Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-350 super duty. The contact stated that when driving 55-70 MPH over a road bump, the vehicle would shake uncontrollably. The contact had to apply pressure to the brake pedal in order to control the vehicle. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who test drove the vehicle, but was unable to duplicate the failure. The…
2008 Ford F-350 suspension problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 10 suspension complaints filed for the 2008 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
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2008 F-350 consistently describe a violent steering vibration triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, or dips in the road at speeds as low as 35 mph and up to 70 mph. The steering wheel shakes uncontrollably side-to-side, and the entire front end bounces and oscillates. Drivers lose control until they slow to around 20 mph. Multiple owners report this happens repeatedly under similar road conditions. One owner experienced it while towing a 7,000-lb camper at 65 mph; another was taken across the opposite lane on a highway after hitting a dip at 55 mph, causing front-end damage.
Dealerships have attempted fixes including tire replacement, wheel alignment, and track bar ball joint replacement—none have resolved the issue. Several dealers refused to continue service after multiple failed attempts to diagnose or repair it. Ford blamed tires; owners replaced them with premium-brand wheels and the problem persisted.
One fleet vehicle showed severe rust scale on the right-side shock tower and a dipstick tube rusted in half, forcing removal from service. Another owner at 48k miles found the cab-to-chassis rubber bushing completely disintegrated. Suspension corrosion and bushing failures appear early in these trucks' lives, even those well within normal mileage ranges.
Same Ford F-350 suspension reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Death wobble / violent steering vibration
Steering wheel shakes violently left and right, or vehicle wobbles and vibrates uncontrollably when hitting bumps, potholes, or dips at speeds 35–70 mph. Owners report loss of control until slowing to ~20 mph. Recurs on bumpy road surfaces and during highway driving.
When: 22,000–207,000 miles; can occur during towing
Symptoms owners cite: Violent steering wheel shake left and right; Uncontrollable bouncing and shaking at front when hitting bumps or potholes; Loss of steering control at highway speeds; Constant shake at highway speeds; Erratic driving behavior during motion
Repairs/costs cited: Track bar ball joint replacement attempted on one vehicle (22k miles) with no resolution. Tire replacement and wheel alignment attempted on another (29.8k miles) without success. Dealership unable to duplicate or determine failure on multiple visits; one dealership refused further service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Beach Ford (Virginia Beach) reported no recall; manufacturer told owner to return to dealership. Owner notified but no resolution or recall issued. Vehicle out of warranty at 48k miles with no recalls on VIN.
Suspension rust and corrosion damage
Severe rust scale buildup on right-side shock tower, with degradation of steel structure. Rust debris on top of tower could allow coil spring pressure to fracture steel and cause steering loss. Automatic dipstick tube also rusted in half at the exhaust manifold bracket, presenting a fire hazard during hot-engine dipstick checks.
When: Inspection findings; fleet vehicle removed from service
Symptoms owners cite: Large rust scale pieces on shock tower; Severe corrosion of shock tower steel; Dipstick tube rusted in half; Structural degradation at suspension attachment points
Repairs/costs cited: City of Allentown, PA fleet vehicle removed from service pending repair; specific repair costs not stated.
Rubber bushing disintegration
Rubber bushing connecting cab and chassis disintegrated, causing shaking and squeaking noises over road bumps. Owner inspected undercarriage after hearing noises and found bushing failure.
When: 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking and bouncing over bumps; Squeaking noise when driving over bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner determined it was out of warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; informed owner vehicle was out of warranty with no recalls on VIN.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2008 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 22,000 and 88,900 miles, with the median around 48,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 88,900. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.