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

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

Death wobble. Took it to the dealership and they “fixed” it. That fix lasted about a month.

NHTSA ODI 11421422

At highway speed if I hit a bump on the road or was in a corner the steering started shaking very violently. Had to emergency brake down to 25-30 mph before it corrected. Happened 4 times on a 250 mile trip on 6/5/21 and once on a 250 mile drive on 6/6/21. The condition put us at risk of losing control of the truck and possibly crossing the center line and hitting oncoming traffic. This just occurred so the truck has not been inspected. There where no warning lamps or messages sent. The truck has 16600 miles on it and is available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11419834

Experienced front wheel oscillation or "Death Wobble" . This occured at 70 MPH treveling on a straight portion of interstate highway after crosing an expansion joint between bridge and road

NHTSA ODI 11419763

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

I was driving on route 78 East from Pennsy to NJ 5/27/2021 just crossed into NJ carrying a load of about 1400 pounds in bed of truck had cruise control set at 65mph when all of a sudden front of truck started to shake VIOLENTLY. Steering was shaking, dash board shaking and front of truck shaking. Had to almost go on the grass median because could not get over to right side lane because I was in the middle lane when this happened. All tractor trailers were on the side of me on right side lane so I was able to get over to the fast left lane and head into grass median when it stopped after I got down to 40 mph or less. With cars and trucks flying by me since I was only doing 40 mph in a 65 mph zone. Was able to get back over onto the far right lane next to the shoulder and started driving at 60 mph when all of a sudden it started to do it again. It stopped doing it again and was able to get back home 45 miles away from the initial incident. Got home and called Ford IMMEDIATELY to bring truck in. Truck only has 19000 miles which it turned on that hell of a scary trip. I could have killed myself or others the way I lost control of the steering. I couldn't even put my flashers on because I needed 2 hands on the wheel at all times during this incident. Truck is now at Ford dealership 6/1/2021 for service of this. NO lights or messages came on during this incident.

NHTSA ODI 11419155

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

Traveling on i75 trading around 75mph, I am not sure what happened, but the truck started shaking violently. The steering wheel want shaking and was stiff to move, but I was able to get off the road and stop. After looking at the truck, nothing was wrong, I continued down the shoulder to see if the problem happened again. Since then it has not come up, but I am worried this might happen when I am hauling my 10k 5th wheel camper. After research, this issue looks to be the death wabble of the front end.

NHTSA ODI 11418992

On numerous occasions while traveling at speeds at or above 50 mile per hour upon encountering a bump above grade or a pothole in the roadway surface the steering wheel shakes in a harmonic vibration that can only be stopped by drastically decreasing speed. The shaking has becoming a serious safety hazard. I purchased the vehicle one year ago with 19,000 miles indicated on the odometer, it now has 30,000 miles indicated and the steering shake has become a safety hazard. Ford has only acknowledged by offering an increased warranty of the steering dampener. The problem is much worse than a defective steering shock. Recently I encountered this problem in a construction zone and it nearly caused a multi-vehicle crash involving not only my vehicle but tractor-trailer rigs as well. Ford needs to address this problem that is well documented and has been named the “Death Wobble” BEFORE the name is well earned.

NHTSA ODI 11418107

When driving I came across a rough patch in the roadway. I was doing about 60- 65 mph when suddenly the front end starting shaking. I had to grab the steering wheel with both hands and apply the brakes to gain control of the vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11417559

AFTER DRIVING OVER BUMPS ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUCK START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 15 MPH TO GET IT TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11417592

While accelerating onto onramp on IH35 South of Ft Worth my truck went over a small bump. Speed was approx 65mph at that point and a violent shaking started. I pulled over and slowed and it stopped after I slowed to approx 40mph. I got out and inspected but found nothing. I got back to hwy speeds and about 20 minutes later hit another bump in hwy. Same issue: Violent shaking of front end/Steering Wheel. Luckily I was in far right lane and was able to control vehicle until I could slow enough to make it stop.

NHTSA ODI 11417382

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

WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR UNEVEN LANES (50-60MPH) MY TRUCKS MY FRONT END VIOLENTLY SHAKES AND MAKES MY VEHICLE HARD TO HANDLE. AT LOWER SPEEDS 20-50 WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR UNEVEN LANES THE TRUCK WILL SHIFT TO THE SIDE THE BUMP HIT ALMOST LIKE DRIVING ON ICE.

NHTSA ODI 11414569

I AM EXPERIENCING SEVERE DEATH WOBBLE. IT HAPPENED 6 TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 4/24/2021 AND 4/25/2021. IT IS VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION AND TRUCK VIBRATION. IT HAPPENED BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 65-75MPH. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. FORD HAS RECALLED THE STEERING LINKAGE DAMPENER. I'M AFRAID THIS REPLACEMENT WILL ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES AND THEN I WILL HAVE TO COVER COSTS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. I PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS TRUCK FOR A WHILE BUT IT IS DANGEROUS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN TOWING MY GOOSENECK TRAILER, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT, BUT I CAN'T UPLOAD IT HERE. THE FORD TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS THE WORST HE HAD SEEN.

NHTSA ODI 11414401