2008 FORD F-350 SD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD F-350 SD, EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, TIRE LINE: LTX MS/2, TIRE SIZE: 245/75/R17, DOT NUMBER: B74345 (PARTIAL). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT AND THE STEERING CEASED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE TIRE WAS OVER THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 12 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE STEERING BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. BOB BELL FORD WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AT 410-766-3600 (LOCATED AT 7125 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE 2008, AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS OF THE FORD F-350 ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A FRONT-END SHIMMY OR "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK DONE TO MY F-350 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE DEATH WOBBLE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WORK FOR A TIME AND THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNS. THE FACT THAT THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, AT HIGH SPEEDS, BY DRIVING OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MAKES THIS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I CAN ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE EXTREME NATURE OF THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT-END OF THE TRUCK IS BOUNCING LEFT AND RIGHT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS TWISTING AND ROLLING, THE STEERING WHEEL IS BARELY CONTROLLABLE, ANYTHING LOOSE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT GOES FLYING AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. REDUCING SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE ONLY RECOURSE AND THIS POSES A DANGER PARTICULARLY WHEN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. EVEN AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON COMPLETE FRONT-END REBUILDS, AND IMPECCABLE MAINTENANCE, THE PROBLEM WILL SUDDENLY REOCCUR. THE DESIGN OF THIS FRONT-END IS FAULTY AND VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND BEING EXPOSED TO GREAT RISK.

THE 2008, AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS OF THE FORD F-350 ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A FRONT-END SHIMMY OR "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK DONE TO MY F-350 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE DEATH WOBBLE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WORK FOR A TIME AND THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNS. THE FACT THAT THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, AT HIGH SPEEDS, BY DRIVING OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MAKES THIS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I CAN ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE EXTREME NATURE OF THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT-END OF THE TRUCK IS BOUNCING LEFT AND RIGHT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS TWISTING AND ROLLING, THE STEERING WHEEL IS BARELY CONTROLLABLE, ANYTHING LOOSE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT GOES FLYING AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. REDUCING SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE ONLY RECOURSE AND THIS POSES A DANGER PARTICULARLY WHEN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. EVEN AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON COMPLETE FRONT-END REBUILDS, AND IMPECCABLE MAINTENANCE, THE PROBLEM WILL SUDDENLY REOCCUR. THE DESIGN OF THIS FRONT-END IS FAULTY AND VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND BEING EXPOSED TO GREAT RISK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,425. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.