Traveling at highway speeds(above 55 mph) I’ve hit a small bumps in the road on multiple occasions. The problem has occurred several times where the vehicle shakes violently until I slow down to about 40 mph. Googling the problem informed me this is a problem with Ford superdutys and the phenomen is referred to as “death wobble”. The article provided a link to nhtsa.
2018 Ford F-250 suspension problems
moderate 48 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 48 suspension complaints filed for the 2018 Ford F-250, 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 48 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 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report violent uncontrolled shaking of the front end and steering wheel—termed "death wobble"—triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, expansion joints, or rough road patches at highway speeds (typically 50 mph and above). The wobble forces occupants to slow the vehicle to 25–40 mph before it subsides. Owners describe temporary loss of steering control, near-collisions, lane drift, and instances where they nearly rolled the truck or caused multicar pileups. The condition can occur at any speed above roughly 45 mph when road irregularities are struck; some owners report it happening on mild bumps or even at full stop during low-speed maneuvers. Temperature may be a factor—one owner notes it happens most in cold (49°F) conditions. Occurrences range from once to dozens of times within a few thousand miles. Dealers have performed disparate repairs—steering stabilizer/dampener replacement (per TSB 19-2392 and 20N04), track bar replacement, ball joint replacement, tie rod work, ready lift caster bushings, alignments, brake/rotor work, and tire balancing—yet owners report the wobble returns shortly after repair. Multiple owners state dealerships claim nothing is wrong or demand the vehicle be present during the failure to diagnose. One owner reports the wobble recurred even after a previous manufacturer repair. No warning lights illuminate before or during the event. Owners emphasize the safety hazard posed to themselves, passengers, and other motorists.
Same Ford F-250 suspension reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble—Uncontrolled Front-End Vibration
Violent, uncontrolled shaking of the front end and steering wheel triggered by hitting bumps, potholes, expansion joints, or rough road surfaces. Wobble forces temporary loss of steering control and subsides only after slowing to 25–40 mph. Occurs at speeds above roughly 45 mph and can recur repeatedly even after component replacement.
When: Typically 9,500–100,000+ miles; noted as early as 9,300 miles and as late as 100,000 miles. One owner first experienced it around 20,000 miles; another at 30,000 miles with increasing frequency to daily by 39,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of steering wheel and front end after striking bump, pothole, expansion joint, or rough pavement; Temporary loss of steering control; truck drifts into adjacent lane; Uncontrolled vibration subsides only after slowing to 25–40 mph; No warning lights before or during event; Occurs at speeds above ~45–50 mph; primarily at highway speeds (55–75 mph); Can occur while towing a trailer; Possible increased occurrence in cold weather (noted at 49°F); May occur at full stop during low-speed maneuvers (5–10 mph crossing highway)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repairs include steering stabilizer/dampener replacement (per TSB 19-2392 and 20N04), track bar replacement, ball joint replacement, drag link assembly replacement, ready lift caster bushing kit, front-end alignments, brake/rotor replacement, tire balancing, and rebalancing. Owners report repairs provide temporary relief or no relief; wobble recurs within 500 miles to several weeks after repair. One independent mechanic replaced track bar, drag link, caster bushings, and performed two alignments—failure recurred and vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 19-2392 directs track bar replacement. TSB 20N04 directs steering linkage damper replacement. Manufacturer informed in multiple cases; no recall issued. One owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign 19V278000 (Engine, Equipment) but it did not address death wobble. Dealerships sometimes claim no defect is visible and no repair is needed, or demand the vehicle be present during the failure. One manufacturer response directed owner to NHTSA hotline for assistance. Owners note TSBs exist but repairs do not permanently resolve the condition.
Synthesized from 48 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford f-250. While driving approximately 60 MPH over rough terrain, the vehicle shook violently without warning. The failure recurred and the contact almost lost control of the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
Had suspension trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Ford F-250?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 48 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 38 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 18,416 and 42,426 miles, with the median around 28,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,416; a quarter make it past 42,426. 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/2018/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.