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.
On three separate occasions while driving on highway at approximately 70 mph the front wheels began oscillating (death wobble) after going over a rough patch of road or bridge expansion joints. The oscillation makes it impossible to steer and the only way it will stop is to slow down to 25 mph or below. Nearly struck in the rear end by another vehicle while trying to regain control.
2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4X4. The vehicle has never had a lift or large tires of any kind installed on it and has always had stock oem spec tires. This vehicle has what has become known as "the death wobble". Ford calls it "sustained steering wheel oscillation". it is extremely dangerous and terrifying to experience. The problem is well documented and I am shocked that there has not yet been a safety recall on this. The death wobble primarily occurs at speeds above 50 or so miles per hour when the vehicle hits a pot-hole, expansion joint, unavoidable road debris, etc. It also has a nasty snowball effect in that once you have experienced it a couple of times the additional damage it is creating causes it to happen easier and easier to the point that it will then occur regularly all the way down to 35 miles per hour. We have experienced the death wobble literally many dozens of times over the years since we purchased this vehicle. We have done and replaced everything that we can think of to fix this problem; some of them multiple times but nothing works. Things we have done: New tires (multiple times), new front-end alignment (multiple times), new track bar bushing and ball joint (multiple times), new tie rod ends (multiple times), new center link (multiple times), new shock absorbers, new steering damper, new upper and lower ball joints, new U-joints. None of this has worked. The death wobble is so violent that it is wreaks havoc on the entire truck including the newly installed parts, the frame, drivetrain and suspension components, chassis, etc. Literally everything on the vehicle including windshields. Ford is obviously aware of this problem and the propensity for their solid front axle F-250 and F-350 trucks from the past two decades to experience the death wobble. Somebody will eventually die from this, if it hasn't happened already. It needs dealt with!
The well known issue called "death wobble". this is documented issue with the Ford F-series trucks where the truck violently wobbles out of control when driving approximately 55mph. Ford denies this is an issue, yet you can find evidence of this issue all over the Ford truck forums. With my truck, this issue is becoming more frequent. When it occurs, I have to pull off to the shoulder and slow down to approximately 15mph before it stops. I have replaced the shocks, tie rod ends, track bar, track bar ball joint, rotated tires, alignment, and it is still occurring. The only thing left to replace are the ball joints then pretty much the entire front end suspension will have been rebuilt at a cost of a couple thousand dollars. This is a significant safety issue and can easily cause an accident, especially when in construction zones on the highway. From what I've read, this has already caused accidents in certain cases and is due to a poor design of these trucks. Ford needs to address this and the NHTSA should force Ford to issue a recall to correct the problem.
I was driviing on the highway 65mph an the truck started the death wobble it was out of control. Things on the back seat landed on the floor due to the uncontrolable shaking of the truck. I had to slow down which I almost caused an accident. This is a scary an unsafe issue.. it has happened quite a bit an is going to cause someone to get seriously hurt or even die. Something has got to be done. Ford has got to recognize they have a big issue here an do something about it. I have to keep the speed down an even then its still an issue. I am scared to drive the truck its that bad in one instance I thought I was gonna die I couldnt get it to stop finally was able to get over to the breakdown lane an stop I was shaking an scared to death. I have not been to the dealership due to dueing my research an findin out it was the death wobble an there is no fix for it. Please there has got to be something you can do to help I would appreciate it. Thank-you
- Kingston, MA, USA
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Driving about 60 mph on new highway, steering wheel started rocking violently just about lost control, steering wheel whipped so hard the spoke on the steering wheel hit and hurt my thumb. Took truck to dealer who found everything within Ford acceptable specifications. Dealer said wear was found recommended replacing all moving parts in front suspension plus new shocks and tires. $4000
My wife and I were driving on I 70 West of denver heading towards silt Colorado. We were coming down a hill that had a bridge and a turn at the bottom. As soon as we hit the approach to the bridge our truck start what I call a "death wobble" as this portion of the rockies is very steep with narrow corners I was faced with a struggle for life in my opinion. We had brand new tires on it and a fresh alignment. The truck shook violently and I was afraid for our lives. We promptly took the truck to our dealership (columbine Ford) explained the situation and they gave us a loaner. When we got the truck back I took it for a test drive only to find out that the problem still existed. I still have the exact same problem!! I have been a Ford man my whole lifeboat I cannot continue to be a loyal customer when they disregard the problem with fake fixes!!! my wife and grandchildren are far too important to me to allow this to go on without Ford addressing the situation!!
At speeds of 55 to 60mph, mostly when hitting some kind of bump or dip in the road the truck steering wheel goes out of control shaking back and forth, along with the entire front of the truck. I have to slam on the brakes and it does not stop untill the truck is almost completely stopped. Is been in and out of automotive shops with the problem still remaining. When looking it up online (the world wide web) this is definitely a very common Ford issue and not just individual trucks. The shaking is so violent you can barely keep it in control and waiting for something to break. I can't believe this is not a safety recall issue.
Death wobble, has been to dealer several times. Said it was the tires cupping less than 20,000 miles new tires did not help, they aligned it and said they rotated tires. Now it is back, 40,600 miles, just as bad a ever. They know the problem and refuse to repair as there is no safety recall. Guess it will take a few deaths to get some help or a high named political/sport/rich figure, for any help. Yes for us to spend $1500 bucks there may be some relief. Why should we need to pay for something they know how to repair. It is the same problem associated to the 1967/68 Ford Bronco. We had one at the albertville dealer when as a young man almost lost my life driving it as I went across the median and 2 lanes of traffic when I worked there in service. Speed 45 to 70 mph on any road surface at any time it wants to act up, only way to stop is slow down several times till is stops hope it will not come back. This is verrrrry in-nerving when pulling our 2014 redwood 42' rv with a combined weight of 24,600 pounds. How many kids< children
- Huntsville, AL, USA
When traveling at highway speeds while turning slightly left and hitting any moderate bump in the road the truck shimmys violently and does not stop until speed is reduced to under 20 mph. While the shimmy is occurring steering control becomes nearly impossible. There seems to be an un-dampened oscillation or severe vibration of the front wheels. Not sure what the cause is. I've had the front end looked at and been told everything looks tight and the tire pressure is even and correct. I have also personally lifted the truck and inspected all the steering components and do not see obvious play in any of the ball joints, tie-rod ends, sway bar etc. The truck also has had new shocks within the past 200 miles and that did not help. This problem has occurred more than once and is repeatable given the right conditions. I had purchased this truck April 2016 and during the test drive I complained of a vibration. The service people took nearly a month to figure out a cause. What the did helped, but the vibration never truly went away. This slight steady vibration seems to be related to the sever vibration because it is of exactly the same frequency and speeds, just under normal circumstances the truck is very controllable.
At any freeway speed if you hit a pot hole or a seam in the road on a turn, the truck will shake violently until you come to a stop. We have had Ford look at this a number of times with not success in getting a solution. The truck is not safe and it has happened to multiple drivers of this truck.
When traveling usually at highway speeds and I come to a difference in surfaces a slight difference in the road say going over an overpass, the stearing wheel shakes violently. On you tube there are hundreds of videos about this problem. Its very dangerous, I left the dealership today and after spending $1,300 to repair the problem I can only assume that this will be a year or two fix as the same parts will fail again. Ford should solve this problem.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the steering wheel required excessive force. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was not available.
2011 F350 4X4 dual rear wheel lariat. Everyone calls it the "Super Duty death wobble" Ford has no plans to fix. Started at 30K miles, replaced all known worn parts and suggested parts like everyone else - still doing it. Youtube videos show violent shake to the point your head can smack the side windows. Front end on highway hits slight bump like on over pass shakes so violently it can break the front end wheel tires and everything else.. changed tires, stabilizer shock, alignments. Recently this past week on I75 in Ohio it happened 1/2 dozen times @ 65 to 70 mph shook so hard you cannot control lock the brakes down hard to 30 mph just like everyone else on the net says. Nearly causing wrecks on the freeway. Happens without warning. Totally stock $55K truck. Dealer says no tsb or recall. But Ford does know about it and says it "may help" to check stabilizer shock. Everyone has done that. Google Super Duty death wobble it and see videos. My first ever online complaint. This Ford truck is insanely dangerous. At dealer now with no solution. I discovered by switching into 4whd it will stop which tells me it is internal control arm bushings because 4WD will bind the front end up enough to preload suspension. It got me home but the wife will never ride in it again!
Hit a slight bump in the road and the truck started to shake violently and the steering wheel had severe shaking. Had to slow down to 30mph before the truck quite shaking and allowed me to return to normal speed.
Driving at 65 mph on ih-10 houston tx, hit a bump in the road and truck entered into a death wobble, had to veer across 3 lanes and a on ramp to the shoulder and slow to about 5 mph before the shimmy stopped. Very scary actually a little scared of my truck now. Went to a front end shop today and was told I have no loose parts and the steering stabilizer was fine. He told me the ball joint on the track bar is usually what it is and only Ford can fix it. They did not charge me.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle would shake violently and without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering stabilizer needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned the vehicle was taken to the dealer twice for the same failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000 and the current mileage was 30,000.
After hitting very small bumps in the road at 50mph, the left front wheel started shaking violently, making it difficult to control the vehicle. The only way to regain control was to slow to about 30mph, very dangerous on the interstate highway. This has happened several times since, always starting with small bumps in the road, left front wheel, causing the violent shaking. Vehicle control could only be regained by slowing to about 30mph.
The truck violently started shaking after hitting several small bumps in road. Almost lost control of truck. In order for shaking to stop I had to slow truck down to 25 mph. I almost was rear ended by a truck following me. The shake feels like the front wheels are about to come off. This has happened almost a dozen times since the truck was bought new.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Forney, TX, USA