2008 FORD F-350 SD Steering Problems

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...

STEERING GEARBOX FAILED. STEERING FELT VERY LOOSE, PULLED INTO PARKING LOT. STEERING WOULD TURN RIGHT BUT WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT.COULD HEAR A CRUNCHING OR POPPING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TOP TURN LEFT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT FOUND THE STEERING GEARBOX FAILED INTERNALLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RANDOM DEATH WOBBLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. A DEALER PERFORMED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, BUT THE CONDITION CONTINUED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN DUE TO A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO BE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE POWER STEERING LOST POWER AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT A BOLT IN THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ UPDATED 09/08/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN FAILED TO MOVE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

WHILE TURNING SHARP LEFT AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE TRUCK DID NOT WANT TO CORRECT BACK STRAIGHT. I FORCED IT BACK TO STRAIGHT AND CONTINUED ON. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE, THE TRUCK WOULD TRACK LEFT AND THEN TRACK RIGHT. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY AND IT STRAIGHTENED BACK UP. THE TRUCK IS AT A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WITH THE TECHNICIAN UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING BROKEN. HE SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY BE THE POWER STEERING BOX. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2014, MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY TO COLUMBUS, OHIO IN HER 2008 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY TURBO DIESEL TRUCK (VIN# [XXX]) WITH 44,000 MILES. SHE'S PULLING HER 2014 26? LAKOTA TWO HORSE TRAILER WITH LIVING QUARTERS WITH HER SHOW HORSE IN THE BACK. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS ON MD-51N NEAR CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND HEADING ACROSS A BRIDGE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 1230PM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE ?PULL OVER SAFELY?. TWENTY SECONDS (20 SECONDS) LATER, THE TRUCK COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE TRUCK SHUT DOWN, WHICH TURNED THE POWER STEERING OFF. THIS IS WHAT I CALL UNSAFE FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING A 26? HORSE TRAILER WITH AN EXTRA 1000LBS IN THE BACK WITH A HORSE. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT...

ON THE EVENING OF 6/13/2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 FORD F-350 THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH LINE OF WHITE CASTLE IN COMMACK, NEW YORK, 11725. AS I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TO FOLLOW THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE, A HEARD A METAL BREAKING SOUND FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. WITHIN LESS THAN 1 SECOND FROM THIS HAPPENING, MY VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CINDER BLOCK WALL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, FENDER AND HEADLIGHT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO MYSELF OR ANY PASSENGERS AS WELL AS THE WALL HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE. I HAD A POLICE REPORT FILED WITH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT CORROBORATES MY STATEMENT OF COMPLETE STEERING LOSS AS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, NORTH SHORE FIRESTONE IN COMMACK. UPON INVESTIGATION THEY DETERMINED THE GEARS INSIDE OF THE STEERING BOX COMPLETELY FAILED. THEY COULD...

I HAVE A 2008 F350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL!!!! DEATH WOBBLE WITH MY FRIENDS BOSTON WHALER GOING DOWN 495 TO THE CAPE!!!! HAD THE TRUCK FOR FOUR YEARS!!! REPLACED 2 STEERING SHOCKS,TIEROD ENDS!! TIRES!! 2 FRONT ALIGNMENTS!!! TRUCK IS A PIECE OF [XXX]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD A 1978 F150,1979 F250,1988 F150,1995 F150,1996 F250,1999 F350 AND LOVED ALL OF THEM AND GOT THIS 2008 F350 AND NEVER HAD A WORSE CONTROLLING TRUCK IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE BEAN A MECHANIC FOR 30!!!! I REPEAT 30 YEARS AND WHAT A [XXX] BOX FRONT END WOW!!!! FORD PLEASE HAVE A RECALL BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEBODY IN THE TRUCK OR HITTING SOME ONE!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 11/18/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,354.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THAT THE GEARBOX HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED ONCE IN THE PAST FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,576.

REPEATED "DEATH WOBBLE". MANY TIMES, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND LOOSE STEERING CONTROL. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN DURING CURVES IN THE ROAD. I HAVE SHOT SIDEWAYS ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION VERY NARROWLY AVOIDING A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. HAPPENS BOTH WHILE PULLING A LOAD OR NOT. DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO HELP. VERY SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM GOING ON AND I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD IS UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS BEFORE THEY WILL ACT. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE LONG BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FROM THIS LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL! *TR

START OF MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF DEATH WOBBLE WITH THIS TRUCK AND NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIPS WITH NO FIX. TIRES REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE: ( WAS TOLD THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY FIX THE WOBBLE). I WAS ADVISED THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT OUT (CASTER SETTING) AND COULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD BECAUSE THE CASTER ADJUSTERS NECESSARY TO REPAIR - NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. BUT FORD ADVISED ME THE ALIGNMENT WITHOUT THE CASTER ADJUSTERS WAS STILL WITHIN FORD SPECS AND WOULD BE FINE. LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE DEATH WOBBLE AROUND 09-19-2012, VEHICLE @ 34,090. ADVISED THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN VEHICLE WITH CASTER ADJUSTER SLEEVES; WAS UNABLE TO FIX, WRONG SLEEVES. WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR APPROX. 400.00. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD THE FRONT ALIGNED CORRECTLY IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF DEATH WOBBLE. 95% SURE IT WOULD FIX....

THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE SHAFT PIN SHREDDED OFF ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY WITH NO MOVEMENT TO THE WHEELS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, MY TRUCK HIT A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT AND I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS. AS A RESULT, I SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS, IF THE TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAVIER (THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE PENTAGON, JUST OFF OF 395 N) I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JS

2008 F350 SUPER DUTY ----VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MET 10 TIMES. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ANY SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO70 MPH AND I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND DROP THE SPEED FAST TO AROUND 35MPH TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK . IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DEAL WITH . I GOT RID OF MY 2005 F350 BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2008 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW *TGW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS WERE TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK AND FOR THE TYPE OF LOAD IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END WAS RATED TO CARRY 5200LBS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY, THERE WAS ALREADY 4800LBS ON THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SUPER DUTY TRUCK, BUT APPARENTLY IT CAN'T CARRY ANYTHING EXCEPT A PASSENGER OR TWO BEFORE THE FRONT END IS OVERLOADED. THE STEERING BOX BROKE SUDDENLY FOR THE TIME AT 26,050 MILES. WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, BUT THE NEW ONE FAILED AT 29, 581 MILES. THE CURRENT STEERING BOX IS FEELING LOOSE AND...

I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-350 DUALLY THAT WHEN HITTING A DIP/BUMP IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 35, THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES/SHIMMYS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN CONTROL IT! I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM FORD IN APRIL 2009 BASICALLY SAYING WHEN IT HAPPENS SLOW DOWN. THE DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THIS IS NOT FIXED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE GEAR BOX FAILED. THE GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED AT A REDUCED RATE OF $100.00; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE. THE FAILURE RESURFACED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,190. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,200.

OUR BUSINESS OWNS 4 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS (2-2006 AND 2-2008). ALL OF THEM HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHIMMY THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENT. WE TOW LARGE TRAILERS (20'), LOADED WITH LARGE SPOOLS OF COAXIAL CABLE. THESE REELS AND THE TRAILER HAVE A COMBINED WAIT IN EXCESS OF 3000-4000 LBS., AND THE TRUCKS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 LBS. WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THIS MUCH WEIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. ALL FOUR TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CLAIMS THAT IF YOU SLOW DOWN, IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT OFTEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IN AND OF ITSELF, AND OFTEN YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH WITH A 4,000LB...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SO SEVERELY THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

DRIVING 15 TO 20 MPH AND STEERING PULLED TRUCK TO THE LEFT SHARPLY CAUSING ACCIDENT ALSO AIR BAG DID NOT WORK. *TR