2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty · symptom sheet
Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"
- 104owner reports
- 71,250median miles
- $3,755median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
118 of the 289 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 104 of those describe death wobble. Only suspension is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 104 reports
Death wobble on other F-250 Super Duty years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
This is the violent one. Owners describe the steering wheel shaking hard at highway speed, often right after the front end hits a bump or an expansion joint, and it keeps going until they slow way down. Six in ten complaints in this group use the word wobble, and plenty of owners call it the "death wobble."
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ball joint (10 reports), the steering damper (7 reports), the track bar (7 reports) and the tie rod (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the steering system covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the F-250 Super Duty
Alleged loss of steering. Closed jan 31, 2014.
Steering shaft separation. Closed may 29, 2003, led to recall 03V-196.
Sector shaft fractures. Closed aug 19, 2003.
Steering shaft fracture. Closed dec 7, 1998.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
10 of the 104 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,326 to $4,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 104,000 miles, from the 43 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Ford F250 âdeath wobbleâ. I believe thereâs a recall for 2017-20?? But the recall needs to be expanded to include 2016 models. I have had this issue twice. Very very dangerous!”
Filed Oct 1, 2025
“While driving, when bumps are ran over sudden violent shaking of front end and steering wheel occur. Steering stabilizer and worn front rt 4 wheel drive universal joint replaced with problem continuing to occur.”
Filed May 31, 2025
“Driving on highway 70 mph. Drove a rough spot on highway. Pot hole patch. Death wobble started. Had to preform emergency stop to end death wooble. This is the 10th time this has happened.”
Filed May 7, 2025
“The front suspension shakes violently after encountering an irregularity in the road commonly referred to by the f250 community as " the death wobble".”
Filed Jan 7, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 104 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 112 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports