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

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 THIS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10534069

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

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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

NHTSA ODI 10526016

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. THE VEHICLE IS A ROAD HAZARD AND A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS.. *TR

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TRAVELED OVER A MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTION IMMEDIATELY THE TRUCK BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE IT FELT AS THOUGH ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED TIRES AND SUSPENSION, NOT FINDING ANYTHING I QUESTIONED MY SANITY AND PROCEEDED UP THE ROAD WITHIN A FEW MINUTES I AGAIN TRAVELED OVER A MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTION ONCE AGAIN THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE FORD DEALER ADVISES ME THAT THE BUSHINGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE STEERING STABILIZER NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700. I MADE THE TECHNICIAN AWARE THAT MY PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER INTERNET DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING FORD STEERING COMPONENTS AND THAT I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY CITING THIS VERY SAME CONDITION. FORD WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10503507

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

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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.

NHTSA ODI 10499241

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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT END SHIMMERED SEVERELY WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES WHO REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AND STABILIZER ARM BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10496896

OVER THE LIFE OF VEHICLE 45MPH TO 47 MPH STARTING APPROX 6000 MILES HAS HAD A HOP OR VIBRATION THAT YOU CAN FEEL THROUGH THE FLOOR, SEAT AND STEERING. AT 35500 NEW VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL WILE GOING AROUND CORNERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALSO STEERING WHEEL SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN HITTING SEVERAL CLOSE TOGETHER BUMPS, RIPPLES, EXPANSION JOINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10495993

TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AND HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND A VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND I MANAGED TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE SHAKING CONTINUED UNTIL THE TRUCK STOPPED. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, FINDING NOTHING WRONG, I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THE REPORTS I READ MOST CONSIDER IT A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10493509

I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY. IT FELT AS THOUGH ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING WHATSOEVER. I HAD TO SLOW ALMOST TO A STOP AND PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE STEERING STABILIZER AND FRONT END SHOCKS WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED WHENEVER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP OR POTHOLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,848.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 10486566

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 AS PART OF MY DUTIES AS A RURAL AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH CO-LATERAL DUTIES IN REMOTE AREA SEARCH AND RESCUE. HAD I BEEN TOWING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WHEN THIS HIGH SPEED WOBBLE OCCURRED IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT/COLLISION INVOLVING MULTIPLE VEHICLES. AS IT WAS WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED REAR END COLLISIONS AS A RESULT OF THE NECESSITY TO UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKE AND SLOW TO REGAIN CONTROL OF OUR TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10479506

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

NHTSA ODI 10474424

WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, ROUGH PATCHES, UNEVEN RAILROAD TRACKS THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL UNLESS THE SPEED IS REDUCED DRAMATICALLY (BELOW 20MPH ON A FREEWAY). AFTER DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH IS A COMMON TROUBLE WITH THIS TYPE OF TRUCK. IS CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE". I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. IT'S A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10473938

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

NHTSA ODI 10466968

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

NHTSA ODI 10462887

2011 FORD F-250 DIESEL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A 2 LANE RD. AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE FRONT END/STEERING BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER FOR TIRE REBALANCING AND ROTATION (3RD FOR THIS VEHICLE) HE STATED THE TIRES APPEARED TO BE WEARING "FUNNY". A COUPLE WEEKS LATER ON A LONG TRIP OUT OF STATE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AGAIN, WORSE THAN BEFORE. WHILE OUT OF TOWN I HAD ALIGNMENT CHECKED WITH NO ISSUE FOUND AND PURCHASED NEW TIRES. VEHICLE SEEMED REPAIRED ON RETURN TRIP AND HAS SINCE BEGUN THE VIBRATION AGAIN. I WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY WHO SENT ME TO A LOCAL FRONT END SPECIALIST. THIS GENTLEMAN KNEW THE EXACT ISSUE AND CLAIMS TO HAVE REPAIRED HUNDREDS OF THEM. HE STATED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. HIS OPINION WAS THAT I NEED TO PURCHASE A "TRACK BAR KIT" WHICH HE WOULD INSTALL AND THEN ENSURE THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED. AFTER ARRIVING HOME TODAY I STARTED LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR ANY INFORMATION I COULD FIND AND FOUND MANY ARTICLES AND VIDEOS ABOUT WHAT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE A SON WHO TURNED 16 ON SUNDAY AND I VALUE HIS LIFE MORE THAN TO LET HIM DRIVE OUR NEW 2011 VEHICLE WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND THE REASON I AM FILING MY COMPLAINT TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10450521

VIOLENT SHACKING OF STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE SLIDING TO THE RIGHT WHEN APPROCCHING A LEFT CURVE AFTER HITTING MULTIPLE IMPERFECTION ON THE ROAD (EXPANTION JOINTS, BUMPS, HOLES, ETC.) DRIVING AT 50 MPH. FORD TSB 11-6-14. *TR

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TRUCK SUFFERS FROM FRONT WHEEL OSCILLATION WHEN TRAVELING OVER BROKEN/ROUGH ROAD. TRUCK SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL SPEED IS GREATLY REDUCED. THE SAME AS 2005-2010 TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10448079

VIOLENT FRONT END WOBBLE - DEATH WOBBLE - WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, ON INTERSTATE HWY, WITH MODERATE ROUGH ROAD, SEVERE FRONT-END SHAKE FROM TWO FRONT TIRES WOBBLING. MUST SLOW, QUICKLY, TO LESS THAN 30 MPH TO STOP WOBBLE. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE SIMILAR EVENTS OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS. SEARCHED GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE FOR F250 DEATH WOBBLE. RESULTS ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. NO FIX OR ANSWER TO PROBLEM. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. NEEDS NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED AND REVIEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10447329

MY 2011 FORD F250 DIESEL 4X4 CREW CAB 6.5' BED HAS EXPERIENCED UNEXPLAINABLE SUSPENSION VIBRATIONS AND WOBBLES OVER THE COURSE OF ITS, NOW, 13.5K MILE LIFE. THE TRUCK, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE WHEELS AND TIRES WERE BALANCE, BOUNCES AT 45-70 MPH AND BOUNCES AT A VERY DANGEROUS LEVEL AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WORSENED AT THE ONSET OF THE SPEED HEADING INTO A CORNER WHERE THE WHEEL IS TURNED. IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS GO OUT OF SYNC OR OUT OF SHAPE AND BOUNCE FORCING ME TO DECELERATE AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS, STOP ALTOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10447159

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 55 NORTH IN IMPERIAL MISSOURI WITH MY 3 YR OLD SON IN REAR CAR SEAT WHEN I WENT OVER SOME NORMAL ROAD BUMP AND MY FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO CORRECT THE SHAKE. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE FAST LANE AS I HAD NO WAY TO MOVE TO LEFT OR RIGHT. THANK GOD I WAS NOT BEING TAILGATED! I WAS SCARED HALF TO DEATH AND MY 3YR OLD WAS CRYING SO HARD THAT HE COULDN'T BREATHE! I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID A TSB FOR A STEERING DAMPENER AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. THE VERY NEXT MORNING IT DID THE VIOLENT SHAKE AGAIN. TOOK IT STRAIGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD A FORD ENGINEER LOOK AT IT AND THEY REPLACED A TRACK BAR BALL JOINT AND SAID IT WAS GOOD NOW. I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO TEST DRIVE IT BEFORE I TOOK IT THIS TIME AND THEY LET ME. STILL HAD THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT HE SAID THAT THE ENGINEER SAID I NEEDED TO PUT NEW TIRES ON AND A ALIGNMENT BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING ELSE. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAN TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WRONG WITH MY TRUCK!!!!! MY FAMILY TRUCK HAS BECOME A DEATH TRAP!!!! PLEASE HELP WITH THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! IF THIS WAS YOUR CHILD IN THIS TRUCK YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN!!! *TR

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