What 1,151 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Ford F-250 Supercab

The truck at highway speed started to shake violently to the point that I could not steer it. I had to slow down in traffic to a point where the shaking subsided. Very frightening experience. We were not sure if we were going to crash in heavy traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11426244

Death wobble. Very scary

NHTSA ODI 11426200

Driver hit a pothole in the road while driving at approx. 50 mph and the steering wheel started shaking violently. Driver slowed down immediately and the shaking stopped. Driver later went over a railroad track on the hwy. and reported the steering wheel started shaking violently again and the driver couldn't control the steering of the truck as it veered off the hwy. and almost hit a metal light post in the median of the hwy. The driver was able to apply brakes to stop since there was no traffic behind him. The driver and his passengers were not injured but scared (of course). There were no warning lamps, messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the incident. The earliest appointment we can get with an authorized Ford dealer is over a week away. The problem will be checked out at that time.

NHTSA ODI 11425433

Vehicle travels down the road at speed and hits a bump. The steering wheel shakes uncontrollably and is very dangerous. I researched this problem and observed that this is called the "death wobble"

NHTSA ODI 11425304

Beginning at 18,000 miles on the truck, the front end would begin to bounce and vibrate at speeds over 55 mph is I hit even minor bumps in the road. The vibrations would seem to build on themselves until the truck was violently shaking and the steering wheel was uncontrollable. By 20,000 miles this was occurring at lower speeds as well.

NHTSA ODI 11425276

The steering vibrates when I go over 50mph when I hit a bump or groove. I made an appointment at the dealership to get it inspected but they found nothing wrong with it. I am putting myself, my family and others on the road when it starts vibrating beyond my control. I have to reduce my speed almost to a complete stop which makes it dangerous on the highway. I took it to another service center and they told me the problem was called “death wobble”. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other then the dealership service center. There was no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to malfunction. Started happening out of nowhere.

NHTSA ODI 11425217

Multiple incidents have occurred when the truck begins to shake severely after hitting a bump or uneven pavement. The shaking has been so aggressive that I was forced to immediately brake and pull to the shoulder. The shaking or “wobble” creates a major safety concern as steering and braking are strongly affected. When it happens, it is the most frightening occurrence in a vehicle that I have ever felt and strong concerns for my passengers and my safety is in question.

NHTSA ODI 11424716

While driving posted speed limit ( 75mph ) on highway in Texas. Vehicle went into a almost uncontrollable bouncing / shaking cause Vehicle to bounce / shake violently across the center line. I immediately reduced speed by letting off accelerate. Grasped firmly ahold of the steering wheel & basically " hanging on " till Vehicle stopped bouncing / shaking violent @ about 50mph. Fortunately no Vehicles were in the other lane however the vehicles behind me were affected. Going from posted speed limit to 25mph below as soon as I could.....obviously caused them so to respond. This " Death Wobble " as I found out created a very dangerous situation. For not only me but others as well. I experienced this 4 more times on this highway in Texas and twice on a highway in Illinois. Both had similar road conditions ( slightly wash boarded ) but Vehicle responded all times in the same violent shaking and bouncing to a point of almost losing control of the vehicle. Upon returning to Arizona - I reported issue at Horne Ford / they scheduled a appointment to look at the vehicle. This is scheduled for 7/20/2021@ 0900.

NHTSA ODI 11424815

My wife and I were travelling on Interstate 81 between our home in South Carolina to Maryland over the 2021 July 4th holiday. My wife was driving, at highway speed of about 75-80 mph. The truck travelled onto a bridge/overpass and when it exited the bridge, at the joint where it meets the road surface again, the truck experienced a small bump. Immediately, the he suspension on the front end began to vibrate violently , and this vibration travelled into the steering column. My wife was quite panicked and held onto the steering wheel with a death grip. The shaking was so violent, and accompanying noise so loud, I worried we had flattened all the tires. I instructed my wife to begin to slow and pull over to the shoulder. The shaking continued, and eventually she was able to exit the road onto the shoulder where she stopped the truck. She put the transmission in park and I got out to inspect the truck. No tires showed any indication of damage, nor did any of the suspension or steering components that I was able to observe. We drove on the shoulder for a little bit, and the vehicle operated normally. We got back onto the roadway and there was no vibration at all. My wife slowly worked her way back up to highway speeds, and no vibration. Over the remaining 15 hours of traveling that weekend, the violent vibration occurred two more times, both while travelling above 75mph and after going over a bump or groove in the road. This has never happened before in many interstate trips where speed was high. The truck is 2019 with about 26000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11423606

On multiple occasions, driving down the highway the steering and front tires begin shaking uncontrollably and I have to stop the vehicle to stop the shaking. It is a very disturbing experience and seems very unsafe. We replaced the front shocks and this did not resolve the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11423398

@ 70 mph on a major hwy after crossing over a bridge expansion joint my front end began to shake violently (death wobble) nearly having little control until I broke to 20 mph when the front wheels regained proper composure. I was fortunate that no one was following me in my lane and I know I scared the [XXX] out of a driver on my left as he saw the whole incident (slowing down and putting on his 4 ways) It scared the [XXX] out of me leaving me unsure of the security of my 70k truck. This has continued to happen several times while traveling rural roads with uneven (patchwork) pavement. Anything uneven roadwork seems to want to set it off. I have made an appointment to have the extended warranty to replace the steering dampener on July 9, 2021 @ dealership. This seems to be a band-Aid on the overall front suspension issue that Ford doesn’t seem to want to address (ongoing issue since 2005). I have read where the steering dampner has helped for a couple months only to return. And be it noted that when I first started to sense the instability of the front end (not quite the “death wobble”) I was told by the dealership upon an oil change and complaint about the issue (April 2021) that it was just the design of the suspension on the F250. They did check for wear and loose parts and found nothing. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11423405

I was driving my 2019 F250 on a 2 lane highway at a speed of approximately 55 mph. I hit a bump with the left front tire. It wasn't a huge bump but it was a noticeable one. Both of my front tires started shaking violently and my steering wheel started shaking so hard that I could not hold it steady. I honestly thought my wheels were coming off. I hit the brakes and my truck crossed the center line and came to a stop. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic. I called the Ford dealership and they immediately said that I needed a steering damper. They also told me about the term death wobble which lead me to this website. I have the repair schedule, I hope that fixes it. It could have been terrible if I had been pulling a trailer or had oncoming traffic

NHTSA ODI 11422561

When I make a slight turn and apply the breaks at highway speeds the steering wheel begins to violently shake. This first began with about 5000 miles on the truck it has been to 3 different dealerships over the last year trying to get it fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11422490

Death wobble occurred over 50 mph after hitting bump while slightly turning left on highway

NHTSA ODI 11422300

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle started to violently shake causing the contact to swerve into another lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the drag link rod, the rod assembly, loose inner tie rod ends and the steering damper assembly needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,400.

NHTSA ODI 11422192

Travelling 75 MPH on interstate (posted speed limit). entered onto a bridge and the front end started shaking violently, from the wheels all the way up to the steering wheel. Truck was hard to control and I had to pull over and reduce my speed to 20 MPH to stop the violent shaking. I was in the #1 lane and had to pull over across the #2 lane to reach a usable shoulder. Traffic was heavy and I became an immediate hazard to motorists around me. The truck has 29,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11422074

On the morning of June 18, 2021 while my pregnant wife was driving down the highway our 2019 f250 began to violently shaking to the point she believed she was going to lose control of the vehicle with her and our three kids in the back seat. Luckily she made out of the Highway safely only to be stranded for over three hours. The vehicle was towed to Peques Ford where hopefully the can determine the malfunction/defect in a timely manner due to the fact that she is now stranded 8 hours away from our home in Florida. From research and from a gentleman that was driving beside my wife when the malfunction occurred believe that it’s what some people call the Ford “death wobble.”

NHTSA ODI 11421545

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds over potholes, the front end of the vehicle would shake uncontrollably. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with the steering dampener needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact then took the vehicle back to the dealer two months later where the steering dampener was replaced again. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419561

Death Wobles. It has happened 4 times now in the last three days. Very scary and very unsafe. Numerous times on a busy freeway outside of Sacramento, CA. Had to avoid trucks and they had to avoid me when i had to slow my vehicle down to 50 mph. Ford should take care of this issue immediately. What does it take? Some people to die before there is a recall?????????

NHTSA ODI 11419103

Hit small bumps and the front end start shacking like a death wob you have to get on the break’s hard to control the vehicle Only have 16,000 miles on it

NHTSA ODI 11418982

Took truck in for service recall 4 months ago for the damper rod - no parts. I wasn't having that much of an issue at the time, maybe a little bit of shaking of the wheel at highway speeds. Now, it is getting a lot worse. Anytime on the highway that I go through a dip or bump I get the wobbling of the wheel. Even worse when I am in a turn of the road and experience a bump/dip. I find this when approaching or leaving a bridge.

NHTSA ODI 11418467

THE TRUCK REACTS VERY STRONGLY WHEN DRIVING 60-70 MILES PER HOUR AND HITTING A ROUGH PATCH OR POOR ROAD SURFACE. THIS RESULTS IN STEERING PULLING TO ONE SIDE/VEERING, EXTREME VIBRATION AND SHAKING THROUGHOUT THE TRUCK. I HAVE TO HANG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE AND LIFT THE FOOT OFF THE GAS WHILST IT SETTLES DOWN TO DRIVING SMOOTHLY AND BACK IN CONTROL AGAIN. ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS REFERRED COMMONLY TO 'DEATH WOBBLE'. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND MAKES ME CONCERNED RE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE TRUCK STRAIGHT / NOT BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. IT HAS HAPPENED 6-8 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS SINCE MAR 2021 - IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT ON THE INTERSTATE WITH A ROUGH SURFACE.

NHTSA ODI 11416406

TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE ON THE ROAD AND STOPS SHAKING AFTER IT SLOWS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11415512

APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE EXPERIENCED "DEATH WABBLE" WITH MY F250, IN THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I EXPERIENCED AN OSCILLATION IN THE FRONT WHEELS, CAUSING VIOLENT SHAKING, THAT WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I STOPPED THE TRUCK. FORD TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11414996

I WAS DRIVING ALONE E ON IL RT 64 AT ABOUT 2:45 PM WHEN I HIT A SERIES OF BUMPS ON ROAD THAT MADE THE FRONT END SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAD TO BRAKE AND SLOW TO UNDER 20 MPH BEFORE IT STOPPED. AGAIN LATER THAT NIGHT AT ABOUT 8 PM COMING S ON IL RT 2 WITH CRUISE SET AT 55 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN HAD TO BRAKE/SLOW TO UNDER 20 MPH AGAIN. THIS TIME MY WIFE AND MOTHER-IN-LAW WERE WITH TO EXPERIENCE IT. I HAVE NOTICED FRONT END BEING A LITTLE WISHY-WASHY AFTER HITTING BUMPS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO STIFFER SUSPENSION AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. VEHICLE HISTORY SO FAR- PURCHASED USED FROM WICKSTROM FORD. WENT THRU THEIR USED CAR INSPECTION BEFORE I COULD PURCHASE IT- NEW REAR TIRES AND BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ALL AROUND. WILL TRY GETTING IN TO HAVE CHECKED OUT AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR STEERING DAMPER PERFORMED. HAVE PUT LESS THAN 600 MILES ON TRUCK SINCE PURCHASING.

NHTSA ODI 11414786