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 contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the front of the vehicle started to wobble. While driving over a pothole, the vehicle wobbled violently. The contact was unable to control the vehicle while driving over 35 MPH. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact detected smoke coming from the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 99,856.
Vehicle has experienced "death wobble, " a common and well documented occurrence in Ford F250 and F350 model trucks. This has occurred on multiple occasions since 2006, and most recently on 4/26/2022. The incident occurred while traveling approximately 45 MPH, and hitting a small bump in the road. When the "death wobble" occurs, the vehicle shakes violently and is difficult to control. This creates a hazardous situation for the occupants of the vehicle and other vehicles/pedestrians in the vicinity of the vehicle. Prior and current attempts to contact Ford service departments, typically involves Ford stating there is not a recall and any repair outside of warranty are the responsibility of owner. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There is no warning prior to the "death wobble, " and occurs when the vehicle is travelling at speed more than 45 MPH.
8 years ago was crossing RR tracks and vehicle started violently shaking had to slow to 10mph for it to stop. Checked found nothing wrong finished drive home. Took to Ford dealership and they said some tricks shake when tire pressure is wrong and didn't find anything wrong with vehicle. Truck did this once more and after that when I approach RR tracks I slow to 5- 10 mph to keep it from happening. Took it back to Ford 1 time and again they spoke about tire pressure but tire pressure was fine. In the last 2 weeks anytime I hit a bump the truck violently shakes I took to a mechanic shop and they said something was wrong with front end but not sure what. I called Ford and they said to bring it in. We will see what happens because this truck has done this off and on for the last 8 years, but now it does it all the time. It has been shaking so violently I wouldn't be surprised if other damages have happened from it.
My truck experiences what I have learned is called the death wobble. The condition occurs intermittently but usually at speeds above 50mph and seems to be initiated by hitting any small bump. The whole front end shakes violently like the tires have been half filled with lead causing them to rotate wildly out of round. The truck actually bounces up and down rapidly and the steering wheel shakes violently creating a very unsafe driving circumstance. My research into this issue uncovered that this is a well-known condition that has been reported multiple times by many different Ford truck owners and that it occurs on Ford trucks of various year make and model. I also am aware of Fords service letter 09L02 advising owners to maintain proper air pressure to combat the issue. It is my opinion that Fords efforts to address this issue are woefully inadequate and the NHTSA has allowed this manufacturer to produce and provide an unsafe vehicle to the public for way to long. This is a hazardous condition that needs to be properly addressed.
Driving East on interstate I10 East of benson, AZ at around 75mph, hit a rough patch of road and the vehicle went wild, shaking, vibrating, loss of control. I hit the brakes and went across 3 lanes of traffic into the medium, where I skidded to a stop. I see from the internet this is called the F350 death wobble! the Ford F350 and all related vehicles need to be taken off the roads, they are a potential death trap. I could have been killed or seriously injured in this accident or even worse some innocent family could have been killed in a head on accident! my Ford F350 vehicle has around 60,000 miles, superduty, 4X4. It is in excellent condition with a cab over camper.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
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Truck vibrates uncontrollably after hitting bumps or uneven pavement at highway speeds I replace the brakes three times and that didn't fix it this has been going on since it hit about 60K miles. It now has 108K I can not trust this truck anymore.
On 2/28/21 and 3/6/21 while driving at highway speed, I experienced two separate violent shaking events of the front suspension and steering. Both events occured at approximately 70mph upon crossing pavement joints. The shaking is so violent you lose the ability to control the vehicle and just hope it doesn't cause a wreck. The shaking will not stop until speed is reduced to approximately 20mph, which in itself is dangerous on an interstate highway. A passenger in my truck during first incident said he thought I had hit a load of pipes in the road. During the second event, nearby motorists looked at me like my truck was falling apart. I am very upset that Ford and NHTSA have not issued a recall. This problem started when vehicle was brand new. First dealer told me there was nothing they could do. A second dealer tightened various fasteners on front suspension and made steering box very tight. I was also given new alignment specs (which I gave to tire installer), and advised inflating tires to much higher pressure than truck was delivered new with. It is unworkable because it results in brutal ride if truck is operated without payload. I believe these events are caused by undamped resonance in the front suspension. It feels like the wheels are alternately pounding up and down, left and right side. The steering wheel oscillates so hard you can't hold on.
I was riding down hwy55 at about 65 to 70 mph and truck starts to wobble and bounce uncontrollably. The truck bounced to the other side of the road. I thought I had a flat. After gathering myself I got out to check truck and there was no flats and all lugs was there. I thought maybe I ran over something but about 12 miles down the trucks does it again. But there are many cars behind and on the side of me. Cars and trucks are going down the of road to get out of way. This is so a very frighten and horrible experience when you are not prepared or aware of about this truck. Ford to be on of the top truck manufacture it greatly sadden me to know that you are visually aware of the trucks deathly defect for over 15 years. You have not made an effort to provide a safe durable product to protect your royal customers or yourselves. Technology has afforded many seen application to do so. Yet you have ignore what is your company future.
Death wobble, the truck shakes violently when I drive on the freeway since day one when I bought it. The dealer won't fix it that, there's nothing wrong with it.and the dealer says to remove air from the tires and it should stop the shaking.
Driving on interstate at approx 60 mph, hit patch in road, lost control of vehicle, death wobble, almost caused crash with 6 other vehicles. Went straight to dealership told it was steering shimmy shock failure. Alignment. Pay for out of pocket, although had same truck in shop for front end repairs in January 2019.
The front suspension wobbles very bad when going 40-60 miles over a small uneven pavement. Just replaced the tires and got an alignment. Still having the same problem, I'm not able to drive my truck cause it wobbles so bad that I have to completely stop for the wobbling to stop. I purchased my truck new and now has 92K and had never been in an accident or after market tires or parts. I have always kept it with genuine parts don't know the problem and need help.
While towing my large camper, on the freeway, I hit a bump. The front end of the truck started shaking violently. It was all I could do to stop the truck without wrecking. I had to stop in the traffic lane. This was an extremely dangerous situation. After resuming travel, the front end would shimmy at about 45 mph. I had to drive home at 40 mph...roughly another 75 miles. I think I have seen an advisory letter from Ford, to owners, concerning this. There are many, many instances of this happening. One can find dozens of examples of this happening if one looks on line. Neither Ford nor the local Ford dealer seems to be aware of the problem. We were traveling at about 60 mph at the time of the incident.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. While driving 65 mph over bumps in the road, the vehicle shook violently. The dealer diagnosed that the front axle failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the remedy was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Ford F-350 2006 oscillation I have filed a previous complaint before re the violent oscillation that happens with our Ford F-350 truck. We have had more events at slower speeds and the shaking is almost unmanageable now. Wednesday May 11 approx 1pm exiting the bourne bridge MA. I was driving at approx 40mph and exiting the bridge. There was a rough construction patch on the road right where the road connects to the bridge. As I hit the rough patch, the oscillation began and the truck shook uncontrollably approaching the rotary. There was a lot of traffic and cars in the lane beside me that could have been damaged. May 20, 2016 at approx 5pm. My husband was driving West on highway route 6, cape cod MA at approx 55mph. As he passed exit 6, he hit a rough patch and the truck began oscillating violently. He was unable to control it and swerved in both lanes of the westerly 2-lane highway also rubbing against the curb. Luckily the traffic stopped when seeing his truck out of control and no one was hurt other than my husband being totally shaken. The tires have been inflated as recommended by Ford when the sent a letter re this defect. This truck is dangerous, not only to us but others who are on the road. I have contacted the Plymouth Ford dealer where the truck was purchased, Ford customer service and Ford head office. Even though they acknowledge the trucks are defective, they say they are not responsible for repairing them. Our truck is oscillating really badly and is dangerous to drive. This should be a recall, not only for those of us driving these defective Ford F-350 2006 trucks, but for the other innocent lives on the road.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. While driving over a bump at 35 mph, the vehicle vibrated violently. In addition, the steering wheel also vibrated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the contact was unsure as to what repair was performed on the front suspension of the vehicle. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120.
Ford F-350 2006 complaint. We have experienced violent shaking (shimmying) when the truck hits a bump on the highway and as a result, extreme difficulty maintaining the vehicle on the road. Our first experience was in August 2015, on the interstate highway while travelling at 75mp. We hit a bump and the truck / steering wheel shook violently for about 10 seconds causing us to swerve across lanes and struggle to keep the truck in the lane and out of traffic's way. We have since experienced this problem four more times hitting bumpy highways at speeds as low as 50mmp and as recent as 2 weeks ago. We have checked it out and our mechanic advised that he could not find anything wrong. It has been a great concern of ours as it puts our lives (and those on the road with us) at danger when this issue occurs. Additionally, every time the violent shaking occurs, it throws off the alignment and balancing for the truck. We have just received a letter from Ford advising of this problem and I have called the service center from the Ford dealer we bought the vehicle from. Ford is not assuming responsibility for any diagnosis or repairs to these defects at this time. Our tire pressure is in keeping with Ford's recommendations as they suggest in their letter. Ford F-350 trucks should not be approved for use on highways as this defect could result in fatal accidents if the shaking cannot be controlled. Also, Ford should be responsible for repairing the faulty trucks.
Shimmy in front end forces loss of steering control. Shimmy occurs at speeds over 50 mph. Has nothing to do with tire pressure, contrary to Ford Motor Company claims. This is a problem with the front end steering design and should be reviewed in greater detail by the NHTSA and fixed with more than a letter from Ford telling me to check the air pressure in my tires. Air pressure is perfect and the problem still exists.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle independently swayed side to side without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the drive shaft, case shifter, transmission, lift pump, transfer case, left caliber, fuel line and rear shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000. MA 08/13/15 updated 09/01/2015 updated 10/14/2015
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the suspension was unstable and would shake while the vehicle was being driven around a curve or at various speeds sporadically. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the dealer replaced the power steering hoses and the steering stabilizer however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that a caster adjustment would need to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but declined to provide the contact a remedy to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 20,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the while driving approximately 35 mph, the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel experienced severe vibration after the contact drove over a road dip. The contact stated that the defect would recur when driving at any speed and anytime the vehicle was driven over a dip or road wine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pearsall, TX, USA