NHTSA Complaint #10266394 — 2008 FORD F-350 SD

OUR BUSINESS OWNS 4 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS (2-2006 AND 2-2008). ALL OF THEM HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHIMMY THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENT. WE TOW LARGE TRAILERS (20'), LOADED WITH LARGE SPOOLS OF COAXIAL CABLE. THESE REELS AND THE TRAILER HAVE A COMBINED WAIT IN EXCESS OF 3000-4000 LBS., AND THE TRUCKS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 LBS. WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THIS MUCH WEIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. ALL FOUR TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CLAIMS THAT IF YOU SLOW DOWN, IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT OFTEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IN AND OF ITSELF, AND OFTEN YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH WITH A 4,000LB IN TOW. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF FORCING CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF THEIR INEPT MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN. *TR