YearToAvoid

2017 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 717 steering complaints for the 2017 Ford F-250, 62% of all complaints filed for the year. Owners describe a violent front-end shake known as the "death wobble," tied to 6 crashes and 5 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 28,000. No related recall is on file.

Steering complaints
717
62% of 1,155
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
28,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Steering wheel and front end shake violently after hitting a bump or expansion joint, often called the "death wobble."
  • Shaking typically starts at highway speeds around 45-70 mph and forces the driver to slow to about 20 mph or stop to regain control.
  • Some owners report the wobble recurring repeatedly on the same vehicle before it led to a loss of control.
  • Dealers have diagnosed causes ranging from a failed control arm to a backordered steering stabilizer, without a consistent fix.
  • In several cases the loss of control resulted in a crash into a barrier, curb, or another vehicle.

When 2017 Ford F-250 steering complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 18, 2017, latest Apr 5, 2026.

2017 Ford F-250 steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter1582017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q2
717 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q4 (158).

Steering recalls for the 2017 Ford F-250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by F-250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201043 (41%)
  2. 2011149 (40%)
  3. 2012130 (40%)
  4. 201340 (34%)
  5. 201481 (48%)
  6. 2015126 (43%)
  7. 2016118 (41%)
  8. 2017717 (62%)
  9. 2018252 (63%)
  10. 2019776 (67%)
  11. 202045 (17%)
  12. 202115 (9%)
  13. 20227 (6%)
  14. 20234 (9%)
  15. 20244 (11%)
  16. 20254 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2017 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA lists 717 steering complaints for the 2017 F-250, which is 62% of the 1,155 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the steering issue on the 2017 Ford F-250?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the reported steering complaints for the 2017 F-250.
What is the "death wobble" owners describe?
Owners describe a violent shaking of the steering wheel and front end, usually triggered by hitting a bump at highway speed, that can force them to slow to near a stop to regain control.
At what mileage do steering problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported steering complaints for the 2017 F-250 is 28,000 miles.
Has the steering issue caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data links the 2017 F-250 steering complaints to 6 crashes and 5 injuries, with no fires reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.