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.
The problem is commonly called "DEATH WOBBLE". The steering system enters an extremely violent wobble/shake making control of the vehicle nearly impossible. 2 independent service centers have addressed the issue. The first did repairs, including warranty replacement of a faulty part and the truck still has the "DEATH WOBBLE". The 2nd independent service center made note of the 2nd faulty replacement part (TRACK BAR) and reports "TRACK BAR BUSHING IS MOVING EXCESSIVELY. TRACK BAR SHOULD BE REPLACED." No other physical inspections have been performed. There were no vehicle warning lights due to this issue. There were a few incidences of the "DEATH WOBBLE" prior to my first appointment with an independent service center. That first appointment was approx. 2/19/2024, completed on 2/27/2024. Second time completed on 6/21/2024.
I have had my vehicle inspected and supposedly repaired for the death wobble by two separate ford dealerships (Castle Rock Ford in Castle Rock, CO and Phil Long Ford in Colorado Springs CO). I continue to have safety issues as when I hit pot holes or rough roads, the steering and suspension system shakes the front wheels and steering wheel to the point that I have to come to a full stop. The entire steering system and shocks have been replaced (some parts multiple times) over the past two years. Please assists.
It has been labeled as the death wobble. When driving down the highway at 65-70 mph and I hit a bump, pothole or a washboard effect in the road with the left front wheel. The whole truck will shake violently. So much that I can barely hold on to the steering wheel. The only way to stop the shaking is to slow the truck down to 30-40 mph. In the middle of the highway. I can watch the other vehicles around me scatter and put on their brakes as they try and avoid me. Sometimes it-??s to hard to control and I will waver into another lane or on coming traffic. This happens sporadically and without warning. I have taken the truck to the Ford dealership for $3000 in steering component repairs. I have 60,000 miles on it and it is only used for personal use and never abused. This is a design defect that is going to get someone killed. A heavy duty truck should not have the parts wearing out to such a degree that threatens the lives of everyone on the road around me.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was shaking uncontrollably. The contact stated that the steering wheel was shaking, and it was difficult to hold onto the steering wheel. The contact decelerated and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Driving out of state and twice in a three hour period have experienced the death wobble on the interstate, now trying to continue under 50 mph because it is a very scary shaking.
- Sumter, SC, USA
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After we drove over a bumpy section of road the truck experienced uncontrollable shaking. The road conditions were not severe, but were the cause of the shaking. During the immediate aftermath no input was possible apart from taking my foot off the accelerator. The shaking was severe and uncontrolled causing other vehicles in the vicinity to react. It felt like the truck was going to flip over. This has now happened several times since we purchased the truck. We recently had new brakes installed, but that is not the reason for the shaking.
-I was driving 65 mph in morning rush traffic when I drove over an overpass. Near the end of the there are some small wrinkles in the concrete. Once I drove over these wrinkles in the pavement, my steering wheel and front end started violently shaking. I removed my foot from the accelerator and once my speed decreased to I'd say 20-30 mph the shaking stopped. My research show that this if referred to as the Ford Death Wobble. -The system that failed were likely the track bar bushing, damper bracket, ball joints, control arms, shocks, and struts. Yes, the truck is available for inspection upon request. -When the front end of the truck started violently shacking I was going 65 mph in lunch rush hour traffic. I'd say that my life and the life of the drivers of the vehicles to my left, right, and rear were at risk. -No, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or anyone else. -No, the vehicle or components have not been inspected by anyone. -No, there were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, nor did any warning appear during or after the shaking. -My best assessment of the cause
My truck has developed what is colloquially called a death wobble. The truck shakes wildly and aggressively when hitting a bump. It happens most frequently when crossing the transition from roadway to bridge. But it can occure from a bump in the roadway. When it occurs I have no control. I have paid to replace the steering damper That did not alleviate the problem. My truck is a 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty. This wobble has occurred several times. To date, except for the initial occurrence, this has only occurred on interstate highways at regular highway sppeds depending on the particular state speed limit. The initial event occurred on a state highway in Colorado while negotiaing a sweeping left curve. Thereafter, it has only occurred on interstate highways. Speeds have alwasy been 60mph or above, depending on speed limits and trafic conditions.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving and making a turn into the driveway, the steering wheel lost power steering functionality inadvertently and made a clicking sound. The airbag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and to a secondary dealer, Bill Utter Ford (4901 S Interstate 35 E, Denton, TX 76210), where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
DEATH WOBBLE! Driving at any speeds from 30 MPH to highway speeds of 65-70 MPH, the front end (front suspension) of the truck will Wobble Uncontrollably in a Vehement and Violent Manner, making driving unsafe with loss of steering after hitting a small bump or dip in the road/highway. The condition is worse when pulling a 30 foot gooseneck trailer. I have replaced the front shocks, steering damper, and rear shocks and to no avail, the Death Wobble still occurs! This is Major Safety Concern and Life Threatening to myself and anyone on the road during the Death Wobble, and seeing the reaction of other drivers in the opposite direction should be cause for concern! My truck is at a dealer now for inspection of the front end suspension system (drag link, track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, tires, and alignment), to include the engine mounts, which were worn and deteriorating (I noticed this when I was replacing my steering damper) probably from the Death Wobble. The tires were balanced and rotated on September 9th by Discount Tire and the technicians there didn't see any problems with the tires or the wheels. I get my tires balanced and rotated about every 7,500 miles and I keep an accurate vehicle history of my truck.
Death wobble at approximately 60 mph. The truck is absolutely uncontrollable when this occurs. The only way to stop it is to stop the vehicle. This is a known issue with this truck. Will have it evaluated at a shop next week.
In 2022 Ford issued a recall for my 2016 F250 for the clockspring. In mid 2023 for said sent me a letter telling me the parts are in stock contact a local dealer for repair. I dropped off my tuck and 2 day later I was told by deal it-??s fixed come pick it up. I got in my truck and all the same issues were there. Airbag light is on, steering is sticking, no horn or other electrical working on steering wheel. The dealer said they did a temp fix which I later found was not true, Ford has no temp fix. After contacting Ford directly and being sent to another dealing by Ford Corp I was told Ford has no part number or fox for trucks with heated steering. Ford has failed to remedy as their team does not have a part made to correct. This is a safety issues and they have a dealer saying don-??t worry your airbag will deploy. Fraud along with failure to remedy in a timely manner.
Vehicle developed a death wabble at 98,000 miles and is getting worse. hit a bump and started to wobble violently and had to hit brakes and pull to side of road and stop to get to quit wobbling. happened two more times on the way home. thought i was going to loose control of vehicle.
Death wobble. I took it to Vallery Ford in Waverly Ohio. They told Ford recommended that the steering linkage be replaced. They did that and told me the truck was repaired and ready to pick up. I picked it up and as soon as I got over 45mph and ran over a seam in the road the death wobble was the same. I turned around and took it back. They acted like they didn't believe me. I waited about 1 1/2 hours and the service manager finally drove it. When he came back he apologized and said he thought he was going to die. So I left the truck there again. The next time they called to say it was repaired I went back to pick it up. They replaced tie rods, ball joints and track bar ball joints. I drove it home and it kind of bumped along and the steering wheel wasn't straight it was off center to the right. I called them and they told me to bring it back again. I waited at the dealer because they said it would only take about an hour to realign it again. When I drove away the steering wheel was not straight, it was not straight to the left. Turned around and took it back. They said maybe one of the tie rods was defective. I left it there. After about a week and a half they called and said it was done again. I picked it up today. As soon as I got over 45mph the death wobble was back as bad or even worse before I took it in the first time there. I left it, but they said they don't know what else they can do. It's not safe to drive. I'm 68 years old, I am lost over this. What can I do?
Severe shaking of front end at highway speeds (55-65mph) causing inability to control steering causing immediate reduction in speed to avoid accident and stopping. No warning lamps or messages prior to vehicle shaking. Road was dry and normal conditions. Did not hit any hazard, no potholes, or debris causing damage or explanation as to why truck began to shake. Safety of driver and passengers were at risk due to possible loss of control if continued driving. Problem continued returning to home where vehicle parked approximately 25 miles at 45 mph with no major shaking. This occurred August 6, 2023, at approximately 5:00pm. There was me and one passenger on way to doctor appointment in Tulsa, a 4-hour drive. Did not trust vehicle safety to continue trip. Drove it home and parked. Vehicle is going to be taken to Ford dealership, in Idabel, OK, where purchased and all maintenance has been done. Truck has 33,971.5 miles as sitting now. Not used extensively, highway miles. Will drive to dealership on August 16th, 2023. Leaving it there for them to diagnose and repair the problem. Available to be inspected.
I have difficulty maintaining control of my 2016 Ford F-250 (purchased in 2019) after hitting any bumps going highway speeds, and is notably worse if this happens during any non-straight sections of highway. Commonly referred to as the "death wobble, " it does truly feel like the front end of my truck no longer has traction with the road and I am unable to steer the truck safely until the "wobble" resolves, typically once I reduce my vehicle speed under 40mph. There have been instances when I have hit a bump on the highway while the highway is curving to the left or right and my truck will skitter into the next outside lane without my control and have luckily avoided crash/injury. When I am towing my camper (31' 5th wheel), the issue seems to be deflected back to the trailer so I hit a bump and the front end movement gets transferred to the back so I have my trailer whipping back and forth until I reduce my travel speed. I have brought this issue to the attention of more than one Ford dealership and have had my vehicle inspected. I have had the steering damper replaced twice without resolution. One dealership noted a tire arm with "some play" which I chose to have replaced without any significant change in this issue. This dealership did acknowledge there was some steering/control issues with the truck prior to the part being replaced. They also recommended I replace my tires to reduce this issue, which I did, and have not noticed a change either. I maintenance my vehicle as recommended and this issue has been ongoing since 2021. At no point has any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms appeared for this issue. My traction control light doesn't even illuminate when I have lost control of my vehicle and moved into another lane involuntarily.
Upon hitting small road bump while accelerating to highway speed, steering wheel started violently shaking (death wobble), had to decelerate quickly to regain control. Upon later inspection found steering damper bad and some resulting ball joint play in several areas due to bad steering damper.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was stiff and made rattling sounds while making a turn. The air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the horn, cruise control, phone, and radio buttons on the steering wheel were inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were expected to become available in the third quarter of 2023. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Coarsegold, CA, USA