YearToAvoid

2018 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

Steering complaints account for 252 of 397 total complaints (63%) filed against the 2018 Ford F-250, mostly describing the so-called 'death wobble.' Median mileage at failure is 28,000. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this issue on this year.

Steering complaints
252
63% of 397
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
28,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe violent steering wheel and front-end oscillation triggered by hitting a bump, expansion joint, or bridge transition at highway speed.
  • The shaking is often called the 'death wobble' and reportedly forces drivers to slow well below highway speed, sometimes to near a stop, before control returns.
  • Some owners report the wobble starts with a loose or jerky feeling in the front end that worsens over a few thousand miles before becoming severe.
  • Two crashes are reported in this data, including one where a driver was pushed across lanes of traffic and another involving a vehicle behind the truck after an emergency stop.
  • Owners report dealerships replacing the steering dampener or blaming tires, with the wobble reportedly returning afterward.

When 2018 Ford F-250 steering complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 25, 2018, latest Jul 11, 2025.

2018 Ford F-250 steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter602018 Q32019 Q32020 Q32021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32025 Q1
252 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2025 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (60).

Steering recalls for the 2018 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. 2005106 (24%)
  2. 2006180 (36%)
  3. 200746 (40%)
  4. 2008119 (35%)
  5. 200939 (51%)
  6. 201043 (41%)
  7. 2011149 (40%)
  8. 2012130 (40%)
  9. 201340 (34%)
  10. 201481 (48%)
  11. 2015126 (43%)
  12. 2016118 (41%)
  13. 2017717 (62%)
  14. 2018252 (63%)
  15. 2019776 (67%)
  16. 202045 (17%)
  17. 202115 (9%)
  18. 20227 (6%)
  19. 20234 (9%)
  20. 20244 (11%)
  21. 20254 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Ford F-250 have a steering recall?
NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this steering issue for the 2018 F-250 in this data.
How common are steering complaints on the 2018 F-250?
Steering complaints make up 252 of the 397 total complaints filed for the 2018 F-250, or 63% of all complaints for that year.
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 or bridge joint at highway speed, that continues until the vehicle slows down.
At what mileage does the steering problem usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported in NHTSA complaints for this issue is 28,000 miles.
Did the steering issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 0 injuries or fires linked to steering complaints for the 2018 F-250.

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.