NHTSA Complaint #11422729 — 2012 FORD F-250

When driving on the interstate at the start of a full day on the road, the front of the truck started shaking violently. At first, I thought I had encountered a rough stretch of road, but there was no way the washboard effect I was experiencing was from the road. It was far too fast and violent. My next thoughts were that I was about to lose a front tire...or both front tires...or maybe the engine was seizing up. Whatever it was, something was seriously wrong and it was scary. I responded by taking my foot off the accelerator and braking, and then easing across two lanes of traffic to the side of the road, where the shaking stopped. I was traveling with my daughter and five-month-old granddaughter, and once I slowed down, the shaking stopped. The truck then ran normally and we were able to resume our trip without any further issues. The truck is currently at the Ford dealer to be serviced and they are looking into the problem, though when I described what had happened, the lady at the service desk said, "Yeah, some of these trucks have that problem." I now have serious concerns about the safety of this truck, particularly since I often travel alone pulling a horse trailer and for long distances. Were this to happen with a fully loaded trailer, in heavy traffic, on a curve, and/or going down a mountain pass, I don't know what would happen since with the steering wheel and front of the truck were shaking so violently that it didn't feel like I had any control over the front end of the vehicle. I am grateful I was on a straight stretch of highway and that the traffic wasn't too heavy.