2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty · symptom sheet
Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"
- 667owner reports
- 28,200median miles
- $895median quote
- 6involved a crash
Newest report Apr 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
717 of the 1,155 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 667 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 F-250 Super Duty.
Tick what matches of 667 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 steering damper (56 reports), the track bar (16 reports), the tie rod (10 reports) and the ball joint (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the steering system covers the 2017 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 15 recalls on the 2017 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 2017 model year.
What owners paid
18 of the 667 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $2,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 39,900 miles, from the 571 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My truck has the Death Wobble . It has been worked on for the incident It happened again yesterday at least 4 times within 30 minutes We turned around and came are parked the truck. Am going to talk to the Dealer where I Purchase the vehicle and want some answers and to fix this major problem with my Ford Superduty 250 2017”
Filed Apr 21, 2024 · 107,235 miles
“While driving on Interstate steering oscillated left and right very fast. Vehicle was hard to control. Came to a stop on the shoulder of the road to stop the shaking. This is what some call death wobble. Truck had steering dampener replaced for this problem a few years ago. It only has 26,500 miles total.”
Filed Feb 23, 2023 · 26,500 miles
“I have a terrible wobble. At 36,000 miles I had this âfixedâ under warranty. I now have 54,000 miles and it is terrible and getting dangerous. I know this is an ongoing issue with f250âs and terribly frustrating to have it âfixedâ, but not really.”
Filed Nov 28, 2022 · 36,000 miles
“The front end experiences significant head shake and "death wobble" at speeds greater than 50mph. An alignment, balance, and tire rotation did not fix it”
Filed Jan 6, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 6 of 667 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 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 587 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 72 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 33 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 27 reports