2011 FORD F-250 Steering Problems

STEERING BECOMES TIGHT THEN WANDERS WITH NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING UNTIL VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR SOMETIME. MECHANIC SAID ALL PARTS ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. HAPPENS AFTER A TURN BUT IF YOU STOP AND TURN OFF TRUCK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES IT SEEMS FINE FOR AWHILE. THIS MOSTLY IN TOWN SLOW TO MEDIUM SPEED 15-45 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW. 3-29-2018 AND @40-50 DEGREES OUTSIDE.

DEATH WOBBLE, WE ALMOST DIED ON 395, HAD TO STOP FAST AND IT HAPPED TWICE. WITH IN 10 MIN OF EACH OTHER, HE GOT NEW TIRES, AND ALIGNMENT A MONTH AGO. TOWING HORSE TRAILER. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS OUR SECOND FORD TRUCK, WE HAVE A154,000. MILES. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER FORD IF YOU DO NOT HAVE REMEDY TO FIX THIS ISSUE

VEHICLE HAS A VIOLENT SPEED WOBBLE WHEN CROSSING SMALL BUMP IN ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS IS MORE UNNERVING AS THIS OCCURS ON A CURVE VEHICLE WILL MOVE ACROSS LANE

SPEED APPROXIMATELY 55 ON CURVE, TRUCK FRONT END BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHIMMY AND WOBBLE TO POINT OF LOSS OF CONTROL. DESTROYED FRONT ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES, AND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AS PER PEP BOYS REPAIR RECEIPT. REPEATED AFTER REPAIR AT SAME SPEED. TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES, VERY LITTLE OFF ROAD MILEAGE. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES OTHER DRIVERS' INSTANCES WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK AS "DEATH WOBBLE".

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MAC HAIK FORD LINCOLN HYUNDAI 4506 N NAVARRO ST, VICTORIA, TX 77904), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED UNKNOWN PARTS ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

WHEN DRIVING THIS TRUCK, IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY UNEVEN SURFACE, THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND IT'S ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT TAKES ALL THE STRENGTH IN MY BODY JUST TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS COME ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP. SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET KILLED, BECAUSE WHEN IT START TO SHAKE, YOU HAVE KNOW CONTROL OVER THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING TO GO. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE NET, THIS SHAKE IS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND FOR GOOD REASONS. I ALSO HEARD THAT FORD HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR YEARS, BUT WANT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT GIVE YOU THE RUN AROUND.

DRIVING 60 - 65MPH,WHEN I RAN OVER DIPS OR BUMPS IN THE HWY MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END STARTED SHAKING AND SHIMMING VIOLENTLY AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT APPLY BRAKES BUT DID TAKE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL AND WHEN TRUCK SPEED REACHED 40MPH VIOLENT SHAKES STOPPED. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT HOWEVER IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN OVER ALL BUMPS OR DIPS. IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY FEB-19 2017 WHEN WE WERE PULLING OUR HORSE TRAILER AT A SPEED OF 62MPH. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 50,200 MILES SO IT SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE FORD ENGINEERS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS SO DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOOSE CONTROL WHICH WOULD BE DISASTROUS WHEN PULLING A HORSE TRAILER LIKE WE DO. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE FORD...

WHEN HITTING UNEVEN PAYMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT TIRES AND STEERING STARTS TO SHAKE. AS SPEED DECREASES, THE WOBBLE INCREASES TO THE POINT WHERE THE VIOLENT SHAKING WILL NOT STOP UNTIL ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. I FOLLOWED THE NHTSA RECOMMENDATION OF 65 PSI AND OTHER PRESSURES AND IT HAS NO AFFECT ON THE WOBBLE. IMO I BELIEVE THAT AS THE TIRES WEAR DOWN, THEY HAVE LESS TRACTION ON THE ROAD SURFACE WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE OSCILLATION OF THE TIRES TO OCCUR. PUTTING ON NEW TIRES IS A BANDAID FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I HAVE HEARD THAT CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE AXLE (I BELIEVE CAMBER) CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH SHIMS. IN MY CASE, I NOTICED THAT THE SHAKING BECAME WORSE AS I SLOWED DOWN. THE NATURAL REACTION IS TO BRAKE WHEN THE WOBBLE BEGINS. I DECIDED THAT THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURRED, I...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE CONTACT TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT PROCEEDS TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY THAT YOU ALMOST LOSE CONTROL. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT AN ANTI-WOBBLE TRACK BAR WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THAT IS THE CASE, FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND A TICKING TIME BOMB. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRE PRESSURE. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. A PERSON SHOULD NOT SPEND $60,000 ON A VEHICLE ONLY TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND SINK THOUSANDS MORE JUST TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND CORRECTED BY FORD. HOW MANY CRASHES/DEATHS HAVE HAPPENED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THIS AS IT HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN A RECALL ISSUE??

DEATH WOBBLE. SEVERE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES SHAKING ON THE FRONT.

MANY ISSUES (MYSELF INCLUDED) OF SEVERE "DEATH WABBLE" WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHIMMY THAT MANY TIMES SENDS THE VEHICLE INTO ADJACENT LANES UNTIL IT IS SLOWED TO 30 OR 40 MPH. FORD MOTOR CO. CAN'T FIX THIS AND HAS NO SOLUTIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. LATEST 11/20/15.

WE HAVE A 2011 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL PICK UP WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. IT IS LIKE NEW, BUT HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS TRIED UP TO (11) ELEVEN FIXES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. NONE OF THESE "FIXES" APPLY ON THIS PICK UP. NOW SINCE THE PICK UP IS OLDER THAN 3 YRS. EVEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR "TRYING" OUT MORE POSSIBLE FIXES THAT HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL FOR ALL THESE FORD F250 & F350 PICK UPS. THIS SHOULD BE AT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S EXPENSE. THE BOTTOM LINE, IT SHOULD BE BOUGHT BACK BY FORD SINCE IT IS NOT YET PROVEN TO BE FIXABLE. PROBLEM: THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AS DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME THESE FORD SUPER DUTY F250 OR F350 DIESEL PICKUPS ARE DRIVEN OVER 40MPH AND A BUMP,...

RE: THE DEATH WOBBLE WE HAVE A 2011 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL PICK UP WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. IT IS LIKE NEW, BUT HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS TRIED UP TO (11) ELEVEN FIXES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. NONE OF THESE "FIXES" APPLY ON THIS PICK UP. NOW SINCE THE PICK UP IS OLDER THAN 3 YRS. EVEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR "TRYING" OUT MORE POSSIBLE FIXES THAT HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL FOR ALL THESE FORD 250 & 350 PICK UPS. THIS SHOULD BE AT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S EXPENSE. THE BOTTOM LINE, IT SHOULD BE BOUGHT BACK BY FORD SINCE IT IS NOT YET PROVEN TO BE FIXABLE. PROBLEM: THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AS DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET. (SEE WEBSITE BELOW). THIS OCCURS ANYTIME THESE FORD SUPER DUTY 250 OR 350 PICKUPS REACH...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE SHOCKS, VIBRATION DAMPENER, DRAG LINK, TIE ROD, AND ALL THE TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

VEHICLE DEVELOPED VIOLENT, RESONANT SHAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. REDUCTION TO 40 MPH WAS REQUIRED TO REGAIN VEHICLE CONTROL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT THE WHEELS TURNED TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING BOX FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500. ...UPDATED 06/03/15 *BF UPDATED 7/7/2015*JS UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON OUR 2011 FORD F250 4X4 PICKUP BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE DEATH WOBBLE OCCURRED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE TRACK BAR BUSHING AND BALL JOINTS AT A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $400. NOW 3,000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY FORD THE DEATH WOBBLE HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD EASILY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO HAVING TO QUICKLY SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN 30 OR 40 MPH TO GET THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO STOP WOBBLING COULD EASILY CAUSE AN REAR END ACCIDENT LEADING TO...

FORD SUPER DUTY F250 & F350 ARE WELL KNOWN TO HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. STARTING AS EARLY AS 10000 MILES. IF THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENS DURING A RAIN STORM YOU ARE PRETTY CERTAIN TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WILL START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING THE SMALLEST UNEVEN SURFACE IN THE ROAD. I HEAR THAT THE DODGE HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM THIS CAN BE GOOGLES AND THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DISCUSSING THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THROUGH A ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORK ZONE WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND JUMPED OUT OF HIS HANDS . HE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK . THE OTHER DRIVERS WERE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE OUT OF CONTROL TRUCK AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED . I WENT ON TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE . I FOUND A FORUM WITH MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE . MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH ISSUES . THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS POOR TIRE PRESSURE OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT . MY HUSBAND HAD BOTH CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM . I FEAR IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS A SEVERE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE . THE OTHERS SAY THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DO THE" DEATH WOBBLE" AS IT HAS BEEN COINED...

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IF MY TRUCK HITS A RIDGE OR BUMP IN ROAD, IT STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY UP AND DOWN. I SLOW DOWN AND FIGHT THE WHEEL TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SO FAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 18 TIMES. MOST OF THE TIME, IT STOPS SHAKING AS I SLOW DOWN. TWICE IT STOPPED SHAKING AFTER I CROSSED TRAFFIC TO GET TO EDGE OF ROAD TO STOP. VERY SCARY! THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT BOUNCED UP & DOWN SO HARD, IT PULLED THE WHEEL OUT OF MY HANDS. AS I GENTLY BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN, IT STOPPED BOUNCING UP AND DOWN, BUT THEN STARTED UP AGAIN WHEN I HIT THE NEXT EXPANSION SEAM ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK THAT DAY. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE TO GET TO WORK...

WHILE TOWING MY 8000LB TRAILER, I WENT OVER SOME UNEVEN HIGHWAY PAVEMENT AND THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING TO THE POINT I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTROL WHERE THE TRUCK WENT I HAD TO LEFT OFF THE GAS UNTIL IT COASTED TO A TOP. 50 MILES LATER, I ENTERED A SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER A 500 FOOT DROP WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AS I CROSSED OVER THE BRIDGE/ROAD SEAM THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING AGAIN THIS TIME IT WENT IN TO THE LANE OF THE SEMI TRUCK AFTER LEAVING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUBBER HE AND I AVOIDED A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I GOOGLED THESE SYMPTOMS AND IT APPEARS YOU HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME, PLEASE I BEG YOU FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY MAKE FORD CORPORATION FIX THIS ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS. *TR

THE FRONT STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY, ONLY STOPPED AFTER SLOWING SIGNIFICANTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS STEERING DAMPENER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THIS HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" THREE TIMES AND IS NOW RECURRING. *TR

MY TRUCK STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AT 40-60 MPH. STEERING CONTROL IS LOST AND CAN ONLY BE REGAINED BY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. TRUCK WILL NOT SWITCH LANES AND PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER IS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING. SHAKING IS VIOLENT TO THE POINT OF LOOSENING BOLTS. TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE CHECKED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS AIR PRESSURE OR THE NEED FOR NEW TIRES. THE VEHICLES TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND AIR PRESSURE IS SET AT FACTORY RECOMMENDED LEVELS. FORD SAYS THIS BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT EXTREMELY POSSIBLE. AN INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SHOP CLAIMS ISSUE IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, LACK OF STEERING DAMPER, AND DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS. *TR

WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR POT HOLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE FRONT TIRES WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL YOU ALL BUT STOP. THIS COULD CATCH SOMEONE OFF GUARD TO CRASH INTO SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

TRUCK DEVELOPED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE FRONT END AND BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. HAVE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY BEFORE VEHICLE WILL STOP SHAKING. THE ISSUE IS REFERRED TO THE "FORD DEATH WOBBLE" WITH MANY RECORDED INSTANCES OF THIS ON THE WEB AND YOUTUBE. ISSUE HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAS BEEN IN THE FORD DEALER AND MANY NEW PARTS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM PERSIST. FORD DEALER CANNOT SEEM TO CORRECT SO IT HAS BEEN IN TWO OTHER GARAGES FOR SECOND OPINIONS. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OR ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO THE HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD BALANCE ALL FOR TIRES AND PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT CHECK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,500. *TR

DRIVING EAST BOUND ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN THE DIAMOND LANE I DROVE OVER A ROADWAY IMPERFECTION. AS SOON AS I HIT IT WITH MY LEFT FRONT TIRE THE VEHICLE MADE A VIOLENT MOTION TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO STRIKE THE CENTER DIVIDER. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BEFORE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED (12/16/2010). BY THIS TIME, STRIKING AN IMPERFECTION WITH EITHER FRONT TIRE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE LATERALLY, LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE FORD DEALER WITHOUT REMEDY, A FORD ENGINEER WAS SUMMONED FOR A TEST DRIVE. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A SPOT I CONSISTENTLY HAVE THE PROBLEM AND IT VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HIT THE SPOT (TRANSITION ROAD: 405 FREEWAY TO THE NORTHBOUND 710 FREEWAY). BOTH THE ENGINEER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME...

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED HIT POTHOLE AND TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. PULLED OF THE FREEWAY TO INSPECT AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK. GOT BACK ONTO FREEWAY AND CROSSED OVER A BRIDGE AND THE SAME VIOLENT SHAKE HAPPENED UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 40 MPH. DROPPED TRUCK OFF AT DEALER ON WAY HOME FROM WORK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROADS, IF YOU ENCOUNTER ROUGH ROAD SURFACE (CONSTRUCTION, POTHOLE, ETC) STEERING AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO OSCILLATE VIOLENTLY. IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE OSCILLATION CREATES A HARMONIC FREQUENCY THAT INCREASES THE INTENSITY TO A DEGREE THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE SLOWED OR STOPPED TO RECOVER. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 99 IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA NORTH OF VISALIA, CA. I WAS MAINTAINING MY SPEED IN THE FAST (SECOND LANE) LANE BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH ON A PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY THAT WAS RECENTLY LAID WITH FRESH ASPHALT. THIS OF COURSE, MADE THE ROAD SURFACE VERY SMOOTH ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME TRANSITION PORTIONS OF THE ROAD SURFACE WITH A FEW ROUGHER SECTIONS. GOING OVER ONE OF THE TRANSITIONS THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC BOTH BEHIND ME AND TO THE SLOW LANE TO MY RIGHT. I BELIEVE THE OTHER DRIVES SAW MY SITUATION AND ALLOWED ME TO PULL TO THE SLOW LANE TO GET CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. ONCE MY SPEED WAS REDUCED TO AROUND 35 TO 40 MPH, THE SHAKING STOPPED....

I HAVE AN F-250 SUPER DUTY FX4. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 15,000 MILES AND LAST YEAR IN OCT, 2012 THE TRUCK HAD A VIOLENT SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END AT 9,000 MILES. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE TRUCK HAS STARTED THIS SHAKING AGAIN. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. THIS HAPPENS IF I CHANGE LANES THAT ARE UNEVEN AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND WILL ALSO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH IF THE ROAD IS A BIT BUMPY. IT IS VERY SCARY AND THE TRUCK IS UNCONTROLLABLE UNTIL THE SHAKING STOPS. *TR

APP. ONE YEAR AGO, I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRUCK. IT WOULD SHAKE IF I HIT A ROUGH SPOT OR BRIDGE APPROACH AT 60 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2100.00 AND IT'S STILL DOING IT. AT TIMES IT SHAKES REALLY HARD AND TO GET IT TO QUIT I HAVE TO BRING MY SPEED DOWN TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC. FORD SAYS IT DOES THAT SOMETIMES, I'VE HAD 6 F250'S FROM 1999 TO PRESENT AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER DONE THIS, EXCEPT THIS TRUCK. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY MORE COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE? PLEASE CONTACT ME ON WHAT TO DO. THE DEALER HAS CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COM. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SAYS...

WAS GOING OVER A BRIDGE THAT HAD UNEVEN PAVEMENT WITH A SLIGHT BANK TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEARBY FIELD AFTER RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED TO CHECK TIRE AIR PRESSURE (AIR PRESSURE WAS FINE-STOCK TIRES AND RIMS). FRONT STEERING STABILIZER WAS CHECKED AND THAT WAS FINE. TRACK BAR AND TIE ROD CHECKED AND THOSE TOO WERE FINE. A LOCAL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND AT 31000 MILES THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE TIE ROD, DUAL STEERING STABILIZERS, AND ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. MOST OFF ROAD DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND EVEN SAY TO ADJUST THE CASTER TO A POSITIVE 4 TO CORRECT. AS SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THIS BEGAN AROUND 2005 WITH STRAIGHT AXLE AND COIL SUSPENSION. FORD MUST RECTIFY...

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF MY 2011 F250 FX4 DIESEL BEGAN VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE MEDIAN AND SLOW TO LESS THAN 20 MPH TO MAKE IT STOP. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, AND, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, CHANGING THE SHOCKS AND STEERING STABILIZER, I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

I HAVE HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THE ISSUE IS KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I WAS UNAWARE OF HOW COMMON THIS ISSUE WAS UNTIL I STARTED READING FORMS WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK WAY TOO MANY TIMES. *TR

UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP AT 55 MPH . TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD CANT SEEM TO FIX IT. TRUCK IS STOCK NO MODIFICATIONS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

IN FAST LANE WEST OF NASHVILLE ON INTERSTATE 40. HIT A MINOR AREA OF ROUGH ROAD AND THE STEERING STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY LEFT AND RIGHT. SLOWED AGRESSIVELY BUT HAD NO WHERE TO GO WITH SEMI TRUCKS ALL AROUND ME. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. AT APPROX 30 MPH THE SHAKING STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE BACK TO CRUISE SPEED. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK 9000 MILES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

DURING A DRIVE ON THE HWY, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN UNEVEN SECTION OF THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THINKING I HAD HIT SOMETHING OR HAD A FLAT TIRED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS FOUND. THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED A MONTH OR SO LATER WHEN DRIVING BACK FROM THE AIRPORT AND HIT A POT HOLE AT ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN FELT OUT OF CONTROL SHIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE HWY AND FELT UNCONTROLLABLE. GOT HOME, CHECKED ALL ASSOCIATED SUSPENSION HARDWARE AND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DETECTED. AT THIS POINT, I AM A BIT HESITANT TO GO AT SPEED LIMIT AND CONSTANTLY WATCHING, AVOIDING MAIN HIGHWAYS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS SUSPENSION ISSUES AND IT WAS NOT DESIGNED ACCORDINGLY TO ITS HEAVY DUTY RATINGS....

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I HIT A ROUGH AREA IN THE ASPHALT DURING A SLIGHT LEFT TURN. AFTER HITTING THE ROUGH AREA, THE TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO ALMOST STOP BEFORE THE SHAKING WOULD STOP. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THINKING THAT MAYBE A TIRE WAS FIXING TO FALL OFF BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW EVERY TIME I HIT A ROUGH AREA ON THE ROAD I WORRY THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN ROAD BECAUSE OF CHANGE IN PAVEMENT ON FLY-OVER PASS. VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND HAD A TREMENDOUS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. HAD TO REDUCE SPEED TO A NEAR STOP ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO GET SHAKING TO STOP AND TO RE-GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED I HIT A BUMP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. I HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO GAIN CONTROL. CONTINUED DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER POT HOLE AND VEHICLE AGAIN WENT INTO A VIOLENT FRONT END SHAKE. I AGIAN HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE NHTSA NEED TO GO TO THE FORD FORUM AND READ THE STORIES ABOUT THE FRONT END WOBBLES, SHIMMY, AND SHAKING BY THE F250 AND F350S, THER ARE MANY NEAR MISS INCIDENTS THAT IF THEY OCCUR THESE VEHICLES ARE TO BIG FOR THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE OPPPSITE LANES TO SURVIVE. THE ISSUE STARTED AT ABOUT 6000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT 14,000 MILES AND AT 20,000 MILES WITH NO FIX...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIMMY SHOCKS, STEERING GEAR, PITMAN ARM, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

AT 55 MPH, IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END SHAKES, JUMPS ACROSS THE ROAD. VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE AT FORD SEVERAL TIME AND THEY FOUND NOTHING! *TR

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HIT A LINE OF BUMPS. THE TRUCK WOULD START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND I WOULD HAVE TO SLOW DOWN UNDER 30 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD PUT A NEW STEERING DAMPER IN AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED 2 WEEKS AFTER. I WENT AND BOUGHT A KIT FROM WRC MOTORSPORTS FOR $1,000 AND PAID OVER $500.00 TO HAVE IT PUT IN TODAY. HOPEFULLY THIS STOPS THE PROBLEM AND FORD WILL REIMBURSE ME SOME OF THE COST. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 70 IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PASSED OVER A PAVEMENT PATCH WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY RAISED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL PASSED OVER A PAVEMENT PATCH WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY RAISED. THESE TWO RELATIVELY MINOR BUMPS CAUSED A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING WHICH THEN INTENSIFIED UNTIL THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS VIRTUALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VIOLENT BOUNCING AND WOBBLE I HAD TO BRAKE HARD ALMOST COMING TO A STOP. THIS UNEXPECTED RAPID SPEED REDUCTION QUITE NATURALLY CAUSED VEHICLES TO HAVE TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HTTP://WWW.THEDIESELSTOP.COM/FORUMS/F149/FRONT-END-BOUNCE-HIGH-SPEEDS-274673/ IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I AM NOT A BEGINNER AT OPERATING HEAVY DUTY PICK UP TRUCKS. I DROVE 3/4 TON AND ONE TON 4X4 TRUCKS FOR 30 YEARS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 66 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THERE WAS LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. LATER WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,306.

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY, MAKING A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT FROM THE 9:00 TO 3:00 POSITIONS. I COULD NOT STOP IT WITH BOTH HANDS. I HAD TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP TO END THE JERKING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 22,193 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FRONT END. CHANGED THE STEERING DAMPER , WHICH SLIGHTLY HELPED FOR ABOUT 500 MILES. IT IS NOW HAPPENING EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IS GETTING WORSE. NOW ALSO HAPPENING AT LOWER SPEEDS, AROUND 30 MPH AND UP. *TR

2011 FORD 250 DIESEL HAS BEEN IN FOR FRONT END SERVICE(FRONT END ALIGNMENTS) AND EXCESSIVE SCALLOPING OF TIRES FOUR TIMES. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SEVERITY OF THE TIRES. THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT END HAS STARTED TO SHAKE/WOBBLE AFTER HITTING A BUMP. *TR

AT HIGH SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, IF TRUCK HITS A BUMP, FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER HAS NO ANSWER. ON INTERNET MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. CALLED "DEATH RATTLE". *TR