Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 40 | 44% | 98,000 miles |
| 2013 | 30 | 39% | 120,000 miles |
| 2012 | 65 | 44% | 116,000 miles |
| 2011 | 45 | 33% | 69,000 miles |
| 2009 | 18 | 64% | 142,000 miles |
| 2008 | 15 | 11% | 80,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 33% | 36,000 miles |
| 2006 | 50 | 34% | 58,000 miles |
| 2005 | 25 | 22% | 52,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 3% | 88,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 2% | 87,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 5% | 53,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% | 84,000 miles |
| 2000 | 24 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 1999 | 37 | 9% | 100,000 miles |
| 1997 | 9 | 6% | 125,000 miles |
| 1996 | 7 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 5 | 4% | 197,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We have experienced 6 episodes of severe "death wobble" in our 2014 350 diesel between mid Sept. and Nov 21, 2022. The truck shakes violently, 4 times while driving by around 60 mph on highways and twice while going slower on other roads. We have taken it into Ford Paso Robles twice: first time they could not identify the problem. The second time they said it was a "death wobble-Ford hates it when we call it that"; they charged us over $1200 to replace front shock absorbers and insulators, rear shock absorbers and steering stabilizer. The next time we put it on the highway, we had another severe death wobble as strong if not stronger than before. …
My F350 has had multiple occurrences of the front wheels violently shaking back and forth to the point the steering wheel is uncontrollable, literally shaking from my hands-a phenomenon many refer to as "death wobble". Steering control of the vehicle was lost. The only resolution was to stop the vehicle in the midst of traffic following me. vibration in the truck was so violent that it actually hurt my back. it is more than frightening. Ford has "repaired" this at least four times over the last 8 years. the first two times, at approximately 20,000 and 35,000 miles, the steering damper was replaced. Then at 55,800 miles I had a tire dealer replace the track bar. At 83113 miles, Gabriel Jordan Ford replaced the track Barr, track bar ball joint, steering shock, drag link, outer tie rod, and both outer spindles. …
The truck vibrates uncontrollably when driving on the freeway at speeds between 65-75mph. This typically occurs when the truck hits a bump when driving in this speed range. Doing a google search and reviewing videos of this issue reveals a pheonomea referred to as 'death wobble'. This has happened to me at least 8 times over the past 8-10 months. I had the shocks changed recently hoping that this would fix the problem. This did NOT fix the problem. On one occassion while driving in Pennsylvania towing my boat, I was nearly in an accident. When the vibration/attenuation occurred I was driving approx 70mph and had to slow to 40mph nearly causing an accident. This is a very scary issue that apparently through research Ford is well aware of. …
As we were driving on the highway, the "death wobble" as it's been coined happened to us. We were going 70 mph on the highway and hit a bump and then the whole front end of the truck was shaking violently. Fortunately my husband is aware of this and knows of this happening to other vehicles that he slowed down immediately to prevent anything else from happening. Not only did the intense shaking happen, but it also popped the hood. Thank goodness it stayed latched otherwise that could have also been a serious issue. Thankful we were not on a crowded freeway or highway and were able to slow down fast. This also happened to him a few weeks earlier on a highway. This is a huge safety issue. I'm not sure if I would have been able to control the vehicle like he did if I had been driving. …
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH on the expressway, the vehicle drove over a bump on the roadway and the vehicle and the steering wheel started shaking violently. The contact depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred three times while driving over bumps on the roadway the same day. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The dealer inspected the suspension and diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the dealer advised the contact that the tires needed to be replaced as they were worn on the inside. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact rolled over a bump and the vehicle started to shudder and sway to the left and right violently. The contact slowed down to 20 MPH and regained control of the vehicle. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred two years prior. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who installed dampers and a track bar on the front end. The contact had not yet taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic following the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a Death Wobble. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel were shuddering violently from the right to the left, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to regain control of the vehicle upon decelerating to 10 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to Litchfield Auto Repair, where the axle track bar ball joint, the steering damper, the drag link, and the tie rod or the tie rod end were replaced. Additionally, the mechanic performed the front alignment; however, the failure recurred while driving 75 MPH and hitting a bump. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the contact was informed that the previous repair was performed correctly. …
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the steering column and the front-end of the vehicle started shuddering significantly. The contact depressed the brake pedal and slowed down significantly until the vehicle operated as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred a second time while driving over a bump on the roadway. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred a third time while his wife was driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-350 years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (65), 2006 (50), 2011 (45), 2014 (40) and 1999 (37) model years. Suspension complaints make up 44% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Ford F-350 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for any Ford F-350 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford F-350 suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (62 mentions), followed by the rear (7).
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.