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

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55-75 MPH) THE FRONT WHEELS WILL START TO SHIMMY AND SHUDDER CAUSING STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT TIRES TO OSCILLATE SEVERELY (DEATH WOBBLE) WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES. THIS CAUSES ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND CAN ONLY BE BE STOPPED BY STOPPING OR SLOWING VEHICLE. (UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH TRAFFIC FOLLOWING)

NHTSA ODI 11339575

I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH WOBBLE AND VIBRATION ON MY F-350 FOR YEARS NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. IT HAS ALWAYS SEEMS TO OCCUR BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. THEY FIRST REPLACED BALL JOINT, THEN I WAS TOLD IT'S THE TIRES, GOT NEW TIRES. IT WAS ALWAYS JUST A LITTLE VIBRATION AND PLAY IN THE WHEEL. NOW WHEN I HIT A BUMP, A FROST HEAVE OR LIKE A BRIDGE JOINT I GET EXTREME SHAKE AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. THEY MOST RECENTLY REPLACED STABILIZER BUT IT STILL OCCURS. THE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN I HAVE MY TRUCK CAMPER ON IT. STARTED TO DO RESEARCH TODAY ON IT AND DISCOVERED THIS SO CALL DEATH WOBBLE COMPLAINT. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT TOO BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT TODAY AS I HAD NO CONTROL AND WAS FORCED TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN TODAY AFTER I HIT A BRIDGE JOINT.

NHTSA ODI 11338823

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO GET ON TO THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND RATTLING I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES IT WASN'T WORKING THAN THE STEERING LOCKED. I HIT MY EMERGENCY BREAKS PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR UNTIL A POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 2/28/2020 AND WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE TRUCK THE NEXT DAY THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE THE KEYS, THIS TOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS. ON 04/06/2020 APPROX. 2 WEEKS AFTER PICKING UP THE TRUCK THE IT WOULDN'T START, I JUMPED THE TRUCK AT WHICH TIME THERE WAS A RATTLING AND KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING. I GOT THE TRUCK BACK AGAIN A LITTLE OVER 2 WEEKS LATER ON 04/23/2020. I FEEL THE TRUCK IS SO UNSAFE THAT IT WILL CAUSE ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT PLACING MY LIFE THAT OF MY FAMILY OR ANOTHER DRIVER IN A SEPARATE VEHICLE AT STAKE. UPON REVIEWING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS NONE OF THE DOCUMENTS HAVE THE SAME ODOMETER READING AND THE NUMBER IS APPROX. 24000 OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11338214

CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING "DEATH WOBBLE" AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADS. FRONT END BECOMES COMPLETELY UNSTABLE AND CONTROL IS NOT REGAINED UNIT SPEED IS REDUCED GREATLY. INCIDENTALLY, THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT IS NOW ON.

NHTSA ODI 11337415

I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY NO PROBLEM, SUDDENLY HIT A SMALL BUMP AND GET DEATH WOBBLE, HAVING TO IMMEDIATELY TRY SLOWING DOWN BELOW 50 AND PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. REPLACED ALMOST ALL FRONT END COMPONENTS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328230

TRUCK HIT BUMP (SMALL CURB) WITH DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY STARTED ACCELERATING AND HAD TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS A GAS BUMP IN A FILLING STATION. VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 10 MPH TO PROBABLY OVER 30 MPH UNTIL IT HIT A STATIONARY TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11309643

4 MONTHS AGO I WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. WHILE DRIVING MY FORD F350 SUPERDUTY AT THAT SPEED THE TRUCK HAD AN EXTREMELY BAD AND VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DURING THIS TIME I HAD NO STEERING CONTROL, BRAKING WAS AT A VERY MINIMAL, AND PULLED THE TRUCK INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 OTHER TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS. DURING THIS TIME FORD MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS DOESNT APPEAR TO BE A COMMON ISSUE SINCE IT DOESNT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I REPLACED SHOCKS, TIRES, AND EVEN HAD THE SUSPENSION LOOKED AT BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND NOBODY HAS AN ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY NHTSA AND FORD AND NOBODY SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT DRIVE MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FEAR OF CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INJURING OR KILLING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE ROAD. IF AN INVESTIGATION IS NOT DONE VERY SOON I WILL SEEK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST FORD AND AGAINST THE NHTSA FOR OVERLOOKING THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM. YOU CAN READ ALL THE OTHER REPORTS ON WHAT THE INTERNET IS CALLING THE DEATH WABBLE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION AND IF I NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NEWS SO IT'S MORE PUBLIC I WILL DO THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11309061

WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO A CRUISING SPEED ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, SEVERELY LIMITING MY ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE (A/K/A A "DEATH WOBBLE") . I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF AN INTERSTATE (WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH) AND MOVE CAREFULLY OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE ISSUE HAS PERSISTED DESPITE HAVING MY TIRES BALANCED AND FRONT END ALIGNED. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR ANOTHER WARRANTY ITEM ON 2/3-4/2020 AND REQUESTED THAT THIS PROBLEM BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL. I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE TRUCK NEEDED "AN ENTIRE NEW FRONT END" AT A COST OF OVER $1,800 AS IT WAS SOMETHING COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAVE ON THE TRUCK (UP TO 75,000 MILES).

NHTSA ODI 11308434

'DEATH WOBBLE': WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED ROAD WAYS AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH TO 80 MPH IT SUDDENLY GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE. THE SHAKE IS SO VIOLENT THAT OBJECTS ON THE SEATS AND IN THE BOX ARE THROWN AROUND, EVEN HEAVY OBJECTS SUCH AS 30 POUND PROPANE TANKS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VIOLENT SHAKE IS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND REDUCE THE SPEED TO UNDER 40 MPH. BUMPS IN THE ROAD CAN INDUCE THE SHAKE IF THE SPEED IS AROUND 60 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11296612

ON 12-24-19 I WAS DRIVING ~55 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD AND HAD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR IN FRONT OF ME IN WHICH I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID THE WRECK. MY TRUCK SLOWED BUT NOT LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE SHOULDER TO AVOID CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THE BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR HAD BLOW OFF CAUSING MY TRUCK TO LOOSE BRAKE FLUID AND THE USE OF MY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11292084

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350. WHILE SWITCHING LANES AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHAKING AND WAS DRIVEN TO ITS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT CALLED HOFFMAN FORD (5200 JONESTOWN RD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112, (717) 657-1600) AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OBSERVE THE SUSPENSION FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AGGRESSIVELY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRACK BAR ATTACHED TO THE BALL JOINT SHOULD TURN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11291533

FREQUENTLY ON DAMP AND COLD DAYS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTS MALFUNCTIONING. THE WIPERS FAIL TO WORK. THE LIGHTS (HEAD, PARKING FOG, BLINKERS) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE TRUCK DON'T WORK. WHEN I REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE TRUCK THE RADIO AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN AFTER I TRY TO LOCK THE DOORS. SOMETIMES THE RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHILE I'M NOT IN THE TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO FREEZE UP AND THE TRUCK PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. WHENEVER THE TRUCK IS TURNED ON THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING NOISE THAT COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11290749

DRIVING ~ 55MPH ON HIGHWAY 146 AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSNISSON SWITCHED GEARS AND LOCKED UP REAR TIRES AND TRUCK DIED, HEARD A LOUD POP AND TIRES BEGAN ROLLING AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING ON HIGHWAY, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JUMPING GEARS THEN LOCKED INTO 5TH GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME 30 MILES IN 5TH GEAR AND ONCE HOME I INSPECTED AND THE TRUCK HAD NO REVERSE. ONLY 5TH GEAR WORKED. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A REMAN TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11288986

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AND NOT CHANGING SPEED, THE TRUCK WILL RANDOMLY START TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. "DEATH WOBBLE". THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP WOBBLING IS TO DRAMATICALLY SLOW DOWN . IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND AT VARYING SPEEDS. WHEN IT HAPPENS I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI 11288109

FORD DEATH WOBBLE, DEFECT IN FRONT STEERING DAMPING SHOCK CAUSES TRUCK TO SEVERELY START SHAKING WHEN 1 WHEEL HITS RIPPLE IN ROAD. YOU CANT STOP THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF TRUCK WITHOUT ALMOST STOPPING TRUCK. IT SHAKES ENTIRE TRUCK. HAPPENS ON HIGHWAYS WITH RIPPLES IN PAVEMENT OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH OR HIGHER. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DEALERSHIP PUTS AFTER MARKET DUAL STEERING STABILIZER KIT ON FRONT END AT PRICE OF $600.00

NHTSA ODI 11286274

I HAVE SERIOUS SHIMMYING AND WOBBLING IN THE FRONT END OF MY PICKUP. WHEN TRAVELING 60 PLUS MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11283022

TRUCK HAS STARTED THE INFAMOUS "DEATH WOBBLE" ABOUT THREW ME OFF THE HIGHWAY GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR WITH A TRAILER. TRUCK FEELS LIKE A WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT HAPPENED 1 TIME AND I TALKED TO A MECHANIC ABOUT IT HE SAID TO GET A NEW STEERING STABILIZER SO I REPLACED IT WITH AN UPGRADE AND IT IS DOING IT EVERY TIME I GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND GET OVER 60 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11279414

THE DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT JUST STARTED MAKING A LOUD EXHAUST LEAK.

NHTSA ODI 11269032

FRONT END DEATH WOBBLE. FIRST OCCURED NOV. 2018. FORD DEALER WORKED ON IT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AGAIN JAN. 2019. FORD AGAIN WORKED ON IT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. OCCURRED AGAIN SEPT. 2019. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN A FRONT END SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THIS MULTI THOUSAND DOLLAR WILL BE PAID BY ME. THIS EXTREME WOBBLE OCCURS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP JUST RIGHT. EXTREME SHAKING HAS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO CHANGE LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.

NHTSA ODI 11257879

DEF ISSUES, FIRST WAS NOT FEEDING DEF, FORD REGEN'D THE SYSTEM, PROBLEM FIXED. 2 MONTHS LATER, SAME ISSUE, NOW DEF CONTROLLER CODE FAULT. NO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11255299

WHEN I AM DRIVING MY TRUCK ON THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65-75 MPH, AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, MAYBE AT A BRIDGE OR ROUGH PATCH, THE TRUCK GOES INTO THIS VIOLENT SHAKING MOTION, WHERE I HAVE TO HOLD ON VERY TIGHT TO THE WHEEL AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 25 MPH. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE PULL UP NEXT TO ME POINTING AT MY FRONT WHEELS THINKING MY LUGS ARE LOOSE OR SOMETHING. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GATHERING MY SENSES, BECAUSE THIS IS TERRIFYING, I AM ABLE TO ACCELERATE WITH CAUTION AS TO NOT GO MORE THAN 55 MPH. THANK GOD EVERYONE AROUND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS PAYING ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE, BUT IF I EVER LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL WHEN THIS SHAKING HAPPENS, SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD TRUCK IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS WITH FORD AND THEY CONTINUE TO DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM. THEY SAID ALIGNMENT ISSUES AND TIRE BALANCING. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY ALIGNED MY TRUCK, AND ENSURED TIRES WERE BALANCED, IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS. I TOLD THEM BEFORE THEY RETURN IT TO ME, TO PLEASE TAKE IT OUT ON THE FREEWAY AND POSSIBLE TRY TO FIND SOME ROUGH ROAD TO SEE HOW IT HANDLES. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE DONE THIS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. MY TRUCK HAS 44K MILES ON IT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I WILL ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND MY LOCAL STREETS BECAUSE ITS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE. THERE ARE LAW SUITS PENDING WITH FORD FOR THIS VERY ISSUE THAT I SPEAK OF. THE CONSUMERS CALLS IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE". FOR SOME REASON, NO ONE AT FORD, AT LEAST AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE DEAL WITH SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THEIR STEERING SUSPENSION, THAT WILL IF IT HASN'T ALREADY, HURT SOMEONE BADLY OR WORST, IT COULD KILL THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11242862

EGT SENSOR FAULTY. UPON IGNITION, READS TEMPERATURE ABOVE BASELINE, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON.

NHTSA ODI 11220518

DEF SYSTEM/ENGINE CLEANING ISSUE. MESSAGE CONTINUOUSLY SHOWS ON DASH "DRIVE TO CLEAN ENGINE" REGARDLESS OF DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR 30+ MIN AT A TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11220520

DEATH WOBBLE!!!!!! WILL ALMOST SHAKE YOU OFF THE ROAD VERY DANGEROUS. GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. HIT A BUMP IT WILL START GOING ABOUT 60-70 MPH

NHTSA ODI 11217233

HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WOBBLE AT APPROXIMATELY 55 - 60 MPH SEVERAL TIMES ON A FREEWAY AND AGAIN ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY. STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BEGINS WOBBLING SEVERELY AND HAVE TO ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GET THE WOBBLE TO STOP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE WOBBLE CAN TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE OF TRAFFIC AND YOU NEED TO SLOW QUICKLY TO GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

NHTSA ODI 11209938