This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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. 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
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?
- Mobile, AL, USA
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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 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.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 been fearful since to drive more than 60mph with it and my wife wil not drive the truck anymore! Ford needs to fix this!!
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.
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- Crawford, TX, USA