Is the 2017 Ford F-250 reliable?

The 2017 Ford F-250 has 1718 complaints filed with NHTSA (4.5x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2017 Ford F-250?

Top problems: STEERING (668 complaints, avg repair $500); SUSPENSION (554 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (107 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2017 Ford F-250?

Yes, there are 2 recall(s): ENGINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2017 Ford F-250?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2017 Ford F-250 is approximately $1,607/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2017 Ford F-250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Ford F-250 has 1718 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.5x the segment average of 384. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: front tires begin to "wobble & shake" violently of speeds above 60 mph.. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 13 crash reports 13 injuries

1718

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

668 complaints

39%

• FRONT TIRES BEGIN TO "WOBBLE & SHAKE" VIOLENTLY OF SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH.
• I HAVE A 2017 F250 4X4. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH OR FASTER THE FRONTEND WILL START TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN I HIT ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON IT. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
• DEATH WOBBLE.. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 TO 70 ON HIGHWAY IF YOU HIT ANY KIND OF BRIDGE OR BUMP IN ROAD THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY LIKE A WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF.. YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN TO 20MPH OR STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL.. I HAVE ONLY 19000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW..

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“FRONT TIRES BEGIN TO "WOBBLE & SHAKE" VIOLENTLY OF SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2017 Ford F-250

Based on 1,468 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 30K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

736

30-60K

580

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 28K mi · 595 reports

0-30K

323

30-60K

233

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 28K mi · 493 reports

0-30K

260

30-60K

198

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 32K mi · 82 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

In line with typicalmedian 28K mi · 56 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 53 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 36K mi · 35 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (2)

ENGINE18/12/2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2017 Ford F-250

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,607

Full coverage / month

$134

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1607

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford F-250 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2017 F-250, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1718 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: FRONT TIRES BEGIN TO "WOBBLE & SHAKE" VIOLENTLY OF SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: FRONT TIRES BEGIN TO "WOBBLE & SHAKE" VIOLENTLY OF SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A TRAILER HITCH THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE SAFETY CHAINS WITH. YOU CAN NOT ADEQUATELY ATTACH THE HOOKS LEADING THE POSSIBILITY OF A RUNAWAY TRAILER. THE FORD SUPERDUTY TRUCKS BOAST OF THEIR ABILITY TO PULL WELL OVER 10,000 POUNDS BUT THEIR ENGINEERS DID NOT PROVI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AFTER I NOTICED THE TPMS WAS MALFUNCTIONING AFTER ABOUT 4,000 MILES AND 3 MONTHS OF OPERATION. THE TPMS ORIGINALLY SHOWED A DRAMATIC FAULT IN ONE TIRE, BUT LATER SHOWED FAULTS IN THREE. THE READINGS CHANGED CONTINUALLY FROM TIRE TO TIRE AND SOMETIMES WERE AS LOW AS 4
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)