Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I loaned my F250 to my son to move his furnishings from his apartment in Chicago back to Iowa. Once he got on the interstate, the truck began to shake violently causing him to feel he would lose control of the vehicle. The only way to stop it was to pull over and stop the vehicle. This could have resulted in severe injury or worse. I am beyond furious, upset and am going to escalate this known problem in any way I can including media watchdogs, social media, etc. After a short search on the web, I find out it is a known defect but nothing has been done by Ford or your organization. My truck had 12,000 miles on it...nothing should be worn out and in no way should there have been a safety danger to my son by driving it. I would like communication from your organization immediately as Ford tells me it is up to you to issue a recall and you have not done so. …
On 12/2/2022 at ~9:30 AM I was westbound on Interstate 40 in SW AZ. Traffic was average, road was clean and dry. My right front tire clipped a small pothole. The front end of the truck began to shake then became a violent, out of control thrashing. I grabbed the oscillating steering wheel with both hands to avoid changing lanes and hitting other vehicles. I tapped the brakes to shut down the cruise control. But my truck continued the violent shaking and the steering wheel wasn't much help. Only after I had let my speed drop dramatically did this incident began to subside. Eventually I steered onto the shoulder and it stopped. I needed a few minutes to regain my composure to exit I-40 and return home at 35 MPH.
With no indication the truck started shaking violently after driving over an overpass expansion joint at about 60-65 mph on highway. After slowing to about 20-25 mph in breakdown lane, it seem to go away. Approximately 3-4 miles down the highway, again going over an expansion joint to a bridge this time, it happened again. With the same process of pulling into the breakdown lane and reducing speed to 20-25 mph it went away. Obviously looking this up on the internet, you come across the Ford death wobble. If this doesn't constitute a recall, what does, death..
Driving at approximately 70 mph I traversed over a road divider of a suspension type bridge and immediately encounter the so called "Death Wobble" in my entire front end steering mechanism. The vehicle and steering wheel vibrated so violently that it caused a lane excursion. Applying brakes and slowing to 30 mph the steering came under control. This is the (3) third incident of this happening to my vehicle.
Driving at 65 MPH the truck began to wobble uncontrollably. I was unable to control steering and was taken left across two lanes of traffic into the median on a highway. The truck wobbles and shakes so bad I was unable to reduce speed very quickly.
A residual vibration after hitting a bump started in feb 2019 at 8.6K miles. Dealership replaced damper assembly. All good for a while then vibration with hitting a bump started again in oct 2019 at 25K miles. On 11/2/19 at 26K miles at 70 MPH experienced severe/violent shaking in the steering wheel and had to slam on brakes to stop it and bring truck under control. The Ford dealership replaced the damper assembly again and the stabilizer bar. Still had the residual vibration after a bump, took back in to dealership on 12/4/19 and they could not 'duplicate customer concern'. On 12/11/19 and 12/16/19 at highway speeds on I-87 between albany and glens falls, ny, I again experienced severe and violet vibration/shaking in the steering wheel. …
My 2018 Ford f-250 has the "death wobble". I purchased the truck in February 2018 and by December 2018 had driven less than 8,000 miles. While driving at 70 to 75 MPH on an interstate highway, I crossed an expansion joint on a bridge and the front-end started bouncing uncontrollably and the steering wheel shaking violently. The shaking stopped after slowing to under 45 MPH. I pulled to the side of the road and checked to see if a I had flat tire or other issue causing the problem. I called the Ford dealership, from which I purchased it, for resolution of the problem. They indicated it that they believe the problem was the steering dampener. I brought it to the dealership for repair on 12/30/18 and they kept it for a week. They indicated the "damper" would be replaced under TSB 18-2268. They kept the truck until 1/7/19 until parts arrived. …
This submission is the second notice of "death wobble' on my 2018 Ford f-250 truck. The truck had less then 14,000 miles on it. It occurred on November 9, 2019. I was merging into traffic on an interstate highway at about 65-70 MPH and crossed a bridge joint which caused the front wheels and steering wheel to shake violently. I slowed the vehicle and was almost rear-ended by a 18 wheel semi-truck that couldn't maneuver as it was being passed by a second truck on one side and another merging car on the other. I knew what the had caused the issue as this was the second occurrence in one year. I contacted the Ford dealership on November 11th, 2019. They indicated they are aware of the dampener problem. I had them inspect the truck on November 16th at which time they ordered the parts to repair it. …
While driving approximately 65mph in the far right lane, west bound on the us 60, about mcclintock dr in mesa az, in my 2018 Ford f250, I hit a small pot hole in the pavement, the truck instantly began jerking violently. It rapidly moved the truck toward the left hand lane. It was all I could do to get the truck back in my lane and slowly move to the shoulder. The violent wobble did not stop until about 35mph. I do not know what caused this. I got out to look at the truck, it appeared normal. I got back on the freeway and in about a mile, hit a expansion joint in the road and caused the truck to do it again. I called san tan Ford to get the truck in to service, I dropped it off the same day. This is an extreme and violent wobble with no warning signs and very little ability to control the truck. Definitely a safety concern. …
My 2018 f250 has the Ford death wobble as people describe it. This seems to be a reoccurring event. This Friday May 14th 2021 it will go into the dealership for the third time to be fixed. The last time it was in was 04/09/21 for the same exact problem. The death wobble consist of violent shaking of the front end when hitting a bump in the road while traveling above 50 MPH. We must brake immediately and slow down to regain control of vehicle. This is extremely dangerous, not only for the shaking but slowing down that quickly on the interstate. This has happened while hauling a 35 ft camper as well. Today I was told by the dealership that Ford says this is a one time fix. The moist recent time this death wobble happened was 05/06/21 while driving to louisville ky. It happened six times on the way down and once on the way home.
Related recalls
Tires
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2018 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2018 Ford F-250 SD, 7% of the model year's 398 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford F-250 SD wheel & tire problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-155 (tires, Mar 10, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford F-250 SD wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles, and 44% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to wheels & tires 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.