This is the 6th time this has happened. All driving speeds from 60-75 mph. Will hit a random bump in the road and the front end will go in to a severe death wobble. When this happens you cannot steer the vehicle, or stop it easily. The only way to make it stop is to get slowed down to 20 mph or so. We have had it at the dealership we’ve purchased it from several times with no fix yet. It has…
2020 Ford F-250 suspension problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
What stands out
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 of the 2020 Ford F-250 report a violent front-end vibration and loss of steering control occurring at highway speeds (45–75 mph), particularly when hitting road imperfections, lane transitions, or slight steering inputs. The condition—described as "death wobble" in 10 narratives—forces drivers to reduce speed significantly (often to 20–30 mph) for the shaking to subside. The steering wheel vibrates or shimmers off-center, and in several cases the vehicle drifts into adjacent lanes, creating serious safety hazards.
Complaints span mileages from under 15,000 to 51,000 miles, with some trucks exhibiting the problem while nearly new. One owner reports it has recurred at least six times; another notes it occurs on multiple occasions and is worsening. No warning lights typically illuminate beforehand, though one owner reported unknown warning lights during the event.
Dealer diagnoses vary widely: loose tie rods and ball joints, low tire pressure, misalignment, and in one case a cable replacement and dual damper kit plus drag link and tie rod link replacement—yet failures persist. One narrative references Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04. One owner also reports a separate suspension defect: an emergency brake cable routed too close to leaf springs, risking pinching under load. Another mentions an aftermarket stabilizer bar as the only current mitigation available.
Same Ford F-250 suspension reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble (High-Speed Vibration and Loss of Control)
Violent front-end vibration and uncontrollable shaking during highway driving, triggered by road imperfections or lane transitions, forcing speed reduction to 20–30 mph to regain control.
When: Highway speeds 45–75 mph; mileages from under 15,000 to 51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent front-end shaking and vibration; Steering wheel shimmer and off-center orientation; Loss of directional control; vehicle drifts toward shoulder; Unsteady handling when changing lanes at speed; Shaking diminishes upon deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports loose tie rods and ball joints identified at dealer but not repaired. Another reports replacement of unknown cable and dual damper kit, drag link, and tie rod link attempted without resolving failure. Most narratives show no repair attempted or completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One narrative references Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04; manufacturer referred one contact to NHTSA hotline. Most show no factory response or recall.
Emergency Brake Cable Routing Defect
Emergency brake cable positioned too close to or between leaf springs with excessive slack, risking pinching or damage under full load.
When: Detected at or very soon after delivery (under 80 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Visible loop in brake cable between main and secondary leaf springs
Repairs/costs cited: Owner expected dealer repair but did not report completion status.
Synthesized from 14 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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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 2020 Ford F-250?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 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?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 33,250 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/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.