NHTSA Complaint #11353879 — 2004 FORD F-250

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BETWEEN 70-80, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL VIBRATES/SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT FIRST IT IS MINOR, BUT GET'S WORSE AND WORSE AS IT FORCES THE TIRE OUT OF BALANCE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FORD MANY TIMES. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED AT 30,387 MILES. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AT 36999 MILES, REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPENER, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN, THEY TORQUED THE PITMEN ARM AND DECLARED THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED BUT THE DEALERSHIPS CONTINUED TO STATE IT WAS A TIRE BALANCING PROBLEM. AFTER NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT 50,252 MILES, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AT 56,013 MILES, THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN REPORTED TO FORD. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT BALANCE ONE OF THE 'NEW' TIRES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DISCOUNT TIRE, WHICH SOLD ME THE TIRES AND USES THE SAME BALANCING MACHINE AS FORD. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AND BALANCED THEM AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN AT DISCOUNT TIRE TOLD ME THAT HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE (WHERE HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN BALANCE). THE ONLY FIX WAS TO INSTALL DUAL STEERING STABILIZERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS ACTUALLY WAS THE FIX. AS IT TURNS OUT, TO INSTALL DUAL STABILIZERS, THE TRUCK MUST HAVE A 2" LEVELING KIT INSTALLED TO ALLOW THE BRACKET TO FIT WITHOUT HITTING THE FRAME WHEN BUMPS ARE HIT.