Ford F-250 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 808 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Ford F-250 across 20 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (112). The words owners use most often: “death wobble” (29% of reports).
- 808steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 37mention a crash
- 12mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 74%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Death wobble: mentioned in 234 of 808 complaints (29%)
- Front end: mentioned in 193 of 808 complaints (24%)
- Bump road: mentioned in 64 of 808 complaints (8%)
- Violent shaking: mentioned in 51 of 808 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 519 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 808 complaints, 37 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 12 an injury.
Ford F-250 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 F-250 | 74 | 52% | 99,028 |
| 2013 F-250 | 37 | 39% | 108,000 |
| 2012 F-250 | 112 | 42% | 89,878 |
| 2011 F-250 | 102 | 41% | 64,000 |
| 2010 F-250 | 30 | 41% | 85,000 |
| 2009 F-250 | 32 | 59% | 68,000 |
| 2008 F-250 | 80 | 41% | 77,300 |
| 2007 F-250 | 23 | 38% | 44,000 |
| 2006 F-250 | 78 | 35% | 60,800 |
| 2005 F-250 | 39 | 27% | 55,018 |
| 2004 F-250 | 10 | 6% | 135,000 |
| 2003 F-250 | 11 | 9% | 103,000 |
| 2002 F-250 | 10 | 6% | 127,040 |
| 2001 F-250 | 22 | 10% | 83,000 |
| 2000 F-250 | 48 | 15% | 92,000 |
| 1999 F-250 | 49 | 8% | 63,000 |
| 1998 F-250 | 3 | 5% | 190,000 |
| 1997 F-250 | 23 | 8% | 94,800 |
| 1996 F-250 | 17 | 10% | 171,640 |
| 1995 F-250 | 8 | 4% | 165,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:gear box:shaft sector
Model years: 1997
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
Risk: This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and chassis-cabs. One or more of the four rivets on the lower steering shaft flex coupling may not have been crimped during the sub-assembly process.
Risk: If a rivet is not crimped, the flex joint can rotate on the shaft and there would be a reduction in or loss of steering control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the lower steering shaft rivets and replace any shafts with uncrimped rivets.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Over 1 year (2025) steering front end shaking began. Our dealership on oil changes did not tell us to watch for anything and we should have been warned. When the shaking occurred we changed Ford shock asborbers from Ford dealership. Problem still occured. We lost faith in Ford and our regular…
I bought this truck used from a dealership in 2022-23 haven't really had any problems till about 2 months ago. Front end started a wobble. A friend of mine just sent me information NHTSA put out about the Death Wobble. I believe it expired in 2024. I never received any kind of recall on this. I was…
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the contact felt a small bump. Shortly afterwards, the vehicle started to wobble violently, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle due to the increased steering…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving over a bump at a high rate of speed, the contact experienced the death wobble and the contact temporarily lost control of the vehicle. The contact slowed down and the violent shaking ceased. The contact stated that the tie…
My 2004 F250 has developed the "Death Wobble" that is normally associated with newer models, but the shudder at or around 40-45mph is identical to the described problems of the newer models in the class action lawsuit and tech bulletins published by Ford. Older models need to be considered in the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 808 owner complaints about steering for the Ford F-250. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-250 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Ford F-250?
The most frequent phrase is “death wobble”, in 234 of 808 complaints, followed by “front end” (193).
Other Ford F-250 problems
- Suspension problems (766)
- Tires problems (460)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (387)
- Power Train problems (319)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (290)
- Electrical System problems (259)
- Engine problems (244)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (182)
See all Ford F-250 problems.