At highway speeds if you hit a bump the front end goes into a wobble that translates to the steering wheel. If you slow down the problem stops .This has happened to me twice in the last 3 weeks. Incredibly dangerous especially in a 10,000 lb truck at 70 mph, and if you were towing something it could be catastrophic. I went online and found hundreds of people complaing about the exact same problem…
2015 Ford F-250 suspension problems
moderate 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 suspension 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.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 Ford F-250 trucks describe a violent, repetitive shaking of the front end and steering wheel at highway speeds—speeds between 50 and 75 mph—usually triggered when the truck hits a bump, bridge transition, pothole, or rough pavement. The shaking is severe enough that steering becomes difficult or impossible, and it only stops when the driver slows the truck to below 45–50 mph. Some owners report it happens multiple times per trip or several times per week over months or years.
The problem appears early in some trucks' lives (as early as 6,000 miles) and persists through 300,000+ miles. Owners have pursued extensive repairs: tire replacement and balancing, wheel alignment, shock and strut replacement, steering damper replacement, track bar and drag linkage replacement, tie rod ends, stabilizers, and bushing replacement. One owner spent $2,220 on front-end work without solving it. Dealers and independent mechanics often cannot pinpoint the cause. When dealers do identify wear—particularly track bar ball joints or suspension bushings—replacement doesn't reliably resolve the shaking.
Ford has been aware of these complaints for years and addressed some through a hotline case process, but owners report the manufacturer has characterized the condition as normal or declined to help after warranty expiration. Several owners mention the condition is widespread across F-250 and F-350 models and spans multiple model years.
Same Ford F-250 suspension reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble (Steering Oscillation / Front-End Shake)
Violent, uncontrolled shaking of the front end and steering wheel triggered by road irregularities (bumps, bridge transitions, potholes, rough surfaces) at highway speeds. The shaking is severe enough to make steering difficult or impossible and persists until vehicle speed drops below 45–50 mph. Owners report the condition occurs repeatedly over months or years, sometimes multiple times per week. Some owners report the wobble initiates even on smooth roads at speed without any bump trigger. The shaking can last 10–15 seconds or longer.
When: Typically 50–75 mph highway driving, especially after hitting bumps, bridge transitions, or rough pavement. Some reports at speeds as low as 30–40 mph. Failure mileage ranges from 6,000 to 320,000 miles; earliest onset reported at 32,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of steering wheel and front end; Loss of steering control; Shaking persists until speed drops to 45–50 mph; Triggered by road imperfections (bumps, bridge transitions, potholes, curves); Sometimes occurs on smooth road at highway speed without trigger; Difficult to maintain vehicle direction during event; Vibration may dislodge components (e.g., air cleaner)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report attempted repairs including: tire rotation/replacement, wheel balancing, front-end alignment, shock replacement, steering damper replacement, track bar replacement, drag linkage replacement, tie rod end replacement, stabilizer replacement, bushing replacement, axle shaft lubrication, and suspension component inspection. Despite these repairs, the problem typically recurs. One owner reported total cost of $2,220 for multiple front-end repairs without resolution. Another owner replaced steering damper on 10/6/20 and experienced same shaking on 10/7/20. Dealers often cannot diagnose root cause. Independent mechanics also unable to determine cause in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford contacted regarding multiple complaints. One owner's truck was at dealer for extended repair period (July 13–August 27) while Ford worked on a hotline case. Dealer told owner it was safe to continue driving. One complaint references NHTSA Campaign 20E090000 (Steering, Suspension, Equipment). One owner states Ford said the death wobble was 'normal' behavior. Manufacturer reportedly told one owner vehicle was not under recall and out of warranty (78,000 miles). Another owner filed lemon law complaint without resolution.
Suspension Component Wear/Looseness
Dealer and independent mechanic diagnoses reveal wear and looseness in front suspension components, particularly track bar ball joints and bushings. These findings correlate with death wobble events but owners report uncertainty about whether replacement actually resolves the underlying shaking.
When: Diagnosed during dealer visits after death wobble complaints. Mileage varies from 71,000 to 176,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Track bar ball joint wear (slight); Bushing wear or deterioration; Loose or worn suspension components
Repairs/costs cited: Bushing replacement recommended but not completed in one case (176,000 miles). Track bar replacement suggested by internet sources but owner declined replacement on dealer's uncertain recommendation.
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My truck has the death wobble on the front end. Hit a hole yesterday going 70mph and almost caused a wreck. Ford needs to take care of this.
Had suspension trouble with your 2015 Ford F-250?
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 suspension problem on the 2015 Ford F-250?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 36 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 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 98,000 and 135,000 miles, with the median around 105,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 98,000; a quarter make it past 135,000. 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 $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/2015/Ford/F-250.
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.