When the tilt adjustment lever was engaged to adjust the wheel tilt the lever broke off. The Ford dealer agreed it was a defective piece of steel a it had a bubble in the in the steel in the area that it broke. *tr
2010 Ford F-350 steering problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 17 steering complaints filed for the 2010 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 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 Ford F-350 Super Duty trucks report sudden, violent shaking of the front end at highway speeds (45–70 mph) triggered by bumps, potholes, bridge expansion joints, or rough pavement. The vibration transmits to the steering wheel and cab so severely that owners lose steering control until they brake hard and slow to 25–30 mph or below. The wobble is intermittent but progressive—one owner reported it starting as a minor issue at 90,000 miles and becoming daily by 73,000 miles; another experienced it within 1,200 miles of purchase.
Owners say the vibration escalates rapidly in intensity, lasting 5–10+ seconds, and requires aggressive steering and braking maneuvers to regain control. Multiple shops have replaced suspension and steering components (shock absorbers, steering dampers, stabilizer bars) with high-quality aftermarket parts, yet the problem persists. Ford corporate denies any awareness of the issue and has issued no recall. Dealers acknowledge it as a common problem but refuse warranty coverage, citing out-of-warranty status. One owner was charged over $3,500 for repairs. One complaint also noted a steering-wheel tilt-adjustment lever that broke due to a manufacturing defect (bubble in the steel). Owners report near-miss collisions and say family members refuse to ride in the truck due to the hazard.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Front End Vibration
Violent, uncontrollable shaking of the front end triggered by bumps, rough road sections, bridge expansion joints, or potholes, typically at highway speeds (45-70 mph). Vibration transmits to steering wheel and cab. Owners report loss of steering control until vehicle slows to 25-30 mph or below. Vibration escalates in severity and can last 5+ seconds. Occurs intermittently; some owners experience it daily, others sporadically.
When: Between 45-70 mph highway speeds; triggered by road imperfections. One owner reported onset at 90k miles (progressive). Another at 73k miles (daily). One new truck purchase exhibited wobble at 1,200 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of front wheels and steering wheel; Loss of vehicle control; Vibration escalates in intensity and difficulty steering; Requires aggressive braking and steering maneuvers to regain control; Occurs after hitting bumps, potholes, bridge expansion joints; Intermittent and unpredictable
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report spending thousands at dealers; suspension and steering components replaced with high-quality aftermarket parts (shock absorbers, steering damper) with no resolution. One owner charged $3,500+ for recalled parts on newer truck model applied to used 2010. Some dealers acknowledge it's a common problem but deny responsibility.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford states no recall exists for 2010 F-350. Ford corporate response: 'not aware of any issues.' Dealers acknowledge it as a common problem but refuse warranty coverage out-of-warranty. One owner was told dealer has a recommended fix despite denying the problem exists.
Steering Gear Assembly and Stabilizer Failure
Steering gear assembly, stabilizer bar, and main gearbox components fail, causing vehicle vibration. One owner at 70,020 miles received diagnosis that steering gear assembly, stabilizer, and main gearbox required replacement.
When: At approximately 70,020 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shook vigorously; Check engine warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: Check Engine
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gear assembly, stabilizer, and main gearbox replacement recommended but not performed. Owner out of warranty and mileage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denied warranty coverage citing out-of-warranty and mileage status (70,020 miles).
Steering Wheel Tilt Adjustment Lever Fracture
Tilt adjustment lever broke when engaged to adjust wheel tilt position. Dealer confirmed defective casting with bubble in the steel at fracture point.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Lever broke off when adjusting tilt
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed defective piece of steel with bubble defect at fracture location.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Submission from constituent re issues with Ford f-350 truck (full document not imaged). *smd the dealer had the consumers vehicle for 12 days. The vehicle was returned to him damaged. When he attempted to start the truck, there was metallic engine rattle. He shut the truck off and inspected the engine, but found no problem. As the consumer drove home, the truck stalled several times, the…
Steering gear box ,or main gear box. Death wobble ,on some Ford truck, not my VIN# I call before odi # 10908140. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Ford f-350 sd. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shook vigorously and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer were it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly, stabilizer, and main gear box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was over the warranty and…
Loss of control when driving on bumpy section of freeway, due to extreme shaking of front end. It seem to amplify in the severity and violence of the shaking until I was able to slow the truck to under 10 miles an hour on the shoulder of the road to regain control. I have had the truck in shop at the dealer 3 to 4 times for repair for this recurring problem. The Ford service technician admitted…
When hitting a rough spot in the road or especially when crossing a bridge expansion joint at highway speed, the truck develops a terrifying, violent shaking/vibration and the only way to stop it is to slow down to 25 - 30mph, which is very dangerous when driving on freeways surrounded by other vehicles. My wife refuses to ride in the vehicle on the highway after experiencing the "death wobble"..…
While on highway, experienced an uncontrolled suspension vibration commonly know as the death wobble. It required me to slow down to 25mph on the highway to stop the uncontrollable vibration. This led to a chaotic situation with cars and trucks around me at the time.
Two to three weeks ago while driving on the highway in my Ford f350 srw, $wd, crew cab truck I went over a bridge. Went I came off the bridge and went over a little bump my vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. First I was yanked to the left and then I was able to steer it to the right. I could not control the vehicle until I was in the breakdown lane. I was almost struck by two tractor…
Had steering trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 44,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 44,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. 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/2010/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.