In monitoring our technical service inquiries and technical service bulletins from Ford, there is the potential for moderate to severe steering wheel oscillation (wobble) to occur. After extensive testing and outside feedback, the following details have been established to correct or prevent steering wheel oscillation occurrences in lifted 05-16 Ford Super Duty 4wd pickups.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Ford F-350 steering problems
severe 50 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
5crashes
1fire
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 50 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 50 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006 F-350 trucks report a violent front-end shimmy or wobble that erupts after hitting bumps, potholes, dips, or rough pavement—especially at highway speeds between 45 and 75 mph. The steering wheel shakes intensely, sometimes for 10–20 seconds, forcing the truck hard into adjacent lanes. Drivers report losing steering control until they slow to 30–40 mph or come to a complete stop. The failure occurs intermittently but recurs frequently; some owners experience it multiple times per year, others report it happening since purchase.
Ford issued a service letter (09L02, dated April 2009) and Technical Service Bulletin 04-26-1 acknowledging the problem and recommending proper tire inflation, yet owners maintain correct pressures and the shimmy persists. Ford dealerships often deny the defect exists, blame tires, or replace components (track bar, ball joint, steering dampener, shocks, stabilizers, steering gear box) without lasting results. Independent mechanics cite excess caster angle in the front-end geometry and state the design flaw cannot be fixed. Owners report alignment shops and dealers declaring the truck unfixable due to its design. Multiple complaints reference the "death wobble" term, towing trailers intensifies the danger, and owners express losing confidence in the truck's safety on highways. One owner's steering box was found to be an F-450 part installed on an F-350.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Front-end shimmy/wobble ("death wobble")
Violent shaking and oscillation of the front end and steering wheel triggered by bumps, potholes, dips, or rough road surfaces, especially at highway speeds. The steering becomes difficult or impossible to control until speed is reduced below 30–40 mph or the vehicle stops. The failure recurs intermittently but frequently over the life of the vehicle.
When: Typically triggered at speeds 45 mph and above after hitting road irregularities; one owner reported onset at approximately 75,000 miles, another at 23,000 miles, many report it from new or early in ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of steering wheel and front end; Loss of steering control or severe difficulty steering; Vehicle veers into adjacent lanes; Shimmy/oscillation worsens around curves; Shimmy continues 10–20 seconds until vehicle slows below 30–40 mph; Intermittent but recurring; triggered by road bumps, potholes, dips, rough surfaces; Problem worsens with towing (fifth wheels, trailers, campers); Premature and uneven tire wear
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers and shops replacing track bar, ball joint, steering dampener, front shocks, steering stabilizers, alignment adjustments, power steering hoses, and steering gear box without resolving the issue. One owner spent $600 on initial repair (track bar, ball joint, dampener), another $1,600+ across multiple tire sets and repairs. An independent mechanic stated the problem cannot be fixed due to excessive caster angle baked into the front-end design. One truck was found to have an F-450 steering box installed instead of F-350 spec.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Service Letter 09L02 (April 2009) and TSB 04-26-1 acknowledging 'severe steering wheel vibration and oscillation,' recommending owners maintain proper tire pressure. Ford has not issued a recall, only a 'notification' letter. Dealers frequently deny the defect exists, blame tires, or charge owners for repairs. Ford told one owner the shimmy is 'just a normal quality of a solid front axle 4WD truck' and that the letter is not a recall but an 'avoid' notice. Ford declined to provide remedy or warranty coverage on multiple complaints. Manufacturer initially assisted with early failures but later refused.
Loose or unresponsive steering / steering control loss
Steering becomes loose, unresponsive, or fails entirely in turns or during normal driving. Wheel responds slowly or not at all to steering input, forcing hard pull to recover control. One crash report documents steering wheel spinning a full 365 degrees without resistance.
When: Occurs at low speeds (5–45 mph) and during turning maneuvers. One incident at 30 mph while towing; another during light snow with 30-foot trailer at less than 45 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel unresponsive or extremely loose during turns; Vehicle continues in direction of turn despite steering correction; Requires hard pulling of wheel to regain control; Steering wheel spins freely without controlling vehicle direction; Loss of steering in wet conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs performed: power steering hose replacement, steering gear box replacement, four engine bolts (controlling brakes and steering) replacement. One dealer found steering box was manufactured for F-450 instead of F-350. Steering arm replacement mentioned in one crash report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failures but offered no assistance. Repairs were performed at dealer and independent shops; no recalls issued.
Power steering hose leak
High-pressure power steering hose fails, causing power steering fluid leakage. One complaint notes 425 hoses on back order with Ford, with customers waiting two months while continuously refilling the reservoir.
When: One owner reports filling reservoir every couple of days; timing not specified but suggests ongoing leak.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leakage from high-pressure hose; Frequent need to refill power steering reservoir
Repairs/costs cited: Hose replacement required; however, Ford has chronic backorder situation with 425 units on back order and no estimated availability. Owner had to refill reservoir every couple of days while waiting.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Part availability issue; no other manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 50 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-350. The contact stated that he drove over a road bump at 30 MPH and the vehicle began to vibrate uncontrollably. The contact was unable to control the vehicle as it steered into the oncoming lane of traffic. The contact released the accelerator pedal and regained control as the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-350. While driving 45 MPH, the steering became loose and the vehicle sideswiped a dump truck. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but sustained bruises to his chest. The vehicle was previously taken to a repair shop for an alignment. The dealer stated that there was a hose leaking power steering fluid. After the hose was replaced, the failure continued. The…
2006 Ford f350 superduty diesel driving on the fwy making a curve about 55mph the front end starts to hop violently and bouncing. Almost lost control due to other cars on the road. I had to apply my brakes on the fwy in a very unsafe manner and location causing car behind me to veer off in many directions as I came to a halt. This loss of control happened about a dozen times now in the last…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f350 purchased october 2005. While driving at speeds less than 45 MPH and towing a 30 foot trailer in light snow, the steering wheel suddenly turned to the right. He attempted to turn the steering wheel back to the straight position, but it turned in a full 365 degree turn without interference of the driver. He attempted to adjust the wheel however the tires…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-350 heavy duty. The contact stated that there were four bolts attached to the engine that controlled brakes and steering. While driving at approximately 5 MPH, he attempted to brake and was unable to slow down; he was also unable to steer. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the four bolts broke and caused the…
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Ford F-350?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 50 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 99,987 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 99,987. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/F-350.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.