2017 FORD F-350 SD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

See attached document for complaint.

My truck had a recall for the door locks freezing, which my truck had an issue with. The dealer performed the recall and 1 of the doors continued to freeze. The door will not latch and it will open when driving down the road. I took it back to the dealer and they charged me to diagnose and confirm it's still doing it. They will not repair it again, they said the recall repair was inadequate and it would cost 900$ to fix.

Driving uphill at approx 20mph near my home. Loud bang/explosion from engine or front driver-side wheel well. Red alarm flashed on instrument cluster (something like “Front Brake Failure”) and strong odor of fuel or exhaust entered cab. I immediately pulled into a pullout and put vehicle in park when I noticed flames coming from the engine compartment through the gaps in hood and wheel well. I splashed a small amount of water on the driver side front tire, but the fire continued to grow. I backed away to a safe distance and called 911. Within 5 minutes, the entire engine compartment was on fire and I captured on video explosions as the fire raged Local fire department arrived within 15 minutes, but the entire engine and cab had already been destroyed by fire. Had I been driving at high speed or with passengers, this incident could have resulted in serious burn injuries and death. Had I been driving during summer months, this incident would have caused a devastating wildfire. Had I been in traffic, I may have caused a multi-car wreck. There were absolutely no warning indicators that such a violent incident could occur. Tow truck driver said it may have been a fuel filter issue which has caused other Super Duty’s to experience sudden and catastrophic engine compartment fires. Minimal research showed me that NHSTA is investigating Ford Super Duty for this very issue. My F350 is model year 2017. I also have video of fluids dripping from the burning vehicle and the droplets are on fire which leads me to believe that leaking fuel — possibly from a cracked plastic filter — may be to blame for this incredibly dangerous incident. The vehicles remains have been searched by California Highway Patrol and the remains are currently being investigated by State Farm Auto Insurance claims experts.

Driving uphill at approx 20mph near my home. Loud bang/explosion from engine or front driver-side wheel well. Red alarm flashed on instrument cluster (something like “Front Brake Failure”) and strong odor of fuel or exhaust entered cab. I immediately pulled into a pullout and put vehicle in park when I noticed flames coming from the engine compartment through the gaps in hood and wheel well. I splashed a small amount of water on the driver side front tire, but the fire continued to grow. I backed away to a safe distance and called 911. Within 5 minutes, the entire engine compartment was on fire and I captured on video explosions as the fire raged Local fire department arrived within 15 minutes, but the entire engine and cab had already been destroyed by fire. Had I been driving at high speed or with passengers, this incident could have resulted in serious burn injuries and death. Had I been driving during summer months, this incident would have caused a devastating wildfire. Had I been in traffic, I may have caused a multi-car wreck. There were absolutely no warning indicators that such a violent incident could occur. Tow truck driver said it may have been a fuel filter issue which has caused other Super Duty’s to experience sudden and catastrophic engine compartment fires. Minimal research showed me that NHSTA is investigating Ford Super Duty for this very issue. My F350 is model year 2017. I also have video of fluids dripping from the burning vehicle and the droplets are on fire which leads me to believe that leaking fuel — possibly from a cracked plastic filter — may be to blame for this incredibly dangerous incident. The vehicles remains have been searched by California Highway Patrol and the remains are currently being investigated by State Farm Auto Insurance claims experts.

Dear NHTSA, On two separate occasions—May 2025 and December 2025, approximately six months apart—I experienced fuel leaks from the upper fuel filter on my 2017 F-350 while driving. Both filters had previously been replaced with genuine Ford parts. I am deeply concerned that my safety was compromised during these incidents. In both cases, diesel fuel was leaking down the engine compartment without any warning indicators or alerts on the dashboard. The only indication of a problem was the smell of fuel, which I initially assumed was external. It wasn’t until I stopped the vehicle that I discovered a steady stream of fuel leaking. The most recent occurrence happened while I was on vacation, approximately 650 miles from home. There were no prior symptoms or warnings, making it extremely difficult to detect while driving, as the smell dissipates in the wind. In my opinion, this represents a significant safety hazard. Diesel fuel streaming down a hot engine could easily result in a fire, posing a serious risk to both the driver and passengers.