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.
I'm on my 3rd steering damper to fix the "death wobble" problem. I'm sure you are well aware of this problem. This needs to get fixed permanently! someone is going to get killed from this problem. Technical service bulletin (tsb) #18- 2268
At 60 mph on level paved roads and on a straight stretch of roadway, steering wheel is impossible to control when running over uneven roadway due to left to right to left abrupt movement. At 55 mph, the steering wheel is manageable, but still jerks left and right rapidly. This same issue happened 11-2017 with about 8600 miles on the truck. It was repaired by glen sain Ford of paragould.
Death wobble. First time at about 70 mph with 5,000 miles on the truck. Almost got side swiped by a semi on the highway trying to get slowed down. New dampener from dealer. Second time at about 65mph with 13,000 miles. New dampener from dealer. 3rd time at 22,000. New dampener. Now I'm at 24,000 and it's doing it again. Truck is 100% stock. These are the major times it has happened, I can hit bumps on back roads and it'll vibrate right off the road at 45 mph. I'm scared to even let my wife drive the truck or have the kids in it going down the highway. $60,000 death trap.
The truck goes into a 'death wobble' at highway speeds. This has occurred repeatedly starting at only 7500 miles. Some front end components were replaced by the dealership at that time (steering stabilizer and tie rod ends). Now with 13,800 miles, the truck again goes into a 'death wobble' or a severe front-end oscillation on some road conditions (expansion joints/rough areas). It shakes violently and is difficult to control. It occurs empty or with several hundred pounds in the bed. It seems like a very serious safety issue and has been on-going since the truck was nearly new. Still with very low mileage, it continues to be a problem. Back to the dealership tomorrow though I'm not sensing that there are any real remedies to this problem. I've owned many solid front axle 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. This is the only one that is almost un-driveable on certain highway conditions.
- Kennebunk, ME, USA
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While driving (even at highway speeds) when hitting a bump or bridge link the vehicle begins violently shaking on the front end. I would have to hold to steering wheel tight and slow down to almost a complete stop before it corrects itself. We have read on an online forum to reference tsb #18-2268 when speaking to the dealership but it is apparently an issue with 2017-2019 Ford F-250S. Attached is a work order I found online from someone with the same issue.
2017 Ford F-250 king ranch diesel started experiencing the "death wobble" violently shaking on the highway pulling the truck into on-coming traffic lane. There was nothing out of the ordinary that day. I was just driving on a straight-A-way highway, no weather conditions, no trailer, no load, etc.. truck has 32,000 miles on it and is under the original warranty. However, Ford has a national backlog of parts to fix the problem and the truck is not "road worthy" and remains at the Ford dealership awaiting repair. Ford does not have a date for when replacement parts will be available. This is a very serious safety issue. People do not expect their vehicle to begin violently shaking at high speeds and causing the steering to not be responsive to the situation! I am afraid of this vehicle! please take action against Ford to recall and correctly fix this problem. I was lucky to not have been in a head-on collision!
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. While driving 60 mph, the steering wheel started to shake violently. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven to bob thomas Ford (2215 dixwell ave, hamden, ct 06514, (203) 281-7500), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
While accelerating into traffic on I-40 left front wheel hit small pothole and steering wheel and truck shook violently. Traffic was fairly lite and other drivers saw what was happening and let me get off hwy. Thought I had blow out or lost tire. Looked truck over nothing wrong. Continue on to destination at no more then 72mph. Had around 1000 lbs in bed of truck, unloaded. Next day headed home at 74 mph hit bridge connection and violent shaking occurred again, had to slow on interstate to 40 to stop shaking. Dropped speed to 70 mph and hit patch of rough road and shaking happened again. Continued home off interstate, did not occur again but speed was never over 60 mph. Waiting for dealer appointment.
Around 20,000 miles I experienced isolated incidents of violent front end shaking after hitting a rough portion of highway while traveling 70 mph. Recently around 65,000 miles the truck has experienced this same issue more frequently. The steering becomes uncontrollable and I have to apply the brakes quickly to avoid losing complete control of the vehicle.
Truck isn't even two years old and have had multiple occasions of violent shaking after hitting a small bump on highway. I had to almost come to a complete stop for the shaking to stop. It seems that this is a known Ford issue that they are ignoring. These are near uncontrollable and luckily no other cars were near me when it happened.
I've had multiple occasions of the death wobble while drive at higher speeds. The latest incident happened yesterday 11/16/20 and was the worst incident so far. Driving down the highway at 60 mph after hitting a couple seems in the concrete the truck began to violently shake and wobble, progressively getting worse over the course of 1-2 mins. I let my foot off the gas peddle and applied slight pressure to the breaks, which made the wobble worse. After finally slowing down to ~30 mph the truck stopped wobbling and shaking. I honestly believe a less experienced driver could have easily lost control and rolled the truck causing a multiple vehicle accident on the highway killing people.
Vehicle exhibits severe steering oscillation when speeds are above 45mph and pass over a pothole, expansion joint, or other normal uneven surface. Loss of vehicle control is highly possible with this scenario. Also commonly referred to as death wobble.
2017 F-250 factory stock with 15,800 miles. Tires are like new, never used as a tow vehicle. City and highway driving by 69 year old man. I was driving on a highway toll road at 70 mph and hit an expansion joint in a bridge and the front end started shaking so violently that I almost lost control of the truck. It continued to shake until I had slowed to 40 mph. It has only happened this one time (two days ago) but after reading similar reports online, I am afraid to go over 65 mph.
I was traveling on a flat highway in Kansas at approximately 65 mph, there was no inclement weather. I came upon a typical highway bridge, and when front wheels crossed the bridge expansion joint the front of the truck started to violently shake. The steering wheel started to also violently shake and turn back and forth, about an 1/8th turn each way, back and forth very fast. I immediately began slowing the vehicle and gripped the wheel harder to try to keep from going off the road. The shaking continued unchanged until vehicle reached speeds of approximately 20mph. After the incident I drove the vehicle home and inspected the steering and suspension components, finding no abnormalities.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. While driving 75 mph on the freeway, the steering wheel shook violently without warning. The contact managed to gain control of the vehicle by removing his foot from the accelerator pedal and allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. Ken stoepel Ford (400 sidney baker St S, kerrville, tx 78028, (830) 257-5553) was contacted and stated that the parts were not available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
I own a 2017 Ford F250 that I bought new and now has approximately 30,000 miles. In August 2019 I was driving with my wife and two young children at approx 60mph on a two lane highway. Road conditions were dry and I hit a slight frost heave on a straight stretch of highway. All of a sudden the vehicle started shaking violently and I have very little control. I was able to slow the vehicle down to approx. 25mph before the shaking stopped. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic or it could have resulted in a catastrophic head on collision. I have never experienced such violent shaking from a vehicle, it felt as if all four wheels were held on by a single lug nut and I had very little control. I called the dealer immediately and they schedule me for repairs. I later researched the issue and realized that this issue has a name "death wobble" and that it is common in Ford trucks. I have not experienced the issue since but I feel this is an extremely significant safety concern and I am honestly very concerned that it may happen again. If there would have been oncoming traffic or icy road conditions that day it could have resulted in a very tragic accident. I just learned of this site to report safety issues or else I would have done it much sooner. It appears that Ford has a design flaw that needs to be addressed and I cannot believe they continue to allow this to happen. I am fearful that it is going to take fatalities before this extreme safety issue is corrected.
When driving at highway speeds and hitting a small bump or ridge in the road, the front steering systems starts shaking violently and can only be stopped by braking hard and slowing the vehicle to a stop. This is a known issue with many Ford truck owners and is known as the 'death wobble'. I live in houston and braking hard to a stop here, during rush hour, on a major highway is extremely hazardous. I'm beginning to be afraid to drive this truck on the road.
I was traveling along I-40 going about 75 miles per hour around a slight curve to the left when I hit a small bump. The entire front end of my truck began to shake violently. The truck became very difficult to control as the steering wheel was ripped out of my hands. I pulled a muscle in my arm trying to regain control the first time it happened. The shaking went away as soon as I slowed down to about 68mph, and did not return as I accelerated further. This began happening on 11/12/2019 at approximately 38K miles. Here is a link to the video of what occurred. Https://www.facebook.com/100036038931239/videos/158294595381837/ here is another link to a video from another occasion. Https://www.facebook.com/100036038931239/videos/158075658737064/ here is a link of this same issue affecting another person's truck. Https://www.facebook.com/clint.patton.5/videos/10101610077554026/ this problem is so common, there is a class action lawsuit in progress. Https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/auto-news/901841-Ford-class-action-alleges-death-wobble-truck-defect/ you guys seriously need to force Ford to issue a recall and fix these trucks before someone loses it and gets killed. This is not a myth, this is not B.S., this is serious. You're welcome to come drive my truck and experience it yourself.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mcmurray, PA, USA