Buyer Research

2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.2L Gas V8) — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $24,000–$36,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

The gasoline heavy-duty is the forgotten smart buy. No DPF, no DEF, no CP4, no $9,000 fuel system. It tows less and drinks more fuel, but it eliminates every catastrophic failure mode that makes used diesels a gamble. For occasional towing, this math usually wins.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25

NHTSA holds 1,155 owner complaints for the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.2L Gas V8), 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 (69 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 Super Duty (6.2L Gas V8)

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.

Spark plug and coil wearMedium

Sixteen plugs to replace on a two-valve V8, and access is tight. Routine but not cheap.

Repair cost (estimate): $400-$900

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (41).

Fuel economy under loadMedium

8-10 mpg towing is normal. Over 20,000 miles of towing that difference against a diesel is real money — but it is still less than one fuel system failure.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the fuel system (55).

Exhaust manifold bolt failureMedium

Broken manifold studs cause an exhaust tick. Extraction is labor-intensive.

Repair cost (estimate): $600-$1,600

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (41).

Aluminum body repair costLow

The Super Duty went aluminum-bodied in 2017. Collision repair requires certified shops.

Repair cost (estimate): 30-50% above steel

Source: not yet checked against public records.

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

Hit a bump above about 50 mph and the solid front axle can start shaking side to side hard enough to rattle the cab until you slow down. NHTSA investigated 2017+ Super Duty (gas and diesel alike) and Ford's fix was an upgraded steering damper, but worn track-bar bushings, ball joints, and big or soft tires bring it right back. Ask for proof the damper was replaced and drive rough highway at speed before buying.

Repair cost (estimate): $150–$1,200

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (717).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Exhaust tick at cold start
✗Plow or heavy commercial use with no records
✗Repaired aluminum panels with no certified shop paperwork
✗Neglected transmission fluid on a tow truck

Good Signs

✓Private owner towing a travel trailer occasionally
✓Transmission and differential fluid services documented
✓Clean, unrepaired aluminum body