Wobble/oscillation- violent front wheels wobbling, steering shaking so violent can't control. Different roads, MPH-usually above 60. To bring under control must brake hard and try to get off road & get below 30mph. Extreme safety issue. Wobble has happened on all types of roads, usually starts with an expansion joint, pot hole,bridge end or bump in road. More often if on a curve.
2017 Ford F-350 suspension problems
moderate 55 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
55
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 55 suspension complaints filed for the 2017 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 55 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 #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 F-350 suspension complaints cluster heavily around "death wobble"—violent steering-wheel oscillation and front-end shaking triggered by road imperfections (expansion joints, potholes, bumps) at speeds above 50 mph. Owners report the shaking is so severe that steering becomes nearly uncontrollable; most must brake hard down to 15–30 mph to stop it. The condition occurs with little warning and creates genuine collision risk, especially on highways where sudden speed reduction endangers following traffic.
Repair attempts include steering stabilizer replacement (often under TSB 18-2268), track bar replacement, control arm and bushing work, tie-rod and drag-link replacement, wheel alignment adjustments, and caster reduction. Despite multiple dealer visits—some owners returning three, four, or more times—the wobble recurs within days or weeks. Several owners report the issue appearing at very low mileage (under 10,000 miles, even on bone-stock trucks) and persisting after 80,000+ miles. A few complaints mention incorrect diagnoses (tire balance, tire pressure, mud in wheels, excess lubrication on rear leaf springs) that delayed or masked the real problem. Ford has not issued a recall; one owner was told no remedy exists. Parts availability delays have left some vehicles waiting months for repairs.
Same Ford F-350 suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble (Steering Oscillation)
Violent, uncontrolled oscillation of the steering wheel and front-end shaking triggered by road imperfections (expansion joints, potholes, bumps, uneven pavement) at highway speeds. Steering becomes nearly impossible to manage; the truck drifts uncontrollably between lanes or toward the roadside.
When: Primarily above 50–70 mph; some reports at 45 mph. Typically triggered by road defects; happens with no warning. Onset ranging from 5,800 miles to 80,000+ miles on same model year.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent steering-wheel oscillation; Uncontrolled front-end shaking; Loss of steering response and control; Truck drifts or pulls into adjacent lanes; Shaking felt through steering wheel and driver's seat; Loose, unresponsive steering feel at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Steering stabilizer/damper replacement (often per TSB 18-2268); track bar replacement; control arm and bushing replacement; tie-rod and drag-link replacement; wheel alignment and caster reduction. Multiple repair attempts (up to 3–8+ visits per vehicle) with recurrence within days or weeks. Parts availability delays reported (4+ months on backorder).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin 18-2268 issued for steering stabilizer replacement. No recall issued as of complaint dates. One owner told by manufacturer 'no remedy exists.' Partial financial assistance offered in one case. Ford referred owners back to dealers; dealers attributed issue to looseness in suspension components but no systematic fix identified.
Excessive Tie-Rod and Steering Linkage Wear/Looseness
Premature play and looseness in tie-rod ends, drag links, and steering linkage detected by dealers during diagnostic work or found by independent mechanics. Contributing factor to steering instability and wobble, appearing at low mileage.
When: Detected early in vehicle ownership, some within first service visits. Tie-rod play documented even on stock, low-mileage trucks (under 10,000 miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive play in tie-rod ends (noted by dealers); Drag-link play (identified by independent mechanic); Steering wheel wander over bumps; Loose, imprecise steering response
Repairs/costs cited: Tie-rod end replacement; drag-link replacement; steering linkage damper replacement. One owner's independent mechanic identified drag-link and passenger tie-rod play, but Ford dealer deemed components 'in safe operating tolerance,' then later replaced them after stabilizer repair.
Track Bar and Control Arm Bushing Wear
Abnormal wear and loosening of track bar bushings, control arm bushings, damper brackets, and related suspension hardware detected during diagnostic inspection. Contributes to steering instability and oscillation.
When: Reported at 25,600 miles and other intervals; wear rate varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Loose steering feel; Oscillation and vibration over bumps; Abnormal track bar bushing wear and loosening; Loose damper bracket
Repairs/costs cited: Track bar replacement; control arm bushing replacement; damper bracket tightening/replacement. One shop noted excessive wear in ball joints, shocks, and struts alongside track bar issues. Repairs noted as incomplete or temporary; owners report recurrence.
Anti-Sway Bar Looseness
Excessive play detected in front anti-sway bar, contributing to wandering and clunking noises over bumps.
When: Early in ownership (low mileage).
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from front end over bumps; Vehicle wander over bumps; Excessive play in sway bar linkage
Repairs/costs cited: Anti-sway bar replacement. One owner reported temporary improvement followed by noise recurrence.
Rear Leaf Spring Noise and Looseness
Clunking and noise from rear leaf springs, sometimes incorrectly attributed to factory lubrication of leaf packs. One dealer misdiagnosed the source and applied degreaser without resolving the underlying front-end wobble.
When: Early in ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise over bumps; Noise from rear area
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer sprayed degreaser on rear leaf springs (claiming they were over-lubricated from factory), which temporarily masked noise but did not resolve front-end oscillation.
Front Wheel Bearing Failure
One complaint of a faulty front passenger-side wheel bearing detected by independent mechanic.
When: At 45,912 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal thumping sound from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Front passenger-side wheel bearing replacement by independent mechanic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised complainant to file with NHTSA Hotline.
Synthesized from 55 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2017 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 55 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 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 17,000 and 32,000 miles, with the median around 24,826. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 32,000. 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/2017/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.