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.
We were driving our F350 with 31,000 miles on it down the highway towing a camper at 65 mph. We hit a small bump in the highway and the steering wheel started shaking violently causing me to almost run off the road before getting it stopped. Immediately called my Ford dealership and they said it is normal but to bring it in for repair? I took the truck in and they replaced the front steering stabilizer shock and said it was fixed. 900 miles later I am driving the truck down the highway towing a 12,000 lb. Loaded gooseneck trailer down the road when it happens again at 60 mph! even worse this time. I called Ford and they said again that it is normal and they will order an aftermarket steering stabilizer to put on it this time. This is bsolutely ridiculous and insanely unsafe. If my wife had been driving we would have wrecked both times for sure. I dont know how they can sell a 90,000$ truck knowing it has this problem! I have a video in MP4 format of the first time it ever did it to me but I cant get it to upload.
My 2017 F350 has 15,000 miles on it and has experienced extreme death wobble at least 10 times. If you are going over 70 on the turnpike and hit a bump this happens. You need to make Ford recall this before people die. My truck is 100 percent stock except for a rear sway bar I added, and has never been off road. It happened 9-28-19 3 times but has done this before. I have an appointment to have it fixed 12-19-19, but from what I have read Ford fixes do not really fix the problem. Please make Ford recall this before people start dying on the highways.
At speeds above 45 mph and often after hitting a bump in the road, or a separation in a bridge pavement joint, the front end of the truck shakes and vibrates uncontrollably. While this is occurring, the steering wheel shakes in your hands violently. This condition is very unnerving and greatly reduces the ability to control the truck. The only thing that brings the truck back to a controllable status is to slow down considerably. This is unpredictable and dangerous. Ford is aware of this situation but cannot offer a solution. Unacceptable for any vehicle and especially a vehicle that cost $70K.
I purchased this truck 3 months ago when it had a little less than 15K miles on it. Everything was ok until about 26K miles when if you hit a bump in the road at freeway speeds and you have to pull completely to the shoulder to make it stop. I have brought it to apple valley Ford in Minnesota and got the run around. They told me that they were going to replace the steering stabilizer (which is on factory back order) when it comes in. I had to replace it my self with one that I purchased from O reilly which did not fix the problem. I stopped at a different dealership today (boyer Ford in minneapolis mn) and talked to the service manager. He knew a lot about this issue but stated it is not a recall and told me that he was waiting for 3 steering stabilizers himself. He said I could change the tires to a softer rubber, change to a double stabilizer at a off road shop or purchase custom wheels with a different offset which he has heard fixes the issue (of course at my expense). Only issue is I just paid $57,000 for this truck with lower miles and purchased the extended warrantee so I did not have issues. I do not have any documentation right now due to the dealership not being done with the repairs. My son has a video of this if you want to see it, but it is very dangerous.
My 2017 F350 has a death wobble issue. Started back in June 2019. I have taken it to the local dealer and they have tried many attempts to fix it but nothing seems to help. It has been in 6 times so far. Complaint has been filed with Ford and Ford is working with dealer but nothing they come up with will fix it. Truck is getting to the point where I no longer feel comfortable driving it as the death wobble has nearly ran me off the road a few times now. Seems to start when the truck is going 60+ mph and will not stop until I slow below 40 mph. Truck will death wobble everyday to and from home if I dont slow for the bumps which then causes a safety issue with other vechicles.
- Sheridan, WY, USA
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Bought my Ford F 350 XLT in Feb of 2019 with 12,936 miles on it from rochester Ford in mn driving home on the interstate at about 70 mph it did the death wobble 3 times and I called them and they acted like they had never heard of it. Couldn't get it into the shop until a couple weeks later at bedford Ford in bedford Indiana where they replaced the steering dampener. Hadn't happened again until Nov 26, 2019. Made an appt. At bedford in Ford dealership and they said it was the tires and needed an alignment and new tires. Mileage is less than 24,000 miles on it. So the problem is still not fixed and they are just pushing me away and blaming the tires.
During the past several weeks, while driving at normal speeds of 45-55 mph, the front end of my truck will vibrate and shake while traveling over rough highways and especially when driving over the center rumble strips. This condition is also referred to bump steer or "death wobble". I purchased the truck brand new in February 2017. Currently, there is 18393 miles on my truck. This "vibration" started in the past 6-8 months ago moths, if I had a cup of coffee or any drink in the center console cup holder, the cups would vibrate and slip liquids. I initially blamed this on the tires needing rotated, which are rotated every 3000-5000 miles. Last week, I inadvertently drove over the center line rumble strips. I was traveling approximately 55 mph when the truck began to violently shake and steering unresponsive. This lasted approximately 3-5 seconds and ceased when I slowed down. The same violent shake and condition occurred 2 other times in the pats 2 weeks with one of them being this afternoon. All times when this occurred was at the moderate speed previously mentioned. After further research on this condition, it sounds like that there are over 1600+ complaints of the same condition. Please note, my tires are 9/32 tread, no signs of cupping or bad alignment and air pressures exactly at the manufactured recommended 60psi front, 80psi rear. I have a scheduled appointment for December 16, 2019 to have this concern address at the dealership where I purchased my truck.
Experience phenomena called death wobble when traveling at highway speeds. Typically occurs when I drive over a bump which causes the effect. Extremely dangerous. I had taken the vehicle in multiple times to galpin Ford factory authorized service center in North hills ca to have the issue corrected. I have extensive records of all steering related components replaced but the issue continues to occur. I am aware there currently is a class action law suit against Ford for this exact issue as this issue is systemic with 2017 and 2018 Ford F-250 and Ford F-350 trucks.
At 17000 miles experienced steering oscillation and death wobble while driving 55mph or greater. Extremely unsafe especially when pulling a trailer. Have had parts replaced and serviced several times. Most recent parts replaced at 35500. Dealer has performed tsb several times. This issue is extremely common and is affecting a lot of these trucks.
Truck is once again experiencing what is widely known as the "death wobble". truck was supposedly repaired in Nov 2018 per tsb#18-2268. When vehicle hits rough road or bridge transition strips on highway the front end begins to violently shake side to side and up and down, causing this to be transmitted to the steering wheel. When this happens at the only way to stop it is to quickly slow to approximately 30 mph. When forced to do this on a highway I've nearly caused accidents due to the required quick deceleration. This is a widely reported problem that Ford wants to blame on the vehicle owner, saying that it is the result of improper owner care or not having enough weight in the bed of the truck!! owners are dumbfounded that a recall has not been issued on the Ford Super Duty trucks. This is an extremely dangerous fault that is going to eventually result in tragic accidents if it hasn't happened already. Dealer has had my truck for over 3 weeks now, stating that Ford is backlogged on sending required parts to repair. Totally unacceptable when the vehicle is required for business.
The complaint is sustained steering wheel oscillation after hitting rough pavement on an expansion joint above 72 km/H (45 mph) making it hard to keep control of the truck.
While driving between 55-70 mph, the steering wheel begins to shake violently in the truck if you drive over the slightest road imperfection. I have called Ford with my VIN number and was told that there was no recall or service bulletin for this problem. However, they did say that this was a widespread issue. I was advised that the steering components and track bar was subject to premature failure.
My vehicle currently has 68,871 miles. I purchased it less then one year ago with 57K miles. I have experienced "death wobble" three times with the most recent being 11/17/19. The most recent sent me onto the shoulder at interstate speeds. Each of the three times has happened between 70-78mph on the interstate after hitting rough road or a bridge expansion joint. The vehicle is completely stock. I have no videos of the incidents due to my primary concern being correcting the problem by immediately slowing below 45mph. I have contacted a repair shop who stated they wanted nothing to do with it, and I can't get it into a Ford dealer for a while.
With just 20,000 miles my 2017 F350 has developed the "death-wobble". at highway speeds, especially in a slow arching turn, if the truck hits a bump in the road, the steering wheel starts to violently shake. I brought it back to the dealer (2nd time) and they told me that this was the 4th truck back this week for the same issue. All the dealer can do is replace the steering components with the same ones that were on the truck. Seems like Ford just wants to get out of the warranty period.
Driving at 60-65, when you hit a bump such as railroad tracks, potholes or rough roads, the front end will begin to wobble and then the entire truck shakes violently with very little control. Once you slow down to about 40, the shake goes away and the truck drives normal.
Hit a bump in the road at 50mph +, the steering wheel began to shake violently making the vehicle impossible to control. I had to hit the brakes hard and slow way down to regain control of the truck. This nearly caused the car behind me to rear end me on one occasion. This has happened to me 3 times in the last month. I have only experienced this unloaded with no trailer on straight roads, thus far. The vehicle is right at 19,000 miles, still under warranty. It should not behave this way. Even when the wobble doesn't happen, the vehicle will sometimes jump to one side or another going over angled joints in the road. If you are not paying extreme attention, you will be in the median. This has happened many times in the last few months. It simply isn't very safe to drive without a high payload. The wobble occurred multiple times at the same bridge joint going in two directions. The jumping to the side occurs almost daily at the same joint. The wobble occurred a separate time on another road. Both roads are 2-3 lane city thoroughfares. Not really city street or highways, but I supposed divided highway is the best description. I just replaced stock/original tires, hoping those have something to do with it.
2017 Ford 350 srw/crew cab/long bed/diesel, 31K miles, steer/bump resonance / death wobble as some refer to it as, happened for the first time about 2K miles ago. I was on a stretch of highway that had a very weird ripple which triggered the first incident, I thought it was an anomaly due to conditions and didn't think anything more. Since then I have noticed a slight vibration in the steering wheel that is particularly pronounced when in a slight left highway turn (unloading the steering damper I assume). While travelling straight and level I went over a bridge transition and went into a steer/bump resonance which forced me to the shoulder and slowing to 30 mph or so before it diminished. This can be disturbing on an empty road and downright dangerous on a busy one. I'm just lucky that it was a relatively low traffic environment during the most current incident.
Vehicle owner was travelling at 65mph on four lane interstate. Upon crossing over an expansion joint at an overpass the steering and front end began shaking violently and uncontrollably. The shaking persisted until speed was reduced to under 45mph. No vehicles were present in the adjacent lanes. If there were it is very likely an accident would have occurred.
At approximately 24,500 miles, while traveling on the interstate at 70 mph, I crossed a small crease in the road at the beginning of a bridge, the truck went into a "death wobble", or as Ford calls it "sustained steering wheel oscillation". this is a violent shaking of the front end that causes you to temporarily lose control of the vehicle until you can reduce your speed to under 45 mph. I took it to the Ford dealer and they replaced the steering stabilizer. This solved the problem for approximately 11,200 more miles. At around 35,700 miles, the death wobble returned with a vengeance. It happened again on the interstate traveling at 70 mph. Reducing the speed to less than 45 mph stopped the wobble. However, since you cannot drive 45 mph on an interstate, it happened every time I sped up and hit the slightest of small bumps in the road. Happened 6 more times until I was able to get off the interstate. This time it was worse than before. Truck is now sitting at dealer again for almost 2 weeks while they "look" at it. All Ford is willing to do is slap another pos steering stabilizer on it and push me out the door. This is not the fix. Ford has a problem on their hands, but is refusing to listen, or simply cannot figure this out. Someone is going to get killed. Something must be done before that happens!! step up and fix your trucks Ford!!!!
While driving highway-speed about 65 mph, the truck hits a grove in the highway road and started to shake violently and uncontrollable. I slowed down while trying to keep the truck in one lane and it stopped the bucking/wobble action when the speed was reduced to 20 mph. This has happened twice in the past week and vehicle is scheduled to be looked at in the service center.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Thompson, MO, USA