I have filed an earlier complaint about the same issue(tracking number is 11289041). I made an appt at Ford to get truck fixed for the "death wobble" problem that seems to be reoccurring and they told me they didn't have me set up for a loaner vehicle and I would have to reschedule. I was driving my truck just this past weekend as a wait to get into the shop and I nearly caused three separate…
2017 Ford F-250 suspension problems
moderate 154 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
154
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 154 suspension complaints filed for the 2017 Ford F-250, 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
Owners have filed 154 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 17 model years of Ford F-250 in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 F-250 has a widespread and recurring front-end oscillation—termed "death wobble" by owners—triggered when the truck hits bumps, potholes, or bridge expansion joints at highway speeds (typically 50+ mph). The entire vehicle shakes violently, the steering wheel jerks hard, and the driver loses control authority; the shaking does not stop until the truck is slowed to 20–35 mph, often requiring emergency braking in traffic. Owners report neck, back, and wrist pain from the violence of the event.
The wobble recurs every 3,000–5,000 miles or 3–6 months despite repair. Ford dealerships replace the steering damper (per TSB 19-2274), which provides temporary relief—one owner documented four damper replacements by 27,000 miles. Dealers acknowledge the issue is known but cannot pinpoint a root cause; some admit the fix lasts only about 5,000 miles. Attempts to replace track bars, ball joints, tires, and alignments have not permanently solved it. Steering dampers are chronically backordered, with reported 6-week delays and one dealer citing a 1,200-unit backlog.
Ford Motor Company has declined buyback requests and directed owners toward lemon-law proceedings or trade-in, while some dealerships have implied the problem stems from driver maintenance or highway usage rather than design. No design-change recall has been issued, leaving owners in a loop of repeated costly repairs on a brand-new truck.
Same Ford F-250 suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble — High-Speed Oscillation Triggered by Road Irregularities
Severe, violent oscillation of the front end and steering wheel occurring at highway speeds (45+ mph) when the vehicle encounters bumps, potholes, expansion joints, or uneven pavement. The entire vehicle shakes uncontrollably, making steering input difficult or impossible. Owners report the shaking does not subside until vehicle speed is reduced well below 35 mph, often requiring emergency braking. The phenomenon is recurring and unpredictable; some owners report it happening multiple times per week, while others encounter it sporadically after intervals of several weeks or months.
When: First occurrence typically between 7,000–20,000 miles; recurrence every 3–5,000 miles or 3–6 months in many cases; some owners report it continuing beyond 57,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of entire front end and steering wheel at highway speeds (55–75 mph typical trigger range); Shaking initiated by hitting bump, pothole, bridge expansion joint, or rough road surface; Loss of steering control; wheel jerks out of driver's hands; Vehicle difficult or impossible to steer; owner must grip wheel with both hands to maintain lane position; Physical effects: neck pain, back pain, wrist pain reported by multiple owners; Shaking continues until vehicle is slowed to 20–35 mph; No warning lights or symptoms prior to event; Occurs in straight-line driving and while turning; unpredictable triggering
Repairs/costs cited: Steering damper (steering stabilizer) replacement is the primary repair attempted; repeatedly fails to resolve the issue permanently. Track bar replacement, track bar ball joint replacement, front ball joint replacement, wheel alignment, tire rotation, tire replacement, and castor alignment bushing installation have all been attempted as diagnostic or corrective measures at various dealerships, often without lasting effect. Owners report multiple dealer visits—some vehicles returned 3–4 times within first 30,000–40,000 miles. One owner on fourth steering damper at 27,000 miles. Steering damper repairs reportedly effective for 5,000 miles or 3–6 months before failure recurs. Parts frequently on backorder (reported 6-week delays, one dealer mentioned 1,200-unit backlog).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued TSB 19-2274 (steering damper replacement procedure). Initial response at dealerships is often denial or minimization; technicians sometimes say 'nothing wrong' despite experiencing the wobble themselves. Owners report Ford Motor Company refusing buyback requests and instead directing customers toward lemon-law processes or trading in vehicles. Some dealers suggest fault lies with driver maintenance or highway usage speeds rather than design defect. Ford Motor Company stated aware of complaints but claims no design flaw.
Recurring Death Wobble Despite Multiple Repair Attempts
The death wobble failure pattern repeats at regular intervals despite dealer repair. Owners report the problem recurring 3–6 months after repair, or every 3,000–5,000 miles. Multiple visits to dealerships result in the same part replacement (primarily steering damper) yielding only temporary relief. One owner explicitly reported being on the fourth steering damper replacement at 27,000 miles. Dealership technicians acknowledge the issue is known but state they cannot isolate a root cause beyond the damper itself, leading to a cycle of replacement without permanent correction.
When: Initial occurrence 7,000–20,000 miles; recurrence every 3,000–5,000 miles or every 3–6 months; pattern persists through 30,000–57,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Death wobble ceases temporarily after steering damper replacement; Symptom returns within weeks or months; Subsequent repair visits yield same diagnosis: steering damper failure; Dealership unable to identify root cause beyond the damper; Each repair provides only 5,000-mile window of relief (per one owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering damper/stabilizer replaced multiple times (one owner: 4 replacements by 27K miles; another: 3 replacements by 16K miles). One owner stated Ford TSB fix is 'only good for around 5,000 miles.' No lasting fix achieved. Parts chronically backordered—6-week lead times, 1,200-unit backlog reported at one dealer. Owners express frustration that permanent repair does not exist; dealerships suggest replacing other components (ball joints, track bar, tires, alignment) but these do not resolve the recurring wobble.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued TSB 19-2274 (steering damper replacement). No permanent fix or design-change recall issued. Dealership technicians indicate Ford's guidance amounts to 'randomly change components until problem was fixed' (per one narrative), implying no systematic solution exists. One dealership spokesman told an owner that a 1,200-unit backlog of steering dampers existed and he 'would not be able to confidently tell' when parts would be available.
Synthesized from 154 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While travelling on an interstate highway going approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel and front end began to violently shake after going over the seam that separates the pavement from a bridge. The shaking only stopped after I slowed down considerably. The shaking was bad enough that I felt I did not have full control of the vehicle. The weather was sunny and 40 degrees and the pavement was…
Had suspension trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Ford F-250?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 154 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 126 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 19,998 and 38,800 miles, with the median around 28,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,998; a quarter make it past 38,800. 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/2017/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.