What 323 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-250 Super Crew

MY FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY STARTED WHAT MANY REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AT 65,000 MILES. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRED WHEN MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK (WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT) TO VISIT COLLEGES. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (78 MPH) WE WENT OVER A CONCRETE TO ASPHALT TRANSITION AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END STARTED VIOLENTLY BOUNCING OR WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH LIKE A SHOPPING CART WHEEL WOULD. SHE OBVIOUSLY PANICKED AND I HAD TO TELL HER TO SLOW THE TRUCK TO 25 MPH (ON A HIGHWAY) TO REGAIN CONTROL. WE ENDED UP IN MEDIAN AS THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THE EVENT. THIS PARTICULAR TRIP WAS FROM HOUSTON TO LUBBOCK AND I DROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP TO AND FROM EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEATH WOBBLE ANOTHER 4 TIMES. I TOOKE THE TRUCK IN AND HAD REPLACEMENT PARTS PUT IN AND CONDITION CONTINUED. RETURNED THE TRUCK TO LEGACY FORD IN ROSENBERG, TX FOR FIX AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TRUCK IS 100% STOCK WITH GOOD MICHELIN TIRES. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL YIELD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM.

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THE SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF AT RANDOM, SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. SHOP SAYS. NOTHING WRONG .... I BEG TO DIFFER, I CAN BE INSIDE A STORE, KEYS IN PURSE AND ALARM GOES OFF AND NO ONE AROUND TRUCK. OR AT HOME IN BED AT 2 OR 4 AM AND IT GOES OFF. NO ONE AROUND TRUCK KEYS ON COUNTER. I ALWAYS LOCK MY TRUCK NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT, BUT I HAVE TO FIND MY KEYS AND UNLOCK IT THEN RELOCK TO RESET THE ALARM. IT'S ANNOYING AND IM SURE INSURANCE WOULD LOOK TWICE ON COVERING A VEHICLE THAT SECURITY DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY. IT LIKE CRYING WOLF WOLF I'M AFRAID MY TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY BE STOLEN ONE DAY. THEN WHO DO I BLAME?? FORD? THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM BUT CONTINUOUS . PLEASE DO SOMTHING. NOT SURE WHAT DOCUMENTATION TO SEND OTHER THAN WITNESSES.

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VEHICLE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 70,000. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH ANY MINOR BUMP WILL CAUSE TRUCK TO BEGIN TO VIBRATE THROUGHOUT THE STEERING SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENTLY WOBBLE VIOLENTLY. APPLYING THE BRAKES MAKES IT WORSE UNTIL THE TRUCK SLOWS DOWN BELOW 35MPH. THE TRUCK IS NOT ABLE TO BE STEERED DURING THIS EVENT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL REPUTABLE MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THIS DISCREPANCY IS IN MANY F-250S AND NO ONE HAS THE COMPLETE SOLUTION. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE NO INTEREST OR EXPECTATION OF A RECALL. THEY DID TELL ME TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A QUOTE TO REPLACE- TIE RODS, TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, DRAG LINK, AND 'STEERING COMPONENTS'. THEY SAID IT WAS THE SECOND TRUCK BROUGHT IN THIS WEEK. THE WOULD WARRANTY THE PARTS BUT NOT THE PROBLEM AND THIS WOULD HELP ELIMINATE WHICH COMPONENTS WERE THE CULPRIT. SO IN EFFECT I'D BE PAYING TO REBUILD THE FRONT END AND NOT NECESSARILY FIX THE MOST DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE IN I'VE HAD IN A VEHICLE. NHTSA PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND HELP HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE.

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WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT AROUND 65 MPH, IF I HIT ANY MINOR BUMP OR UNEVEN SURFACE DURING A SWEEPING CURVE, THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY UNTIL I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLATBED OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND CONTAINED A LARGE HOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FLATBED TRAPPED WATER AND SALT, WHICH CAUSED THE HEAT SHIELD AND EXHAUST ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-21767132. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

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MY 2012 F-250 HAS 126,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A STEERING VIBRATION AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND ROUGH ROADS. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I WAS COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND DROVE OVER SOME ROUGH AREAS IN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND THE TRUCK STARTED VIBRATING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD LITTLE CONTROL AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE SIDE OF OF THE HIGHWAY WHICH HAS ABOUT A 2000 FOOT DROP. I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP BUT GOT IT SLOWED DOWN AND THE VIBRATION WENT AWAY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED. THE PAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE ABOUT FORD'S F-250 "DEATH WOBBLE". I AM CERTAIN THIS IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED AND HAVE CHECKED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND FOUND NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE I'M SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY TALK OF A RECALL. I AM A RETIRED ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE TRAC BAR & BALL JOINT WEARING PREMATURELY AND NOT ENOUGH POSITIVE CASTER WHICH IS NON ADJUSTABLE FOR THIS MODEL. I CAN SEE THESE COMPONENTS POSSIBLY CAUSING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE S KILLED!

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ON HIGHWAY DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE NO DEATH WOBBLE THEY SPEAK OF BUT WENT INTO NEXT LANE OVER AND COULD NOT CONTROL TRUCK UNTIL SPEED WAS LOWER. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES ALREADY SENT IT INTO SHOP FRONT END TIGHT HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED FRONT END ALIGNED STILL PULLS LEFT AND RIGHT.

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AT APPROX 60 TO 75 MPH UPON HITTING UNEVEN PAYMENT OR BUMPS IN ROAD THE FRONT WHEELS START AN UNCONTROLLABLE WOBBLE , STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SO BAD CAN KEEP HANDS ON TO STEER AND NO STEERING IS POSSIBLE, IF BRAKES APPLIED ONLY GETS WORST, MUST COAST DOWN TO A STOP , U CANNOT STEER. I REPLACE ALL SHOCKS AND STEERING DAMPENER, STILL HAD WOBBLE AFTER WARDS. FORDS ANSWER IS TO CARRY WEIGHT IN THE REAR, AND NOT TO DRIVE ABOVE 60 MPH. THIS IS UNSAT. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE CASTER SETTING WHICH IS NOT ADJUSTABLE IS ONLY 1 DEGREE FORWARD AND NEEDS TO BE 3 DEGREES FORWARD. FORD SAYS THIS MAKES IT HARDER TO TURN IN A PARKING LOT. PLEASE HELP FORD DO AM RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. IN ALL 8 OF MY WOBBLES THREE I CAME ACROSS THE CENTER LANE BEFORE I COULD STOP AND THE OTHERS OFF ROAD IN THE DITCH.

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DEATH WOBBLE - HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING VIOLENT SHAKING AND INSTABILITY WHILE AT SPEEDS OF 55-65 MPH. STEERING WHEEL CAN ALMOST BE SHAKEN OUT OF MY HANDS WITH A TIGHT GRIP. SOLUTION IS TO SLOW TO BELOW 25MPH. THEN START OVER. WOBBLE STARTS SOMETIMES ON ITS OWN OR IF HITTING SMALL UNEVEN SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGE/ROAD JOINT.

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STARTED MY TRUCK TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE I TOOK IT IN TO TOWN. WENT INSIDE FOR AROUND 150 MIN, COME OUTSIDE AND I SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM MY DOORS AND AS SOON AS I OPENED IT FEOM THE PASSENGER DOOR IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND I SEEN A FIRE ON MY DRIVER SIDE FEINT SEAT. IT COMPLETELY BURNT MY TRUCK AND ANOTHER F250 THE WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT.

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VEHICLE HAS HAD RANDOM TIMES WHEN IT JUST CUT OFF COMPLETELY OR IT IS UNABLE TO START. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2015. DEALER HAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE BRB BUT THE REPAIR EXPENSE IS EXORBITANT DUE TO TIME INVOLVED.

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EXPERIENCING A SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. I'VE REPLACED TIRES AND ALMOST ALL FRONT END COMPONENTS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED, AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO CURE IT. HAPPENS WHENEVER I HIT A SMALL BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE TRUCK MUST BE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP TO END THE WOBBLE

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY (DEATH WOBBLE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRESCOTT BROTHERS FORD LINCOLN OF PRINCETON (1502 W PERU ST, PRINCETON, IL, (815) 875-1180) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS WORN OUT AND THE STEERING DAMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN SEVERAL VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRUCK FRONT VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP TO GET THE VIBRATION TO STOP. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND REBALANCED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE STOCK CONFIGURATION. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 140K MILES NOW.

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OWNED TRUCK FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, I HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON TRUCK AND HAD 'DEATH WOBBLE' ON HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER A $1000+ BILL FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT STILL HAPPENS BUT NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT AS ORIGINALLY.

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SHIFTS TO WHILE DRIVING

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MY REAR WINDOW SHATTERED ON A COLD MORNING WITH NO IMPACT. I SUSPECT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS FAULTY. GLASS GUY SAID HE REPLACED THIS WINDOW ALL THE TIME WITH THAT COMPLAINT.

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WHILE DRIVING IN SPEEDS BETWEEN 55-70 AND DRIVING OVER A BUMP, BRIDGE OR POTHOLE, MY FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY; RESULTING IN NEARLY LOSING CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. I WOULD NEED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER TO END THE VIOLENT SHAKING. THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 15 TIMES WHEN DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-40 BETWEEN NASHVILLE AND KNOXVILLE TN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND LIGHT TRAFFIC OR ELSE IT MAY HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND MOST CALL IT 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND IT IS CAUSED BY THE CASTOR ANGLE OF FORDS FRONT END SUSPENSION. IT IS KNOW TO RAPIDLY WEAR BUSHINGS, JOINTS AND BEARINGS THAT COULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE LOSS OF TOTAL CONTROL OF A HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE. MULTIPLE TSB HAVE BEEN ISSUES FOR OTHER YEAR OF SUPERDUTY TRUCKS AND ALL HAVE STATED TO REPLACE WORN TRACK BARS, TIE ROD ENDS, STEERING STABILIZERS AND ADJUST THE CASTOR ANGLE.

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SOFT PEDAL, BRAKE SYSTEM PEDAL PRESSURE HAS MOVEMENT WHEN STARTING. WHILE DRIVING HAS LIMITED STOPPING POWER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT FOUND METAL SHRAPNEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH TRAVELED TO THE ENGINE. MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,180.

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EXPERIENCING WHAT IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT, VEHICLE BEGINS SHAKING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY). MUST APPLY BRAKES AND SLOW SPEED TO REMEDY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE WOBBLE WAS TO REDUCE THE SPEED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENLY FORD INC (500 S GARNER AVE, KENLY, NC 27542) WHERE THE STEERING ARM AND TORSION BAR WERE REPLACED, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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OUR SUPER DUTY IS ONE OF THE ONES AFFECTED BY THE DEATH WOBBLE.HOW ANYONE CAN SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME.DRIVE 40 MPH AND HAVE IT SHAKE SO BAD IT CROSSES THE CENTER LINE OR DRIVE ANY SPEED FROM 40 TO 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND GO OVER A BUMP OR CHANGE IN PAVEMENT AND HAVE IT SHAKE SO BAD YOU NEED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW IT WHILE TRAFFIC IS GOING AT 70.VERY DANGEROUS.FORD HAS THE SIMPLE SOLUTION BUT WON'T LET IT OUT.CAMBERS ARE FACTORY SET AT 4.2 WHICH CAUSES THE PROBLEM.CHANGING TO3.5 FIXES IT.FORD COULD HAVE RECALLED THEM BACK IN 2007 AND STOPPED FACTORY SETTINGS OF 4.2.WE SPENT OVER $1500 ON FRONT END REPAIRS,PLLUS SHOCKS AND TIRES WHICH WAS MONEY THROWN OUT. WE WERE TOLD TO PUT NEW ROTORS AND CALIPERS TO CORRECT IT.NO WAY. TOMORROW IT GOES IN TO HAVE THE CAMBERS RESET. OH OVER $700 ALSO TO REPLACE ALL BUSHINGS BEFORE A FORD COMPANY MECHANIC TOLD US ABOUT THE CAMBERS.THE WOBBLE MAY BE THE REASON SO MANY VEHICLES CROSS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THAT WOBBLE IS BONE JARRING AND MY WIFE HAS 20 FLOATING SPURS IN HER NECK SO IT'S PAINFUL FOR HER.BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 2016 AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

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THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK ACUATOR DOES NOT WORK IN MY 2012 FORD F250. I FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY WHEN MY 8 YEAR OLD SON HIT THE SHIFTER AND THE TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARDS WITH HIM IN IT. I WAS TAKING GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUCK AND I HAD THE KEYS IN MY POCKET THINKING THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRUCK MOVE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO JUMP INTO THE MOVING VEHICLE AND HIT THE BRAKE WITH MY HAND. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS RECORDED ON MY HOME SECURITY CAMERA. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION THAT COULD'VE GONE REALLY BAD BUT THANKFULLY IT DIDN'T. I FOUND THIS ARTICLE ONLINE (HTTPS://NEWS.PICKUPTRUCKS.COM/2011/12/RECALL-ALERT-2011-FORD-F-150-2012-FORD-F-250-F-350-F-450-F-550.HTML) AND ITS STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT ONLY FOR TRUCKS THAT WERE BUILT BETWEEN 9/9-9/22 OF THAT YEAR. MINE WAS BUILT 3/12 BUT I FIND IT FAR TOO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE ALSO. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORPORATION AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT MY CURRENT SITUATION. I BELIEVE SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THEM. TO ME ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY BUT IT IS ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF HOW THERE COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OF DEATH CAUSED BY THIS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT AND I BELIEVE THAT IS WAY UNDER THE AVERAGE MILAGE FOR A VEHICLE OF THAT AGE. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET SOME GUIDANCE FROM YOU GUYS IN WHICH TO TAKE MY NEXT STEP IN GETTING MY SITUATION RESOLVED. THANK YOU.

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TAKATA RECALL MY SECURITY ALARM GOES OFF AT RANDOM ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT WHEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NO RYME OF REASON WHY. NOTHING AROUND TRUCK, 0R TOUCHING IT. DAY OR NIGHT. WHEN LOCKED WHICH ITS ALWAYS LOCKED IF IM NOT IN IT. NO PHOTOES, BUT I DO HAVE WITNESSES.

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