NHTSA Complaint #11194822 — 2010 FORD F-350 SD

FRONT WHEEL "DEATH WOBBLE' OCCURS BETWEEN 45 MPH AND 65+ MPH (IN TOWN STREETS AND FREEWAY) AFTER HITTING A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, MOST GOING STRAIGHT BUT OCCURS IN MINOR TURNS AS WELL. FRONT WHEELS SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND TRANSMITS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAB. FRONT WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO TEAR OFF. TO STOP THE WOBBLE I HAVE TO SLOW QUICKLY TO 5 MPH TO 10 MPH. AS THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE WOBBLE INCREASES BECOMES EVEN MORE VIOLENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PARTICULARLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE LANES ABRUPTLY, PULLING OVER TO STOP. THE WOBBLE STARTED AS A MINOR NUISANCE THOUGHT TO BE A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. NOW THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND PROGRESSIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, IS IN REGULAR SERVICE, AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. THE TIRES ARE HIGH GRADE MICHELIN WITH APPROX 32K, HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES (NO PROBLEMS NOTED AT AMERICA'S TIRE STORE). I HAVE A LIFETIME ALIGNMENT WITH FIRESTONE AND HAD IT ALIGNED TWICE (NO PROBLEMS NOTED AT FIRESTONE). I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT FORD DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL, SERVICE BULLETIN, OR WARNING. PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN HAVE PULLED OVER TO TELL ME HOW BAD IT LOOKS FROM OUTSIDE. I SEE BLOGS WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE WHEELS BALANCED AGAIN AND ALIGNED THEN TAKE IT TO FORD FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS.