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.
Starting almost immediately after a used purchase of the vehicle at 48,000 miles and 3 years old, a intense front axle oscillation was intermittently noticed at speeds between 45 and 75mph, often the issue would happen while driving straight directly after driving over bumps in the roadway or bridge expansion joints. After having the Ford dealership look at the vehicle 4 separate times to try and figure out the root cause of the problem, the issue still has not been solved. So far the fixes tried by the dealer have been balancing the tires, installing new steering dampener, new tie rod ends, new drag link and two separate alignments.
I've had 4-5 instances of steering oscillation in the past 6 months (aka "death wobble") from either driving over highway expansion joints, potholes, or just from tapping the brakes at speed. This includes an instance on July 2, 2020 while descending the West side of wolf creek pass (hwy 160) while towing a 10,000 fifth wheel trailer. I had tapped the brakes to further engage the engine braking function and the front wheels began shaking violently. The shaking was transmitted through the steering wheel as well (which is typical). The vehicle also transmits oscillation/vibration from the front wheels during normal driving over small bumps. The steering is what I would describe as loose too - lots of play and lack of responsiveness.
2017 Ford F-350, truck can hit any bump in the road and the steering wheel goes crazy shaking extremely violently. This happens at speeds from about 45mph and faster. The only way to stop the shaking is to immediately pull over on the side of the road and slow down to about 25-30mph. It's very hard to control the vehicle while it's shaking, as you do not have full control of the steering. A big problem is the fact that you can't tell which bumps will cause the violent shaking. It could be a large unavoidable pothole, or it could be a small concrete joint in an otherwise very smooth flat road. I have also experienced this when there were no bumps in the road. It is very disheartening to know that Ford Motor Company is selling vehicles for upwards of $80,000 that can't be safely driven any faster than 45-50mph, and are putting peoples lives in danger on a daily basis.
I bought this 2017 F350 used with approx. 67000 miles on it. It has a 3000 mi 0R 90 day warranty. When this event occurred I had owned this vehicle 3 weeks. On 9-25-20 my wife and I went to pick up a desk at a residence 20 miles from our house. After leaving the residence I accelerated to highway speed 50-60 mph on a paved two-lane highway. We hit a rough patch, rippled section of pavement. The steering wheel started shuttering back and forth in my hands and the truck starting steering into the oncoming lane. I had no control over the vehicle, I gripped it as hard as I could with no result to return the truck back to the lane we were in. I also was pushing the brake pedal trying to slow the vehicle at the same time, but was having a difficult time slowing down. After, approximately 200-300 yards the truck slowed and the steering returned, so I could gain control and returned to my lane of traffic.
- Orleans, MI, USA
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Ford Super Duty death wobble issue. I've experienced the death wobble (uncontrolable steering wheel shaking at highway speeds.) over 12 times since I've owned my 2017 F350. Which has less than 17K miles. I've taken it back to the dealership and they have installed new steering dampeners six times including three of their new improved dampeners supposedly to fix the death wobble issue. This problem occurs at highway speeds when he vehicle crosses over uneven or very rough pavement. Usually on freeways. To correct the situation, the vehicle must be slowed down to about 20 miles an hour which is very dangerous on a busy freeway.
After turning on to a main road and bringing the vehicle up to highway speeds of around 55-60 mph, the front end of the vehicle started violently shaking to the point where I could feel it through the power steering system and it was shaking me in the driver's seat. I slowed the vehicle down and started pulling over to the side of the road but, after about 5 seconds or so, the vehicle stopped shaking.
While traveling on a 4 lane highway at approximately 50 mph in traffic, I hit a bump in the roadway and the truck started to shake violently. I had to brake and slow down to approximately 20 mph for the shaking to stop. I feel that this is a front suspension/steering issue.
At 400 miles driving down the freeway the truck started shaking as if the front wheels were coming off, the dealership told us it must be a bad road, same thing when it happened at 7,000 miles and at 22,000 miles. At 35000 miles we took it to a different dealer and they kept the truck for well over a month, to fix it. Now at 39000 it still has the same problem, it happens randomly, and we are taking it back in tomorrow to be looked at. Now that I bought my wife a truck that is well over $70,000 she no longer feels safe to drive it because it is so scary to drive wile the front tires shake like they are falling off. In southern California traffic, she feels like she could kill someone simply by losing control when that happens. I have purchased countless Ford automobiles and paid off many Ford credit auto loans, and we have never had any complaints, never had any issues, we maintain our vehicle with the Ford maintenance contract, we carry a Ford esp warranty on all of our Ford and we are very meticulous in taking care of our vehicles... at this point we want a new truck, and we do not feel that we should have to take the depreciation simply based on these problems. We also want our Ford esp and maintenance contract to be on the new truck, just as we have on this truck.
Death wobble I have about 24 thousand miles on my truck and when I go over bumps the whole truck shakes uncontrollably. When it happens it's a struggle to keep it in the lane. I am terrified to drive it and Ford seems to be blowing me off about it. It's been happening since I got the truck and has been getting worse.
I bought this 2017 F-350 Ford and as I was driving the steering wheel and the truck started to shake violently. I was told buy a few Ford customers that they call this the death wobble. I just bought this truck to haul heavy items. Why would Ford resell this truck knowing it has this problem" I am a 74 year old veteran and when this happens its very hard to control the steering wheel. Why is there not a recall on this truck? and why has NHTSA not done anything about this? now I am afraid to drive this truck with my family anywhere.can a lawsuit be filed? is Ford doing anything to fix this problem"
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact released the accelerator pedal and the vehicle slowed and the death wobble ceased. The vehicle was taken to monarch Ford (132 N D St, exeter, ca 93221) on three separate occasions where various unknown repairs related to the death wobble were performed on the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered a partial financial assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.
My truck has had a "death wobble"since it was about 3 months old. The first time I thought maybe just a road condition. It's been "fixed" 3 times but hasn't been corrected yet. It happens at interstate speeds of 70+ mph
At 39000 miles developed a massive front wheel shake at highway speeds on rough roads. Rotated tires and balanced. No change. Replace all tires with same as came with. Death wobble was gone for 4000 miles has now returned.
When traveling above 60 mph and I hit a ridge or pot hole the front of the vehicle shakes violently. It happened the first time around 34,000 miles. Ford replaced the steering stabilizer and drag link, part of a tsb. It happened again at 40,000 miles.
Purchased truck a couple weeks ago and after driving it on roads to work at speeds of 40 mph and above showed high level of instability when going over bumps and rail road tracks on rough roads especially and vehicle was hard to control in traffic, death wobble in front end causing safety hazards and is very dangerous; vehicle is hard to control and puts safety of my family and others at risk in this huge truck. Reported to dealer and they would not help me said to schedule service, I demanded my truck back or a different truck, manager would never return my calls or emails. Service doesn't respond, managers either, electrical keeps locking up as well in gps and interior controls as well as voice prompts. This is a lemon and waste of 60 grand. Intend to seek legal action and report this safety hazard of rockwall Texas Ford selling unsafe vehicles and lying to customers saying their vehicles have been thru 200-point inspections and safe. I replaced all the shocks, tires, and wheels and some suspension parts hoping to help the problem and have spent over 6K and still have not fixed it, dealer doesn't help. This should be illegal selling unsafe vehicles and not providing any warranty as I was charged for it when purchased.
At approx. 20,000 miles my truck developed a issue when ever I reached speeds above 55mpds and hit a rough patch in any road. The steering wheel began to shake violently and you could feel the front end shake. You would drop your speed down to a crawl and it will stop.
Driving on the highway between 55mph-75mph, hit a rough patch and the truck begins to shimmy out of control. The only way to regain control is to slam on brakes.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at 65mph, the vehicle front end wobbled out of control. The contact was able to engage the brake pedal slowly and brought the vehicle under control. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to jim oneal Ford 516 South Indiana avenue sellersburg, in 47172, (812)-246-4441. The dealer test drove the vehicle and was unable to recreate the failure. As a courtesy the dealer installed a steering damper on the steering wheel and informed the contact that steering damper may correct the failure. The contact was concerned that the failure was not fixed. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 42,588.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bloomington, MN, USA