Diagsheet

2017 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Transmission fails or needs replacement

  • 58owner reports
  • 95,000median miles
  • $8,000median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

543 of the 1,441 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 58 of those describe transmission failure.

4 recalls on this systemcovering the 2017 model year
1 crashin 58 reports
NHTSA investigations2 covering the 2017

Tick what matches of 58 reports

26
4
16
15

Transmission 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, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

What this problem usually is

This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (58 reports) and the torque converter (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

4 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

26V-237Apr 14, 2026
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 26V-237

18V-213Apr 4, 2018
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 18V-213

17V-671Oct 24, 2017
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift

The pin that attaches the transmission shift linkage to the transmission may come out, preventing the transmission from responding to movement of the shift lever.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 17V-671

17V-053Jan 24, 2017
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

In these vehicles, the instrument cluster may lose power after the initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may not illuminate.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 17V-053

All 18 recalls on the 2017 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150

EA26-001opened Jan 30, 2026
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.

PE25-002opened Mar 21, 2025
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.

RQ24-005opened Mar 27, 2024
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2014

Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.

RQ17-010opened Dec 25, 2017
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2011 to 2013

Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.

RQ98-005opened Mar 13, 1998
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.

PE97-019opened May 6, 1997
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.

PE91-064opened Apr 9, 1991
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1991

Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.

What owners paid

14 of the 58 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,054 to $8,188.

$2,054$8,000$8,188
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 63,000 and 121,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2021: 3, 2022: 1, 2023: 5, 2024: 6, 2025: 20, 2026: 233'211'225'236'2420'2523'26

What owners wrote

“Vehicle had a transmission failure at ~49,500 miles. Vehicle currently at Cypress Coast Ford in Seaside, CA. Issues are directly related to FORD TSB 22-248.”

Filed May 19, 2026 · 49,500 miles

“Transmission had been shifting erratically & wrench appeared on dash. Had truck towed to dealership & was told lead frame was bad. Replaced for $2054. After one day wrench appeared on dash. Took back to dealership and was told clutch pack exploded & required new transmission. Mileage 120,308.”

Filed Oct 22, 2025

“After the 2nd year of owning the truck the transmission blew up. I paid out of pocket to replace the transmission in full & then now 4 years later the transmission blew up again. Timing chain is also broken & engine is failing. 2017 FordF150 Lariat Sport.”

Filed Mar 26, 2025

“The transmission failed and it is available for inspection. The truck came to a stop in the middle of an intersection and would not go into gear again. It has been confirmed by a dealer. other than the dealer it has not been inspected. The wrench warning light came on during the incident.”

Filed Feb 10, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 58 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