In some of the affected vehicles, customers may experience sustained steering wheel oscillation after hitting rough pavement or an expansion joint at speeds typically above 45 mph (72 Km/h).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Ford F-350 steering problems
moderate 100 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
100
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 100 steering complaints filed for the 2018 Ford F-350, 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2018 Ford F-350 by each odometer reading. Median failure: 27,500 mi.
10% have failed by18,000 mi
Half the fleet by27,500 mi
90% have failed by43,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 52% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 100 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
The 2018 F-350 shows a dominant pattern: violent steering wobble triggered by road bumps, expansion joints, potholes, and pavement transitions at speeds above 50 mph. Owners call it the "death wobble"—the entire front end oscillates uncontrollably, the steering wheel shakes so hard you can't grip it, and the vehicle pulls sharply left or right. Slowing to 30 mph or stopping is the only way to regain control. This happens repeatedly over the truck's life, from under 10,000 miles all the way to 80,000+ miles.
Dealers typically replace the steering damper, track bar, bushings, and linkage components. Ford issued TSB 19-2274 and Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04 for extended damper warranty coverage. The problem: repairs fail within 5,000 to 10,000 miles. One owner replaced the steering damper three times by 36,000 miles. Another had all front-end suspension components replaced at 18,000 miles, yet the wobble returned after 2,000 more miles. Owners report dealers acknowledge they've seen this before but have no permanent fix. Ford has not issued a recall, though owners consistently reference years of online complaints and videos documenting the same defect. Several owners report near-accidents when the wobble forces sudden deceleration in heavy traffic.
Same Ford F-350 steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Violent steering and suspension oscillation
Uncontrollable violent shaking of the steering wheel and front suspension triggered by road irregularities (bumps, expansion joints, potholes, pavement transitions) at speeds typically 50+ mph. The shaking prevents normal steering control and requires slowing to 30 mph or below to stop the oscillation. Owners consistently report loss of vehicle control and near-accident situations.
When: Occurs at various mileages from under 10,000 to 80,000+ miles. Most commonly reported in first few years/under 40,000 miles. Often happens after hitting bridge transitions, expansion joints, rough pavement, or potholes while traveling 50-75 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent uncontrollable shaking of steering wheel and front end; Loss of steering control and difficulty maneuvering vehicle; Vehicle oscillates side-to-side and wheels bounce uncontrollably; Shaking intensifies if driver applies brakes; Only subsides when vehicle slows to 30 mph or below; Triggered by road irregularities (bumps, expansion joints, potholes, transitions); Occurs at highway speeds, typically 50+ mph; Recurs periodically over life of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers primarily replace steering damper/stabilizer, track bar/ball joint, steering linkage components (pitman arm, inner/outer drag links), and front bushings. Multiple owners report repairs fail to permanently resolve the issue. One owner replaced steering damper three times by 36,000 miles. Aftermarket replacement parts ordered by some owners. TSB 19-2274 mentioned for part replacement. Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04 (Steering Linkage Damper Extended Coverage) has been applied but failures recur within 5,000-10,000 miles of repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 19-2274 issued; Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04 (Steering Linkage Damper Extended Coverage) provides warranty repair for damper replacement. However, some dealers claim parts back-ordered or not covered under standard warranty. Ford has not issued a recall. Manufacturer initially states only damper covered under warranty while other worn components (drag links, pitman arm) are not. Owners report Ford has been aware of the issue for years but has not resolved root cause. Multiple owners refer to videos and online documentation showing Ford is aware problem exists across multiple model years.
Steering effort control module (SECM) communication failure
Steering effort control module loses communication with vehicle systems, causing steering wheel to become difficult to maneuver and lose centering. Adaptive steering warning light illuminates on dash.
When: Reported at 148,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult to maneuver; Steering wheel loses center position; Adaptive steering warning light illuminates on dash
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted to reprogram SECM but reprogramming failed to resolve issue. Steering wheel replacement was recommended but not performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated VIN was not included in recall campaign 10222258 (Steering) due to plant assembly location. No case opened with manufacturer; no assistance provided.
Engine shutdown with power steering failure during operation
Vehicle shut off without warning while driving downhill, causing simultaneous failure of brakes and power steering. Contaminated diesel fuel was diagnosed as root cause; fuel pump failure also identified.
When: At approximately 110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts off without warning while driving; Power steering fails during operation; Brakes fail to operate as needed
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance adjuster determined fuel pump failure. Vehicle was not repaired. Contaminated diesel fuel identified as cause.
Synthesized from 100 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
When at highway speed and hitting a bump in the road the steering wheel will shake vigorously until the truck is slowed down. This is a very dangerous situation while at highway speeds. I had taken the truck to the dealer and I was told that Ford knows of the issue and currently doesn't have the parts to correct this issue. A tsb was issued, 19-2393 however there are no parts to correct this.
Purchased new in wenatchee wa. At less than 18,000 miles I noticed a front end shake and bounce when I would drive over any type of expansion joint in a bridge. At around 18,400 it became a violent up and down bounce side to side with the steering wheel becoming almost uncontrollable. The last time it did this I was going around a slight right hand curve on the highway at approximately 55 miles…
Death wobble in front suspension
Truck shakes uncontrollably in a 10 mile ride it would happen 3-4x at 70 to 75mph hitting the slightest bump, the truck would violently shake. I would have to slow down to 20 MPH for it to stop. Very difficult on a highway. Very unsafe. I have a video to submit it is very hard to show shaking off a truck in pictures. *bf please see attached video. I have filed 6 complaints for 6 different…
This is not an isolated incident with our trucks, it's a nationwide problem that is very very dangerous. In a 10 mile ride it would happen 3-4x at 70 to 75mph hitting the slightest bump, the truck would violently shake. I would have to slow down to 20 MPH for it to stop. Very difficult on a highway.*dt*jb
Death wobble when hitting bumps at or above 50 MPH. Vehicle is all stock, it started about 25k miles.
Severe steering wheel shake all of a sudden when driving truck has 30,000 miles
Driving at normal highway speed while going over a bridge on highway 290 Worcester, mA the vehicle went over the metal plate that connects the bridge to the road, the front end of the vehicle started to shake. Slowly at first and quickly becoming uncontrollable. The vehicle would not stop violently shaking until I brought the truck to an almost complete stop on an extremely congested highway two…
On 12/6/2019 while travelling from fort collins, co to cheyenne, wy between 70 and 75 MPH, the truck and steering wheel began shaking violently after hitting a bump in the road. Fortunately, I was in the right-hand land and was able to pull to the shoulder and slow down. The shaking continued until I reached about 30 MPH and then it quit. The truck had just under 30000 miles. The next day I…
On 12/17/19 I was traveling at around 65 MPH on a highway when I hit a bump which caused violent oscillations in my steering. I had no control and had to slow down rapidly causing a tractor-trailer traveling behind me to change lanes quickly.
Had steering trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 100 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 72 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 16,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 25,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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 $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/2018/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.