NHTSA Complaint #11315775 — 2005 FORD F-250

THE FORD 250 INITIATES A 'DEATH WOBBLE' OR INTENSE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH ANYTIME ANY SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON ROAD. THIS INSTANCE INITIATED 5 TIMES IN A 500 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AT SUCH AN INTENSE RATE THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SIGNIFICANT STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO NEARLY 20 MPH FOR IT TO STOP. INITIAL SPEED WAS CLOSE TO 63 MPH. THE SHIMMY INITIATED WHEN A SMALL BUMP IS PASSED OVER AND ON THREE OF THESE INSTANCES IT INITIATED WITH THE CROSSING OF A EXPANSION GAP OR TRANSITION FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A BRIDGE OR BRIDGELIKE STRUCTURE. THE WOBBLE SHOOK TRUCK SO MUCH THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. APPROACHING (TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR) HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THEY WAY TO AVOID A REAR COLLISION. IF DECELERATION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPOSED THE VEHICLE MAINTAINS THE SHIMMY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. IN TWO INSTANCES ON THIS TRIP I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE WOBBLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER TO THEN BRAKE TILL CONTROL COULD BE RETRIEVED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHEN ACCESS TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IMPEDED SUCH AS WHEN PASSING IN LEFT LANE. THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY TRIP TO ANOTHER STATE 6 MONTHS BEFORE.