NHTSA Complaint #10415452 — 2005 FORD F-350 SD

ON JULY 2, 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 F350 4X4 FORD TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE AND HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I LOST CONTROL AND DRIFTED INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE APPROACHING. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT BLURRED MY VISION WHILE TRYING TO HOLD ON AND REGAIN CONTROL. THE SHAKING LASTED 10-15 SECONDS AND ONLY STOPPED AFTER I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BELOW 40 MPH. I HAD MY WIFE AND TWO SONS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. THIS INCIDENT MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR IF IT HAD OCCURRED ON A BEND IN THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT EXPERIENCED TO DATE, BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VIOLENT SHAKING ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I HAD MY TRUCK CAMPER ON THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOOK THE CAMPER SO VIOLENTLY IN THE BED THAT THE TAILGATE DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY ANYMORE DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FLARING OF THE TRUCK BED. I FIRMLY BELIEVE MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN MORTAL DANGER WITH THIS EVENT AND I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR TRUCKS. *TR