FORD REFERS TO THE ISSUE AS A STEERING ISOLATION PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC CALLS IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE." AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CERTAIN BUMPS WILL SET OFF A RESONANCE IN THE FRONT AXLE AND STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND THE FRONT WHEELS OSCILLATE HORIZONTALLY. THIS HAS HAPPEND ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVENTHOUGH I HAVE PAID THE DEALER FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT WERE SUPPOSED RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN A MANNER THAT WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
2012 Ford F-250 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 2012 record →
I HAVE A 2012 FORD F-250 WITH 185K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ALONG LA 23 AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN LOUISIANA WHEN I CROSSED A BRIDGE, PASSING OVER WHERE THE HIGHWAY MEETS THE BRIDGE WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOST ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE TRUCK. I SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE WHERE THE SHAKE DIMINISHED. EXPERIENCED THIS APPROXIMATELY FIVE MORE TIMES RECORDING THE SHAKE ON MY PHONE, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME AND DISCOVERED THE TERM "DEATH WOBBLE" OCCURRING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55-70. MY TRUCK BEGINS TO WOBBLE VIOLENTLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR JOIST IN THE INTERSTATE. REQUIRES ME TO SLOW DOWN TO APP 10MPH ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO MAKE IT GO AWAY. DEATH WOBBLE BEGAN TO OCCUR ON THURSDAY, 17 SEP WHILE TRAVELING FOR WORK AND I HAD TO DRIVE LESS THAN 50 MPH THE REMAINDER OF MY WAY HOME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY MORNING TO ADDRESS AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHERE THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS FRONT END PARTS TO THE TUNE OF $2100.00. PICKED THE TRUCK TOP ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND BY MONDAY AFTERNOON THE WOBBLE OCCURED AGAIN TRAVELING ON I-12 AT 65 MPH NEAR MANDEVILLE, LA. I HAD TO PROCEED 50 MPH HOME WHERE I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SUPREME FORD, IN SLIDELL, LA FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. I HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS CAPTURING THE WOBBLE BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD TO THE WEBSITE.
WHEN HITTING SPEEDS ABOVE 40 I GET EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND WOBBLING TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS TO STOP THE WOBBLE IT IS SCARY AND I NO LONGER TAKE MY TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY
MY 2012 FORD F250 HAS EXPERIENCE THE REPORTED "DEATH WOBBLE" NUMEROUS TIMES. YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (55-70 MPH) HIT ROUGH ROAD AND IT SUDDENLY STARTS A VIOLENT WOBBLE IN THE SUSPENSION. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST 35 MPH TO GET IT TO STOP (DANGEROUS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY). NOW IT HAS STARTED DOING IT ANYTIME I GO OVER 60 MPH. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS AND TAKEN IT TO BOTH DEALERSHIPS AND TIRE STORES TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS A RELATIVELY LONG HISTORY WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DON'T SEEM TO ADMIT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD REGULAR DEALER SERVICE FOR THE TRUCK DURING ITS ENTIRE LIFETIME. I STRONGLY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND OFFER PROPER REPAIRS FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
TRAVELING ON FLORIDA I 95 NORTH AT 74MPH MY FAMILY AND I WENT OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT THAT WAS NO MORE THAN 1-1/2" DROP AND THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST WAS JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE VIOLENT SHIMMY STOPPED AS MY SPEED GOT DOWN TO 35MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF REACTION GOING OVER A BUMP AT HWY. SPEEDS. THE FORD DEALER (SUNRISE FORD IN FORT PIERCE, FL.) CHANGED THE FRONT STEERING STABILIZER STRUT, STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM 100MILES LATER. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE THREE LANE HWY.
IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND NOW I AM TOO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT 65 TO 75 MILES AN HOUR. TRUELY A DEATH SENTENCE TO DRIVE IT.FEELS LIKE BOTH FRONT TIRES BLOW OUT. I SLOW AND PULL TO SHOULDER AND NOTHING VISUALLY IS WRONG. I JUST RECENTLY TOOK TO FORD DEALER SHIP, THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR A WEEK WITH NO ANSWERS. SO HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS?
HAVING AN UNCONTROLABLESHAKE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. HAVE REPLACED STABILIZER BAR ONCE BUT CONTINUES HAVING SAME PROBLEM. HAVE RESEARCHED AND IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". STARTED HAPPENING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. AM UP TO 135,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A PROBLEM SPOT IN ROAD. YOU CANNOT BRAKE JUST HAVE TO SLOW ON IT'S OWN BEFORE BECOMING MORE STATIONARY. WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH FOR OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS SURROUNDING VEHICLES
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, WHEN ADJUSTING SPEED, ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND POWER STEERING, BRAKES STOP WORKING, ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON, INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK
TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND IS EXHIBITING THE STEREO TYPICAL DEATH WOBBLE. WHEN TRAVELING OVER 50 MPH ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD MAY PRODUCE AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHUDDER. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO RAPIDLY SLOW UNTIL THE TRUCK STOPS SHAKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK ALIGNED TO VERIFY THE SERVICEABILITY OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 SHOCKS AND ENSURED THAT MY TIRES ARE PROPERLY BALANCED. TIRES ARE WEARING CONSISTENTLY AND HAVE BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED AND BALANCED. WHEN THE DEATH WOBBLE OCCURS MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY DEGRADED AND I AM AFRAID THE SITUATION COULD PROVE CATASTROPHIC.
WHEN YOUR DRIVING AROUND FIFTY MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A BUMP IT GOES INTO WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS THE DEATH WOBBLE THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER SEEN WINTER IT IS IN PERFECT CONDITION ONLY HAS 28 THOUSAND MILES I'M AN EX ASA MECHANIC SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH MECHANICS MY SON IN-LAW HAD A2011 SAME PROBLEM HE LIVED IN COLORADO AT THE TIME HE KEPT TAKING IT BACK TO A FORD DEALER THEY KEPT CHARGING HIM NEVER DID FIX IT 3000 DOLLARS LATER MY DAUGHTER MADE HIM SELL IT SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING
MY TRUCK IS EXPERIENCING THE DEATH WOBBLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH ONE INCIDENT OF MY WIFE LOSING CONTROL. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES. I GOT NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT AND THE TRUCK HAD THE DEATH WOBBLE AGAIN. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO FORD AND ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS TO LOOK AT THE SERVICE ADVISORY AND DECIDE IF I WANTED TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I ONLY HAD 50,000 MILES ONE THE TRUCK AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY ISSUE THAT'S IS GOING TO END UP KILLING SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY
WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, EXHIBITING VIOLENT SHAKING. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". I NEEDED TO SLOW TO ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE FURIOUSLY GRIPPING THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THIS IS TERRIFYING. AFTER REPLACING THE TRACK BAR, BUSHINGS, STEERING STABILIZER 3 TIMES, TIE ROD ENDS AND ALIGNING' IT STILL IS HAPPENING. I HAD FORD DEALER INSPECT AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY WANTED TO REPLACE THE STEERING STABILIZER FOR A 4TH TIME. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I NOW KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS SINCE AT LEAST 2011 AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A TSB #18-2268 ON THIS PROBLEM BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A DUAL STEERING STABILIZER IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A PART THAT FORD DOES NOT MAKE AND MUST BE PURCHASED AS AFTER-MARKET FROM SOMEONE LIKE PMF, FOX, KELDERMAN OR PROCOMP. *TR
DEATH WOBBLE! FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS PHENOMENON BY CHANGING OUT SHOCKS, SWAY BARS, STEERING BOX ETC., THIS PAST SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH, WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT END WENT INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE (DEATH WOBBLE) WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND MOVED OFF THE ENTRANCE TO THE HIGHWAY FINALLY GETTING THE FRONT END UNDER CONTROL. FORD HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYING EVEN HE CAN'T GET FORD TO HELP RESOLVE THIS PHENOMENON. *TR
WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I IN MY 2012 F-250 I GET DEATH WOBBLE, THE FRONT TIRES START SHAKING LIKE CRAZY AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES LIKE YOU CAN'T IMAGINE, IT STARTS AROUND 50MPH AND GETS REALLY BAD ABOUT 60-65MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BALL JOINTS,TIE RODS, SHOCKS, WHEEL BEARINGS, STEERING STABILIZER, U JOINTS AND TRACK BAR BUSHING, NONE OF IT FIXED IT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. IT ABOUT RUNS YOU OFF THE ROAD IT'S SO BAD SOMETIMES AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL DRIVABILITY AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY BUICK GMC ABBEVILLE (1201 U S 167, ABBEVILLE, LA 70510) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
WHEN I HIT ABUMP IN THE ROAD STARTS SHAKING VIOLANTLY HAVE TO STOP NO MATTER ABOUGHT TRAFFIC. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, DASH LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE, AC, AND RADIO INTERMEDIATELY SHUT OFF FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENS.
TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING OCCASIONALLY BEFORE END OF WARRANTY. SOMETIMES FROM A NOTICEABLE BUMP SOMETIMES FOR NO CLEAR REASON. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION BUT TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IT GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WE DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE MUCH AS IT BECAME ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AND HAPPENS SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY. ONE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS IT WAS ALL WE COULD DO TO GET IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO HAVE REPLACED MOST OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BRAKES, AND NEW TIRES...AGAIN. WE HAVE PUT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO REPAIRS WITH FORD UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, REPAIR, OR EVEN ADMIT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. UNSAFE FOR ANYONE. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THEM. HOW CAN YOU NOT ADMIT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE? SEE DEATH WOBBLE VIDEOS ONLINE. THE TRUCK SHAKES SO HARD ONE MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE OURS WONDERED HOW ALL THE GLASS WASN'T BROKEN OUT OF IT. WE DO HAVE PROOF OF MULTIPLE REPAIRS TRYING TO MAKE THE TRUCK SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN.
TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ABOVE 60 MPH. FRONT WHEELS WOBBLED AND SHUCK VIOLENTLY. THEY GOT INTO A RHYTHM THAT KEEPS THE SHAKING GOING UNTIL I REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 25MPH. I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY BRAKE WHICH ALSO ALMOST CAUSED OTHER CARS TO REAR END ME ON THE INTERSTATE. COMMON TIMING SEEMS TO BE WHEN I AM DRIVING OVER OVERPASS WITH RAISED RIDGES CONNECTING THE BRIDGE SECTIONS OR WHEN I CROSS GROOVES IN THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS AND LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SOON
EGR SISTEM FAILS TO SOON AND I HAVE DEAD WOBBLE FRONT SUSPENSION
2012 F250 PURCHASED NEW AND NO MODIFICATIONS EVER. I HAVE ALWAYS RUN THE STOCK MICHELIN TIRES. BEGINNING IN OR ABOUT 2015 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH WHEN AT LEAST ONE OF THE TIRES HITS A GROOVE, BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL THE VIOLENT SHAKING IS TO QUICKLY REDUCE THE SPEED AND PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER.
FORD F250 WITH DEATH WOBBLE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FRONT END COMPONENTS $1,700 AND NEW TIRES $1,200 TIIRES REBALANCED AND ROTATED. 4 TIMES TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. DO I HAVE TO DIE IN THE VEHICLE TO GET SOMEONES ATTENTION?
SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT END AROUND 60MPH. TRUCK BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS. "DEATH SHUDDER"
WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILE AN HOUR THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO DOING A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN CROSSING UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR HITTING BUMPS. THE VEHICLE SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL AND HAS TO COME TO A STOP TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL. I HAVE THIS NICE TRUCK THAT I HAVE TO AVOID INTERSTATE TRAVEL BECAUSE OF FEAR OF HURTING MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAVE HAD BEARINGS AND TRACK BAR REPLACED, HAD TRUCK REALIGNED AND TIRES BALANCED TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. I'M GETTING READY TO PURCHASE A STEERING STABILIZER TO TRY BUT I'M RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS AND MONEY TO SINK IN TRUCK BUT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH AND TALKING TO OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM IT SOUNDS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGE PREMIUM PRICES FOR THEIR PRODUCTS BUT MINE HAS TO SET AT THE HOUSE OR TRAVEL BACK ROADS TO STAY SAFE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
MY TRUCK HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE IN SEVERAL TIMES AT THIS TIME NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUES WAS OVER THE YEARS IT BECAME WORSE I FIXED SOME OF THE ISSUE AT MY OWN EXPENSE STILL HAVE ISSUES WORRIED I MAY DIE OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THE WOBBLE OCCURS
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 85 AT 65MPH PASSING A VEHICLE AND ALL THE SUDDEN TRUCK STARTS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL UNTIL WE GOT BELOW 30 MPH. FELT AS IF TIRES WERE GOING TO FALL OFF OR WE WERE GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL.
DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY SCARES MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER SO BAD THEY WANT ME TO TRADE FOR A GMC.
BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND YOU ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP. IT IS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE. MY TRUCK IS STOCK FROM THE FACTORY AND ONLY HAS 56,00O MILES ON IT.
DRIVING VEHICLE LAST YEAR BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF EXPERIENCED WHAT IS NOW KNOW AS 'THE DEATH WOBBLE' WHERE THE FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE WILDLY ABOVE APPROX 60 MILES PER HOUR. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALER TO INSPECT/FIX THE PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING 'DEATH WOBBLE' (SERVICE ADVISORS WORDS)COMMON TO F250'S. OVER 1400 DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS WERE MADE IN JUNE OF 2018. REPORTED SYMPTOMS AGAIN TO MY DEALER WHEN TRUCK WAS BROUGHT IN FOR NORMAL SERVICE. WAS ADVISE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. OUR DRIVING HABITS ARE TO AVOID ANY POT HOLES OR OTHER ROAD ANOMALIES WE KNOW ABOUT ON THE HIGHWAYS WE DRIVE ON BECAUSE THE WOBBLE CAN STILL BE FELT. MY PLAN IS TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX REPLACED THIS WEEK WHICH WILL COST OVER 1000 DOLLARS.
GETTING THE DEATH WOBBLE, HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND DAMPER, NOT LUCK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY SOMETIMES WHEN HIT A BUMP AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. ITS TERRIBLE.
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL INADVERTANTLY BEGIN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE SPEED IS ALMOST REDUCED TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDLESS OF THE TIRE TREAD WEAR. HAS OCCURRED WITH BRAND NEW TIRES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AFTER DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING THE FAILURE THE DRIVER WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PARAMOUNT FORD OF VALDESE LOCATED (101 MALCOLM BLVD, VALDESE) WHO REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACE BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH FROM MONTGOMERY, AL HEADED HOME TO DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL, WAS CROSSING A BRIDGE THAT HAD BUMPS IN THE ROAD FROM WHAT I THINK WERE WHERE BRIDGE ROAD SECTIONS. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A FOUR PART OF THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN I FELT THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2012 FORD F250 FX4 STARTED A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK SO BAD I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE! I THOUGHT THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS COMING LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE! I COULD BARELY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL! I REDUCED SPEED AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AS I MANEUVERED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE FAR RIGHT. THANK GOD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT! A POLICEMAN STOPPED TO ASSIST ME ONCE I HAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE AND I TOLD HIM I WAS ALREADY SEARCHING FOR THE NEAREST FORD DEALERS FOR HELP. LOCAL DEALERS WERE TELLING ME I WOULD NEED TO HAVE SEVERAL FRONT END SUSPENSION PARTS REPLACED, BUT WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS AND BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD DO WORK. I GOOGLED WHAT HAPPENED AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS HAPPENING AT AN ALARMING RATE FOR A LOT OF FORD F250 AND F350 TRUCK OWNERS. IT IS CALLED THE "THE FORD F250/F350 DEATH WOBBLE"! APPARENTLY THIS IS A FORD DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN AT ANY MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO TRY TO SLOWLY DRIVE MY TRUCK BACK TO OUR HOME IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE OKAY AFTER THE INCIDENT AS I DROVE BACK HOME AT A SLOW SPEED. I HAVE BE
CURRENTLY HAVE 53K MILES. PROBLEM RARE, STARTED AT 10K OR LESS. WITH OUR WILTHOUT PICKUP CAMPER LOADS: AT 60MPH OR HIGHER WHEN HITTING BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS OR RR TRACKS (PARTICULARLY AT ANGLES) IN WHICH ONE WHEEL STRIKES IRREGULARITY FIRST, A VIOLENT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE BEGINS. MUST IMMEDIATLY SLOW VEHICLE TO STOP IT. COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN ACTIVE. TOTAL OF PERHAPS 6 OCCURRENCES. CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR INVESTIGATION. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS TRUCK BETWEEN THE LINES ON THE ROAD. IT HAS ABOUT 4 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND OVERCORRECTING THIS IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS....I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT
THE TRUCK HAS WHAT THEY CALL THE DEATH WOBBLE ITS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS FOR COMPLAINTS OUT THE ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED IF ITS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. IT SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AS SOON AS YOU YOU HIT A BRIDGE CONNECTOR OR A BUMP OR ANY IMPERFECTION ON THE ROAD WHEN YOU DOING TIGER RATE OF SPEED APROX 60 TO 70 MPH. AND VERY DANGEROUS WHEN Y9OUR ON THE HIGHWAYS IT ALSO CAN HAPPEN IF THE WHEELS AREA AT A CERTAIN ANGLE AND YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. YOU HA E TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 10 OR 15 MPH AND CAN TO HIT THE BRAKES.OR GAS TO GET OUT OF IT.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. HAVING TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY TO 30 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT SAFE. OUR TRUCK IS UNDER FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST THEY BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES SO WE HAD THEM REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT. NOW, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END TWICE WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE TRUCK NOW SHAKES SLIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT SPEED.
DEATH WOBBLE OCCURS OVER 60MPH. TOOK PLACE FIVE TIMES WITHIN 15 MINUTES.
EXPERIENCED 'DEATH WOBBLE' WHILE DRIVING A HIGHWAY 287 (SAME SPEED NO STOP AND GO WITH TRAFFICS). TRUCK WAS SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND WOBBLING CAUSED MY HUSBAND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE TUCK BUT SCARED HIM TO DEATH. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DEATH WOBBLE PROVIDED A QUOTE.
THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE VIOLENTLY UPON HITTING A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 50 MPH. AGGRESSIVE BREAKING WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND STOP THE WOBBLING.
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND REACH ABOUT 50 MPH THE WHEELS ON THE TRUCK SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND IT JERKS YOU OFF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE PARKWAY, A STRAIGHT ROAD, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE TO THE POINT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER. THEY KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND CALLED IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 MORE TIMES. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STOPPED. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN, IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY FORD DEALER WANTS ME TO DUPLICATE IT FOR THEM.
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN (LAST WEEK) I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH (PULLING A TRAILER), CLEAR SKY, TEMP IN THE 50'S. FELT A SLIGHT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FLOOR BOARD. WITHIN SECONDS IS WHEN A EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED. I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY. IT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS MORNING GOING DOWN A DIFFERENT HIGHWAY ABOUT 60MPH, CLEAR SKY TEMP 42 OUTSIDE AND IT WAS THE WORST YET. MY ENTIRE ENTIRE 2012 FORD F-250 WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING TO THE POINT IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND ABRUPT WE COULDN'T STOP FAST ENOUGH TO STOP THE SHAKING
WHEN DRIVING 60MPH, OUT OF NO WHERE THE FRONT END STARTED WOBBLING LIKE CRAZY. WE ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER SLOWING DOWN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON OUR WAY HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ON A ONE LANE HIGHWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THANK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING.
WHILE TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA , I WAS GOING 70 MPH AND HIT A BUMP AND EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING AND HAD TO SLOW TO 45 TOO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS WAS ON 10/13/2019. I LATER LEARNED THAT THIS IS SO COMMON IN FORDS THAT IT HAS THE NICKNAME ' DEATH WOBBLE"
WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANY UNEVEN SURFACE IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY.
DRIVING TO DALLAS, TX. ON FREEWAY AND HIT A SMALL BUMP. TRUCK WENT INTO FRONT END SPEED WOBBLE. HAD TO SLOW TO ABOUT 30 MPH BEFORE I COULD REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON A CROWDED FREEWAY.
WE HAVE A F-250 KING RANCH SUPER DUTY 4 WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN WE ARE GOING OVER 60 MPH AND WE HIT A BUMP IT GOES INTO A DEATH SHAKE. IT DOESNT MATTER IF IT IS A HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY ROAD IF YOU HIT A BUMP YOU BETTER HOLD ON CAUSE YOUR GOING INTO A DEATH SHAKE LIKE NO OTHER. IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 30 MPH BEFORE IT WILL STOP. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEBSITE THIS IS COMMON AND FORD WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 15 TIMES SO FAR. WE USUALLY LEAVE IT PARKED AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SO WE PAY A BIG NOTE TO LEAVE IT PARKED.
MY FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY STARTED WHAT MANY REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AT 65,000 MILES. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRED WHEN MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK (WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT) TO VISIT COLLEGES. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (78 MPH) WE WENT OVER A CONCRETE TO ASPHALT TRANSITION AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END STARTED VIOLENTLY BOUNCING OR WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH LIKE A SHOPPING CART WHEEL WOULD. SHE OBVIOUSLY PANICKED AND I HAD TO TELL HER TO SLOW THE TRUCK TO 25 MPH (ON A HIGHWAY) TO REGAIN CONTROL. WE ENDED UP IN MEDIAN AS THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THE EVENT. THIS PARTICULAR TRIP WAS FROM HOUSTON TO LUBBOCK AND I DROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP TO AND FROM EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEATH WOBBLE ANOTHER 4 TIMES. I TOOKE THE TRUCK IN AND HAD REPLACEMENT PARTS PUT IN AND CONDITION CONTINUED. RETURNED THE TRUCK TO LEGACY FORD IN ROSENBERG, TX FOR FIX AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TRUCK IS 100% STOCK WITH GOOD MICHELIN TIRES. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL YIELD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM.
THE SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF AT RANDOM, SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. SHOP SAYS. NOTHING WRONG .... I BEG TO DIFFER, I CAN BE INSIDE A STORE, KEYS IN PURSE AND ALARM GOES OFF AND NO ONE AROUND TRUCK. OR AT HOME IN BED AT 2 OR 4 AM AND IT GOES OFF. NO ONE AROUND TRUCK KEYS ON COUNTER. I ALWAYS LOCK MY TRUCK NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT, BUT I HAVE TO FIND MY KEYS AND UNLOCK IT THEN RELOCK TO RESET THE ALARM. IT'S ANNOYING AND IM SURE INSURANCE WOULD LOOK TWICE ON COVERING A VEHICLE THAT SECURITY DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY. IT LIKE CRYING WOLF WOLF I'M AFRAID MY TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY BE STOLEN ONE DAY. THEN WHO DO I BLAME?? FORD? THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM BUT CONTINUOUS . PLEASE DO SOMTHING. NOT SURE WHAT DOCUMENTATION TO SEND OTHER THAN WITNESSES.
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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 2012 Ford F-250 → · Every F-250 year → · How the figures are calculated →