Buyer Research

2017 Ford F-250 Power Stroke — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $34,000–$50,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

A serious tow rig — the 6.7L Power Stroke V8 makes huge torque and the redesigned 2017 Super Duty added a stronger frame and better tech. The 6.7L is a strong engine (a big improvement over the old 6.0/6.4), with emissions-system upkeep as the main cost. Verify it wasn't deleted/tuned or tow-abused. A documented, stock Power Stroke is a capable, durable heavy-duty truck.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 3,465 owner complaints for the 2017 Ford F-250 Power Stroke, and no recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 62% of them are about one thing — steering. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

Not written up yet: wheels and bearings (207 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2017 Ford F-250 Power Stroke

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Deleted / tuned emissions (illegal)Medium

Many were deleted/tuned — illegal, can hide problems and hurt resale/legality. Avoid unless you understand the risk.

Repair cost: Not a repair — an ownership-cost warning, not a mechanical fault

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (123).

Tow/work abuseMedium

Heavy work use; check for driveline wear, frame/hitch abuse, and honest history.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the body and structure (198).

CP4 fuel pump risk (fuel contamination)Medium

The CP4 injection pump can fail catastrophically if run low or with bad fuel, damaging the whole fuel system; ask about fuel discipline.

Repair cost (estimate): $3,000-$10,000 if failed

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the fuel system (165).

Death wobble — violent front-end shake at highway speedHigh — wallet impact

After hitting a bump or expansion joint above roughly 50 mph the solid front axle oscillates side to side hard enough to shake the whole cab; it usually only stops when you slow well down. NHTSA opened an investigation into 2017+ Super Duty over this and Ford's fix was a revised steering damper, but worn track-bar bushings, ball joints, and oversized or under-inflated tires all bring it back. Ask for proof the damper was replaced, and drive it over rough highway pavement at speed before buying.

Repair cost (estimate): $150–$1,200

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (2,151).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Deleted/tuned emissions
✗Emissions faults / thin history
✗Hard tow abuse
✗Evidence of fuel-system neglect

Good Signs

✓Stock emissions, thorough records
✓Honest tow history

Found a specific Ford F-250 Power Stroke?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2017 Ford F-250 Power Stroke in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.