Ford F-350 SD Steering Problems
Owners have filed 1,091 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Ford F-350 SD across 28 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (292). The words owners use most often: “death wobble” (41% of reports).
- 1,091steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 30mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $720typical repair cost reported by owners
- 86%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 448 of 1,091 complaints (41%)
- Front end: mentioned in 255 of 1,091 complaints (23%)
- Bump road: mentioned in 127 of 1,091 complaints (12%)
- Shake violently: mentioned in 84 of 1,091 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Ford F-350 SD at $720, and half of them between $410 and $1,100.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 748 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,091 complaints, 30 mention a crash, 17 an injury.
Ford F-350 SD steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-350 SD | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2024 F-350 SD | 4 | 9% | 15,000 |
| 2023 F-350 SD | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 F-350 SD | 16 | 14% | 32,500 |
| 2021 F-350 SD | 4 | 4% | 89 |
| 2020 F-350 SD | 35 | 19% | 52,000 |
| 2019 F-350 SD | 266 | 57% | 20,000 |
| 2018 F-350 SD | 102 | 50% | 25,000 |
| 2017 F-350 SD | 292 | 51% | 26,326 |
| 2016 F-350 SD | 76 | 36% | 40,000 |
| 2015 F-350 SD | 67 | 32% | 69,000 |
| 2014 F-350 SD | 2 | 29% | 48,250 |
| 2013 F-350 SD | 2 | 22% | 83,500 |
| 2012 F-350 SD | 9 | 31% | 35,000 |
| 2011 F-350 SD | 14 | 33% | 34,500 |
| 2010 F-350 SD | 17 | 34% | 73,000 |
| 2009 F-350 SD | 3 | 16% | 144,975 |
| 2008 F-350 SD | 25 | 25% | 52,000 |
| 2007 F-350 SD | 9 | 36% | 30,000 |
| 2006 F-350 SD | 45 | 35% | 48,000 |
| 2005 F-350 SD | 38 | 18% | 42,000 |
| 2004 F-350 SD | 6 | 5% | 108,000 |
| 2003 F-350 SD | 7 | 5% | 9,970 |
| 2002 F-350 SD | 7 | 6% | 80,000 |
| 2001 F-350 SD | 12 | 8% | 48,089 |
| 2000 F-350 SD | 19 | 12% | 57,170 |
| 1999 F-350 SD | 10 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 1995 F-350 SD | 1 | 50% | 25,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Steering:column
Model years: 2020, 2021
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column, and repair or replace the upper shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S94. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 23, 2025.
Steering:column; air bags:frontal:driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring may have an insufficient weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: A deactivated air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the clock spring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Steering:column
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft bolts may be missing or improperly tightened, resulting in possible separation of the steering column from the adjoining components.
Risk: A disconnected steering column can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the steering column upper shaft coupler bolts, or install any missing bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 1, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S22.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Going 60 to 70 miles per hour on I81 front end experienced uncontrollable wobbling not able to control truck had to slow down to stop vibrations. Occurred 3 times in a row almost rear ended by tractor trailer trucks as they could not tell we were having problems as we slowed down. Placing our…
The driveshaft separated resulting in a loss of motive power while we were driving on the highway at around 65-70mph. We heard/felt vibrations, and a harsh noise then a loud popping noise right before/ during the failure. Then heard dragging as we came toward the guard rail. It caused a loss of…
I am hearing and feeling snaps coming from my vehicle steering. It feels like the steering column is not functioning correctly. I can feel the truck getting more sloppy turning and traveling differently than it did at 35,000 miles. Ford wants to charge me $185 to investigate and then they may take…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and driving around a curve, the steering wheel was turned; however, the vehicle failed to respond and crashed into a guardrail. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V626000 (Steering). There…
A steering control module in my steering wheel failed which makes the lane keeping warning not operate correctly and the steering wheel not straight it's set at an angle to the right so when you're driving down the road you have to have it constantly turn to the right a little bit in order to go…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-350 SDs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,091 owner complaints about steering for the Ford F-350 SD. 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-350 SD steering?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Ford F-350 SD?
Owners report a typical cost of $720 (half paid between $410 and $1,100), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Ford F-350 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “death wobble”, in 448 of 1,091 complaints, followed by “front end” (255).
Other Ford F-350 SD problems
- Suspension problems (868)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (368)
- Electrical System problems (332)
- Power Train problems (288)
- Tires problems (247)
- Wheels problems (222)
- Engine problems (220)
- Fuel System, Diesel problems (197)
See all Ford F-350 SD problems.