2017 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Timing chain or cam phaser rattles
- 164owner reports
- 73,000median miles
- $5,449median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
366 of the 1,441 complaints on this car are about the engine. 164 of those describe timing chain failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 F-150.
Tick what matches of 164 reports
Timing chain failure on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This sheet is about a rattle from the front of the engine, often at its worst right after a cold start, that dealers trace to the timing chain or the cam phasers. It's heavily concentrated: the 2017 to 2019 Ford F-150 accounts for about four in ten of these complaints across the site.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the cam phasers (156 reports), the timing chain (23 reports) and the chain tensioner (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
All 18 recalls on the 2017 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the F-150
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
14 of the 164 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,000 to $6,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 99,000 miles, from the 130 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after your vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time, or as a knocking noise when ...
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise ...
Certain 2017-2020 Model Year F-150 Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI Engine Powertrain Control Module Reprogram for Cam Phaser Rattle In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine.
Certain 2017-2020 Model Year F-150 Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI Engine Cam Phaser Replacement In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine.
What owners wrote
“During cold start and sometimes during a warm start the engine rattles. Took to local mechanic and the cam phasers and timing chain are bad. Truck was not covered on recall of newer engines. Truck just went over 100,000 miles outside of the recall. Mechanic said if the timing chain was to come disconnected the truck will stop running and cause heavy damage to the engine.”
Filed Jun 11, 2025 · 100,000 miles
“I have a 2017 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost and contacted my local Ford dealership and was told my vehicle does not have a recall on the cam phasers but there is a recall on this faulty parts and I'm experiencing these parts failing with only 73,000 miles. Would there be a program I could qualify for to help with the replacement of these faulty parts ? Thank you.”
Filed Dec 3, 2024 · 73,000 miles
“My cam phasers are starting to go out vehicle has 97,000 miles. Also, the screen display for stereo goes black frequently.”
Filed Oct 21, 2024 · 97,000 miles
“Cam phaser rattle has progressed into loss of power in vehicle and unreliable performance. My engine will shutter and when gas pushed it feels like it is in limp mode.This started occurring after the phaser volume progressed and in my opinion after independent research the cam phaser lockout pen is slipping. Ford will not honor their own TSB to remedy although I am affected and within mileage range.”
Filed Sep 15, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 164 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 162 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 120 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 114 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 101 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 99 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 82 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 69 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 58 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 54 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 45 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 44 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 44 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 37 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 30 reports