Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2017 Ford F-150
The 2017 Ford F-150 has significant recall activity, particularly concerning the power train and brake systems. There is a notable amount of owner complaints as well, mostly about power train and engine issues. These indicators suggest potential reliability concerns, so thorough inspection and checking against recall repairs are advised before purchasing.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2017 Ford F-150 has 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,148 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 6 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V370000 Instrument Cluster Failure/FMVSS 102 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V237000 Unexpected Downshift Can Cause Loss of Control NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V236000 Loss of Brake Function from Brake Fluid Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V150000 Brake Master Cylinder May Leak Fluid into Booster NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E027000 Upper Ball Joint May Be Installed Incorrectly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V332000 Brake Master Cylinder May Leak into Booster NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V278000 Damage to Block Heater Connector may cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V894000 Block Heater Cable Splice Connector May Corrode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V568000 Fire after Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V213000 Missing Roll Pin Causing Loss of Park Function NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V671000 Transmission Shift Linkage may Disconnect NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V652000 Doors may Open while Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V599000 Insufficient Seat and Seat Belt Weld/FMVSS 210,207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V526000 Left Rear Seat Belt may Detach/FMVSS 210 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V529000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V332000 Driver Seat Back Frame May Fail/FMVSS 202, 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V331000 Door may Unlatch in a Side Impact Collision NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V053000 Instrument Cluster May Fail to Illuminate/FMVSS 102 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 337 complaints
- Engine 274 complaints
- Unknown or Other 137 complaints
- Structure 106 complaints
- Electrical System 105 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 65 complaints
Of the 1,148 complaints on file, 37 report a crash and 19 a fire; across all 1,148 complaints, owners report 32 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Unexpected downshifting
How to check: Ensure smooth gear transitions during drive.
Brake fluid leak
How to check: Inspect for fluid leaks near brake booster.
Instrument cluster power loss
How to check: Check cluster illuminates in cold start.
Block heater cable damage
How to check: Inspect block heater cable for corrosion.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Dashboard lights and indicators functionality.
Red flag: Indicators fail to light up.
- 02
Initial acceleration
What to check: Check for smooth gear change.
Red flag: Jerky or unexpected gear shifts.
- 03
Consistent speed driving
What to check: Monitor stability and brake response.
Red flag: Vibrations or brake issues.
- 04
Hard braking
What to check: Check brake firmness and response.
Red flag: Soft brakes or fluid leaks.
- 05
City driving
What to check: Observe steering accuracy and response.
Red flag: Steering feels loose or unresponsive.
- 06
Parking
What to check: Transmission shift position indication clarity.
Red flag: Gear position display non-functional.
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the transmission recall been addressed?
- Were there any brake system repairs?
- Have all recalls been completed?
- Any issues with instrument cluster lights?
- What maintenance has been done recently?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall repair records
- Service history
- Title and registration
- Previous owner details
- Warranty documentation
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2017 Ford F-150 at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2017 Ford F-150? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.