What symptom does the owner of the full-time 4WD vehicle report?

Severe steering wheel oscillations can indicate a problem with the vehicle's alignment, suspension, or steering components, especially in a full-time 4WD system. This symptom might occur due to excessive friction or binding in the driveline, which is common in full-time all-wheel drive systems when tire sizes are mismatched or when there is a malfunction in the transfer case.

The owner reporting this symptom suggests that there may be issues with how the 4WD system distributes power to the wheels, potentially exacerbated when steering. In a full-time 4WD setup, if there is a conflict in wheel speeds or differential action, the result can manifest as oscillations in the steering wheel, especially during turns or when accelerating.

Understanding this context highlights how a functioning full-time 4WD system should provide smooth handling without significant oscillations, making the symptom of severe steering wheel oscillations noteworthy for diagnosis. The inclusion of loss of power in the differential would require additional symptoms or context to be valid, whereas steering issues directly relate to the operation of the system and can point to drivetrain or steering mechanism problems.