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 ↗2014 Ford F-350 steering problems
severe 48 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 48 steering complaints filed for the 2014 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 49% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 48 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
The 2014 Ford F-350 exhibits a pervasive steering and front-end control issue owners call "death wobble"—violent, uncontrollable shaking of the steering wheel and front end triggered by road bumps, potholes, bridge joints, or rough pavement at speeds of 50–75 mph. The shaking stops only when speed drops below 45 mph or the truck nearly stops. Wobble occurs on straight roads and in turns, sometimes with no warning lamps.
Owners describe loss of steering control, difficulty braking, and vehicle jerking across lanes during episodes. One owner crashed into a ditch at 65 mph after hitting a pavement transition; another had brakes lock asymmetrically during a wobble, breaking the tie rod and crashing into trees. In heavy traffic, the forced slowdown to regain control creates risk of rear-end collision.
The wobble appears as early as 18,000 miles and continues to 184,000+ miles. Owners report spending $1,200 to $3,000+ replacing track bars, tie rods, drag links, steering boxes, shocks, stabilizers, ball joints, and U-joints. Multiple repairs prove temporary—wobble recurs days to months later, forcing repeat work. Many dealerships cannot identify the root cause or acknowledge a systemic problem. Ford has not issued a recall for the 2014 model, though 2017+ models received one for the same issue.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Bump-Induced Steering/Front-End Vibration
Violent, uncontrolled shaking of the steering wheel and front end triggered by road bumps, potholes, bridge expansion joints, or rough pavement at highway speeds (typically 50–75 mph). Shaking persists until vehicle speed is reduced to under 45 mph. Occurs on both straight roads and in turns. Often accompanies loss of steering control.
When: Onset as early as 18,000 miles; reported across the mileage spectrum to 184,000+ miles. Multiple episodes over months/years.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent steering wheel vibration/shaking; Front-end shuddering and uncontrollable wobbling; Loss of steering control; difficulty maintaining lane; Shaking typically triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, bridge joints, or rough road patches; Shaking stops only when speed reduced below 45 mph or vehicle comes to complete stop; Shaking worsens or persists when brakes applied or speed increased; May occur with or without trailer load; Occasionally accompanied by traction control or hill-descent fault lights (clear on their own)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing: track bar/bushings, tie rod ends, drag link, steering box, pitman arm, shocks (front and rear), steering stabilizer/damper, sway bar, ball joints, U-joints. Many repairs prove temporary or ineffective. One owner spent $3,000+ over 4 years; another spent $1,200+ with continued failure. Multiple aftermarket steering stabilizers recommended by various mechanics but without guaranteed resolution. Wheel balancing and rotation performed without resolving issue. Dealerships frequently unable to identify root cause or provide lasting fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford aware of issue per multiple owner statements. One 2019 F-350 owner received recall; 2014 owners have not. Dealership responses range from inability to diagnose, to claims it is 'normal,' to offering partial repairs (e.g., steering stabilizer for 2017+ only, not 2005+). Ford has issued TSBs per owner references but no recall for 2014 model. One dealership refused to acknowledge the problem.
Recurrent Wobble Despite Repair
Death wobble recurs weeks to months after factory or independent repair work, despite replacement of suspension and steering components. Pattern of temporary relief followed by resumption of violent shaking.
When: Days to months after repair intervention; documented recurring at 17 months post-track-bar replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Wobble reappears after prior repair visit resolved it temporarily; Same violent shaking as original failure; No single component replacement provides permanent fix
Repairs/costs cited: Track bar replaced twice, then wobble returned. Steering stabilizer replaced at dealership ($1,200+) but severe wobble occurred immediately on next highway trip. One owner reported front-end replacement estimate of $2,962 (parts only, excluding recent repairs). Widespread owner reports of 'chasing' the problem with repeated part replacements (track bar, tie rods, stabilizer, shocks, ball joints, sway bar) yielding only temporary relief.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer intervention to address recurrence pattern. Owners left to repeat repair cycles at personal expense.
Safety Concerns - Loss of Control / Near-Crash Events
Wobble events result in significant loss of steering and braking control, near-miss accidents, and one confirmed crash into ditch. Vehicle difficult to steer or brake during episodes. Dangerous in heavy traffic.
When: Occurs unpredictably during highway travel; highest risk at 55–75 mph in traffic.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of steering authority during wobble; Braking becomes difficult or unpredictable; one report of brakes hitting all four corners at different times; Vehicle unable to maintain lane; jerking left-right across lanes; Difficulty controlling vehicle until speed reduced to near-stop; Risk of rear-end collision when forced to brake hard in traffic; One confirmed crash: vehicle crossed lanes and entered ditch at 65 mph
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs address underlying cause. One owner reported tie rod breakage during braking event (from hard braking during wobble), resulting in collision with dirt bank and tree.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Ford referrals to NHTSA hotline documented.
Synthesized from 48 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a death wobble. The contact related the failure to the steering; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The truck goes into and uncontrol able wobble when you hit a bump or bumps in the road, under braking conditions, and also just driving down the road at speeds between 55 and 75 miles an hour. This wobble has occurred on the highway in dry and wet conditions. Two different mechanics have verified that there are no loose or worn parts. The vehicle has approximately 70,000 miles on it. This truck…
I have experienced an extremely violent vibration/wobbling of the vehicle at freeway speeds on several occasions. During these times, it is very difficult to control breaking, steering the vehicle, making it nearly impossible. I felt very unsafe not only for myself, but also other vehicles around me as I was driving a heavy-duty vehicle on the freeway at a high speed with essentially no control.…
We have experienced 6 episodes of severe “death wobble” in our 2014 350 diesel between mid Sept. and Nov 21, 2022. The truck shakes violently, 4 times while driving by around 60 mph on highways and twice while going slower on other roads. We have taken it into Ford Paso Robles twice: first time they could not identify the problem. The second time they said it was a “death wobble-Ford hates it…
Something within the Steering component(s) are causing the truck to violently shake during highway speeds other wise known as a “DEATH WOBBLE” and I have to pullover and come to a complete stop for the shaking to quit. I have been to the dealer after my first experience ( June 2020) and they replaced a steering stabilizer. Now 1-1/2 years later (November 2021) the shaking reoccurred. There is…
While in motion at speeds between 45-55 MPH the vehicle front end will shake violently with out warning and creating a loss of control until the vehicle is brought to a near stop. Dealership service advises this is a common problem known as the death wobble.
13nov2020 at 10:30-h while vehicle is in motion at speeds 50-55 and higher the steering wheel shakes so violently that safe control of vehicle is lost until vehicle is completely stopped. This steering vibration problem can be found at numerous places on the internet and Ford is already aware of problem. The most likely place for the dangerous loss of steering control is when vehicle crosses…
13nov2020 at 10:13-h while vehicle is in motion at speeds 50-55 and higher the steering wheel shakes so violently that safe control of vehicle is lost until vehicle is completely stopped. This steering vibration problem can be found at numerous places on the internet and Ford is already aware of problem. The most likely place for the dangerous loss of steering control is when vehicle crosses…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 48 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 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 50,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. 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/2014/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.