Recall 17V331 covers 14,410 Ford trucks with chrome door-handle covers that can unlatch in a side impact. Dealers remove them and refund the purchase price.
Ford is recalling 14,410 2015-2017 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks that were fitted with chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kits from a Ford dealer. The covers can let doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, which increases injury risk for occupants; Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The exterior door handle starts the unlatching process when you pull the handle from outside the truck. On 2015-2017 Ford trucks included in this recall, the door latch is the part that keeps the door closed until the handle releases it. The latch and handle have to work together while still holding the door shut during a crash.
The concern is with chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kits sold through Ford dealers. Trucks originally built with black or body colored exterior handles were later fitted with those covers. In a side impact collision, the accessory cover can affect the handle and latch enough for a door to unlatch, which means the door retention system does not meet the required safety standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. The truck can look and operate normally because the issue is tied to how the accessory cover behaves during a side impact collision, not to a symptom you would notice in daily use.
Who's affected?
Spans five F-Series truck lines across the 2015-2017 model years, with door latch and body door components included.
| 2015 Ford F-150 | Latch |
|---|---|
| 2015 Ford F-150 | body structure |
| 2016 Ford F-150 | Latch |
| 2016 Ford F-150 | body structure |
| 2017 Ford F-350 | Latch |
| 2017 Ford F-350 | body structure |
| 2017 Ford F-150 | Latch |
| 2017 Ford F-150 | body structure |
| 2017 Ford F-250 | Latch |
| 2017 Ford F-250 | body structure |
| 2017 Ford F-550 | Latch |
| 2017 Ford F-550 | body structure |
| 2017 Ford F-450 | Latch |
| 2017 Ford F-450 | body structure |
| Units affected | 14,410 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, occupants face increased injury risk. There is no warning sign before this happens, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the available remedy soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2015-2017 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, or F-550 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free removal of the chrome exterior door handle covers, the accessory linked to doors unlatching in a side impact collision.
- Ask the dealer to process the purchase-price refund for the door handle cover kit.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V331 and Ford recall 17C09 when you call.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician removes the chrome exterior door handle accessory covers from affected trucks. The recall remedy is available now, and the removal is performed at no charge. Ford also refunds the purchase price of the accessory covers, along with covered labor tied to the cover installation or removal. If you already paid for the cover or related labor, bring purchase receipts or service paperwork to the Ford service desk so the refund can be processed under this campaign.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 22, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 23, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| May 23, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 13, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 21, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 21, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V331?
Recall 17V331 covers 14,410 2015-2017 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles with accessory chrome exterior door handle covers. The covers can cause doors to unlatch in a side impact collision, increasing injury risk for occupants.
What should I do if my 2015-2017 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, or F-550 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V331. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 17V331 or Ford recall 17C09. The dealer removes the accessory chrome handle covers and refunds the purchase price.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to provide the recall remedy at no cost. Ford dealers remove the accessory chrome exterior door handle covers for free and refund the purchase price for the affected accessory kit.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is door opening during a side impact collision. If the accessory covers interfere with door retention and a door unlatches, occupants face an increased risk of injury. The remedy is to have a Ford dealer remove the covers.
What if I bought my Ford truck used?
The recall still follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your truck is included, especially if it already had chrome exterior door handle covers when you bought it. If included, a Ford dealer provides the recall remedy for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V331000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V331 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V331000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →