What 287 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-250 Super Crew

Both Control Arm bushings and Steering Stabilizer have both failed causing a severe Death Wobble at highway speeds. This condition has nearly caused an accident on 4 separate occasions.

NHTSA ODI 11441935

I have experienced what is known as the “DEATH WOBBLE” with my 2016 Ford F-250 super-duty pickup. I have taken it back the dealer after the first incident to have it repaired ($291.00) worth and it done it twice since then, less than 3 weeks after repairs. I’m out of town now so I hope I can get it home for it to go back to the dealer for more repairs. I don’t agree with Ford motor co. Decision not to recall all the trucks with this issue. I will not buy another Ford truck unless I know for sure this is resolved.

NHTSA ODI 11441615

Dpf heater (reductant heater) stopped working. Vehicle is slightly over 5 years old with 87k miles. NHTSA has a TSB (TSB 18-2190) on this part on 2011-2012 f-250/f-350 and 2011-2015 f-450 and f-550. The problem seems to still persist on the 2016 model…

NHTSA ODI 11441536

My problem is with Steering and or Suspension. A common issue with these trucks known as "The Death wobble" steering wheel and truck shake so violently that it will rip the wheel out of you hand. it is one of the scariest things especially if towing a trailer! It is even more scary if you have no idea what it is, IE my wife will no longer be able to use my truck unless I know it won't happen because if it happens to her I'd be afraid she would get scared and could crash, hurt herself, and or hurt others or possibly worse.... I have had many ford trucks and grew up with fords. This has been known about by friends and family since I was a kid and I am now 43. I had a 2002 f250 do this to me, a 2006 f350, and now my 2016 f250 is doing it! On my older trucks I just figured it was because they had high mileage and parts ware some so I just repaired the front ends and basically replaced any and all components... Everything ball joint, tie rods , steering dampers on my 2002 I had installed an aftermarket, axles and ujoints, steering linkage and even went as far as replacing the steering box on the 2002. This costs a couple thousand dollars if you use high end parts and do it yourself. I can't imagine the cost of having a shop do it, which is exactly the situation I am in now. a 2016 f250 with not even 80k on it with no plow should not be having frontend issues like this. and upon searching for a fix on the 2016s. welp seems to be a huge issue, these trucks are wicked expensive and I would expect Ford to be of better quality. This is a very scary and very dangerous problem and I have seen it on my own vehicles, on work trucks I have driven and on friends trucks. I have heard it is an alignment issue. Also, replace the steering damper and will replace the shocks 4 or 5 hundred bucks. It is the cheapest route for now so I am going to try that first. if that doesn't fix it then it will have to have the front end done and that is gonna be not cheap!

NHTSA ODI 11441108

When driving my truck "2016 F250, FX4) on an open highway at 80mph out of no where, i experience what is known as the death wobble, and went off the road into the ditch. The dealership is telling me I need to pay 2000.00 plus dollars to address the problem which appears to be known and have not issued a recall. This same issue happened to my 2014 F250, and the base warranty covered it.

NHTSA ODI 11440911

2016 Ford F-250 death wobble. this has happened multiple times drive at speeds of around 50 to 60. Just hitting groves in road cause my truck to shake uncontrolably have to back down to 20 to get control almost caused accedent yesterday.

NHTSA ODI 11440317

It seems to happen at higher speeds with the change in pavement my front end started shaking violently and I felt like I was going to lose control of the vehicle. I had to reduce speed quickly to get control of the vehicle. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others around me including those in my vehicle. I have tried to have it fixed at an auto repair shop and the problem has not resolved. I am trying to schedule an appointment with the dealer but they have a backlog.

NHTSA ODI 11438300

Driving 70... hit a bump in road... shakes violently until I slow down to 25 or so... it shook hard enough to vibrate headache rack and split bead where they join...

NHTSA ODI 11437178

I was driving at 70mph, and the truck went into the death wobble. Violently shaking and bouncing as I drove and slowed down to 25mph on the highway until it finally stopped. I was on a section of highway were I could not get off the road for about another half mile. It happened this morning at 7:15am, and I have not had the opportunity to take it in for service. There were no warning lights that came on. I fear for my safety if it were to happen again. If there was traffic behind me, I may not have been able to slow down as quickly as I did without being hit.

NHTSA ODI 11437186

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that an unknown recall repair was completed on the vehicle however, two hours after the repair, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the DEF heater needed to be replaced and the contact would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11435919

I was driving at a speed of 55 mph and hit a bump in the road and the front in shook violently. I thought the whole front end was gonna fall out. It happened 3 more times in the same day. I read up on it and they call it the death wobble.

NHTSA ODI 11435330

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that they were experiencing the "death wobble" while driving at various speeds. The failure occurred mostly whenever driving over a bump in the roadway. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the steering damper had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired while the complaint was being filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11433336

Steering wheel shakes violently after hitting bump on highway. Vehicle is extremely difficult to control until reducing speed significantly. Have seen many other reports referring to this as death wobble. No warning or unusual conditions. Has happened numerous times, beginning about a year after purchasing the truck. It is getting progressively worse.

NHTSA ODI 11433058

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the sync module failed to connect with Bluetooth and the electrical system became inoperable. The contact called the local dealer where a voice mail message was left however, no response was received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432204

I was traveling at approximately 75 mph when I went over a bump on the highway and the front of the truck began to violently shake (death wobble) and almost causing me to lose control of the vehicle. I took the truck to my dealership and they said that the track bar ball joint and the steering dampener had excessive play in them. This truck only had just a little over 54,000 miles on it at the time. I had no warning that there was a problem prior to the very traumatizing wobble.

NHTSA ODI 11432215

I was driving the truck on the highway and out of nowhere the front end and steering wheel began violently shaking with me nearly losing control in traffic. I had just purchased the vehicle used 1 month ago. It has 76k miles and is out of warranty. In doing some research it seems Ford is well aware of this issue and has not issued a recall. The issue is exactly what is shown in you tube videos being called the death wobble

NHTSA ODI 11430556

FUEL FILLER NECK ROTTED AWAY ALLOWING FUEL TO RUN DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE FENDERWELL. THE FUEL CAP LIGHT DID LIGHTUP. THIS VEHICLE HAS 25730 MILES ON IT. THE FILLER NECK WAS REPLACED BY MY SERVICE CENTER. I NOTICED THE LEAK WHILE FUELING ABOUT 200 MILES FROM HOME, AND HAD IT CHECKED UPON ARRIVING HOME.IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THIS WOULD ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK.

NHTSA ODI 11426159

The DEF fluid heater has failed. This can cause failure or DEF delivery to the system at lower outdoor temperatures. This component has already been subject to a NHTSA recall in earlier year models of tge same truck, up to model year 2015.

NHTSA ODI 11425302

This vehicle is part of a fleet vehicle that I received new. I originally complained to the dealer that the vehicle has a front-end wobble. I was told originally that it was either the tires or a bad rim. I recently received new tires and the wobble has become unbearable. It is called the death wobble from the reviews I have seen online. When you are driving, the entire truck vibrates so hard that you feel as if you are on a roller coaster. The faster you go, 60-65, the steering wheel shakes with difficulty holding onto the wheel. I searched recalls and there have been none. My concern is that this can lead to an accident and either I or an innocent driver/passenger in another vehicle can be harmed due to the lack of repair or concern of Ford Motor. I called the owner of the Fleet and haven't heard back from the equipment manager. I did contact Ford customer service and reported this. This issue has been present but recently it has become difficult to hold onto the steering wheel. The weather is nice now but if it were in bad weather, this is a DANGEROUS situation. I initially thought it was a flat tire or a broken ball joint or stablizer arm, but it isn't.

NHTSA ODI 11419248

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TRUCK FROM A SMALLER CAR DEALERSHIP ON FEB. 16 2021. THE VEHICLES ODOMETER READ 109,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT. IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW AND I RECENTLY DECIDED TO RUN A CARFAX REPORT ON THE TRUCK AND IT SHOWED ME THAT THE TRUCKS ODOMETER HAD ONCE READ 136,000 MILES, AND 142,000 BEFORE IT WAS LABELLED AS "POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THIS POTENTIAL ODOMETER FRAUD WAS LABELLED BY CARFAX THE TRUCKS ODOMETER WENT TO 109,000 MILES, WHICH WAS HOW MANY MILES IT SAID THE TRUCK HAD WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE THAT I'M DEALING WITH ODOMETER FRAUD, AND I NEED TO GET THIS RESOLVED ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11407989

DRIVING MY TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRUCKS STEERING VIBRATES VIOLENTLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. THIS IS KNOWN AS "THE DEATH WOBBLE". MU TRUCK IS AFFECTED

NHTSA ODI 11407733

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM PRIORTY FORD IN NORFOLK, VA ON SUNDAY MARCH 21ST 2021. INCIDENT #1 MARCH 22ND 2021: FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW ON HIGHWAY EN ROUTE TO TENNESSE AN HOUR AND A HALF OUT OF GATLINBURG, TN. SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY PRIOR TO SAYING WE WERE DRIVING A FASTER THAN ACTUAL MPH (CONFIRMED WHILE USING GPS). SPARE TIRE WAS PUT IN PLACE OF BLOWN OUT TIRE, CHANGED SPARK PLUG WIRE (WHICH DIDN'T REPAIR TICKING NOISE PER MECHANIC) MECHANIC ALSO SAID WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO WITH SPARE TIRE. INCIDENT #2 MARCH 24TH 2021: WHILE EN ROUTE TO NEXT DESTINATION (NEW ORLEANS, LA) TRED CAME OFF REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE CAUSING TRUCK TO GO OUT OF CONTROL ON I-59 NEAR BIRMINGHAM, AL. VEHICLE SPUN INTO GRASS MEDIAN ONTO OPPOSITE SIDE OF INTERSTATE AND WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND TRUCK WAS TOWED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PROOF VIA PICTURES AND REPORTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.**

NHTSA ODI 11404759

AT 34,000 MILES TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE AND SHUDDER WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE. VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL DUE TO VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKING. AT 58,000 MILES TRUCK STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION. VEHICLE STEERED ROUGH. FOR THE SECOND TIME TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO FORD DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE SECOND TIME AT MY EXPENSE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN PARTS IN SUSPENSION WEAR OUT OVER THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. EACH TIME VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11399034

AT HIGH SPEEDS 65 PLUS WHEN A BUMP IS HIT THE FRONT OF TRUCK AND STEERING STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND DOESN'T STOP UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 20 TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING/FRONT END CAN CAUSE LOSE OF CONTROL AND HAVING TO SLOW TO SUCH A SLOW SPEED ON INTERSTATE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO SELF AND OTHERS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH LAST EVENT YESTERDAY AT WHICH TIME A SEMI TRUCK ALMOST REAR ENDED ME.

NHTSA ODI 11396774

WHILE OPERATING IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) TANK HEATER FAILED, ALLOWING THE DEF TO FREEZE INSIDE THE TANK. WITH THE DEF FROZEN, IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE INJECTED INTO THE EXHAUST RESULTING IN HIGHER LEVELS OF NITROGEN OXIDES (NOX) TO BE RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH THE VEHICLES EXHAUST.

NHTSA ODI 11396549