2017 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 30owner reports
- 54,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
161 of the 1,441 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 30 of those describe windshield.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Windshield 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: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Many windshield complaints are about cracks owners can't explain: a line that starts at the edge of the glass, or a small chip that spreads. Nearly one in five of these complaints mentions it happening again or a second windshield.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (30 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the windshield and wipers on the F-150
Windshield trim molding item detachment. Closed feb 8, 2024, led to recall 24V-031.
Spare tire wear. Closed jul 27, 1999.
Spare tire mounting. Closed mar 17, 1999.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 62,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 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.
Some 2015-2021 F-150, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty and 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit a binding/sticking, glass stuck open or closed, noisy operation including chatter, rattling, or grinding.
Some 2015-2020 F-150 and 2017-2020 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a rear defroster may have factory installed or service replacement rear glass that uses rear defroster electrical terminals with a plastic overmolded cover.
Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent.
Some 2015-2019 F-150, 2017-2019 F-Super Duty, 2018-2019 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit a binding/sticking, glass stuck open or closed, noisy operation including chatter, rattling, or grinding.
3 more on the 2017 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“A week ago, the top interior strip that holds the sliding glass window in place randomly fell off. We taped the hole until we could find someone who could fix the track. Then, a week later the non-sliding portion of the back rear window exploded while parked. There was no sort of impact, the window just shattered sending pieces of glass into my kids car seats.”
Filed May 25, 2026
“The windshield was not sealed properly. The primer and glue were applied incorrectly and now has disintegrated over time causing a leak in the area where the pin holds the windshield at the drivers side of the vehicle. From what I understand this could cause the windshield to dislodge in an accident.”
Filed Jan 15, 2025
“Rear windshield is leaking water into cab when it rains outside. The rear window is a power opening sliding window. Appears that windowstripping is not keeping water out around the sliding window.”
Filed Oct 28, 2022
“On 4/1/22 while driving the rear glass exploded. There are many reports of this issue online. the vehicle was in a perfectly flat road with no holes and for no apparent reason it just exploded with a very loud bang. Thankfully this happened in a 40-mph zone, i can only imagine what would happen if this occurred at a high rate of speed. this vehicle is not used as a commercial vehicle, and we don't off road...”
Filed Apr 1, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 30 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 164 reports
- 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