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 ↗2008 Ford F-350 steering problems
severe 72 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
8crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 72 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 72 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
The 2008 Ford F-350 steering system fails in multiple distinct ways, and owners consistently describe situations that put lives at risk. The most frequent complaint is a violent shaking or wobbling of the front end—called "death wobble" by owners—that erupts after hitting bumps or road imperfections at highway speeds (50–75 mph). The truck becomes nearly impossible to control, swerving across lanes, and only slows down below 20–35 mph. This happens repeatedly and returns after dealer repairs including alignments, shock replacements, and tire work. Some owners report spending thousands on unsuccessful repairs.
Steering box failures are the second major category. The gearbox suddenly locks up, seizes, or loses power steering assist with no warning, sometimes at speeds as low as 10–25 mph. Owners lose all steering control for seconds; some crash. Replacement steering boxes have failed again within 3,000 miles. A few owners report the steering wheel itself becoming detached from the box.
Power steering loss or extreme heaviness also occurs intermittently—sometimes while slowing down, sometimes on curves—and occasionally reappears after flushing or pump replacement. Some owners hear grinding from the gearbox, see fluid spraying, or notice steering slack and play that cannot be adjusted out.
One owner reported steering lockup occurring simultaneously with a stuck throttle. Another noted steering malfunction after closing the sunroof, followed by a rollover crash with no airbag deployment.
Ford sent a 2009 bulletin (09L02) attributing wobble to tire pressure, which owners reject as incorrect. The company refuses recalls despite knowing of the problem.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble / Front-End Shimmy and Shake
Violent shaking, shimmy, or vibration in the front end and steering wheel triggered by bumps, road imperfections, or rough surfaces at highway speeds (typically 50–75 mph). The truck becomes difficult or impossible to control, swerves across lanes. Occurs repeatedly; returns after dealer repairs.
When: Highway speeds 50–75 mph; triggered by bumps; some reports from low as 15,000 miles, continuing through 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent front-end shimmy/shake; Steering wheel vibration and loss of control; Vehicle swerves across lanes involuntarily; Must slow to 20–35 mph to regain control; Loose, wandering steering feel
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite alignments, shock replacements, steering stabilizer replacements, tie rod end replacement, drag link replacement, steering shaft replacement, track link replacement, and complete front-end rebuilds—often multiple repairs with no lasting fix. Costs ranging from $300 to several thousand dollars reported.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued NHTSA Special Field Action 09L02 (2009) citing tire pressure as the cause; owners report the bulletin provides no real remedy. No recall issued despite documented history dating to at least 2005.
Steering Gearbox Failure / Loss of Steering
Complete or sudden loss of power steering assist or steering control. Gearbox seizes, locks up, or loses power. Steering wheel becomes impossible or extremely difficult to turn. May occur while driving or while parked. Some gearboxes fail again shortly after replacement.
When: Low mileage (11,190 miles) to 215,000+ miles; some failures occur within 3,000 miles of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel locks or seizes; Steering wheel extremely difficult to turn; Complete loss of steering control; Steering wheel stuck in circular motion (one report); Steering wheel detached from gearbox (one report); Grinding sound from gearbox
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gearbox replacement at dealership cost approximately $1,500–$2,000; independent mechanics also replace gearbox. Parts on backlog (2–3 months wait noted). Replacement gearboxes have failed again shortly after installation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers replace gearbox under some circumstances; some owners report dealers refusing responsibility. No systematic recall noted, though one owner reported receiving a recall notice after a crash.
Intermittent Power Steering Loss / Difficulty
Power steering assist comes and goes, particularly when braking or while driving at certain speeds. Steering becomes temporarily very hard to turn. May recur after pump flushing or fluid top-up. One owner reports restoration of steering after shifting to neutral and revving engine or restarting vehicle.
When: Various speeds; some tied to slowing down from highway speeds; reported from 38,000 to 211,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent loss or reduction of power steering assist; Steering becomes extremely difficult to turn; Vehicle pulls to left or right without warning; Steering play and slack in wheel; Power steering pump noise and low reservoir fluid
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite power steering pump flush, power steering pump replacement, and power steering system flushing. One report of bolt fracture in power steering mechanism. Repairs temporary; problems recur.
Steering Box Slack, Drift, and Wear
Steering wheel develops excessive play, goes off-center, or drifts left or right despite multiple alignments. Steering feel becomes vague. Appears on second or later steering gearbox in some cases.
When: Reported from 26,000 miles onward; some owners on second gearbox by 37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel off-center (25 degrees or more); Excessive play in steering wheel; Vehicle pulls left or right despite alignments; Drifting steering feel; Light, vague steering response
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple alignments (some last only 1 month); caster adjuster sleeve replacements; steering gearbox replacement. Alignments alone do not resolve.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer noted caster adjusters were not available and advised alignment without them would still be within Ford specs.
Engine Shutdown and Power Steering Loss
Engine shuts down without warning while driving at highway speed, causing immediate loss of power steering. Check Engine light illuminates with 'PULL OVER SAFELY' message 20 seconds before shutdown. Caused by exhaust sensor failure. Safety-critical because power steering becomes inoperative while vehicle is moving at speed.
When: 44,000 miles in reported complaint; dealership noted sensor failures as early as 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light with 'PULL OVER SAFELY' message; Complete engine shutdown while driving; Immediate loss of power steering; Brake feel compromised
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced exhaust sensor. Dealer stated they have seen this sensor fail at 20,000 miles.
Steering Wheel Seizure and Brake Failure (Combined)
Steering wheel locks or seizes while brakes are applied, and brakes fail or become unresponsive simultaneously. Reported in two separate incidents.
When: 65 mph and 55 mph speeds; 104,000 and 118,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes or becomes extremely stiff; Brake pedal difficult to depress or fails to engage; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable
Steering Wheel Fracture
Steering wheel cracks or fractures without obvious impact.
When: 215,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel cracks/fractures; Abnormal sound preceding failure
Synthesized from 72 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
I have been having issues with this vehicle in the steering. It will pull to the left or right at any given time going down the road. We are a full service shop and own this vehicle. We have checked everything and contacted Ford. They recommended changing the steering shaft that goes to the steering gear box. We did, but it still does it. Not sure what to do next. We are in the process of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-350. The contact stated that while reversing from a parking space, the steering wheel started to turn in a circular motion without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the gears in the steering box failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-350. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized abd as a result, excessive force was required in order to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Vehicle shakes violently. Only way to get under control is to stop completely. This has happened numerous times. I have read on forums this is a major problem. Ford needs to recognize the problem and issue a recall. This is very dangerous. *tr
While turning sharp left at a traffic signal, the truck did not want to correct back straight. I forced it back to straight and continued on. While continuing to drive, the truck would track left and then track right. I turned the steering wheel quickly and it straightened back up. The truck is at a private repair shop with the technician unable to find anything broken. He suggested that it may…
Driving 15 to 20 MPH and steering pulled truck to the left sharply causing accident also air bag did not work. *tr
Death wobble occurs at highway speeds if bumps occur consecutively close together,the only way to stop wobble if you abruptly stop,it's worse if your on a transition ramp to on coming traffic.
Just got on the on ramp to get on the freeway when lost total control of the trucks powersteering. I was going maybe 35-45mph but had to slow down. Took to the Ford dealer the replaced the gearbox with a remanufactured gearbox and did the same thing on my second trip. Not sure what to do as this is a big safety concern
Had steering trouble with your 2008 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 2008 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 72 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 62 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 35,000 and 125,000 miles, with the median around 83,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 125,000. 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/2008/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.