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

DRIVING VEHICLE LAST YEAR BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF EXPERIENCED WHAT IS NOW KNOW AS 'THE DEATH WOBBLE' WHERE THE FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE WILDLY ABOVE APPROX 60 MILES PER HOUR. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALER TO INSPECT/FIX THE PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING 'DEATH WOBBLE' (SERVICE ADVISORS WORDS)COMMON TO F250'S. OVER 1400 DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS WERE MADE IN JUNE OF 2018. REPORTED SYMPTOMS AGAIN TO MY DEALER WHEN TRUCK WAS BROUGHT IN FOR NORMAL SERVICE. WAS ADVISE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. OUR DRIVING HABITS ARE TO AVOID ANY POT HOLES OR OTHER ROAD ANOMALIES WE KNOW ABOUT ON THE HIGHWAYS WE DRIVE ON BECAUSE THE WOBBLE CAN STILL BE FELT. MY PLAN IS TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX REPLACED THIS WEEK WHICH WILL COST OVER 1000 DOLLARS.

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GETTING THE DEATH WOBBLE, HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND DAMPER, NOT LUCK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY SOMETIMES WHEN HIT A BUMP AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. ITS TERRIBLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AFTER DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING THE FAILURE THE DRIVER WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PARAMOUNT FORD OF VALDESE LOCATED (101 MALCOLM BLVD, VALDESE) WHO REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACE BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

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CURRENTLY HAVE 53K MILES. PROBLEM RARE, STARTED AT 10K OR LESS. WITH OUR WILTHOUT PICKUP CAMPER LOADS: AT 60MPH OR HIGHER WHEN HITTING BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS OR RR TRACKS (PARTICULARLY AT ANGLES) IN WHICH ONE WHEEL STRIKES IRREGULARITY FIRST, A VIOLENT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE BEGINS. MUST IMMEDIATLY SLOW VEHICLE TO STOP IT. COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN ACTIVE. TOTAL OF PERHAPS 6 OCCURRENCES. CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR INVESTIGATION. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

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WHILE TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 10 CROSSING OVER SIEGEN LANE, TRUCK PASSED OVER SMALL BUMP IN INTERSTATE AND STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE THE ENTIRE TRUCK ALMOST TO THE POINT OF NO CONTROL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO INSPECT MY TRUCK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND ALL TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN I STARTED AGAIN THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF 12 INCIDENTS OF WHAT I HAVE COME TO KNOW FROM RESEARCH AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK THE THE FORD DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND FORD CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THIS IS THE MOST UNNERVING EXPERIENCE. THIS WAS A $70000 VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED OR EVER TAKE OFF ROAD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK.

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WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. HAVING TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY TO 30 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT SAFE. OUR TRUCK IS UNDER FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST THEY BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES SO WE HAD THEM REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT. NOW, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END TWICE WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE TRUCK NOW SHAKES SLIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT SPEED.

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THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE VIOLENTLY UPON HITTING A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 50 MPH. AGGRESSIVE BREAKING WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND STOP THE WOBBLING.

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WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND REACH ABOUT 50 MPH THE WHEELS ON THE TRUCK SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND IT JERKS YOU OFF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK.

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE PARKWAY, A STRAIGHT ROAD, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE TO THE POINT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER. THEY KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND CALLED IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 MORE TIMES. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STOPPED. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN, IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY FORD DEALER WANTS ME TO DUPLICATE IT FOR THEM.

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THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN (LAST WEEK) I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH (PULLING A TRAILER), CLEAR SKY, TEMP IN THE 50'S. FELT A SLIGHT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FLOOR BOARD. WITHIN SECONDS IS WHEN A EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED. I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY. IT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS MORNING GOING DOWN A DIFFERENT HIGHWAY ABOUT 60MPH, CLEAR SKY TEMP 42 OUTSIDE AND IT WAS THE WORST YET. MY ENTIRE ENTIRE 2012 FORD F-250 WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING TO THE POINT IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND ABRUPT WE COULDN'T STOP FAST ENOUGH TO STOP THE SHAKING

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WHILE TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA , I WAS GOING 70 MPH AND HIT A BUMP AND EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING AND HAD TO SLOW TO 45 TOO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS WAS ON 10/13/2019. I LATER LEARNED THAT THIS IS SO COMMON IN FORDS THAT IT HAS THE NICKNAME ' DEATH WOBBLE"

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD THE FRONT WHEEL START BOUNCING LIKE A BASKET BALL. IT IS A VIOLENT REACTION. IT ONLY STOP BOUNCING IF YOU SLOW DOWN. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT SPEEDS FROM 45 TO 75 MPH. ALSO WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, YOU LOOSE STEERING CONTROL FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THIS HAS CAUSED MY TRUCK TO TEMPORARILY LOOSE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS ON EVERY BUMP. NOT GOOD.

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THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND PEOPLE WHO HAVE REFERRED TO THIS AS THE 'DEATH WOBBLE.' I HAVE HAD REPAIRS TO MY TRUCK 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS TO FIX THIS CAUSING ME APPROXIMATELY $1000 EACH TIME. MOST RECENTLY MONDAY JULY 9, 2018. THE 'REPAIR' SEEMS TO BE ONLY TEMPORARY AND EACH TIME I HAVE IT FIXED IT LASTS 6-9 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO HELP NOR IS FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING 55-65 MPH AND AFTER HITTING A BUMP.

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THE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT TIMES AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. OUR TRUCK WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS HOWEVER THEY SAID SINCE IT COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED CONSISTENTLY NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IT HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE - MUCH WORSE. LAST SUMMER IT GOT SO BAD IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE SO WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO PUT NEW SUSPENSION PARTS IN THE FRONT END. AFTER A COUPLE THOUSAND IN REPAIRS AND MANY NEW PARTS, IT STILL SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY WE CANNOT DRIVE IT SAFELY. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS - THEY ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ON THIS SITE SO WHY CAN THIS NOT BE FIXED? I DROVE MY GRAND-DAUGHTERS IN IT ONE DAY TWO WEEKS AGO AND AFTER NOT HAPPENING FOR DAYS IT HAPPENED AND IT'S A WONDER WE DID NOT HIT THE ONCOMING CAR HEAD ON. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE IN ONE OF THESE TRUCKS AND THEN MAYBE FORD WILL STEP UP AND AT LEAST TELL THOSE OF US THAT OWN THEM HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! IT SEEMS LIKE IT RARELY HAPPENS AT 40 MPH OR BELOW BUT HAPPENS QUICKLY AT 55 MPH OR MORE. IF SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS "DEATH WOBBLE" IT SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY.

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