NHTSA Complaint #11310665 — 2017 FORD F-250

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 70 MPH WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY (OSCILLATE). THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP WAS TO SUDDENLY REDUCE SPEED AND MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. WE EXPERIENCED THIS 5 MORE TIMES, SOMETIMES OCCURRING AFTER JUST GOING OVER A ROAD JOINT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU MUST HAVE ENOUGH SHOULDER TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLES BEHIND YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE SUDDENLY STOPPING. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. THE TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT BY REPLACING THE STEERING DAMPER (WHICH SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT 20,000 MILES). THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THIS REPAIR WILL WORK OTHER THAN TO TAKE YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS AND DRIVE THE TRUCK WAITING FOR THE NEXT INCIDENT TO OCCUR.