2017 FORD F-150 Complaints

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.

Our 2017 Ford F150 Raptor is having issues with hard shifting. It does a clunking and jerking noise while changing into certain gears, 3rd and 4th. It sounds like the transmission is about to fall out. Ford has had to do a software diagnostic on it. It will work for a while then will hard shift again. It has been doing this on and off again since 2021. This issue is not remedy by a software update for it. We (my husband and family with us) have been driving on the interstate picking up speed to change lanes and it shift so hard it scares myself and my adult children. I am scared to drive it on the interstate because one day I am afraid it is going to do it so bad and cause us to have an accident! This is dangerous. It will even do it now at low speed in the city! I want to know why the F150's and the F150 Raptors have not been recalled for this! Even our Ford service advisor mention we may want to make a complaint to NHTSA.

I am reporting a vehicle safety failure and dealership diagnostic non-compliance regarding Safety Recall 26S28 (NHTSA Campaign 26V237000) on my 2017 Ford F-150. While accelerating, the vehicle suddenly lost its transmission output shaft speed sensor signal, dropping the truck into a dangerous, low-power fail-safe "Limp Mode" that locked the transmission into 3rd/5th gear. An advanced diagnostic scan prior to dealership service confirmed stored trouble codes P0722 (Output Shaft Speed Sensor) and P061A. I brought the vehicle to a certified Ford dealership for the safety recall remedy. The dealership applied a software update and dismissed my hardware failure complaint, stating no active codes were present. Because this is an intermittent electronic defect, it rarely throws a permanent dashboard light at idle in a service bay. The dealership appears to have only run a basic surface-level scan, failing to check the deeper Continuous Memory Diagnostic Trouble Codes (CMDTCs) or Permanent Code menus where intermittent transmission safety faults are archived. The dealership's failure to deeply investigate verified safety defect codes before clearing computer memory leaves consumers exposed to recurring power loss on active roadways. I am seeking a mandated dealer rescan of the deep-set modules or a formal tracking document of this failure to protect my warranty coverage when the hardware fails again.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that rainwater was leaking from the headliner and caused water damage to the front seats and carpet, and there was mold inside the headliner of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, and the moon roof seals were replaced and the drainage tubes were installed, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was recently taken to a second dealer who diagnosed that the water was entering the vehicle from the rear of the ceiling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the mold aggravated a previous health condition. No medical treatment was required. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,487.

The vehicle experienced intermittent transmission-related drivability issues before the recall remedy was available. The vehicle had delayed/hard shifting, an intermittent wrench warning light, and a reduced power/limp mode condition where the transmission would not shift normally. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Ford dealer on multiple occasions, including diagnostic visits on 10/09/2023, 05/12/2025, and 02/09/2026. Ford later issued recall 26S28 involving the powertrain control module/transmission control system, and the recall remedy was performed. After the recall repair was completed, the original drivability concern continued, including sluggish shifting and delayed engagement between gears. As a second attempted repair related to the wrench warning light and transmission concern, the dealer identified the possibility of a faulty transmission lead frame and reviewed replacement under the applicable coverage. However, the dealer refused to replace the lead frame because the related fault code was not currently present during their inspection. The intermittent nature of the failure causes the code to clear after the vehicle is restarted, making it difficult to capture during a dealer visit. I provided photographic proof showing the wrench warning light was present after picking up the vehicle on the same day the recall repair was supposedly completed. Despite this evidence and the continued symptoms, the lead frame replacement was not performed. The vehicle has not been involved in a crash, but the intermittent loss of normal transmission operation creates a safety concern, especially during acceleration, merging, or uphill driving. The issue has been reported to Ford and inspected by a Ford dealer. Repair documentation, photos, and service records are available.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal whistling and dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the powertrain malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle independently downshifted, and the rear driver’s side of the vehicle slid to the left, and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that due to the impact, there was windshield fluid leaking out of the windshield washer fluid reservoir onto the ground, and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact entered a local AutoZone, retrieved a fire extinguisher, and extinguished the fire. The local fire department was contacted. The contact stated that no air bag was deployed. A police report was filed. A Fire Department report was not filed. The contact had a cut on the right arm, and the medical team in the ambulance patched up the arm; no further medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where it was self-diagnosed that the steering and ball joint assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was contacted and stated that the remedy was not yet available and would not be available until July 26th. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

my 6 speed transmition started shifting erratically. i took it to ford dealership and they did a pcm software download recall and it didnt help. the technition said he drove it and put on the wokorder. no codes stored issue not in leadframe. 1no codes stored to replace leadframe. transmition not shifting properly, most likely cause is internal clutch burnt. i asked what my next thing to do was and she said they would only change the transmition at my cost. this truck is shiftng in 5th and keeps shifting ranomly without showing on the gear panel. it does the same in 6th gear. between 4th and 5th it shifts real hard. all the symtoms of the lead frame recall and they said they wont touch it unless i put a new transmition in.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that when attempting to make a left turn and depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPMs increased to the redline indicator, and the contact immediately released the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred twice, and the vehicle jerked while the accelerator pedal was depressed and proceeded forward. While driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into sixth gear, and the failure became persistent. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to shift into sixth gear and suddenly downshifted to third gear. The wrench warning light illuminated intermittently and became persistent. A local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the recall remedy was unavailable. An appointment was scheduled to inspect the vehicle, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

The April 2026 recall for the 6R80 transmission (2015- 2017 F-150s) involves a software update to prevent unintended downshifts to first gear, which, if left unaddressed, can cause significant damage to the transmission and torque converter. The recall aims to prevent this damage, not cause it, though the underlying defect—if it causes violent, abrupt downshifts-can lead to transmission failure, including issues with the torque converter. The pcm tells the transmission what gear to shift into. The trs is what signals the pcm to tell the transmission what gear to shift into. I am saying all of this because I am have a bad downshifting problem almost like it’s causing the transmission to slip it has been doing this for months and I think it is causing more failure in my truck. It is getting worse and worse and this is my only reliable vehicle to get to work. I’ve called ford and they told me to keep driving but I don’t feel safe. They also quoted me for a new transmission saying the problem will occur again if I get one so I don’t get the point in doing that but I think it’s causing my transmission to go out and my torque converter to go out. I am out of ideas and don’t know what to do. I cannot afford a new transmission and it’s unfair to me that it’s their problem and I got quoted a new transmission. Also if I keep driving it and it messes up they are going to deny that that recall isn’t the problem I’m not sure what to do.

Failing transmission lead frame on a 2017 F-150 with a 6-speed transmission causing sudden, violent downshifts into low gears at highway speeds, risking severe rear-end crashes. On XXX, an authorized Ford dealership retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P0720 and P0722, confirming hardware component failure. The official dealership Repair Order explicitly states the transmission lead frame requires removal and replacement. This specific hardware failure is explicitly covered under Ford Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Campaign 26V237. Page 4 of the official Part 573 Safety Recall Report mandates that if a vehicle exhibits these specific codes prior to receiving the software update, dealers must replace the lead frame at no charge. The manufacturer and dealership are refusing to perform this mandatory safety remedy, citing 'Advanced Notice' status, leaving a verified unsafe vehicle on the road. Video evidence of hydraulic lock link: [XXX] Video evidence of hydraulic lock link 2: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)