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.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. While driving approximately 70 mph over a bump in the road, the front end of the vehicle wobbled severely until the speed was reduced to approximately 35 mph. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice on November 17, 2019. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,700.
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.
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.
- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
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Hit a bump at 70mph on highway and starts a death wobble. (front end uncontrollably shakes) happened previously and Ford replaced stabilizer. Still having problems
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.
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.
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.
Vehicle shakes very violently at high speeds (60 mph+) when a slight bump in the road is hit. Entire vehicle shudders and shakes super hard and the steering wheel twists as the driver fights to retain control while driving at highway speeds. The only remedy is to slam on the brakes and reduce speed very quickly, all the while hoping and praying the truck doesn't roll and you don't hit or get hit by the other vehicles around you, at highway speeds. It is terrifying. Ford truck owners apparently call this the "Ford death wobble" and I couldn't think of a more apt description. Videos circulating online of this phenomenon mirror our experience exactly. Ford attempted to fix the wobble the first time this happened to our truck in March 2019 at 20,700 miles by installing a steering stabilizer (see attached document). This helped for a few months but now in November 2019 at a little over 30K miles the wobble is back and worse than before. The truck is currently at the dealership awaiting another stabilizer. But I'm not confident this is something Ford is able (or willing?) to properly fix, and I have no confidence whatsoever in this vehicle anymore. I am terrified to drive it above 50 mph. I am terrified to drive it with my 2 children (aged 2.5 yrs and 6 months) in the vehicle. I am filing this complaint in case anything happens to us while we're driving our truck, or in case this has happened to others and the outcome has been serious injury/ death. I have also notified Ford of the problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. While driving 70 mph on the freeway, the contact drove over a bump in the road, which caused the vehicle to violently shake without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder, exit the vehicle, and check the tires, but no failure was found. The contact began driving again over another bump and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to fleet side Ford (1120 jeffreys dr, osceola, ia 50213, (641) 342-2537), but the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired; however, an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 16,600. The VIN was unknown.
40,000 miles death wobble uncontrollable shaking after driving over bride while driving on highway had to run off into the median and grass slowing down as quickly as possible. This is a deadly issue and known to Ford. Please take action before people are killed in these trucks. I contacted my local Ford dealer and there is no recall for this issue.
Driving at 72mph on I90 pulling a 3 horse living quarters gooseneck trailer and any small bump or irregularity caused the front end to violently shake to the point of nearly causing loss of control of the vehicle. This happened 8 times in one 800 mile road trip and the only solution was quickly braking to get the speed down under 45mph - which the immediate braking itself in interstate traffic was extremely dangerous.
Steering shimmy uncontrollably when @ 55+ mph and uneven payment. To gain control of vehicle must slow vehicle back down to 30 mph and rock the steering wheel. After researching this issue on line for F 250 2017 it's commonly known as the death wobble' below requests date this occurred. Began @40,000 and progressively gotten worse now occurs daily.
Death wobble while traveling at highway speeds developed at about 20K miles. When reported to dealer was told wheels out of balance. When you hit a seam or slight imperfection in road vehicle shakes violently until you slow down to approximately 20mph. It feels like the wheels are going to fall off and veering into the next lane of traffic has happened multiple times both while towing my 5th wheel and just traveling with passengers. My truck is now at the dealer-reynolds Ford in norman, ok. They are aware of the ongoing issues with this model truck and are replacing the steering damper which will cost me $769 plus a realignment. This truck has 42K miles on it. The Ford dealer told me they have issues with this happening however Ford has not issues a recall and since I am past the 36,000 B to B warranty I will be paying for the repair. At some point this defect will cause a major accident and Ford will be facing a lawsuit costing them more than a recall. I Transport equipment and passengers on a regular basis for scout troop 222 here in noble, ok. Please continue to address this issue with Ford. I am aware of the many complaints regarding this defect on the 2017 Ford F250 model trucks. This violent shaking usually occurs when traveling above 60mph.
Just under 2000 miles ago I had to have the steering damper replaced due to the truck engaging into what is commonly called a "death wobble" today I experienced this death wobble again on the way home. This time it was so bad that it took all my strength to keep the truck on the road. When it started, I was in the right lane, by the time I slowed the vehicle down that the D.w. stopped I was half way into the left shoulder. I will be contracting Ford service about this tomorrow when they are open.
While driving at normal highway speeds on an interstate highway, I hit a minor bump in the road and the vehicle started vibrating radically. The steering wheel was extremely hard to control from the front end bouncing. I had to brake rapidly and pull to shoulder under pretty crowded traffic conditions and it didn't stop until almost completely stopped. It did this numerous times on a out of town trip and I took it to my dealer immediately on my return. The date entered is the first time this occurred. It has happened numerous times since then & has been back to dealer 3 times for this. It is at the dealer now.
About 19000 miles truck had a "death wobble" when hitting bump at freeway speeds. Dealer replaced steering dampener. Still doing it. Now dealer is blaming it on worn tires. If tires were worn it would do it at all speeds. Filed complaint with Ford about a month ago. No response.
I have been experiencing violent, sustained shaking on the highway if I happen to hit one our many available bumps. The entire truck shakes and cannot be stopped until the vehicle is completed stopped. I looked online and saw countless references to such a problem including limitless videos on youtube. If this problem is that well-publicized, there is no way that Ford does not know about it. My local dealer, poynter Ford in seymour, Indiana, claimed that they never heard of such a thing. The Ford corporation's chat line politely directed me to your website. In short, I, and all other owners of this ridiculously expensive vehicle, are playing with fire. This shaking does not occur at speeds less than one would be traveling on a highway. I asked the chat line rep what the term for the event was, what parts have been replaced.
At speeds around 55+ mph, after hitting a rough spot in the road, the truck shakes uncontrollably and the only way it stops is to quickly slow the vehicle to 10-20 mph, and allow the shaking to stop. After this, you can return to the original speed. The comments on the internet refer to this as the "death wobble". when this happens, there is no steering ability and no control of the vehicle. Although the Ford dealership acknowledges similar complaints, there is apparently no standard fix for this problem. On a smooth roadway, this death wobble does not occur. This happened when the vehicle had 20,000 miles and the Ford dealership said they repaired it with an alignment. The situation reoccurred around 29,000 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Slippery Rock, PA, USA