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.
Bought truck new. At 16,000 miles starting shaking violently when hitting bumps on the highway at speed over 55 mph, was taken to dealer, said they could'nt recreate the problem. Problem continued, took to another dealer said they were aware of the issue and recommended replacing the steering damper. This seemed to fix the issue for while but I could feel it getting worse (steering wheel starting to shake a little when hitting bumps) but never went into full death wobble, at 27,000 miles it went into full death wobble again on freeway overpass with wife and kid, very scary. Taking back to dealer tomorrow. Truck has stock tires, stock wheels, stock suspension, stock shocks, stock ride height. Truck has not been modified in any way.
I purchase a new 2017 Ford F250 Super Duty from the dealership and I have experienced what its called the "death wobble " several times, the dealership shop haven't been able to fix this dangerous problem and I am already very frustrated. The death wobble is wen I'm going in the highway around 60 miles per hour and hit a small bump like a overpass or bridge and the front steering start shimmying, shaking, dangerously so I have to slow down before an accident happens. Something has to be done to fix this problem before me, my family or other drivers die because of this uncontrollable situation.
Death wobble. Steering shakes almost uncontrollably after hitting a bump in the highway. Happens more and more frequently at speeds above 60 mph. Wheel balancing and alignment did not make improvements. Dealer found no issues and could not replicate the shaking.
This complaint is referring to the death wobble on the Ford Super Duty. Death wobble defined as uncontrolled oscillation of steering wheel and front wheels causing lack of control of the vehicle. I first experienced this issue when truck had ~ 20000 miles. I had vehicle service by Ford dealership @ ~ 28000 miles and was told steering dampener was replaced. Death wobble reoccurred again ~10000 miles after service. However vehicle is now out of warranty and I do not have the funds to keep making frequent repairs. Death wobble is occuring at highway speeds when going over bridge expansion gaps, hitting potholes, or similar road bumps.
The front end wobbles violently when you hit a bump or rough road. It wobbles so bad that you have to stop in the middle of the traffic to stop the wobble. Took it to todd judy in marmet, wv in July and August, 2019 they told me they can't find anything wrong with it. Just drive it until it gets worse. Ford needs to have a recall on these trucks due to the death wobble. I just want my truck fixed. It doesn't matter the speed when it start's wobbling you have to stop in the traffic to get it to stop. This is dangerous. July it started on the interstate at 70mph. Then coming down gauley mountain at 40mph. Then in August it did it again they had it for 3 days and still couldn't find anything wrong but it still does it. We need this problem taken care of before I wreck and kill someone. I've talked to other F250 owners and they are having the same problem. So help us get a recall on the F250's. my wife will not drive it because of problem she is scared to drive it and also ride in it.
- Dawes, WV, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I have a 2017 F250 that developed a seriously violent shake in the front end when hitting a small bump or bridge expansion at normal highway speeds. After the truck nearly got out of control on a few occasions twice with my young daughter in the vehicle I took it to the dealership. The dealer proceeded to tell me they have been having an overwhelming amount of problems with this in these model trucks. They informed me that it was a problem with the track bar, however it was on back order. I was told that it would be okay to continue driving the truck while I waited for the part. After 3 months of me calling repeatedly to check on the status it finally came in and they replaced it along with the one shock because they said it caused it damage. Now here I am a couple months later and the "death wobble" is back and more dangerous. I take the truck back in and tell them the track bar is causing the problem again. They proceed to tell me that they will look at it, it could be several things. Mind you the truck has 44,000 miles now and anything but the track bar they tell me is no longer under warranty, despite that this is a documented problem I've had them looking at that they have not fixed. Now I get a price quote telling me that it needs a drag link, a rod, and an end assembly and that it will cost me $625 for the repairs! this is for a problem that I brought to the dealership for repair months ago and I got stuck waiting on back ordered parts. Even after the new diagnosis I asked what would be the guarantee that I don't pay to fix the "new problem" and get the truck back and it still have the issue" I was told that "I can't promise it's not also the track bar, but these parts are definitely loose and part of the problem." If they're all connected to the problem then why didn't they all get replaced the first time after they told me to continue driving it" not safe!
I currently have about 33,000 miles on my stock 2017 F250 lariat truck with factory 20" wheels and factory Michelin tires. About 10,000 miles ago, the front end exhibited the "death wobble" at highway speeds when crossing over a bump/expansion joint in the road. The dealer replaced the torsion bar, steering stabilizer, and some other parts. Today, with a trailer in tow, while driving straight on the freeway, it happened again. Later in the day, I dropped the trailer and the truck's front end did it again at 55mph while in an overpass turn immediately after crossing an expansion joint. Everything is stock except for the new parts the dealer replaced last year. I have 60 psi in the front and 65 psi in the rear. I have a video of an occurrence but this system will not allow me to attach an MP4 file.
Accelerating on to interstate at about 65mph, the drivers side front wheel hit a depression in the road surface, the steering wheel started to swing violently from left to right with the magnitude of the displacement becoming larger in a very short period of time. I braked hard bringing the vehicle onto the side of the freeway. Narrowly missing an 18 wheeler truck. After checking front suspension, I gingerly rejoined the freeway and continued at 45mph to the next exit. I understand that this is know as death wobble in the F250 community
On two separate occasions, our Ford F-250 started to violently shake in the front end after going onto an overpass on the highway. This is a violent wobble of the front end. It feels like the entire front suspension is going to self destruct. This happened one time at a speed of 65 mph and another time at a speed of 75 mph. In order to get the front end shaking to stop, the vehicle had to be slowed down to approximately 35 mph. During both episodes, the steering wheel was violently shaking and it felt like the front tires were wobbling. The first time this happened, it was so violent that the front windshield cracked. The first episode occurred with approximately 21,000 miles on the vehicle. After that episode, we took the truck into the Ford dealership and they replaced some parts in the front suspension and indicated it was fixed. The second episode occurred with about 29,000 miles on the vehicle. We again took the vehicle into the Ford dealership and they changed the caster setting on the vehicle to an out of spec condition and told us that the Ford regional service rep told them that would fix the problem. After getting the vehicle back from that service visit, there was a vibration in the steering at speeds between 72 mph and 76 mph. The steering wheel would vibrate back and forth at a relatively high speed. The vehicle is at the dealership for a third time to address this newest problem. The vehicle now has right at 36,000 miles on it and is at the end of the warranty mileage. The first instance was approx October 1, 2018 and the second instance was approx March 1, 2019.
On two separate occasions, our Ford F-250 started to violently shake in the front end after going onto an overpass on the highway. This is a violent wobble of the front end. It feels like the entire front suspension is going to self destruct. This happened one time at a speed of 65 mph and another time at a speed of 75 mph. In order to get the front end shaking to stop, the vehicle had to be slowed down to approximately 35 mph. During both episodes, the steering wheel was violently shaking and it felt like the front tires were wobbling. The first time this happened, it was so violent that the front windshield cracked. The first episode occurred with approximately 21,000 miles on the vehicle. After that episode, we took the truck into the Ford dealership and they replaced some parts in the front suspension and indicated it was fixed. The second episode occurred with about 29,000 miles on the vehicle. We again took the vehicle into the Ford dealership and they changed the caster setting on the vehicle to an out of spec condition and told us that the Ford regional service rep told them that would fix the problem. After getting the vehicle back from that service visit, there was a vibration in the steering at speeds between 72 mph and 76 mph. The steering wheel would vibrate back and forth at a relatively high speed. The vehicle is at the dealership for a third time to address this newest problem. The vehicle now has right at 36,000 miles on it and is at the end of the warranty mileage. The first instance was approx October 1, 2018 and the second instance was approx March 1, 2019.
Death wobble in the 2017 Ford F250 is not acceptable. We were nearly killed this past weekend. Ford service has it right now. But from all the reviews I have read, the wobble returns and usually after the warranty has expired.. this is a serious problem. It happened one time to us 6 months ago, and this past weekend about 5 or 6 times on a 250 mile road trip. Shakes and wobbles uncontrollably. We were on I-40 going about 70 miles mph. When we would hit bumps or cross uneven bridge it would go crazy.
While driving at highway speeds (>45mph) when passing over rough pavement the front of the truck would shake uncontrollably and the steering wheel would shudder significantly for up to 100 yards after passing the rough spot and on smooth pavement and required slowing down and even stopping to make the vibration cease. There was also a continuous slight vibration in the steering wheel at and above 50 mph on smooth pavement.
Death wobble vehicle shakes violently if a bump in road is hit, requiring vehicle to be stopped to end the shaking, making it dangerous when can't stop in traffic. Happened on multiple occasions, with the date listed as the most recent. Steering wheel is pulled out of hands while driving.
Violent front in shaking at higher speeds caused by hitting any small bump in roadway. 'death wobble' I have experienced several incidents at various severity levels, each requiring vehicle to slow to approximately 30 miles per hour. Today's incident occurred on the interstate, hit a small bump going over a bridge, truck began to shake violently causing control loss. The shaking pulled the vehicle across neighboring lane and had to slow to 20-30 mph before shaking stopped. Very unsafe, luckily no vehicle was in vicinity preventing potential accident. Been to dealer twice for this issue. Very concerning & dangerous. Seems to be no fix.
While traveling on interstate I-84, I experienced a wobble and steering issue that threw my vehicle from the right lane into the left lane. Fortunately nobody was in the left lane. I was travelling approximately 70 mph and hit some uneven pavement and small pot holes. My experience was very scary and could have resulted in serious injury or death. My research of the symptoms closely matches the death wobble. This is very disturbing. My truck is currently at the dealer for an alignment. However, further research show that these alignments can make things worse. I strongly urge that this issue be investigated across the country. Somebody is going to die as a result of this issue.
This truck is dangerous drive drive, while at speeds of 55 mph and higher it will start to shake uncontrollable. It has been in the shop for this same issue less than 5000 miles ago now it has started again. What is it going to take for Ford to resolve this issue" how many people need to die before they admit and fix it"
At approx. 7K miles, front tires seemed out of balance. I took the vehicle in to authorized service dealer and they had trouble balancing front wheels and had to balance more than once. At approx. 40K miles the steering wheel and front end began to shake violently when driving over a bump/pothole at speeds of 60 mph and over on highway. The only way to stop the shaking cycle is to slow down to approx. 35 mph. The truck currently has 58K miles and begins the shaking, intermittently, at speeds of 62 mph and greater on highway. I recently took the vehicle to the same authorized dealer and the mechanic's recommendation was to replace the tires and install wheel cams, which are not parts currently on the vehicle from the factory. None of this recommended work or diagnosis was covered by Ford.
"death wobble". when I hit any rough spots on road, or bridge joints, or road joints at or above 60 mph I get a violent wobble on front of the truck. I have a very difficult time controlling it and have to quickly slow down below approx.40 mph for it to stop. This happens frequently. My truck was serviced for this issue at approx. 20K miles and the issuse subsided for a while but has started happening again with approx 37K miles. This is a very unnerving and dangerous situation when it happens.
Vehicle experienced an uncontrollable front end "wobble" at highway speed. Has occurred 3 times in the past week. 2 of those incidents with young (19 and 24 yr old) drivers at the wheel. Seems to occur coming off a bridge onto highway pavement at 60-65 mph.
While traveling at highway speeds I hit a bump and my truck went into a very violent shake, took my truck to autonation Ford in littleton co, they replaced the steering damper, it had 15,000 miles on it. At 21,000 miles the same thing happened, I again returned to autonation Ford and they told me on the service report that I needed to install after market products and they would not do anything else to my truck. I have since been in contact with the dealership where I purchased the truck, spradley Ford in pueblo co. They informed me it was a camber and caster issue and any Ford dealership knows of the problem and should be able to fix the issue. I have spoken with autonation Ford in littleton and summit Ford in silverthorne co, both have told me they have not heard of any such issue. Today I spoke with 4 wheel parts about my issue, they told me they are back logged with Ford trucks with the same issue and it can be resolved with many part replacements at a cost ranging from $25 to $700, unless the tires need to be replaced due to wear. At this point I feel my truck is unsafe to drive and which direction to take to resolve the issue of the "death wobble"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mesa, AZ, USA