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 ↗2013 Ford F-350 steering problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 32 steering complaints filed for the 2013 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 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 32 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.
FORD: CERTAIN 2013-2015 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS EXITING THE FORCED IDLE STRATEGY IN COLD TEMPS BELOW FREEZING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Ford F-350s describe a violent steering and front-end oscillation—widely called "death wobble"—that strikes at highway speeds after the truck hits a bump, pothole, bridge joint, or expansion joint. The event is sudden and offers no warning. Steering wheel shakes so hard that owners lose control; the vehicle drifts unpredictably across lanes. Objects fly from cup holders and door pockets. The only way to stop the shaking is to brake hard and slow to 20–50 mph, then pull over.
Owners report this happening at speeds between 50 and 75 mph, typically 60–70 mph, repeatedly over months or years. Events last 20–30 seconds and nearly cause accidents; some owners cite near-misses with tractor-trailers and oncoming traffic.
Dealers have replaced steering stabilizers, track bars, drag-link ends, tie-rod ends, track-bar ball joints, bearings, bushings, and shock absorbers—costs run $1,000–$2,100. Repairs often fail or the wobble returns within months. One owner had the front end rebuilt three times. Dealers initially said they'd never heard of the problem or claimed it's normal for these trucks. Ford has not issued a recall, though a class-action lawsuit covers 2005–2019 F-250 and F-350 models.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble — Steering/Front-End Oscillation
Violent, uncontrollable oscillation and shaking of the steering wheel and front end triggered by hitting a bump or road irregularity, especially at highway speeds. Owners lose steering control until vehicle slows to 20–50 mph. Occurs on smooth or rough pavement, bridge joints, and expansion joints. No warning lights or messages precede the event.
When: Highway speeds 50–75 mph, typically 60–70 mph; triggered by bumps, potholes, road joints, or uneven pavement. Recurs across multiple trips.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of steering wheel; Front-end oscillation and up-and-down movement of wheels; Loss of steering control; Vehicle drifts or pulls to one side; Items fly from door pockets, console, or cup holders due to violent vibration; Requires immediate braking and pulling to shoulder to regain control; Shaking lasts 20–30 seconds or until vehicle slows to 20–50 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced steering stabilizer, shocks, track bar, drag-link ends, adjuster sleeve, outer tie-rod ends, track-bar ball joints, bearings, bushings, and front-end components. Cost cited: $1,000–$2,100. Repairs are frequently ineffective; wobble returns within months or is not resolved at all. One owner reported replacing the stabilizer after two weeks with no lasting fix. Multiple rebuilds of the front end (up to three times on a single vehicle) have not permanently stopped the problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealers initially denied knowledge of the problem or claimed it is normal for these trucks. No recalls issued for 2013 F-350, despite widespread reports. Owners reference Ford Campaign Number 20N04 and mention a class-action lawsuit (2005–2019 F-250 and F-350 'death wobble' case). Manufacturer referred at least one complainant to NHTSA hotline rather than addressing the defect.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The truck vibrates uncontrollably when driving on the freeway at speeds between 65-75mph. This typically occurs when the truck hits a bump when driving in this speed range. Doing a google search and reviewing videos of this issue reveals a pheonomea referred to as 'death wobble'. This has happened to me at least 8 times over the past 8-10 months. I had the shocks changed recently hoping that…
Was driving at 55mph and suddenly truck went into a terrible death wobble & almost caused a serious crash. On 11/25/2025 I had taken it in to the ford dealership to correct this problem since it had happened four times in August & September of this year. Which also almost caused four serious accidents. The ford dealer replaced L & R dragline ends & adjuster sleeve.Replaced right outer tie rod end…
A Ford truck "death wobble" alleges f-250 and f-350 trucks have problems with the steering linkage and suspension systems. The proposed class action lawsuit includes current and former owners and lessees of 2005-2019 Ford f-250 and f-350 trucks. However, the plaintiff says the Ford dealership denied the wobble problem and refused to repair the truck under warranty. The Ford truck death…
Steering became erratic & uncontrolable while driving at 55mph. Steering wheel shook . It was a death wobble and almost caused a serious accident. This has happened four times in the last two months. This is a 2013 Ford f-350 with 102,000 miles. Each time truck had it happen, it was after a expansion joint in road was gone over. Truck was taken to Ford dealer & we are waiting for their assement…
When hitting a bump in the road at highway speed, the front end of the truck will began to wobble and oscillate uncontrollably. Had to stop by the side of the road to get it to stop. Took it to the local Ford dealership and they are replacing all the steering components in the front end at my expense…$2100. This is apparently a known issue with 2009 and later Ford Super Duty trucks. This is an…
We had the death wobbles going 65 on cruise control everytime we hit a bump on the freeway. I lose control until I slow down to 35 mph.
I was driving approximately 56 miles per hour on a highway when I experienced a horrible wobble of the front end of the truck. I immediately stopped and took it to the nearest dealer who told me that they did not know what could have caused this. They replaced almost all components in the front end of the truck including the track bar, stabilizer, bearings, and all associated bushings. Several…
I was driving on the freeway when I hit a small bump and the steering wheel began to shake uncontrollably. Luckily, I was able to merge to the shoulder for safety. Only after I stopped completely did the shaking stop. Signs of the famous "death wobble" on these trucks. Ford needs to fix! Veer dangerous and scary.
Had steering trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 57,200 and 125,000 miles, with the median around 107,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,200; 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/2013/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.