Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving at around 60 MPH the dash starting chiming and gave me a stop safely now message. I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. At about 5 MPH the truck shut off, power steering and brakes faded. I was barely out of the lane of traffic and my attempts to restart the truck and get it further off the road to a safer spot were not allowed by the computer system. I had the truck hauled to a nearby Ford dealer and after cooling off all night the truck would restart. The local dealer could not fix the problem due to trouble with his diagnostic computer so he suggested I travel to another dealer. He felt I could make it there with the truck. I went to the motel where my wife and I had to spend the night to pick her up, a distance of about 1-2 miles. …
We have a 2011 diesel Ford f250 super duty pickup. It is like new, but has developed a serious mechanical defect. When it had less than 20,000 miles it began having the 'death wobble'. We have consistently tried to get the local Ford dealership in bend, oregon and Ford motor corporation to resolve this death threatening mechanical problem with no luck. This started occurring when driving over 40 miles per hour if at anytime a bump, rough road, or pothole in the road is hit. Now it can't even be driven that fast without violently and uncontrollably going into the death wobble. Applying the brakes makes it worse. It has to be allowed to slow down on its own. The vibration is so violent it takes all ones strength to keep it on the road. It's one of the most frightening experiences one will ever encounter behind the wheel. …
When driving on a freeway at 65 MPH, the truck encountered a slight bump and the front end started shaking violently, including the steering wheel shaking back and forth violently. The truck wandered out of the lane due to loss of control of the steering. The shaking only stopped after slowing to about 35 MPH. The failure repeated itself a few minutes later before I could pull off the highway. This occurred previously (6 months / 3000 miles ago). The Ford dealer suggested I take the vehicle to an independent suspension mechanic. He inspected the truck and said all the front end components were fine but he noted that the steering damper had about a 1" dead zone. On his recommendation I replaced the steering damper and the factory shock absorbers. This video attributed to NHTSA describes the failure pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt8ckiqsxje
We have had about four occasions where our truck suddenly begins to shake and vibrate, cannot control the shimmy until you can slow it down under 30 MPH. It happened three times at about 33,000 miles. Two times it was coming off bridge, hitting a steel channel at the junction and one time a large hole. All three times it was one wheel hitting the hole or depression before the other wheel hit. We took it to Ford dealership.....no ideas there. They rebalanced the left tire and no more problems until today when it happened again when coming off a bridge. About 38,000 miles and it was the same thing. Cannot control the shimmy until the vehicle has slowed to about 30 miles per hour. Most frightening! I refuse to drive it again until this is figured out! Big, out-of-control truck is not my cup of tea.
Purchased 2011 f-250 86000 miles on it. Going home on the highway right after I bought the truck we went over a rough patch of road and the truck vibrated and shook so bad we nearly lost control. Had to stop on a busy highway shoulder and look to see if we had a flat tire. Nothing obvious but brought it to our mechanic anyways a couple days later. Every bump on the road will now cause this reaction and at highway speeds could be devastating. Our mechanic is going to try a new steering stabilizer and front axle joints but I fear this truck has the dreaded "death wobble". Very dangerous issue that Ford will not address.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford f-250 SD. While driving over uneven Land and bumps in the road, the vehicle shook violently. Also, the steering wheel vibrated and there was a strong vibration felt in the front of the vehicle while driving highway speeds. Germain Ford of beavercreek (2356 heller dr, dayton, oh 45434, [phone]) was notified of the failure and could not determine the cause of the failure without guidelines from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
The truck will experience really bad wobble/bounce at 35-55mph speeds. I installed a dual steering stabilizer thinking maybe it just needs an upgrade. The rear end seems to be the problem. Every bump is felt. The cab moves and rotates back and forth as if someone is shaking the seat. The tail bed is visibly bouncing up and down the interstate or any speeds over 40mph. The rear end has too much play in it!!I believe that it is causing the frame to bend and suspension parts to go bad over time.
Truck continues to have the death wobble as I drive at highway speeds and hit a small porthole or bump in the road. The wobble becomes so severe that I have little to no control over the truck. This has been going on after 6months from purchase date (new) but Ford says they can not duplicate. It happens about 1-5x a week and I've nearly hit several other vehicles on the highway each time by swirling during the wobble. I loose directional control. I have had a crash as a result of this.
For the past 3-4 years my truck has experienced the "death wobble." when driving (straight or in slight turn) approximately 55 MPH or higher and hitting a typical bump in the road, my truck begins a violent shaking that stops when I reduce the speed enough to regain control. I have attempted repairs at two local Ford dealerships as well as a local repair shop, but nothing done has corrected the issue.
While driving at speeds over 40 MPH truck started to shake violently and you start to loss control .you have to slow down until shaking stops.people in the cars next to me pulled over you can see the truck shake from other cars. Nothing seem wrong with front end but there is .safety is an issue here.it doesn't always shake and then bang shake city look in to it.
Steering complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2011 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Ford F-250 SD, 39% of the model year's 122 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Ford F-250 SD steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2011 Ford F-250 SD. 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 2011 Ford F-250 SD steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to steering 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.