I JUST HAD TWO EXPERIENCES WITH 'DEATH WOBBLE' IN ONE DAY AND IT WAS MY FIRST TIME DEALING WITH IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH HIT A HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD ON A SMALL COUNTY ROAD THAT SENT MY TRUCK FRONT STEERING JERKING BACK AND FORTH AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE ISSUE AND GOT OUT AND LOOK AT TIRES AND SHOCKS AND LINKAGE TO FIND NOTHING WRONG. SECOND IS THE WORST, I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK ON THE WAY HOME AND I HIT ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN. I THIS IS VERY UNNERVING AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WITH FAMILY IN TRUCK
2017 Ford F-250 SD complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2017 record →
VEHICLE IS 100% FACTORY EQUIPMENT .NO CHANGES MADE TO VEHICLE. CURRENT ODOMETER 23,750 MILES. HAVE EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" 3 TIMES ALWAYS WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH. EXTREMELY UNSAFE. TYPICALLY IT BEGINS TRAVELLING ABOUT 70 MPH AND CONTACTING AN EXPANSION JOINT IN THE ROAD OR SOME SIMILAR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. TRUCK FRONT END BEGINS SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED TO ABOUT 50 MPH. HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND KNOW THIS IS ALARMINGLY COMMON ON 2017-18-19 F250/350. I PERSONALLY HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO OWN 2018 & 2019 F-250 AND BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME "DEATH WOBBLE". DEALER STATES THE NEEDED PART TO REPAIR PROBLEM IS ON BACKORDER. ALSO STATED CURRENTLY THERE ARE 43K OF THESE COMPONENTS ON B/O. THESE NUMBERS MAKE IT EXTREMELY APPARENT FORD HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE DEFECT USUALLY BEGINS AT 15K TO 25K MILES. AS THESE TRUCKS REACH THAT THRESHOLD IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT FORD ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THESE MODEL TRUCKS.
AT DRIVING SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A CRACK OR DUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE STEERING IS COMPROMISED AND CAN ONLY BE STOPPED WITH A QUICK DECELERATION TO REGAIN CONTROL.
AT 55MPH AND ABOVE THE STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD.
DEATH WOBBLE AT 70MPH ON 4 LANE STATE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO REDUCE SPEED TO <35MPH FOR IT TO STOP. HAPPENING MORE & MORE FREQUENT.
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE WELL-KNOWN-BY-FORD DEATH WOBBLE. FIRST TIME WAS AT APPROX. 29K MILES. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOO WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY PERFORMED THE KNOWN "FIX" AND VEHICLE WAS OKAY FOR A BIT. THE SECOND TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED (APPROX. 40K MILES), THERE WAS A PALPABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE FEEL OF THE STEERING POST-EVENT. SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST EXPERIENCE, I MOVED AND THE FIRST DEALERSHIP WAS OVER 100 MILES AWAY, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (ALONG WITH THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FIRST FIX). AGAIN, SERVICE TECHS WERE WELL-VERSED IN THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THEY CLAIMED THAT FORD HAD ROLLED OUT A NEW "FIX" AND THAT WHAT THE FIRST DEALERSHIP HAD DONE WAS INCORRECT. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PURCHASED WITH THIS VEHICLE; HOWEVER THIS DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS FIX. WHETHER THEY COULD LOCATE THE WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS IS A CONTINUED PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FIX AT ANY POINT IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF BACK AND FORTH LATER, FORD FINALLY AGREED TO PAY. WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THIS "FIX", ANOTHER DEATH WOBBLE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST A WEEK, AND WE HAVE AGAIN GONE BACK AND FORTH ON PAYMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID FINALLY LOCATE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT AGAIN...THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY AS IT IS A FORD PROBLEM. ALL TIMES THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (OVER 70 MPH) AND AM F
WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OVER 50MILES PER HOUR, IF THE TRUCK HITS A BUMP IT WILL START TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY DRIVER HAS TO HANG ON AND BRAKE THE TRUCK DOWN TO 20TO30MILES PER HOUR. DEALERSHIP KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ACTUALLY WROTE ON MY PAPERWORK DEATH WOBBLE. REPLACED STEERING DAMPER AND ADJUSTED AIR PRESSURE WHICH WORKED FOR AWHILE BUT HAPPENED AGAIN JAN 6 2020. FIRST TIME WOBBLE WAS END OF SEPT 2019 FOUR TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!! I DO NOT TRUST THE SAFETY OF THIS TRUCK !
I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE GOING INTO A GRADUAL TURN AND WENT OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT WHICH RESULTED IN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING OF THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL. THIS FORCED ME OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A CURB AND BLOWING OUT MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. MY TRUCK HAD DONE MINOR SHAKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHEN GOING OVER EXPANSION JOINTS. I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER VIOLENT SHAKING EVENTS WHEN IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH. I WILL NO LONGER DRIVE ABOVE 50 MPH IN THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS UNSAFE. MINOR ROAD IRREGULARITIES ARE RESULTING IN INCREASED BUT CONTROLLABLE SHAKING AT THIS POINT. IT IS WORSE WHEN TURNING OR ON A CURVE. IT STILL SHAKES EVEN ON A STRAIGHT ROADWAY AT LOWER SPEEDS JUST NOT AS VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND TIRE ROTATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AS SET OUT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL.
STOCK VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVAILING ON FREEWAY FRONT OF TRICK STARTED SHAKING SEVERELY. SLOWED DOWN TO PULL OVER AND INSPECT. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS AROUND ME AT THE TIME. TRUCK WAS SWERVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. STARTED BACK ON FREEWAY GOING SLOWER. SHAKING WAS GONE. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME THING. ON HIGHWAY AGAIN. SAME THING TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. SLOWED TO 25 MI PER HR. SHAKING SUBSIDED, RESUMED TO SLOWER SPEED. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. READING ABOUT DEATH WOBBLE ISSUES IN FORD DIESEL NHTSA. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO GET IN RIGHT AWAY. 2ND PERSON WITHIN A WEEK TO CALL FOR SAME THING.
DEATH WOBBLE TRUCK IN MOTION, HAPPENS ON HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS WHEN GOING OVER 65 MPH AND YOU HIT A BUMP, SHAKES AND LOSS OF CONTROL HAVE TO COME TO STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. STARTED HAPPENING AT 17K. INFORMED THERE WAS NO FIX. ENDANGERS LIVES OF ALL ON BOARD.
FORD REPAIR SHOP CALLED AND SAID THE ISSUE WAS CORRECTED. TEST DROVE. BOTH THE OWNER AND SERVICE TECH EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK. SERVICE TECH PLACED TRUCK BACK IN THE SHOP FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS REPAIR WITH 20,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON THE TRUCK. ISSUE WAS STEERING WHEEL VIGOROUSLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING A SLIGHT IMPERFECTION ON A STRAIGHT, LEVEL, AND PAVED HIGHWAY.
MY F-250 HAD ABOUT 26,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH I WENT OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT ON THE INTERSTATE IN KS. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THE PICKUP STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DANGEROUSLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITH THE OSCILLATION. AFTER SLOWING TO AROUND 30 MPH THE OSCILLATION STOPPED. THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER FILLED THE CAB. THIS SAME EVEN HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I COULD FEEL THE DEATH WOBBLE START IN THE STEERING WHEEL A SECOND OR LESS BEFORE THE VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED. ALL THREE TIMES IT OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS OF 75 AND 70 MPH. I DO NOT TRUST THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE!!!
AT ABOUT 62K MILES ON MY STOCK 2017 F250 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR OSCILLATION WHENEVER I WOULD DRIVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST ROAD BUMP/IMPERFECTION BETWEEN 55-75 MPH. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE THE ENTIRE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS I SLOW DOWN UNDER 50 MPH.
WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED WHILE PULLING A HORSE TRAILER AND THIS MAKES THE TRUCK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER MUCH LESS RETAIN CONTROL OF. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOW THE TRUCK HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REPAIR IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED THE PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED FOR 12,000 MILES AND THE MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS JUST OVER THAT MILE MARKER AND THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED THIS TIME. THE LATEST PART REPLACEMENT IS APPARENTLY ON BACKORDER AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL WE CAN GET IT REPAIRED ONCE AGAIN.
WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ANY UNEVEN SPOTS IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND JUMP UP AND DOWN LEFT AND RIGHT SO BAD THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT HIT THE BRAKES.WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO ABOUT 30MPH THE SHAKING SUBSIDES AND IS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT BUMP IN THE ROAD.. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 5 MINS AND IN LESS THAN 1 MILE DISTANCE ON A STATE HIGHWAY .. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD ABOUT 8000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE ,IT HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES SINCE, EVERY TIME AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50MPH
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A DRY ROAD 01/03/2020 I WENT OVER A SLIGHT ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT WHEELS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VIBRATING WHEELS AND THE SHAKING STOPPED. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OVER THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK. IN READING ABOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. I AM TAKING MY TRUCK TO MY FORD DEALER ON MONDAY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING. PEOPLE TEND TO PANIC AND MAY HAVE DRASTIC REACTIONS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. WE NEED TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON FORD TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT OR KILLED.
I WAS TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70MPH. I CROSSED A BRIDGE EXPANSION GAP, SLIGHT BUMP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL/FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SO DRAMATICALLY, I HAD TO REDUCE SPEED AND THE VIBRATIONS STOPPED AROUND 35MPH AS I MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN/COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AT BEST. I WAS ALSO ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE EXISTING STEERING STABILIZATION PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD BUY AFTER MARKET STEERING DAMPENING SHOCK AND LINKAGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
I AM REPORTING A SUSPENSION & STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY 2017 FORD F-250 WITH 28,000 MILES. THE TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND PROPERLY INFLATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION, HAD ANY FRAME WORK PERFORMED ON IT AND THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION HAD BEEN OPERATING ACCEPTABLY. WHILE DRIVING ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A MODERATE BUMP IN THE LANE. THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING BEGAN SHAKING, VIBRATING AND OSCILLATING SEVERELY AT A HIGH FREQUENCY (RELATIVELY FAST VIBRATION). THE SHAKING CONTINUED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING SHOOK. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL BUT WAS AFRAID TOUCHING THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE THE CONDITION WORSE. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE SHAKING/VIBRATING DID NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN. ABOUT A MILE FURTHER DOWN THE SAME ROAD THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER MODERATE BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME CONDITION. ABOUT 2 MILES AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER MINOR BUMP AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME SEVERE SHAKING AGAIN. AT THAT POINT, I OPERATED THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH (15 MPH BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT) AND EXITED AT THE FIRST EXIT I GOT TO. I TOOK LOCAL ROADS AT SPEEDS UNDER 50 MPH TO RETURN HOME. I HAVE OPERATED THIS TRUCK AND A 2020 FORD EXPLORER OVER THIS SAME ROAD, IN THE SAME LANE AND OVER THE SAME BUMPS NUMEROUS TIMES AND
DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP ON THE ROAD AND FRONT END OF TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE SO BAD HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO GET IT TO STOP.THAT SHAKE WAS ALSO FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL.I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 TO 60 MPH.
DEATH WOBBLE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING BUMP OVER 65 MPH AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU GET SLOWED TO BELOW 50 MPH. FORD REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPENER AT 34000 MILES AND ITS OUT AGAIN AT 55000. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE 6 TRUCKS SITTING IN SERVICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND CAN NOT GET PARTS TO REPLACE IT . I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AN AFTERMARKET FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SERVICE CENTER THEY REPLACED DROP LINK ,DRAG BAR AND STEERING DAMPENER. AND NOW I HAVE PUT ON A NEW SET OF TIRES IT HELPED A LITTLE PUT AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT IS STILL THERE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK OVER 40 MPH ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD IT WILL SEND THE VEHICLE INTO A DEATH WOBBLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED OF MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. IT IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS OR ANY ROADS OVER 40 MPH. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 12/2019.
MY TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". IT HAS BEEN IN TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE TSB FROM FORD AND REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZER. THAT HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. YESTERDAY, 1/2/2020, I WAS CROSSING A BRIDGE WHEN THE TRUCK WENT INTO THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK MYSELF AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEATH WOBBLE LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND STOPPED ONCE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ALMOST TO A STOP ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE. THIS CONDITION IS WELL KNOWN BY FORD BUT THEY HAVE YET TO FIND A SOLUTION. I PAID $70K FOR THIS TRUCK AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF MY LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED FLINT HILLS AUTO (LOCATED AT 7920 E US-24, MANHATTAN, KS 66502, (785) 776-4004) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *DT *DT CONSUMER TOOK HIS TRUCK TO FLINT HILLS FORD ON 1.7.2020 AND HAD THE STEERING STABILIZER AND TRACK BAR BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED 4-6 WEEKS. RATTLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE TRUCK. *JB*JB
I OWN A 2017 FORD F-250 CREW CAB 4 WD AND HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHILE HITTING ROUGH ROAD( DEATH WOBBLE). STEERING SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY THAT YOU ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SLOWER SPEEDS. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER GAVE ME BACK THE TRUCK AND SAID THEY WILL LET ME KNOW WHEN FORD HAS A FIX FOR IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE TRUCK FOR A WEEK AND SPENT $40K FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SAFE
DRIVING OUT OF STATE, 1000 MILES FROM HOME. DRIVING HOME. ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND ACCELERATING, THE STEERING WHEELS BEGAN THE "DEATH WOBBLE" DESCRIBED BY SO MANY FORD OWNERS. EXIT FREEWAY AND LIMP BACK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS. NATION WIDE BACK ORDER. MY FAMILY IS STRANDED 1000 MILES FROM HOME. DEALER SAYS "JUST DRIVE IT AND WHEN IT STARTS TO WOBBLE, SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT STOPS". THIS IS NOT A SAFE OPTION. THIS TRUCK HAS 18,160 MILES ON IT!! INSTALLING AFTER MARKET PARTS JUST TO GET MY FAMILY HOME. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS TRULY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, CRIMINAL TO LEAVE PEOPLE WITH LITTLE OR NO OPTIONS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS "WOBBLE" AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS A MAJOR DANGER TO ALL PERSONS IN THE AREA OF THIS TRUCK. MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES MAY BE AT RISK. I HAVE PAID FOR A TRUCK. I WANT A TRUCK THAT IS SAFE AND DEPENDABLE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT END WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT 70 MPH THAT ALMOST MADE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL SLOWING DOWN TO 50 MPH.
DEATH WOBBLE 4 TH TIME SINCE NEW TRUCK IN CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP PART IS ON BACK ORDER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD
THE TRUCK FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND YOU HIT AN EXPANSION JOINT ON A BRIDGE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWNS DRAMATICALLY..IE 25 MPH OR SO FROM 70 MPH. THE VEHICLES HAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON IT
WHILE DRIVING HOME AND DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO OSCILLATE VIOLENTLY AND TRUCK WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. TRUCK WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND I HAD TO QUICKLY REDUCE THE SPEED TO UNDER 30MPH FOR THE OSCILLATION TO STOP. DID IT AGAIN 10 MINUTES LATER ON A SIMILAR SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK AND FOUND NOTHING LOOSE. DROVE IT HOME AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT AVAILABILITY.
I HAVE FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. (COMPLAINT NUMBER 11279636) STOCK 2017 FORD F250 NOW WITH 38,000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE. MY TRUCK IS ON ITS SECOND STEERING DAMPER AND THIS TIME THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE DRAG LINK AND THE OUTER TIE ROD. AS WELL, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT AGAIN... THE TRUCK IS STILL EXPERIENCING SUSTAINED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION AND I AM AGAIN EXPERIENCING THE DEATH WOBBLE, LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AFTER THE MOST RECENT REPAIR. IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT CONSUMERS PURCHASE 50K+ DOLLAR TRUCKS AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS DRIVING THEM DOWN THE ROAD. WORKING IN AUTOMOTIVE, THE DAYS ARE OFTEN FILLED WITH COMMENTS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. REVIEW THE DATA, THE DATA WILL TELL THE STORY. CHANGE POINTS. ROOT CAUSE AND PERMANENT COUNTERMEASURES. I HAVE REVIEWED THE HISTORICAL F250 CREW CAB 4X4 COMPLAINT DATA ON THIS SITE (NHTSA) AND THE DATA DOES TELL A STORY. FORD IS NOT CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THE DEATH WOBBLE ISSUE ON THE SUPER DUTY, INSTEAD IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE POINT WITH THIS FOURTH GENERATION F250. (2017,2018,2019) AS OF 11/21/19 THE FOURTH GENERATION F250 SUPER DUTY HAS HAD MORE NHTSA SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPLAINTS FOR THE DEATH WOBBLE THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO GENERATIONS COMBINED. (9 YEARS. SECOND GENERATION 2008-2010 AND THIRD GENERATION 2011-2016) THE CURRENT REPAIRS (COUNTERMEASURES) ARE NOT EFFECTIVE AND ARE NOT PERMANENT. THIS CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN IN THE DES
GOING 64 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED A TREMENDOUS 'DEATH WOBBLE' THAT COMPLETE SHOOK MY TRUCK SO HARD THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR CAME OFF. IT TOOK ABOUT A 1/2 MILE OF DECELERATING TOO ABOUT 50 MPH TO STOP THE WOBBLE. IT OCCURRED AGAIN ABOUT 1 MILE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE HIGHWAY MEETS A BRIDGE OR OVERPASS.
CROSSED RAIL ROAD TRACKS TRUCK START SHAKING SO BAD LIKE TO HAVE LOST CONTROL AT 65 MILES PER HOUR
I HAVE FILED AN EARLIER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE(TRACKING NUMBER IS 11289041). I MADE AN APPT AT FORD TO GET TRUCK FIXED FOR THE "DEATH WOBBLE" PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE REOCCURRING AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE ME SET UP FOR A LOANER VEHICLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO RESCHEDULE. I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND AS A WAIT TO GET INTO THE SHOP AND I NEARLY CAUSED THREE SEPARATE ACCIDENTS ON N/S I-75. WHEN I WAS TURNED AWAY AT FORD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER VEHICLE FOR ME, THE SPOKESMAN OF SERVICE TOLD ME THAT IF THE FAILED PART ON MY TRUCK IS WHAT HE THINKS IT IS, THE PART IS ON A 6 WEEK BACK ORDER. HE CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN HOW THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF 1200 OF THESE PARTS AND HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONFIDENTLY TELL ME WHEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ONE IN. JEREMY ARMSTRONG(SPOKESMAN OF SERVICE) RELUCTANTLY TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN A TON OF THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING. AS I WAS LEAVING LEBANON FORD THAT DAY IN OHIO, I NOTICED QUITE A FEW FORD SUPERDUTY'S PARKED OUTSIDE THE SERVICE AREA. I DEEM MY TRUCK NOT DRIVEABLE AND A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES THAT I SHARE THE ROAD WITH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH SPOT OR A CHANGE IN GRADE ON THE ROAD SUCH AS A BRIDGE JOINT THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO ALMOST STOP TO GET IT TO CORRECT ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. MOST RECENT WAS ON INTERSTATE TRAVELING 70 MPH. TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND DROVE ACROSS A BRIDGE JOINT, FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 30,000 MILES. PAID WAY TOO MUCH MONEY TO NOW FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHEN I DRIVE IT. FORD SAYS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP
THE "DEATH WOBBLE" STARTED AFTER 15K MILES ON MY TRUCK. I'VE BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD DEALERSHIP IN SAN JOSE, CA TOLD ME THE DAMPNERS ON MY TRUCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS ARE IN BACK ORDER AND DOESN'T KNOW WHEN FORD WILL HAVE THE PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT. DURING OUR LATEST TRIP TO SANTA ANA, CA ON DEC 26, 2019. THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK, STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (45MPH+) WHEN BRAKING OR GOING OVER POTHOLES/ROUGH ROADS. THE WOOBLES ARE MUCH WORST THIS TIME. WE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE WOOBLES IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. WE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND I'VE CALLED/LEFT VOICEMAIL/TEXTED THE FORD DEALER IN SAN JOSE, CA. NO ONE CALLED BACK AFTER AN HOUR, SO WE DECIDED TO CANCEL OUT TRIP AND TURN AROUND FOR HOME. ONLY TO DRIVE MUCH SLOWER AND KEEPING A MUCH LONGER DISTANCE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. MY FORD TRUCK IS A 2017 FORD F250 LARIAT CREW CABS WITH 20200 MILES ON IT. BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE DEATH WOBBLE IN MY TRUCK. DRIVING TYPICALLY ABOVE 60 MPH, IF I DRIVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT OR IF THERE ARE RIPPLES OR CONTINUOUS BUMPS IN THE HIGHWAY, I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF MY TRUCK IN A SEVER SHAKING. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE DOING FOUND TO FIX IT IS TO SLOW DOWN, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND CONTINUE DRIVING.
AT AROUND 20,000 MILES DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HIT A BUMP DOING ABOUT 70 MH AND MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH TO GET IT TO STOP. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE STEERING DAMPNER WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED IT. FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 12000 MILES, NOW AT AROUND 30,000 MILES IT HA STARTED AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT ON IT AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM
VEHICLE WILL VIOLENTLY WOBBLE FROM SMALL ROAD BUMPS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH
DEATH WOBBLE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP AT 45 MPH + GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED NEW TRUCK HAPPENS ALL THE TIME DEALER DOES NOTHING
I AM EXPERIENCING SEVERE SHAKING IN MY FRONTEND SUSPENSION/STEERING WHEN HITTING A BUMP ON ONE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE SHAKING OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A RURAL 2 LANE ROAD. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE SHAKING. I HAD TO SLOW TO 25 MPH BEFORE IT WOULD STOP AND I COULD REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TODAY WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. EACH TIME IT OCCURS IT WHEN ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD. EACH TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (AT LEAST 60 MPH). I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE OVER 60 MPH. ESPECIALLY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK OR NEAR OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IN MY QUICK RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD WITH FORD SUPER DUTY TRUCKS. MY TRUCK HAS STOCK SUSPENSION AND STEERING AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 26,000 MILE ON MY FORD F-250.
TRUCK WILL RANDOMLY BEGIN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND BECOME HARD TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING, TYPICALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON I-555 SOUTHBOUND AT THE BAY OVERPASS. AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN UPON THE OVERPASS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED LEFT AND RIGHT VIOLENTLY UNTIL I QUICKLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 30 MPH. IT WAS ONLY THEN I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. MY WIFE WAS PRESENT AND WITNESSED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR ME TO HOLD THE TRUCK ON THE ROADWAY. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER REPAIRED THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2018 AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2019. SINCE RECEIVING THE TRUCK AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, THERE HAS BEEN NOTABLE, BUT LESSER, STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT WHEN ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN PAVEMENT.
I WAS COMING BACK FROM FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA TO PHOENIX AT HIGHWAY SPEED (75) MPH AND HAD A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE. (DEATH WOBBLE). I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 50 MPH TO STOP THE WOBBLE. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE AS THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME HAD NO IDEA WHY I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKES SO HARD. I WAS THE SLOWEST VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY YESTERDAY AFTER THAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE NET AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER NEXT.
TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON KS TURNPIKE WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE HIT A SMALL BUMP THAT IS THE BRIDGE JOINT AND MY FORD F-250 SUPPER DUTY TRUCK BEGAN A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE FRONT END CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED VEHICLE BUT FOUND NO FLAT OR DAMAGE. CONTINUED AT MINIMUM HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AND CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS CROSSING THE ROAD INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT NOT AS SEVERE. ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR WITH RUSTY ECK FORD, WHO TRANSFERRED MY CALL TWICE AND ENDED UP WITH THE VOICEMAIL OF THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER. LEFT NAME, NUMBER AND INFORMATION OF ISSUE. NO RETURN CALL AS OF DECEMBER 26TH.
THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP, BRIDGE GROVE, OR ANY OTHER IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD. WHEN THIS IS EXPERIENCED I HAVE TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY TO GET THE SPEED DOWN TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE IS SCARY ENOUGH, ADD IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC WHILE DOING THIS AND ITS'S A NIGHTMARE EACH TIME, WHICH IS EVERY TIME I'M ON HIGHWAYS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER A BUMPY PATCH IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. PRESTON FORD (4309 PRESTON RD, HURLOCK, MD) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
I HAVE A 2017 F250 4X4 WHICH HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY 3YR/3600 MILES AND ON 9 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING OVER 55MPH MY TRUCK HAS BEGAN TO SHAKE THE FRONT END CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR EVEN A WHEN THE PAVEMENT WAS UNEVEN EACH TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE SHAKING UNTIL THE TRUCK WAS BELOW 30MPH AND LAST TIME I WAS ON A 2 LANE UNDIVIDED ROAD THE SHAKE CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CROSS OVER THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD INTO THE PATH OF ON COMING TRAFFIC, LUCKILY THE CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY SAW THE PROBLEM AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A HEAD ON ACCIDENT, AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND SET UP A TIME TO DROP IT OFF FOR SERVICE SERVICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FORD MOTOR COMPANY TSB 19-2274 AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND BEFORE THIS FORD ALSO HAD A TSB 18-2268 THEN I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK 60 DAYS AGO IT WAS IN THE FORD DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD PARTS INSTALLED THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. I HAVE ONLY DROVE THIS TRUCK ABOUT 1000MILES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT IT ALONG WITH MY SELF HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF TRUCK OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT WHY THERE HAS BEEN 2 DIFFERENT TSB ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM MOST ARE COMPLAINING THAT AFTER THE REPAIR IT STILL DOES THE VIOLENT WHEEL SHAKE OR AS FORD CALLS
EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" 5 TIMES NOW IN THIS TRUCK. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 70 MPH PLUS AND HITTING SMALL POT HOLE, EXPANSION JOINT AT BRIDGE OR JUST UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE TRUCK WILL START TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. IT TAKES A RIGID GRIP WITH BOTH HANDS TO TRY AND CONTROL VEHICLE AND STOPS SHAKING ONLY AFTER REDUCING SPEED TO 30 MPH OR BELOW. THIS TRUCK HAS ACTUALLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN AND WRISTS ON BOTH HANDS HURTING FOR DAYS AFTER AN OCCURRENCE. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 12961 MILES AT WHICH TIME FORD REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER HC3Z-3E651-F. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT 26238 MILES AND SITS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP NOW AS THEY SAID NO PARTS ARE AVALIBLE TO FIX.
MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT 21000 MILES. I'VE EXPERIENCED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' 4-5 TIMES IN THE PAST BUT ON A RECENT TRIP OF ONLY 250 MILES, IT OCCURRED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. TRAVEL SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60-70MPH. USUALLY HAPPENED ON COUNTY ROADS THAT AREN'T PERFECTLY SMOOTH, BUT EVEN ON FRESH ASPHALT....ONE LITTLE BUMP CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION LINKAGE, VEHICLE WEIGHT OR WHEEL ALIGNMENT (PROBABLY ALL OF THE ABOVE).
PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SHAKING VIOLENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY SOMETIMES AT SPEED OF 70MPH. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS MY TIRES. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH 26K MILES ON TRUCK AND AFTER THE THIRD COMPLAINT THEY CHANGED STABILIZER BAR AND BUSHINGS, BUT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE (AKA DEATH WABBLE)
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2017 Ford F-250 SD → · Every F-250 SD year → · How the figures are calculated →