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 ↗2016 Ford F-350 steering problems
moderate 76 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
76
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 76 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 37% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 76 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Seventy-six complaints center on violent, uncontrollable shaking of the front end and steering wheel occurring above 50–70 mph, triggered by bumps, potholes, lane dividers, bridge joints, or rough pavement. Owners call it "death wobble." The shaking is sudden, intense, and jerks the steering wheel from the driver's hands. All four tires sometimes lose traction, and the truck veers left or right unpredictably. The only way to stop the oscillation is to brake hard and slow to 10–40 mph; braking initially makes it worse.
Owners report the problem occurs randomly, without warning, and repeatedly—sometimes multiple times per day or per trip. Many say it started within the first 20,000 miles. Tire wear, blowouts, and damage to quarter panels and suspension components follow. Ford dealers are aware of the defect and have issued Technical Service Bulletin 18-2258, which calls for replacing the steering dampener and alignment components. Owners report paying $700–$3,200 for parts like track bar ball joints, drag links, and bushings. However, repairs are widely reported as temporary; the wobble returns within weeks or months. Several owners state they have had the same repairs done three or more times without lasting relief. Dealerships split on whether repairs are warranty-covered; some fix at no charge, others do not. One owner notes 2017-and-later trucks are covered by recall but 2016 trucks are not. Owners express terror about losing control in traffic or curves.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble—violent front-end oscillation triggered by road imperfections
Sudden, violent shaking of the front end and steering wheel, typically occurring above 50 mph when the truck hits a bump, pothole, lane divider, bridge joint, or rough pavement. The oscillation is rapid and intense, causing loss of steering control. The only way to stop the wobble is to brake hard and decelerate to 10–40 mph. It occurs randomly and without warning.
When: Typically above 50–65 mph; most often at 55–70 mph. One complaint at 70 mph with smooth pavement. Starts within 8,000–20,000 miles for many owners; some trucks exhibit it from purchase or shortly after.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of steering wheel jerked from driver's hands; Front end vibrates and oscillates side-to-side; Entire cab shakes violently; passengers feel like bobbleheads; Tires skip or lose traction on pavement during the shake; Loss of steering control; truck veers left or right uncontrollably; Brake application makes the wobble worse before it dampens; Condition continues for 100+ yards; stops only around 30–40 mph; No prior warning lights or indicators
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 18-2258 calls for replacement of steering dampener (stabilizer shock) and alignment components. Owners report Ford dealers replace track bar ball joint, steering drag link (long and short), bushings, and realignment. One dealer charges ~$700 for track bar ball joint replacement. Aftermarket dual steering stabilizer kits cost ~$600. Many repairs are temporary; wobble returns within weeks or months. Some dealers replace parts multiple times (3+ attempts) without resolving the issue. One owner paid $3,169.63 for repairs but symptoms persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-2258 issued; some dealers fix at no charge under warranty. One owner reports Ford told them 2016–2016 trucks are not covered by recall, but 2017+ trucks are covered. Ford dealers acknowledge the problem as a known issue but some refuse to take responsibility, claiming parts are worn. One mechanic reports doing 5 repairs per week. TSB replacement does not permanently fix the problem in many cases. One dealer was willing to pay for OEM parts replacement.
Steering wheel vibration and shimmy
Steering wheel vibration and shimmy occurring at various speeds, sometimes progressing to violent oscillation. Owners report starting after tight turns, then occurring straight. Condition worsens over time and is difficult to control at speeds above 20 mph.
When: Can occur at lower speeds (as low as 20 mph) but more severe above 50 mph. One complaint reports worsening over 2 weeks.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes left and right; Initial pulling to one side, then oscillation; Difficulty controlling vehicle at speeds above 20 mph; Intermittent initially, then worsening and more pronounced; Pulling sensation as if truck wants to drift left or right
Repairs/costs cited: New tires and wheel rebalancing provided temporary relief in one case. Stabilizer was replaced (noted as dried out). One owner reports dealer recommends track bar, ball joints, bushings, and realignment but cannot confirm this will fix the problem.
Loss of steering control and veering at highway speeds
Sudden loss of vehicle control at highway speeds, causing the truck to veer sharply left or right without driver input, leading to crashes or near-crashes. No clear trigger identified in all cases.
When: At ~68–70 mph on interstate; one with cruise control activated.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers suddenly to the left or right; Complete loss of steering control; Crash into embankment or concrete barrier; Vehicle crosses opposite lanes of traffic
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was destroyed; another not yet inspected by manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance provided in one case. TSBs for electrical system, engine, and powertrain were referenced but uncertain if related.
Power steering loss
Power steering pump failure causing the steering wheel to become extremely hard to turn. Power brakes also affected, requiring extreme effort to apply.
When: At 29,618 miles; occurred on startup.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering pump failure with whine noise; Steering wheel extremely hard to turn; Power brakes inoperative or only partially functional; ABS appears to activate when pressing brake pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replacement required.
Tire wear and blowouts related to death wobble
Excessive tire wear, particularly on the outside edges, and tire blowouts occurring during or after death wobble events. Tires show chunks of rubber breaking off during violent shaking.
When: Can occur within weeks; one truck had worn tires after 8,000 miles of death wobble occurrence.
Symptoms owners cite: Outside 3 inches of tire tread worn down; Chunks of rubber the size of dimes breaking off; Balding tires developing within months after dealership camber adjustment; Front tire blowout at ~49,000 miles causing quarter-panel damage
Repairs/costs cited: New tires required. One owner reports $3,169.63 for repairs including tire issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner with blowout at 49,000 miles was informed the vehicle was not part of NHTSA Campaign 16V246000 (Tires).
Synthesized from 76 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I have started experiencing the known “death wobble”. I have 68585 miles on truck.
I was driving through a construction area on interstate 95 and hit uneven pavement and the front of the vehicle starting shaking violently. It took everything I had to hold the steering wheel the shaking was so violent it rendered the brakes almost useless. Fortunately no one was next to me in the next lane because I could not control the vehicle and I had to ride the shaking out in both lanes…
Popularly referred to as "death wobble". At speeds above 50 MPH, the truck instantly goes from full control to an uncontrolled state of severe oscillation that can only be stopped by stopping or slowing the vehicle to 10 MPH or less. There is no prior warning that this is about to occur and it does not occur all the time - extremely random - usually occurs when the truck hits a rough patch of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford f-350. While driving various speeds, the vehicle began to shake violently without warning. The failure recurred randomly. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (mclean Ford of fredericksburg, 1279 us-87, fredrickburg, tx 78624), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed…
My vehicle started to shake uncontrollably at 50mph when driving. Research online indicated what people call a "death wobble". I contacted my local Ford dealership multiple times to see if my repair would be covered by Ford. On November 8th, 2022 I turned my truck in and on the 11th I was told what repairs needed to be done. On November 21st, I picked up my truck and parked it at my house. I…
When driving down the road, the entire truck starts violently shaking and making it difficult to control the truck. Slowing down to 5-10mph stops the shaking.
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 76 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 40 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 29,500 and 87,120 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,500; a quarter make it past 87,120. 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/2016/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.