My 2016 F-250 continues to experience the Ford Truck "death wobble." It sometimes happens after I have travelled on an interstate entrance and am increasing speed up to normal highway speed (or similar situation). The front end begins to terribly "shake" and I can only stop it by drastically braking to a much slower speed or even coming to a stop. Usually, there is no obvious reason for this…
2016 Ford F-250 suspension problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 41 suspension complaints filed for the 2016 Ford F-250, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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
Owners have filed 41 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 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 F-250 trucks report a violent, uncontrollable shaking of the steering wheel and front end triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, or pavement transitions—commonly called "death wobble." The oscillation strikes without warning at speeds between 40 and 75 mph, with most incidents at 60+ mph. Owners describe being unable to maintain control; the truck veers between lanes and requires hard braking to nearly a complete stop to regain stability. Episodes last 30 seconds to several minutes.
Reported mileage ranges from 17,000 to 136,000 miles, with many cases appearing between 30,000 and 60,000 miles. The failure is intermittent but recurs over months or years, sometimes multiple times in a single day or week.
Ford's TSB 16-0087 addresses the issue and attributes it to frame flex, but Ford has stated there is no known fix. Owners report replacing track bar ball joints, steering dampers, shocks, struts, and performing front-end alignment—at costs of $400–$600 for partial fixes to thousands for complete suspension rebuilds. Many of these repairs fail to permanently resolve the wobble; it returns within months to a year. Ford has told some owners this is a known problem and vehicle characteristic; the manufacturer has established a partial-payment program for suspension repairs on some vehicles but declined coverage on out-of-warranty trucks.
Same Ford F-250 suspension reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Death wobble—violent front-end oscillation triggered by bumps/pavement transitions
Uncontrolled shaking and oscillation of the steering wheel and front suspension triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, bridge expansion joints, or rough pavement at highway speeds. Owners describe the shake as violent and severe, making the truck extremely difficult to control. The only way to stop the oscillation is to brake hard and reduce speed significantly, often to near-stop or under 30 mph. Episodes last 30 seconds to 2+ minutes. This occurs at speeds ranging from 40 to 75 mph, with most incidents occurring at 60+ mph.
When: Typically 17,000–136,000 miles; many cases at 30,000–60,000 miles; occurs sporadically or recurrently over months to years after initial occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Violent, uncontrollable shaking of steering wheel and front end; Oscillation of front suspension; Vehicle veers into adjacent lanes; difficult to steer; Triggered by bumps, potholes, bridge transitions, groove changes, or rough pavement; Occurs at highway speeds (40–75 mph, most common 60+ mph); No warning lights or prior symptoms; Intermittent but recurring, sometimes multiple times within hours or days
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report temporary or partial fixes by replacing track bar ball joints, steering damper, shocks, struts, ball joints, and front-end alignment. One owner added two extra shock absorbers beyond factory configuration. Repairs often fail to permanently resolve the issue; wobble recurs within months to a year. Costs range from $400–$600 for steering damper and shock replacement to thousands for full front-end rebuild with high-quality parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSB 16-0087 attempts to address the issue; Ford claims frame flex is the cause and states 'no known fix.' Ford has told owners the problem is a 'characteristic of the vehicle' and is 'known problem' but declined warranty coverage on out-of-warranty vehicles. Ford has acknowledged the issue and established a partial-payment program for some owners covering front-end suspension part replacement. One dealer said they had no open recalls on the VIN.
Front-end hopping and bouncing at highway speeds
A hopping or bouncing sensation in the front suspension that occurs at 40–80 mph. Described as so severe that owners worry about passenger safety, particularly for children. Owners report trying multiple remedies without success.
When: Specific mileage not always stated; one case noted at unspecified mileage with 70–75 mph speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Severe hopping sensation at 40–80 mph; Vertical bouncing motion; Pronounced bouncing at 70–75 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple remedies attempted without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSB 16-0087 issued in attempt to remedy. Ford claims issue is caused by frame flex and states 'no known fix' for the problem.
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Death wobble occurs so violently when you hit a bump in the road that it is hard to maintain control. You have to come to a complete stop for it to quit. Items have been replaced from the Ford service bulletion
The truck shakes violently after hitting a bump in the road. I have had new Michelin tires installed (by Discount Tires) and balanced twice, and the front end and alignment checked (by Leonard's Truck & Frame Service), both located in Lake City, FL. I think the problem is what is commonly referred to as F250 "Death Wobble".
While driving on the 215 (Southern California) freeway at approximately 70 miles per hour and without warning I experienced a sever wobble in the front end of the truck. it was so bad I had to pull over on the shoulder of the freeway. I was lucky traffic was light and could do this safely. I took the truck to a mechanic that specializes in ford trucks, and he recommended several components be…
The truck began to suddenly shake fiercely while driving in the highway. The steering became difficult to control for about 2 or more minutes. We looked this up and it is termed the Death Wobble. Our F250 truck is a 2016. This is dangerous and needs to be Recalled for this year of F250 - 2016
Had suspension trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Ford F-250?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 30,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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/2016/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.