2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty · symptom sheet
Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"
- 238owner reports
- 28,204median miles
- $800median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Jul 11, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
252 of the 397 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 238 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 F-250 Super Duty.
Tick what matches of 238 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 (24 reports), the tie rod (5 reports) and the track bar (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the steering system covers the 2018 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 10 recalls on the 2018 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 2018 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 238 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $280 to $800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 18,000 and 40,000 miles, from the 200 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid input from the LKS.
What owners wrote
“It is commonly referred to as The Death Wobbleâ. When hitting a bump the front end wobbles back and forth causing you to lose control unless you break immediately. It has been to the dealer to be repaired twice but it only lasts a short time. This is terrifying most recently occurring today on an interstate. Could hardly keep it on the road before getting it to slow down and veering into other lanes”
Filed Mar 3, 2022
“Steering began to shake uncontrollably when driving at approximately 45 MPH after going over a bump. When the vehicle was slowed down to minimum speed and stopped the wobbling/shaking stopped. It did the same thing again 3 additional times when speed increased at a later time in the day. Safety of others could have been a major threat if unable to slow/stop.”
Filed Feb 16, 2022
“I experienced the Death Wobble running around 60 mph. It was one of the scariest moments I have ever experienced. I took my Truck into the Ford dealership and they replaced the Steering Stabilizer. It has really made me scared to drive my Truck.”
Filed Feb 3, 2022
“While driving on the freeway at 75 miles an hour the whole truck started shaking violently! I had to back out of it to get it to stop. I continue driving at 65 miles an hour and I hit a small bump in the road and it again started shaking violently! It started approximately 30 minutes ago and has happened three more time!”
Filed Jan 27, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 238 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 198 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 29 reports