Ford F-250 Super Duty steering problems, 2016–2027

1,943 of the 3,662 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford F-250 Super Duty 2016–2027 name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). The loudest years: 2019 (776), 2017 (717), 2018 (252). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

1,943 complaints, 12 model years 53% of everything filed about the F-250 Super Duty typically at 25k miles

Ford F-250 Super Duty steering problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model year	Complaints naming the steering	Share of the year’s	Typically at	On file under the heading
2027	0	—	—	—	the year →
2026	0	—	—	5 TSBs	the year →
2025	4	25%	—	—	the year →
2024	4	11%	—	—	the year →
2023	4	9%	—	2 recalls	the year →
2022	7	6%	—	—	the year →
2021	15	9%	—	1 recall	the year →
2020	46	17%	—	1 recall	the year →
2019 in depth	776	67%	20k	20 TSBs	the record →
2018 in depth	252	63%	28k	18 TSBs	the record →
2017 in depth	717	62%	28k	20 TSBs	the record →
2016	118	41%	80k	—	the year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the steering. Nothing here is a rate.

When the steering complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database

1,943complaints name the steering, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 2 · 2018: 58 · 2019: 585 · 2020: 505 · 2021: 247 · 2022: 269 · 2023: 113 · 2024: 78 · 2025: 57 · 2026: 29

25kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 1,282 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 17,000 and 37,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

Experienced the first 'death wobble' in my F-250 with 18,000 miles while driving 70 MPH down the freeway and ran over a bridge transition while making a slight turn to the left. Vibration continued until I slowed down to about 55mph. Took to dealership and they said everything was good.

Steering at 18,000 miles Sep 7, 2019 NHTSA owner report

When braking at 60+mph results in extreme front end wobble. This has occurred every time we drive at 60+mph and brake. So multiple times. Manufacture was contacted but the parts were not available

Steering at 200 miles Sep 3, 2019 NHTSA owner report

My F-250 has some terrible steering issues when I hit a bump and much worse when I hit a series of bumps. The front end starts bouncing and the truck will basically bounce sideways. The first time it happened I was prepared and come close to losing control. It will bounce or wobble going 40 MPH just as bad as doing 55 or 60.

Steering Sep 21, 2018 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. While driving 69 MPH over a bump in the road, the vehicle exhibited the "death wobble" from the front suspension. The contact was unable to regain control until the speed was under 40 MPH.

Steering at 10,100 miles Aug 28, 2018 NHTSA owner report

While driving on the interstate, at 70 MPH (posted speed limit) experienced extreme vibration/wobble in the steering wheel and tires after driven over slight rough patch on the highway. It was extremely hard to maintain control of the truck to get it to the shoulder of the highway through traffic.

Steering at 16,000 miles Jan 5, 2019 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the steering, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

25V626000 Critical
Sep 19, 2025 · 115,539 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.
23V847000 High
Dec 15, 2023 · 17,970 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring may have an insufficient weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
23V344000 Critical
May 12, 2023 · 19 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft bolts may be missing or improperly tightened, resulting in possible separation of the steering column from the adjoining components.

Other systems with a record on the Ford F-250 Super Duty

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Ford F-250 Super Duty problems by year →

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Ford F-250 Super Duty years have the most steering complaints?

2019, 776; 2017, 717; 2018, 252. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (67%).

Is there a recall for the steering on the Ford F-250 Super Duty?

Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V626000 (2021), 23V847000 (2023), 23V344000 (2023). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do steering problems show up on the Ford F-250 Super Duty?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 25,210 miles across the model years; half of them between 17,000 and 37,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?

The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.