Diagsheet

2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty · symptom sheet

Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"

  • 275owner reports
  • 27,000median miles
  • $660median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Jan 25, 2025 · checked Sep 19, 2026

292 of the 572 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 275 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 F-350 Super Duty.

Tick what matches of 275 reports

170
169
194
58
31
19

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (18 reports), the track bar (8 reports), the tie rod (6 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.

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-350 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
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.

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

What owners paid

10 of the 275 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $450 to $1,200.

$450$660$1,200
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 18,950 and 38,000 miles, from the 228 reports that gave a mileage.

2518
13219
6420
2221
2022
723
424
125

What owners wrote

“Traveling down the road at or around 62 -65 mph and you hit a bump truck goes into a violent shake that can only be stopped by slowing down below 40 mph. You have to immediately start slowing down, and it there is someone following that isn’t paying attention it going to get us rear ended on the highway. The truck has 54,000 miles on it. Ford should own the problem.”

Filed Aug 14, 2022 · 54,000 miles

“I experienced a “Death Wobble” several times .Ford freelanced my ball joint on right side. When the issue began again Ford replaced my stabilizer bar. It happened again so I replaced both steer tires. Occasionally I still get a wobbly when I hit a rough spot in the road way.”

Filed Feb 5, 2022

“Death Wobble: Traveling at 65 mph, I hit a bump and the front end of the vehicle started shaking violently. I had to hit the brakes and slow down to about 35 before it stopped. This happened 3 times. This is a relatively new vehicle with 50,000 miles. The dealership claims no knowledge or responsibility. This is reported on line chat rooms and u tube extensively.”

Filed Jan 26, 2022 · 50,000 miles

“Driving on highway at 65 slight bump in road & steering wheel went crazy violent vibrating in front end. Had to reduce speed to 20 to get it to stop shaking. Continued down road same thing happened. Shaking is uncontrollable almost crashed. Vehicle can be inspected it does it if I hit a bump or go over 65. No warning lights.”

Filed Nov 9, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 275 reports involved a crash and 1 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.

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