2017 FORD F-150 Power Train Problems

while driving at normal speeds in drive mode, the transmission suddenly downshifts to 1st or 2nd gear causing immediate deceleration.

WHEN DRIVING TO VISIT MY FAMILY ON THE ROAD, I WAS DRIVING NORMAL IN 6TH GEAR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY JUMP BACK DOWN TO 5TH GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL STAY STUCK ON 3RD GEAR INSTEAD OF COMING BACK DOWN TO 1ST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, SPECIALLY ON MEDIUM, LONG TRIPS.

December 2024 I started experiencing intermittent down shifts from 6th to 3rd. First time was on a very icy road while towing two snowmobiles on a trailer causing it to jack knife and I spun out. Luckily no one else was on the road. After a brief search, I assumed the well know lead frame was the cause. Im a diy person so I ordered new parts and replaced the leadframe myself. I've driven over 10,000 since with no issues.

My 2017 ford f150 6r80 transmission lead frame malfunction causing for the transmission to severely down shift and locking my rear wheels. At the time No check engine or wrench symbol showed on my speedometer dashboard until the following day. I was lucky no vehicles were close to me that could of rear ended me and loose control on the freeway. Took my f150 to my local ford dealership and confirmed that it was my transmission lead frame and fixed it.

Frequently I will be driving at highway speeds and the truck will unexpectedly downshift. This will happen around every 500 miles. I have only had it drop from 6th to 5th/4th, never any lower at highway speeds. I have had this occur multiple times at slower speeds but it will go away. During each time the code P0720, output speed sensor, will appear and I will have to clear the code and it will work like normal again. There has only been one instance, in my 2 months of ownership, in which the unexpected downshift happened, I then came to a stop and then the truck stalled at a stop light. The truck is available for inspection. My safety and others were put at risk since I lost the ability to control my throttle making my acceleration and deceleration erratic. Also, when I was stalled at the green light it...

I just paid 2129.05 to have the separator plate on my 2017 Ford F-150 3.5l /10-speed replaced. The issue was the though bolts in the torque converter were making rotational contact with the stationary separator plate within the bell housing. Ford has a TSB concerning this issue. The number is; SSM52295 ,TSB 19-2230. This specifically cites 2018-2023 models with 3.5l or 5.0l engines, similar issues and symptoms [3.5l/10-speed] occur on 2017 models. It seems this is a known flaw yet there is no financial consideration for this expensive repair. This is not a wear item. It is stationary. This situation has developed over the past several months with most notable audible evidence occurring upon very cold weather initial start-up.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while responding and felt like the transmission was shifting in and out of gear. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle downshifted unintendedly while driving, and the vehicle jumped and hesitated to respond while attempting to drive from a complete stop. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

While driving my 2017 F150 Lariat 4x4 5.0LV8 with 6speed transmission and 48,700 miles on the odometer at roughly 55mph this morning - the transmission suddenly downshifted to 2nd gear. The downshift was sudden enough to "bark" the rear tires. Thankfully, no one was near me, and I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and reach my destination safely.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked while driving and attempting to shift gears. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the catalytic converter and timing components had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, and there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

The transmission for this vehicle is failing. When accelerating it shifts to a lower gear without warning. It appears to be slipping into gears that it should not be shifting into. When first putting the vehicle into drive it often lurches forward so a hard braking action is required when shifting from park to drive. Dealer is so overwhelmed by transmission issues they require months in advance to see vehicle. Once received they need a week to just evaluate then “up to two months” to repair it. They indicate it’s a known issue with the Ford 10 speeds. A warning notice is constant and cannot be reset. “See manual”

2017 f150 with only 48,330 original miles. Having issues with transmission stalling,jerking in between gears. After last night I have had enough due to an almost potentially fatal accident. While making a left hand turn the transmission stalled for way too long and an 18 wheeler came over the hill ( it’s a blind spot turn) and came very close to hitting me broad side of my truck. This issue could have costed me my life. The transmission fluid is fine as it was checked very recently at my last service less than 100 miles ago. The dealership wants 200 dollars just to hook it up to a computer just to see if the TCM is showing any codes. I have already had that checked for free somewhere else and it is not. The dealership will not do anything unless I pay for that to be done first. I cannot...

Transmission seems to be faulty. While accelerating the transmission will shift from 4th gear to 1st gear then up to 3rd gear. Sometimes it will return to normal operation at the point, sometimes it will continue to shift up and down at random. I have been told by the shop (more than 1) that the transmission is fine. This random and hard down shifting cause the vehicle to lose speed which is very unsafe. I first noticed the problem about 6 months after I purchased the truck (Oct. of 2024) as a hesitation when shifting from 3rd to 4th. This is an ongoing problem that continues to worsen as time goes on. Currently the vehicle is available with reasonable accommodations to be inspected.

While driving ~70mph on I-80 in central Wyoming, my truck suddenly and unexpectedly downshifted to a low gear, causing RPMs to spike to 8000+ and making me swerve and nearly go off the road. No warning lights or cautions appeared. I pulled over, turned off the ignition, and checked my engine compartment to see if I could find any issues but everything appeared normal. I resumed driving and everything felt normal. Approximately 100 miles later a check engine light appeared. No other cautions or messages appeared. My transmission and engine oil temperature gauges showed readings in the middle of the normal range. I was 10 miles from the nearest town and immediately stopped at a mechanic shop to diagnose the issue. After several days trying to diagnose the issue, they told me that my transmission had severely overheated, was near failure, and needed to be replaced. I had a regular...

The powertrain/transmission is not receiving the signal from the engine to accelerate. It can be inspected. The vehicle is slow to accelerate or will not accelerate at all, causing lurching motions and slow movement of the vehicle. This can cause my vehicle to rapidly accelerate or me to slowly decelerate, causing me to possibly run into others or be hit by others. No one has reproduced or assessed the problem. The problem occurred multiple times before a warning message was displayed. The signal appeared after two weeks of the failure occuring.

In June 2025 and again in December 2025, when my truck stopped at a Red Traffic Light and I applied my brakes to stop the vehicle, my two rear wheels/tires started to spin rapidly non-stop for 60 seconds or the duration of the traffic light, causing a great deal of smoke and noise. My truck acted like a "Drag Racing" machine on a short track revving its engine and spinning its tires for a very short burst of speed down the track. Cars behind me kept their distance and I thought my truck would bolt forward at any time causing a serious accident. I applied my brakes as firmly as possible, praying my truck would not lose control and bolt forward into the lane of traffic. In June, my mechanic thoroughly inspected my vehicle for four hours, going on a test drive, pulled off all the wheels and checked every...

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to second or third gear. The contact stated that the vehicle felt like the brake pedal was depressed, and the engine revved to over 5,000 RPMs. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle shuddered, and felt like the vehicle was being driven over rumble strips on the roadway. The contact stated that the unexpected downshifts only occurred while driving approximately 60-70 MPH. The contact was able to reset the transmission by turning off and restarting the vehicle initially; however, the failure reoccurred, and the transmission could no longer be reset to normal functionality. The contact called a local dealer and was advised that the transmission was a closed system, and the transmission case could not be opened. The contact had taken...

I purchased a 2017 F150 in March of 25’. Miraculously no issue started until approx 4000 miles after the purchase. The dealer warranty was good for 3500. In the months that preceded issue after issue began to arise. First and least important in my personal opinion. I get in my truck to head to work and my sliding back glass is laying in backseat, completely intact with the track it slides on. One would initially think the GA sun maybe warmed the adhesive to such a Temp that it came loose but my truck is parked in the shade every day at work & at home. Insurance won’t cover it because they say it’s on Ford. Next I have lost power steering, when loosing it i have apparently lost all of steering, uphill downhill assistance an approx 10 other warnings that come every time i crank it. I have been...

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift gears. The check engine and power train warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to the Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N01 and NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The power train failure warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated from 60 MPH to approximately 40–50 MPH. The contact stated that when the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate, but eventually started to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a CAM shaft sensor failure. The contact was informed that the CAM shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road....

The CDF drum bushing slipped, which seems to be a constant problem on the F150's, causing my truck transmission to fail while on the freeway. Looking online, several of these instances have occurred to other truck owners. The cost to repair this is astronomical and if Ford has been aware of the problem for so long, they should have recalled the trucks and fixed the problem.

Purchased CPO Ford F150 in 2000 to replace Explorer in MA. Used 4 wheel drive in winter the past two seasons to learn after spending over $1000 and driving a vehicle with reduced MPG due to a known TSP 24-2188 that this is a defect that affects fuel efficiency by close to six miles per gallon. Called Balise Ford after learning updated TSB requires flashing of the onboard TCCM. They would not touch it without charging me. Why can a manufacturer design a flawed system that affects the MPG without providing a free fix? So now I drive a vehicle with a defect grinding metal to metal reducing fuel efficiency by 30% that will require all new parts to replace the parts I replaced in January 2025 for almost $1000 when and if I can ever afford to bring to a FORD dealership to have the TSB corrected at my...

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, and up a slight grade, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted. The contact was towing an empty 12-foot, single-axel, flatbed trailer. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was on a two-lane road and was unable to pull over. The vehicle lost motive power and failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was unable to exceed 20 MPH while driving. The contact pulled into a service station where a mechanic checked the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine had overheated and that the oil level was low by 3 quarts. The contact had the mechanic top off the oil and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The mechanic jump-started the vehicle, and the contact stated...

Since I purchased this vehicle new, it has always had problems with hard shifting. This happens at low to medium speed when accelerating or decelerating. In many cases while accelerating, the hard shift causes a temporary loss of power (and therefore acceleration) creating a dangerous situation when trying to merge in heavy traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I SHARED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER VERY EARLY IN MY OWNERSHIP. THEY APPLIED A SOFTWARE PATCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? IT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MANUFACTURING FACILITY, BUT IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did...

I was driving my truck around 40 MPH and a wrench came up on the dash, the fan sounded like it kicked in on high for the duration of the wrench being on, the light indicating whether the truck was in P, R, N, D, M, 2, 1 was no longer illuminated. After a while it stopped but the problem has persisted. This last time, I was driving my truck around 55 MPH and the exact same thing happened but this time the truck seemed to downshift into either first or second gear and obviously the RPM was extremely high. After this happened, I took the truck to the Fairway Ford in Evans, Georgia and was notified that the molded lead frame needed to be replaced, costing nearly $2,300. This sudden downshift was an extremely concerning safety issue that could have resulted in a crash and endangered not only myself...

Transmission Lead Frame causing sudden shift to first gear during travel, no start, erattic shifting. This seems to be an on going issue with Ford 6 speed transmissions.

The transmission down shifted from 5th to first while going approximately 50 mph out of nowhere and without warning. This caused a rapid deceleration while on a busy road and scared the crap out of me. The truck stayed in a reduced power mode until I shut it down and restarted. I used my auto scan tool to look up if any fault codes were registered. Fault code P0722:00-68 was registered (Output Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal) which indicates a problem with the molded lead frame in the transmission. Why has Ford not issued a safety recall for this known problem? This can cause a catastrophic failure/safety issue while driving.

Automatic transmission having major jerking and shuttering issues

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after cold starting the vehicle, the transmission hesitated and then shifted into the next gear with a bump. The contact stated that once the engine had warmed up, the transmission shifted normally. The contact stated that recently, while stopped at a traffic light, after the light changed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to move. The contact stated that the engine was running, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted manually to first gear, and the vehicle moved forward with a bump. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had not yet taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the transmission and engine were replaced several years ago. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure....

While driving lost transmission gear selection on the cluster and would no longer go into 1st gear. wrench light flashed and showed see owners manual. When decelerating for a stop the truck does not downshift into 1st gear, when your expecting a downshift it makes it very hard to stop at intended spot. Dealership mentioned this being a known issue (Lead Frame Replacement needed) but has only been recalled for 2014 and below year models.

Complete loss of transmission power, and gear indicator in the instrument cluster starts flickering like it is shorting out. The vehicle has been experiencing this for 2 weeks. This happens under acceleration mainly, and first occurred while entering a highway. The symptoms seem to match those presented regarding the Lead Frame issues presented on many forums.

I took my 2017 Ford F150 XLT super cab 4 x 4 into Matthews-Currie Ford dealership. It was diagnosed unsafe to drive. They replaced the transmission & driveshaft. The truck still was not functioning correctly. Took it back into the same dealership where they determine the engine was also bad. They ordered a junkyard engine that leaked all of the oil due to a loose or faulty oil pan plug. & had the truck in their possession for well over two months. The truck still does not operate correctly & they are refusing to stand behind their work. No warning lights. No indications of problem other than how it drove. There is no cooperation from another dealership due to this one working on it prior. I pay for an extended warranty that nobody wants to honor due to the fact that this dealership has worked on it and they don’t...

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.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into reverse, the vehicle started rolling forward, prompting the contact to not attempt to drive the vehicle. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 126,000.

Drivability issues. Harsh shifting, downshifting, loss of acceleration, and warning lights appearing. Giving Code P0722

Truck has roughly 185,000 miles & is equipped with the 10r80 transmission. Transmission recently began experiencing harsh & hard shifts, skipping or slipping gears, gear searching and randomly shifts to neutral. Had transmission fluid/filter changed with little to no change in erratic transmission. Issues have been intermittent and I am unable to reproduce manually. 4 transmission shops and a ford dealership have all advised the most likely diagnosis is a failed CDF drum that has been a common issue with these transmissions but they cannot confirm without a teardown of the transmission. Vehicle is still drivable, if issues occur I park, turn the truck off for at least 1 minute. After starting the truck again the issue resolves itself. This issue leaves the vehicle susceptible to stalling/neutral on the roadway and at highway and city speeds.

The transmission would randomly shift into first regardless of speed. several times this occurred at highway speeds causing a sudden decrease on speed nearly leading to a rear end collision. The problem worsened to the point it would suddenly hunt for a gear. Fortunately this did not occur on the highway as it probably would have led to a serious accident. The problem was confirmed and repaired by an independent shop by replacing the molded lead frame in the transmission. There was no warning when the dangerous condition would occur.

Lead frame malfunction Vehicle downshifts into lower gears and won't shift afterwards Have not taken to service center as of today just started happening recently No inspections have been performed A service warning came on after the sudden downshift

My 2017 Ford F-150 (VIN [XXX] ) has serious safety issues that Ford has failed to address. The 10-speed transmission has been replaced three times by Ford dealerships and still hesitates and slips between 3rd and 4th gear, annd the plate now tings especially in cold weather. The truck bed has separated from the body near the wheel wells, leaving visible gaps to the ground and causing the tailgate to malfunction. This structural separation poses a safety risk if the bed detaches or tailgate fails under load. The cam phasers have also been repaired multiple times. Ford has refused further assistance despite documented repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

6 speed automatic transmission downshifts while traveling at high speed into low gear by itself, causing vehicle to change speed and lock up rear wheels. Very dangerous! Vehicle has 66,150 miles on it, and isn’t used for work. The transmission also shifts into second and third gears while sitting still at a traffic light. This has happened multiple times. It is just now 1 month out of service contract (ended 8/2025 it started 9/2025). It is available for inspection. It has not been to dealer or mechanic yet for inspection or repairs to this certain transmission issue. It has ONLY ever been serviced by Ford dealer on regular basis since I purchased it new. No warning lights or codes of any kind. This is now not safe to drive, as it’s happening almost daily. Hopefully this is a RECALL soon and Ford does the right thing!

After reports to my Ford service center about hard shifting and being charged to reset something in it I took the truck back AGAIN for the third time to be told the problem was with technical service bulletin 25–20 126 delayed engagement shifting issue they were gonna fix had a more in depth problem, cdf was replaced and the transmission case was cracked and replaced. Please note I bought this was 77,000 miles and reported the problem to Ford soon thereafter it wasn’t until 89,000 miles that they finally found the problem. Although I had an extended warranty, I still had to pay $992.00.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission shuddered while attempting to accelerate. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine at start-up. The cam phasers were replaced by an independent mechanic. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Transmission lead frame failure. Common / known issue with Ford F150's. Evidently, there is a recall on the part that mine needs, but my vin isn't included in the recall. I can't accelerate at random. Vehicle starts off in 3rd gear / limp mode Yes, confirmed by ASE certified tech Replacement part isn't readily available due to high failure rate and recall.

I am writing to report a serious and recurring safety issue with my vehicle. On multiple occasions, while either pulling out into traffic or driving at normal speeds, the vehicle has unexpectedly dropped into first gear. This sudden downshift has caused the vehicle to decelerate abruptly, nearly resulting in a loss of control and posing a significant risk of an accident. As a business owner, I often have crew members riding with me, and this malfunction endangers not only my employees but also my family when they are in the vehicle. This is an unacceptable and dangerous situation that must be addressed immediately. I am requesting a full inspection and diagnosis of the transmission system, along with a permanent resolution to this issue. I urge you to prioritize this matter due to the safety risks involved.

Was on my way to work going about 75 and my truck shifted from 6th gear to 1st gear causing my back wheels to lock up and caused me to lose control nearly wrecking my vehicle

On 4 occasions, my F150 has went in reverse when transmission was in the drive position. The truck would travel backwards 3 to 5 feet before shutting off. The first time happened at a stop sign. Nearly backed into another vehicle. PCM was reprogrammed. 2nd time occurred on leaving my driveway. Ford replaced an ABS module. 3rd time happened in front of my house. Ford found bent pin on PCM. 4th time occurred at waste facility after unloading trash. Vehicle went in reverse when transmission was in drive. Vehicle went backwards at least 3 feet. Nearly backed into a ford F250 and pinned driver of vehicle between the 2 trucks. Ford has changed a relay. I have contacted Ford by chat, phone, and email. The case manager refuses to communicate with me about this matter.

Transmission makes a sudden hard down shift..... and it always throwing codes ... well maintained but getting too expensive.... 2017 F150 ecoboost 3.5... jumped into lump mode while between 2 semi trucks and one one my side also.... I held down on the throttle so that it wouldn't stop in between the semis and finally had a chance to pull over.... turn my vehicle off... it drove normal but now have another code... possible misfire.... cylinder 1 and 4.... last month it was cylinder 3... I've talked with Ford on helping with the bill they said they don't do that... but offered me some other things that may be covered undered some other recall.... every other month it's something... ooo yeah, had cam phaser done also.... out of pocket... can't find the cam phaser bill but if you need it I can request a copy from the mechanic shop.... [XXX]...

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted without warning. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the transmission suddenly downshifted, and the contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle skidded. The contact regained control of the vehicle with the message to "Check Service Manual" flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above third gear while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that after a while, the vehicle failed to accelerate above fifth gear and failed to decelerate and downshift below third gear, even while at a complete stop. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

Experienced transmission down shifting at highway speeds. Traveling at approx 75 mph in OH, when truck down shifted to 5th gear and showed warning message "drive train malfuction", message cleared on key cycle. Issue again occurred 8 days later in OH/PA return trip home. No message in cluster, but vehicle returned to normal operation after key cycle. Vehicle has operated normally for the last week. Dealer tried to pull codes, none set. Appointment made to have them look at truck, but they don't expect to find anything. Continue to drive truck, and IF message in cluster reappears bring it by if possible.

Car rolls freely when placed in park

Driving interstate and a wrench warning came up on dash screen. I knew that wasn’t good. Two Local mechanics diagnosed as circuit A (transmission) needs replaced. Park light not illuminating and won’t even crank to start. I got it started , finally, and wrench came back on. Loud “thunk” noise when switching into reverse Was advised NOT to drive until repaired as it is dangerous to me and others Recall was issued for 10 pin and needs to recalled for 6 pin ASAP Ford is welcome. To check it out anytime as I just have it setting waiting on recall. I need a truck, please issue recall