After going over a bump in the road at 70 mph, vehicle began to shake violently. Unable to control the vehicle. Had to come to a complete stop. Checked tires, all tires were good and had good air pressure. Took the vehicle to repair shop. Repair shop referred to the 'Death Wobble' . They checked for any loose parts in the front suspension/steering and did not find any. They replaced the…
2016 Ford F-350 suspension problems
moderate 30 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 30 suspension 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
Owners have filed 30 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.
Among the 16 model years of Ford F-350 in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Ford F-350 exhibits a failure pattern owners call "death wobble." It strikes at highway speeds (50–80 mph) when the truck hits a bump, pothole, expansion joint, or uneven pavement. The front end suddenly oscillates violently—steering wheel whipping back and forth so hard drivers cannot hold it or steer straight. The truck may cross centerlines, drift across lanes, or veer toward barriers. Braking does not stop the wobble; the only relief is slowing to well below 50 mph or stopping entirely. Events last 30–45 seconds and occur without warning.
Owners report the wobble starts at 20,000 miles and continues to 148,000+. Frequency escalates for many. Dealers have replaced shocks, steering stabilizers, track bar bushings, tie rods, steering dampers, and torsion bars—repairs costing up to $2,200 and routinely failing within days or weeks. Ford acknowledges the issue exists and has a TSB for it, yet no recall covers the 2016 F-350. Multiple owners confirm Ford refuses responsibility, leaving customers to foot repair bills. One dealer admitted the problem is "common" and "has been for a long time." The wobble creates genuine collision risk: owners describe nearly hitting oncoming traffic, concrete barriers, and other vehicles during incidents.
Same Ford F-350 suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Uncontrolled Front-End Oscillation Triggered by Road Imperfections
Violent, uncontrolled oscillation of the front end and steering wheel occurring at highway speeds (typically 50–80 mph) after striking bumps, potholes, expansion joints, or uneven pavement. The steering wheel whips back and forth rapidly, making the vehicle extremely difficult or impossible to control. Owners describe the sensation as a 'tank slapper' or washboard vibration. The violent shaking persists until vehicle speed is reduced significantly (well below 50 mph or to a near-stop). Event occurs suddenly without warning and cannot be anticipated by the driver.
When: Highway speeds 50–80 mph, triggered by road imperfections; multiple incidents per owner, increasing in frequency for some; mileage range 20,000–148,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent steering wheel oscillation (whipping back and forth); Severe front-end shaking and bouncing; Loss of steering control; Vehicle drifts across lanes uncontrollably; Unable to brake effectively during event; Shaking subsides only when vehicle speed is greatly reduced; No warning lights (most cases); Traction Control Loss warning light illuminated (one case); Sensation of tires falling off or losing road contact
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced steering stabilizers, shocks, track bar bushings, tie rods, track bar roller joints, steering dampers, and in one case torsion bars were installed by independent mechanic. Tire and shock replacement attempted by dealers. One owner paid $2,200 estimate for repairs. Repairs frequently unsuccessful; wobble recurs days or weeks after work completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford acknowledges 'death wobble' is a known issue and has a TSB for the problem. Multiple owners report Ford is failing to take responsibility and passing repair costs to consumers. One dealer stated the problem is 'common' and has existed 'for a long time.' Ford has not issued a recall for the 2016 F-350 according to owners. Manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA Hotline in several cases.
Front-End Vibration and Bouncing at Highway Speeds
Abnormal bouncing and vibration of the front end occurring while driving at highway speeds, sometimes after hitting a bump or depression in the roadway. Less severe oscillation than classic death wobble but still causes loss of steering control or drifting across lanes. May occur with towing (trailer attached).
When: Highway speeds 60–75 mph; one case at 35 mph; occurs during towing in some instances; mileage range 43,000–105,000
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal bouncing of front end; Significant shaking from side to side; Vehicle drifts left and right in lane; Steering wheel vibration; Driver/passenger feels front wheels wobbling uncontrollably (reported by observers); No warning lights in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: Tire and brake replacement attempted with mixed results (recurred after repair). Dealer inspection found all suspension component specifications within acceptable levels in one case; no repair recommended. One vehicle had shocks replaced but wobble persisted.
Shimmy and Vibration at Moderate to Highway Speeds
Subtle shimmy or shaking in the rear or steering that begins as a slight vibration and progressively worsens as speed increases, or occurs consistently at 60–70 mph. Typically resolves when speed is reduced. Owners report difficulty identifying root cause and multiple shop visits with no diagnosis.
When: Speeds 60–70 mph; mileage not specified in detail
Symptoms owners cite: Slight shimmy in rear end that progresses to severe shaking; Shake worsens as speed increases; Resolves when speed is reduced
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple independent shops unable to diagnose. Ford dealer did not recommend front-end work despite complaint.
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
While driving at 75 mph my truck started to vibrate violently causing me to lose control of the steering. I backed it down to 40 mph to get it to stop. I continue to drive 200 more miles and it happened again while driving 65 mph. My research shows that this is happened to many Ford F350 and F250 trucks. I just wanted to make sure that I document that this is happened to me.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger’s side track bar roller joint, passenger’s side tie rod, steering damper, and link boot to be replaced. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle drove over a depression in the roadway and the vehicle started vibrating abnormally and then started drifting to the left and to the right in the lane. The contact slowed down to regain control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front-end was bouncing abnormally, causing the contact to pull over and stop the vehicle. The contact then continued driving however, the failure persisted, and contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was then restarted and worked as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated.…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hit a pothole and the front-end shook uncontrollably until coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with an unknown front-end failure. Several unknown front-end parts needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was called…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2016 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 30 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 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 46,700 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,700; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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-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.