No one has reproduced or assessed the problem. The problem occurred multiple times before a warning message was displayed. The signal appeared after two weeks of the failure occuring.

NHTSA ID
11706115
Incident
Oct 17, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera failed to display an image, comprising the back over prevention system. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rearview camera. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11697460
Incident
Nov 4, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2025

Drivability issues. Harsh shifting, downshifting, loss of acceleration, and warning lights appearing. Giving Code P0722

NHTSA ID
11694310
Incident
Sep 22, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 2, 2025

6 speed automatic transmission downshifts while traveling at high speed into low gear by itself, causing vehicle to change speed and lock up rear wheels. Very dangerous! Vehicle has 66,150 miles on it, and isn’t used for work. The transmission also shifts into second and third gears while sitting still at a traffic light. This has happened multiple times. It is just now 1 month out of service contract (ended 8/2025 it started 9/2025). It is available for inspection. It has not been to dealer or mechanic yet for inspection or repairs to this certain transmission issue. It has ONLY ever been serviced by Ford dealer on regular basis since I purchased it new. No warning lights or codes of any kind. This is now not safe to drive, as it’s happening almost daily. Hopefully this is a RECALL soon and Ford does the right thing!

NHTSA ID
11690894
Incident
Sep 6, 2025
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 26, 2025

Transmission dropped into first gear at 45mph. Rear end locked up while taking my kids to school. Output speed sensor in transmission. Lead frame issue.

NHTSA ID
11689855
Incident
Sep 19, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 3, 2025

Experienced transmission down shifting at highway speeds. Traveling at approx 75 mph in OH, when truck down shifted to 5th gear and showed warning message "drive train malfuction", message cleared on key cycle. Issue again occurred 8 days later in OH/PA return trip home. No message in cluster, but vehicle returned to normal operation after key cycle. Vehicle has operated normally for the last week. Dealer tried to pull codes, none set. Appointment made to have them look at truck, but they don't expect to find anything. Continue to drive truck, and IF message in cluster reappears bring it by if possible.

NHTSA ID
11684828
Incident
Aug 10, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 1, 2025

Driving interstate and a wrench warning came up on dash screen. I knew that wasn’t good. Two Local mechanics diagnosed as circuit A (transmission) needs replaced. Park light not illuminating and won’t even crank to start. I got it started , finally, and wrench came back on. Loud “thunk” noise when switching into reverse Was advised NOT to drive until repaired as it is dangerous to me and others Recall was issued for 10 pin and needs to recalled for 6 pin ASAP Ford is welcome. To check it out anytime as I just have it setting waiting on recall. I need a truck, please issue recall

NHTSA ID
11684243
Incident
Jul 28, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 2025

While driving, my 2017 Ford F-150 with the 6-speed automatic will sometimes suddenly downshift on its own. This causes a hard jerk and a sudden change in speed, which feels unsafe especially at higher speeds. At other times, the truck will not shift into gear at all. For example, when backing out of a driveway or parking spot in reverse and then shifting into drive, the truck stalls. The only way to fix it is to put the truck completely in park, shut it off, and restart it before it will go into gear. This has forced me to be stopped in the middle of the road after backing out, waiting for the truck to restart, which is extremely dangerous when there is oncoming traffic. This has been occurring off and on for a long time now not just one date.

NHTSA ID
11683269
Incident
Dec 31, 1969
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 17, 2025

Vehicle transmission will instantly drop to gears 3 to 5 (limp mode from what I have researched) & wrench light comes on. Very dangerous on the interstate traveling at 70mph+, seems to happen more frequently on hotter days. You can park & turn off vehicle, then crank back up, & it is out of limp mode but transmission is sluggish. Initially it was happening once per week on avg, now it is a toss up on each drive I do whether it goes into limp mode or not.

NHTSA ID
11674192
Incident
Jun 6, 2025

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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