Diagsheet

2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty · symptom sheet

Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"

  • 113owner reports
  • 71,500median miles
  • $1,414median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 22, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

126 of the 295 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 113 of those describe death wobble. Only suspension is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 113 reports

77
51
71
19
19
10

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (12 reports), the tie rod (9 reports), the ball joint (8 reports) and the track bar (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the steering system covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

20E-090Dec 10, 2020
Steering

Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Icon customer service at 1-951-689-4266.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the F-250 Super Duty

PE13-014opened May 7, 2013
Steering · model years 2008

Alleged loss of steering. Closed jan 31, 2014.

NHTSA summary
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated
EA02-001opened Feb 6, 2002
Steering · model years 1997

Steering shaft separation. Closed may 29, 2003, led to recall 03V-196.

NHTSA summary
SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY FOR TECHNICAL DETAILS
EA01-009opened Mar 2, 2001
Steering · model years 1999 to 2001

Sector shaft fractures. Closed aug 19, 2003.

NHTSA summary
THIS EA WAS OPENED BASED ON A RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) SUBMITTED DURING SQ00-018.FORD STATED IN AN INTERNAL SERVICE MESSAGE THAT IT HAD CHANGED THE STEERING GEAR SECTOR SHAFTS AND PITMAN ARMS INSTALLED 1999 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES SUPER DUTY VEHICLES ON MARCH 22, 1999.FORD STATED THAT THESE DESIGN CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE STEERING AND HANDLING, AND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE REPORTED FRACTURED SECTOR SHAFTS WERE THE RESULT OF EXTRAORDINARY, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE, IMPACTS.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS ATTACHED.
PE98-061opened Nov 18, 1998
Steering · model years 1999

Steering shaft fracture. Closed dec 7, 1998.

NHTSA summary
ALLEGED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT MAY FRACTURE

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

What owners paid

16 of the 113 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $761 to $2,433.

$761$1,414$2,433
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 99,700 miles, from the 67 reports that gave a mileage.

116
317
218
1519
2620
2321
1822
823
1124
525
126

What owners wrote

“I was driving at approximately 55mph when my Ford F-250 started violently shaking. I had a difficult time steering it and almost crashed.”

Filed Nov 23, 2022

“after hitting grooves or holes in the road the vehicle vibrates violently, known in the industry as the Ford Death Wobble. It's getting progressively worse. It makes lane control very difficult and often times requires immediate braking which causes a hazard on the highway to those following behind in addition to sudden lane departures caused by pulling forces.”

Filed Oct 14, 2022

“The vehicle violently shakes at speeds above 60mph. I must abruptly slow down on highway or come to a complete stop. This is dangerous to me and other drivers.After further research I have found this issue has caused serious injury and death.”

Filed Sep 28, 2022

“I’ve been experiencing the death wobble, which is a violent shaking that happens to the front end of my Ford F250 Super Duty trucks. It typically occurs at speeds over 50 miles per hour. It also happens after going over bumps or grooves in the road. To stop the shaking, I must quickly slow way down or even stop completely. It’s terrifying, especially when I’m driving with my 2 children in the truck.”

Filed Jan 15, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 113 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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