Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
At approximately 40K on the vehicle, a problem began to occur when a bump in the road was hit, resulting in the front wheels shimmying left to right for about a second. Over the next four months, the problem intensified, leading to a severe shake emitting from the front left wheel. Ford recommended an alignment and the steering dampener (which was already installed). I replaced the tires, dampener, track bar and bushing, which solved the issue for several weeks, but soon found that I corrected a symptom and not the true problem. About this time I found out about your investigation and decided to deal with the problem, since no one could diagnose the issue in the shop....hoping your investigation would provide a fix. …
While driving and going over a bump between 60 and 70 MPH on the highway, the trucks front end starts to violently shake causing the truck to lose control. Note only driving posted speed limit. This has happened on three (3) occasions mostly recently 7/17/16 and 7/19/16 while traveling s/b on interstate 95 and traveling n/b on interstate 95. The defect causes you to drive at reduced speeds on the highway. Have done research and it is a common problem with Ford truck with straight front axles. Ford is aware of the problem.
While driving home from work, I hit a small bump in the freeway at 65mph and nearly lost control of my 2006 f-250. The vehicle began to shake uncontrollably and violently. I tried to regain control of my direction which only happened after I got below 15 MPH. After pulling off the highway, I got out to check which tire had blown and to my surprise all were fine. If I hadn't have been in the far right hand lane of the freeway, I would have caused an accident and hurt either myself or someone else. This was not a typical vehicle response and was very literally a violent wheel hop or front end suspension malfunction. I consider this to be a serious and dangerous issue for f-250 owners and all who travel around them. Ford needs to re-call these front end defects before someone gets killed. …
Since new the truck has experienced violent and uncontrollable front suspension shaking/bouncing/wobbling after hitting a sharp bump at highway speeds. Initially, the shaking would only last approximately 3 seconds, but recently the shaking was so severe that I had to slow the vehicle to 30-35 MPH before it stopped. The shaking was so violent that I was convinced that something had broken in the front suspension, and I immediately inspected the front suspension at the next exit. Nothing obviously broken was evident. I searched the internet and discovered that this is a common and dangerous problem with these trucks. I dropped the truck off at the dealer. They acknowledged their awareness of the problem, but claimed they were unable to duplicate it during their road test. This is not surprising, as it typically only occurs when you hit a sharp bump or series of bumps at highway speeds. …
I have a 2006 Ford f250 2 wheel drive truck with 41,500 miles on it. While on a trip, the left front wheel bearings seized up requiring it to be towed to a repair facility. The inner race of the bearing was galled (welded) onto the spindle requiring not only replacement of the bearings but replacement of the spindle. The right front wheel bearings were also checked for damage and found to be also defective and were replaced. Normally, front bearings last in excess of 100,000 miles without service. If I were to keep driving on the seized bearing, I could have lost control of the vehicle and possibly killed someone. Ford has issued a service bulletin #06129 and NHTSA #10020174 which covers "noisy" front wheel bearings. The fix is to replace the bearings and install moisture and dust shields which do not come with a new vehicle at the customer expense. …
I have a 2006 Ford f-250 with the 5.4l gas motor. Since new it has not handled very well and seemed to shake back and forth rather than up and down on bumps. Now when a bump or pot hole is hit the truck shakes extremely violent left and right so much so it spilt my coffee and all change from my ash tray. I have about 50,000 miles on the truck now and at about 40,000 it did it for the first time while I was on the high speed lane going about 70 MPH in high speed traffic. The truck would not stop its violent shake until I reached 15 MPH, it was a miracle that the person behind me did not hit me then it happened again that same day about ten miles down the road and once more on my way home. Since that day it has happened to me 3 separate times. I am now afraid to drive me $30,000 truck any where but around town. I have kept up on all maintains on the vehicle and take good care of it. …
Shimmy- the shimmy problem that occurs in the 4x4 f250 should still be a significant issue for those of us that still own these trucks. The dealer tried the tire inflation story with me, but that did not correct the problem. Road racing sport cars for many years I know that one pound can make a difference in handling and I made sure that the tires were inflated correctly. Then they told me that Ford sent them a new set of alignment specs. Well as we all know now that did not fix it either. Then they told me that the tires being cupped was causing the shimmy, my response to that was that it was the shimmy causing the tires to cup not the tires being cupped causing the shimmy, although the worse the cupping, the worse the shimmy. After insisting on new tires and then the new line up specs, we tried it again. Then 960 miles later and only road driving the same cupping was happening again. …
I own a 2006 f - 250 SD, bought used with < 6K miles. I drive it to haul and tow several items and it has been a good truck. The only major issue is that if I hit a uneven surface, railroad tracks or bumps while traveling at speeds greater than 50 MPH, the entire front end feels as if ts about to fall off. It shakes violently and the steering becomes almost impossible. The first time this happen I thought that I had a flat. I stopped the truck asap which was difficult. I got out and noticed nothing visibly wrong. This happened after crossing a rr tracks that is failry smooth, and located on a four lane. Tire pressure is checked often (every couple of weeks) and is inflated to the standard. I now know if I'm to keep this vehicle I must slow down to avoid an incident from occurring. It appears that many complaints have been written but have falling on deaf ears. …
I own a 2006 f250 diesel truck that shakes violently when you hit even the smallest of potholes. It shakes so violently that you have to come to a complete stop, regain control, and then resume driving. This is especially hazardous on the small county roads we live on, and when you have to come to a complete stop on the freeway. We have tried to get it fixed at the dealership, where they assure us that nothing is wrong with this dangerous death trap. I refuse to allow my husband and my son get into a vehicle that will shake violently out of control into oncoming traffic, into a ditch, or off a bridge. I am ashamed that Ford would be aware of this issue, and not recall this problem vehicle as there are many others out there with the same problem. …
I have been having this problem for almost a year now and have read thousands of other complaints that is the same issue. This truck all most killed me again today. It goes into a "death wobble" when you hit a bump if you are over 55mph. If you anrt expecting it to happen and it is the 1st time you experience it you will wreck! I have contacted several dealers and no one seems to know about or heard about it but there is thousands of complaints online and also have received a letter from Ford stating to check tire pressures! I have done what they said + had new shocks, had new tires, struts checked, ball joints checked, and rear suspension looked at. Nothing is wrong ...this is clearly a factory problem and it needs to be taken care of before people start dieing from it! …
NHTSA investigations
Violent front end oscillation
Odi has received 78 consumer complaints of severe suspension and steering wheel shimmy and oscillations commencing after the subject vehicles traveled over an uneven road surface. The majority of these incidents occurred at speeds of 50 MPH or greater.thirteen of the complaints received by odi allege loss of steering control and that the vehicle changed driving lanes uncontrollably.four of the complaints received by…
Violent front end oscillation
This investigation was opened based on 78 consumer complaints of severe suspension and steering wheel oscillations after the subject vehicles traveled over an uneven surface.odi was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged loss of control and the loss of control occurredat speeds above 50 miles per hour.at the time these complaints were received, odi was also aware of the TSB 07-10-10 and early…
Suspension complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2006 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 144 complaints about the suspension of the 2006 Ford F-250 SD, 53% of the model year's 274 complaints. The component named most often is front (80 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford F-250 SD suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2006 Ford F-250 SD, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford F-250 SD suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 6 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.