Diagsheet

2019 Ford F-350 Super Duty · symptom sheet

Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"

  • 244owner reports
  • 21,000median miles
  • $2,200median quote
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Jun 30, 2025 · checked Sep 19, 2026

266 of the 466 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 244 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 F-350 Super Duty.

Tick what matches of 244 reports

153
132
157
53
25
6

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (15 reports), the track bar (8 reports), the tie rod (4 reports) and the ball joint (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the steering system covers the 2019 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 2019 model year.

What owners paid

8 of the 244 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,279 to $2,500.

$1,279$2,200$2,500
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 13,000 and 28,000 miles, from the 158 reports that gave a mileage.

4119
7620
4321
5622
1723
824
325

What owners wrote

“Severe uncontrollable shaking of the front wheels. I had to slow down to about 10 miles an hour on the freeway, people has to swerve to avoid me. It has happened 4 times in the last 3,000 miles. The date below is the most recent time it happened. I'll be taking it to the Ford Dealership.”

Filed Feb 12, 2024 · 3,000 miles

“intermittent "death wobble" from front tires. Has been happening since about 4000 miles. First dealer said nothing was wrong, then they replaced steering stabilizer under recall, then they replaced track bar. Then they said they can't find anything wrong. Truck is still wobbling at 39000 miles. Truck is 100% stock”

Filed Aug 15, 2022 · 4,000 miles

“Travelling at speed (+/-65mph) on I-25in Colorado, I hit a pothole. Immediately, my steering wheel started shaking uncontrollably. This truck was purchased new in 2019, and currently has less than 6,000 miles on it.”

Filed Aug 16, 2021 · 6,000 miles

“Traveling 60 mph experienced extreme vibration after hitting bump in the road. Had to slow to 10-20 mph for the extreme vibration to cease. Very unsafe condition. Steering wheel vibrated severely. Truck has 23,400 miles. This condition is known as the Death Wobble!”

Filed Aug 7, 2021 · 23,400 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 244 reports involved a crash and 3 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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