What 183 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-350 Super Crew

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact experienced the death wobble after driving over a bump on a bridge. The contact pulled the vehicle off to the shoulder and coasted the vehicle until the rattling stopped and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure and neither offered any assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 223,000

NHTSA ODI 11435554

I believe this is now the 3rd occurrence for me within the last two weeks of what has been termed by other owners as the "death wobble". Two incidents have occurred on "bumpy" roads, though one was just a bumpy interstate. The interstate, while a bumpy, I wouldn't imagine would have been bumpy enough to constitute a poor road condition, travel conditions were pulling about 12,000 lb 5th wheel camper and I was going probably between 55-60mph. The next two occurrences happened truck only. The second occurrence, was a back road and probably the "bumpiest" road of them all, probably going 45-50 mph, so not so bumpy that I had to be going super slow. The third occurrence was on a smooth road and I did hit a "bump" which probably wasn't much more than a crack in the road traveling at probably 50-60 mph. I experienced the wobble. Each time, it has been scarier than the last and it required me to slow down significantly, while I dont know the exact amount, many people describing under 20 mph feels about right, however, the 3rd occurrence required a complete stop before the shaking int he steering wheel was gone. I have completed a number of checks, tire tread is still good, the balance feels appropriate at highway speeds. I think my biggest concern here, is that this is a common issue and there appears to be no common reasons or even a short list of probably causes based on my doling around the internet. I am sure I am about to spend several thousand for mechanics to attempt solutions, but I believe it's worth adding my name to the list of this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11429998

Death wobble. At 30 mph & 70 mph. Jerked steering wheel from my hands & pulled us off the road onto grass on road side. Full brakes & skidded to a stop.

NHTSA ODI 11423013

While traveling down the road at approximately 72 mph my vehicle front end began to shake unbelievably. It felt like all four tires had gone flat. I could not control the vehicle until the speed got down to around 40 mph.

NHTSA ODI 11420532

I WAS 300 MILES FROM HOME FOR WORK FOR A WEEK. ON DAY 1, WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, I SUDDENLY GOT A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT STATED "STOP SAFELY NOW". SECONDS LATER, AS I WAS PULLING OVER BY THE CURB, THE TRUCK SHUT ITSELF DOWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE (BEING AWAY FROM HOME). ON DAY 3, I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I DROVE IT A BLOCK AWAY TO THE PLACE I WAS STAYING. ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I GOT THE MESSAGE AND IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN JUST AS FAST. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO ARRANGE TRANSPORT OF MY TRUCK BACK HOME. $650 AND 3 DAYS LATER, I FINALLY GOT IT HOME. STARTED IT, RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES PARKED SO TRIED TO DRIVE IT. MADE IT ABOUT 1000 FEET WHEN IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME IT SHUT ITSELF DOWN, I HAD TO WAIT A MINIMUM OF 1 HOUR BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. AFTER RESEARCHING, IT SEEMS THAT MY EGT13 SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. HAD IT SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE, THE RESULTS OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL AND TRANSPORT. MY RESEARCH BROUGHT TO LIGHT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORDS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND

NHTSA ODI 11415326

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 M/H VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT END AND STEERING OCCURS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN PAVEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" REPLACING SUSPENSION, TY-RODS AND SWAY BAR ,ETC. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11413962

DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN MY 2012 F350 LARIAT, THE TRUCK GETS TO 60 FINE BUT ANY FASTER THEN THAT AND IT BEGINS TO GET A SPEED WOBBLE THAT CAUSES THE ENTIRE TRUCK TO VIBRATE AT A UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE THAT THROWS THE STEERING AND I FOUND IT UNSAFE TO HIT THE BRAKES, WHICH FORCES YOU TO JUST COAST WHILE THE TRUCKS SHAKES VIOLENTLY. FOR A TRUCK THAT PEOPLE PAY UP TO $40,000 OT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CRUISE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60-70 MPH WITH NO PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE THROWN OFF BY THE SMALLEST DIVIT OR BUMP IN THE ROADS BUT ONLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHICH MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD THAT WAS IN THE TRUCK MANY TIMES AS THIS HAPPENS AND IT'S A SCARY THING IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TONCOME OFF. ONLY HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW ALSO. IT SEEMS IN MINT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE SPEED WOBBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11408556

TRUCK STARTED TO WOBBLE VIOLENTLY THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND GET THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11405376

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE SEVERELY WHILE TOWING A 40 FOOT RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

NHTSA ODI 11403011

WE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING OUR VEHICLE AND HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS AT THE TIME OUR TRUCK DIED . AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT HAD OIL AND WATER. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT FULL SPEED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE TRUCK STARTED SHUDDERING, AND THEN IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER. A CLOUD OF BLUE-WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE TURNPIKE TO A SAFE PLACE. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND CAN'T BE FIXED. OUR TRUCK ONLY HAS 134,000 MILES - IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BLOWN UP LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11402641

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH MY 2012 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY SO MUCH SO THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL RESULTING IN A NEAR MISS OF COLLISION WITH VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. WITH GREAT EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND COME TO A STOP SAFELY. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TOOK SURFACE ROADS AT SLOW SPEEDS TO GET HOME,

NHTSA ODI 11387572

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED OUT OF CONTROL WHICH MADE IT SO I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL THE TRUCK SLOWED. CARS WERE SERVING OFF THE ROAD AND I WAS WITHIN SECONDS OF A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH 2 OF MY CHILDREN. I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AS NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THE CAUSE OR REPAIR NEEDED. HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR ON MY FORMER FORD BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11383434

MY F350 HAS DEVELOPED A DEATH WOBBLE OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS. SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE LAST FRIDAY AFTER HITTING A BRIDGE EXPANSION AT AROUND 65MPH. VERY CLOSE TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SHAKING DID NOT SUBSIDE UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I HAVE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT ON 17DEC2020 TO HAVE FORD ASSESS PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR TSB SO I WOULD HAVE THE BEAR COST OF REPAIRS. FORD IS GUESSING COULD BE AS MUCH AS $4000 OUT OF POCKET COST. SINCE THERE IS A TSB OUT TO FIX NEWER TRUCKS BUT DOES NOT COVER MINE AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT PENDING FOR THIS WITH FORD FILED, I DO THINK FORD NEEDS TO CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REPAIR IT PENDING SUIT AS SHOW OF GOOD FAITH AND CUSTOMER CONCERN ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO REMAIN LOYAL TO THE BRAND.

NHTSA ODI 11383439

I RECENTLY CROSSED A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT DOING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 AND 75 MPH MY TRUCK STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AS I COULD BARELY HOLD IT. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 40-45 MPH BEFORE IT QUIT. THIS WAS ON A SATURDAY. MONDAY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AND CHECK FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE BAD IN THE STEERING/FRONT END SUSPENSION. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND FOUND THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK WAS LEAKING, THEY REPLACED IT AND STARTED TO BRING ME THE TRUCK. IT STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AT 50 MPH. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE DRAG LINK, RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END, ADJUSTING SLEEVE, BALL JOINT AT TRACKER BAR AND RIGHT OUTER LOWER TIE ROD END. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT ON IT, I DROVE THE TRUCK A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES SEEMED TO BE FINE. I TOOK TO THE SHOP THEY USED FOR A ALIGNMENT, THEY DID THEIR THING AND I LEFT. WHEN I LEFT I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WASN'T STRAIGHT SO I TOOK IT FOR A QUICK DRIVE. AT 60 MPH I DID THE VIOLENT SHAKING AGAIN AND HAVING TO SLOW DOWN TO 45 MPH FOR IT TO STOP, IT SHOOK TWICE IN A 6 MILE STRETCH OF INTERSTATE. I RETURNED IT TO THE ALIGNMENT SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE IT.. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FIRST SHOP AND THEY GOT IT IN THE FORD GARAGE FOR AN ALIGNMENT. STILL SHAKING AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR MOST OF A WEEK THEY REPLACED THE TIRES AND IT SEEMED TO HELP. UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS RUNNING 62-64MPH IN A SLIGHT TURN AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IT IS STILL DOING IT AND I KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO START SO I'M READY. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE WEB I HEAR THAT THIS IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE"

NHTSA ODI 11383171

TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A VERY EXTREME DEATH WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH,WHEN YOU HIT ANY SMALL BUMP, TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11374111

DEATH WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING AND HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. I'VE HAD SHOCKS REPLACED, TIRES CHECKED AND RECHECKED, SHOCKS ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE REPLACED, TO NO AVAIL. PARTICULARLY BAD IF I'M AT A SLIGHT TURN AND HIT A BUMP AT 60MPH. NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKES. MECHANICS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THE DEATH WOBBLE IS STILL THERE. HAS HAPPENED SO FREQUENTLY I BRACE WHEN I HIT SMALL BUMPS OR GO OVER BRIDGES WITH SMALL RIDGES. NOT ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT, IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I HIT A SMALL BUMP AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11366633

I HAVE A 2012 FORD F350 CREW CAB 6.7. MILES 72160.6, ENG HRS 3877 AND ENG HRS IDEL 1700. WHICH IS VERY LOW FOR THE EGR TO GO BAD AND NOTICE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHICH MANY ARE BYPASSING THIS SYSTEM. I THINK ITS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE LOOKS IN TO THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD MANUFACTURE. THIS WAY FORD OWNERS DO NOT DO BYPASSING THE EMISSION SYSTEMS. I WONDERED WHY HWY PATROL WAS PULLING OVER DIESEL TRUCKS. LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND OUT FOR INSPECTING THEM TO SEE IF ANY BYPASS EMISSION WAS DONE ON THAT TRUCK (CALIFORNIA). EGR (EMISSION) IS JUST A MAJOR HEADACHE AND THIS NEEDS TO INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI 11365972

OCTOBER 16TH FRIDAY PICKED UP MY WIFE MARTHA FROM WORK AROUND 5 PM. DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD, SMOOTH STRAIGHT SECTION, FELT SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL. WE DIDN'T HAVE TRAILER. ROAD WAS DRY AND IN GOOD CONDITION. HAD BEEN LOOKING IN TO DEATH WOBBLE AND WATCHING VIDEOS EARLIER IN THE WEEK. DECIDED TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE LEFT AND THEN BACK A LITTLE RIGHT (AS IF TRYING TO AVOID A POT HOLE, NO CARS WERE ON COMING AND ONE CAR WAS BEHIND ME), GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. DEATH WOBBLE STARTED AND WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED, SHOOK BOTH THE WHEEL VIOLENTLY AND SHOOK THE WHOLE TRUCK. I PUT ON THE BRAKES BUT DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG IT TOOK TO SLOW AND HAVE THE SHACKING STOP, MOVE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LET CAR PASS ME. DROPPED OF THE TRUCK AT MARTHA'S WORK AND TOOK HER CAR TO OUR DESTINATION. ITEMS IN THE BACK SEAT OF TRUCK, COOLER, PLASTIC BIN CONTAINER AND SUITCASE THAT WAS ON THE TRUCK SEAT WAS NOW ON THE FLOOR. WILL ADD PDF WITH MORE RELATED DETAIL.

NHTSA ODI 11365033

AT SPEEDS TYPICALLY OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE, VEHICLE HAS A PROPENSITY TO BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY, AND UNCONTROLLABLY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN AMONG OWNERS AS "DEATH WOBBLE". THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO FOR REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACEMENT BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNSOLVED. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11355429

RUST IN FUEL TANK. WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WITH ENGINE OVER HEAT. NO LEAKS WHATSOEVER. JUST SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY. SHAME ON FORD!!!

NHTSA ODI 11350281

WHILE DRIVING TODAY MY TRUCK STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AFTER GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11350313

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HITTING SMALL POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE VEHICLE'S STEERING TO VIOLENTLY RATTLE UNCONTROLLABLE UNTIL SLOWING TO UNDER 50 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11348775

DEATH WOBBLE AT SPEEDS STARTING ANYWHERE FROM 40 MPH UP. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON A HIGHWAY OR OVERPASS AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO SLOW DOWN OR TRY TO STEER TO. EXTREMELY SCARY. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM 'TRY' TO BE FIXED GREATER THAN 5 TIMES. THE LAST FIX WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND HAS LASTED SO FAR BUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL VIBRATION AGAIN. THE FIXES AREN'T CHEAP EITHER. ALWAYS GREATER THAN $1000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

NHTSA ODI 11348804

DEATH WOBBLE! HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS! DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ANY SPEED OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. TRUCK FRONT END AND STEERING SHAKE VIOLENTLY! IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL OVER TRUCK. AFRAID OF KILLING MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. TOOK THE TRUCK TO SHOP AND GOT TWO NEW FRONT TIRES AND A NEW RIM. TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICE AND NO DIFFERENCE!

NHTSA ODI 11341101

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF CP4 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. TRUCK STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WHILE DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. FORD WANTS $13,000 TO FIX IT, HAVE ALREADY PAID >$7,000 TO FIX EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11339482