What 370 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford F-250 Super Crew

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KOONS SILVER SPRING FORD, 3111 AUTOMOBILE BLVD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904 (301) 890-6100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT, BRAKE PADS, AND STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE SHOCKS AND THE STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,100.

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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.

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FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS MY TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE." WHEN DRIVING (STRAIGHT OR IN SLIGHT TURN) APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR HIGHER AND HITTING A TYPICAL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MY TRUCK BEGINS A VIOLENT SHAKING THAT STOPS WHEN I REDUCE THE SPEED ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. I HAVE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AT TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS AS WELL AS A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT NOTHING DONE HAS CORRECTED THE ISSUE. *TR

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AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT LEFT TURN WHEN ENCOUNTERING A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THIS IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" FOR WHICH FORD HAS MANY SERVICE BULLETINS. ONCE VEHICLE SPEED IS REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH SHAKING STOPS. THE PROCESS OF FIXING IS LONG AND CONSISTS OF TRIAL AND ERROR UNTIL THE MANY POSSIBLE REASONS ARE FINALLY ADDRESSED AND SPECIFIC THING FIXED. FORD SERVICE BULLETIN DISCUSSES SPECIFIC BUILD DATES OF 2011 MODEL YEAR FROM LATE 2010 - MID 2011.

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED VERY VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO KEEP IT FROM WOBBLING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT A WOBBLE BAR WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 01/26/17*LJ UPDATED 7/12/18*JB *TR

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WHEN TRAVELLING 45-50 MPH TWICE MY TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. NOW AT SPEEDS AT 62 MPH OR GREATER THE WHEELS SHIMMY BACK AND FORTH CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT 4". IT GETS CRAZIER IF I HIT A BUMP. THIS MAKES FOR A SCARY RIDE. IT ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT. IT IS COMPLETELY STOCK

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THE TRUCK WILL EXPERIENCE REALLY BAD WOBBLE/BOUNCE AT 35-55MPH SPEEDS. I INSTALLED A DUAL STEERING STABILIZER THINKING MAYBE IT JUST NEEDS AN UPGRADE. THE REAR END SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. EVERY BUMP IS FELT. THE CAB MOVES AND ROTATES BACK AND FORTH AS IF SOMEONE IS SHAKING THE SEAT. THE TAIL BED IS VISIBLY BOUNCING UP AND DOWN THE INTERSTATE OR ANY SPEEDS OVER 40MPH. THE REAR END HAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT!!I BELIEVE THAT IT IS CAUSING THE FRAME TO BEND AND SUSPENSION PARTS TO GO BAD OVER TIME.

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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??

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK SEVERELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

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FOR DEATH WOBBLE

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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT TWO LEAF SPRINGS FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE LEAF SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FIRST BROKEN SPRING $385.00 ON 12/18/15. BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACE AT THE COST OF $1365.15. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ *TR

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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, ROUGH ROAD, OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD IS HIT. THE OPERATOR LOOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE PICKUP WAS PULLED INTO THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC. IT TOOK ALL MY SON'S STRENGTH TO GAIN SOME CONTROL AND KEEP FROM HITTING AN ONCOMING SEMI-TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE IS WORSE THAN THE INTERNET VIDEO AS CONFIRMED BY THE BEND OREGON FORD DEALERSHIP. APPLYING THE BRAKES MAKES IT WORSE. IT HAS TO BE ALLOWED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE VIBRATION IS SO VIOLENT IT TAKES ALL ONES STRENGTH TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. IT'S ONE OF THE MORE FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES YOU'LL ENCOUNTER BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING SO BADLY YOU THINK IT'LL FALL APART AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED DEATH WOBBLE.

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WHEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, THE TRUCK ENCOUNTERED A SLIGHT BUMP AND THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY, INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. THE TRUCK WANDERED OUT OF THE LANE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE SHAKING ONLY STOPPED AFTER SLOWING TO ABOUT 35 MPH. THE FAILURE REPEATED ITSELF A FEW MINUTES LATER BEFORE I COULD PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY (6 MONTHS / 3000 MILES AGO). THE FORD DEALER SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION MECHANIC. HE INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SAID ALL THE FRONT END COMPONENTS WERE FINE BUT HE NOTED THAT THE STEERING DAMPER HAD ABOUT A 1" DEAD ZONE. ON HIS RECOMMENDATION I REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER AND THE FACTORY SHOCK ABSORBERS. THIS VIDEO ATTRIBUTED TO NHTSA DESCRIBES THE FAILURE PRETTY WELL: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GT8CKIQSXJE

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PURCHASED 2011 F-250 86000 MILES ON IT. GOING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WE WENT OVER A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD AND THE TRUCK VIBRATED AND SHOOK SO BAD WE NEARLY LOST CONTROL. HAD TO STOP ON A BUSY HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. NOTHING OBVIOUS BUT BROUGHT IT TO OUR MECHANIC ANYWAYS A COUPLE DAYS LATER. EVERY BUMP ON THE ROAD WILL NOW CAUSE THIS REACTION AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD BE DEVASTATING. OUR MECHANIC IS GOING TO TRY A NEW STEERING STABILIZER AND FRONT AXLE JOINTS BUT I FEAR THIS TRUCK HAS THE DREADED "DEATH WOBBLE". VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT FORD WILL NOT ADDRESS.

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WAS GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AND WENT OVER A SEPARATION CRACK AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK FRONT AXLE / SUSPENSION STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY / SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. I STARTED TO PUT A SECURE HOLD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AT THE SAME TIME APPLYING THE BRAKES. AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH THE TRUCK STARTED TO SMOOTH OUT, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY, CHECKED THE TRUCK OUT, DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I CONTINUED AT REDUCED SPEED TO HOME AND CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. PRIOR TO THAT INCIDENT, I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A ROUGH RIDE, WENT WITH A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RIDE, AND HE SAID IT RIDES LIKE THE OTHER F250'S. AFTER THE VIBRATION INCIDENT, I DECIDED TO CHECK THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK, REMOVED IT AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING TO WELL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LITTLE BAD, AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, I THEN ASK THEM ABOUT THE RIGHT SHOCK, AND THEY DID NOT THINK THAT THE RIGHT SIDE WAS BAD, I THEN STATED THAT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE REPLACED IN PAIRS, AND THAT THE REARS SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID NO, BUT AFTER MORE DISCUSSION, THEY DID AGREE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SHOCK {CUSTOMER SATISFACTION}.IT DID SEEM TO RIDE BETTER. HOW EVER ON THE EVENING OF FRIDAY 7 AUGUST, THE TRUCK HAD ANOTHER EPISODE ON A DIFFERENT ROAD, LIKE IT HAD OVER A MONTH AGO. SO I DON'T THINK THAT SHOCKS ARE THE TOTAL PROBLEM.. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THIS PROBLEM COULD INJURE OR KILL MANY PEOPLE!!! SO WHO IS TO BLAME ???? NOT ME !!! . ,

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

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WE HAVE HAD ABOUT FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE OUR TRUCK SUDDENLY BEGINS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE, CANNOT CONTROL THE SHIMMY UNTIL YOU CAN SLOW IT DOWN UNDER 30 MPH. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES AT ABOUT 33,000 MILES. TWO TIMES IT WAS COMING OFF BRIDGE, HITTING A STEEL CHANNEL AT THE JUNCTION AND ONE TIME A LARGE HOLE. ALL THREE TIMES IT WAS ONE WHEEL HITTING THE HOLE OR DEPRESSION BEFORE THE OTHER WHEEL HIT. WE TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP.....NO IDEAS THERE. THEY REBALANCED THE LEFT TIRE AND NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL TODAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN COMING OFF A BRIDGE. ABOUT 38,000 MILES AND IT WAS THE SAME THING. CANNOT CONTROL THE SHIMMY UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR. MOST FRIGHTENING! I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL THIS IS FIGURED OUT! BIG, OUT-OF-CONTROL TRUCK IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 30 MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT SUSPENSION BARS WERE ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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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 CASUALTIES. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE SHAKING BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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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

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