What 254 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-250 Supercab

Experienced “the death wobble” going 68 mph on a highway after hitting a small transition.

NHTSA ODI 11516175

The clock spring in my truck has been replaced two times now and is now failed for a third time. I’ve heard from other owners, and they are also experiencing problems with their steering wheel clock springs.

NHTSA ODI 11514916

Traveling on the highway when I would hit rough road or potholes the front end would shake violently enough to scare me, like the front end was loose. I did not lose control, but it was at the point where I thought I could. I have never felt anything like it. After doing some research and finding many others with the same issue enough that the common name for it was the Ford "Death Wobble"! My Pickup is an F250 2020 with 60000 miles on it should not have that problem this soon. But in my research, I found that it was happening as low as 20,000 miles and that the repairs would only hold for about 25,000 miles. To verify I took it into the local Ford dealership who did a diagnostic check up on it and said the drag links were shot. They said it was a common thing and that they replace several a week to the tune of about $1500 plus dollars.

NHTSA ODI 11513780

Purchased this truck used on 2/18/23. Test drove with no problems. Drove home 80 miles with no problems. Drove around home 30 miles with no problems. This morning 2/20/23 I drove the truck to work and just a few miles from home while traveling approximately 55 m.p.h. the front end of the vehicle started shaking violently, and I had to apply braking and almost come to a stop before it stopped. Once it stopped I continued to work, 30 miles away with no further issues. On the way home from work, I made it to near the same area where the shaking happened this morning and it occurred again, at around the same speed. A couple of hours later, I drove back over the same section of road and going away from home no issues, but coming back it happened again in approximately the same location that it had returning from work. I returned home picked up my wife and it did not occur in this spot going either direction, but we continued up the road after passing our home and turned onto another somewhat rough road. After about a mile it occurred for the forth time in this one day. My wife was very frightened. No warning lamps were lit, and the vehicle has not been in for service yet since this is only my second day driving the vehicle, which only has 8 months of warranty left.

NHTSA ODI 11508222

2020 Ford F250 Super Duty, I have a Severe Death Wobble that has developed for the second time in a short period of time. The Ford Death Wobble is The Violent Shaking of the Vehicle can cause loss of control of the vehicle and difficulty steering wile vehicle is in operation at any time under typical driving conditions or speed. This exposes the driver and occupants of vehicle, as well as others who share the road with them, to an increased risk of accident, injury, or death. This description of death wobble was taken from a class action lawsuit that was filed in 2019. The first occurrence happened around 47,000 miles. I brought it in to the dealership; they said it was a steering damper not covered under the warranty. I paid for the replacement of steering damper. However the replacement did not fix the issue. I took it back in for further evaluation and repairs. After nearly a week of them having the vehicle at the dealership; they finally agreed to have the track bar replaced under warranty. The technician working on vehicle said that an axle needed to be replaced as well but it was not replaced at the time. After track bar was replaced; there was a drastic improvement and problem was resolved but short lived. About 7 months later and at 85,000 miles the death wobble has returned and is much worse. Due to the issue, steering is very loose and sloppy. causing you to catch the vehicle from side to side of the lane due to the steering wheel not being straight. setting off errors and disables many of the safety features. Some of the features that are disabled wile driving: advanced traction control system, pre-collision assist system fault, abs system, hill descent control fault, hill start assist. After bringing truck to dealership for this issue again; they quickly realized that the issue has returned again and stated that the axle shaft will need to be replaced this time in addition to prior parts. They again are trying to say that warranty may not cover repairs

NHTSA ODI 11497661

This vehicle has the death wabble. It has happened at least 5 times in the last 6 to 8 months. The last incident the vehicle shook so bad we thought it was going to turn over. Only happens at higher speeds and whenever you hit a bump or.pothole in the road.

NHTSA ODI 11491787

My 2020 Ford F-250 4x4, has 40,000. Has developed the "Death Wobble". I went over a expansion joint on a bridge at 55mph and the front wheels started violently shaking, it would not stop until I slowed to 5 mph. My mechanic replaced both the inner and outer drag links, although they were not very worn. After they were replaced the "Death Wobble" returned when I drove over another expansion joint. The mechanic again replaced both inner and outer drag links. I went to a Ford dealer and talked to the service writer and was told that Ford knows about this "Death Wobble" but their not going to fix-it. There are lots of complaints about this, and this needs to be fixed. When a truck gets into this "Death Wobble" it could very easily cause a accident. So far I have spent over $1000.00 in repairs with no guarantee that this problem is fixed!

NHTSA ODI 11486682

Went over a bump and the car started shaking violently. Research has shown this is called the Ford Death wobble. I had to stop on a busy street to get it to stop, which is dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11479235

I have been experiencing a light oscillation of the steering wheel when hitting expansion joints and bumps in the road at highway speeds (50-75 MPH). Today when I hit the same expansion joint/ bump, my steering wheel oscillated violently, the truck shook violently and the brakes were not very effective in slowing the truck. This lasted about 3 to 5 seconds. I was travelling about 70 MPH when this occurred and I did not see the speed where it stopped as I was a bit shaken up.

NHTSA ODI 11455998

After hitting a bump/pothole on the road a violent shaking took place throughout the vehicle, the steering wheel shook violently. I was able to slow down to approximately 10mph and the vibration stopped. I then continued on my journey. It happened another 5 times. This happened in a construction zone with no where to pull off. Through sheer strength I was able to control the truck, but vehicles behind me had to slow down as well. No inspection done as yet, vehicle going to dealer on 03/07/2022. Online reports of something similar called "death wobble". No inspection by police or insurance. No warnings or warning messages etc.

NHTSA ODI 11454531

While traveling down highway 65-70 mph. after hitting bumps in road my truck started shaking& shimmering wildly. While holding on to steering strongly, slowed down, pulled over and it finally quit. I heard of earlier Ford trucks having problems like this. They called it the Death Wobble!!! I thought problem had been solved by Ford, but this has happend two times to me recently. Have not heard of anyone with newer trucks having problem like this. My truck is 2020 Ford F-250. What do I need to do to solve problem. Thanks

NHTSA ODI 11454057

I just purchased this 2020 F250 on 10/21/21 with 39000 miles. While driving the vehicle on a Ft Worth toll road at 70 mph, below posted speed limit of 75, truck and steering wheel began to shake violently. Luckily there was light traffic that kept me from causing an accident before I could get it stopped. Took vehicle to Ford dealer and was told my vin # is not included in trucks that Ford has been fixing. An internet search of "F250 death wobble" will show how widespread this problem is. Ford knows there is a problem but will not do anything to solve it.

NHTSA ODI 11438980

II WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, APROX 55 MPH ON A NORMAL ROAD. I HIT A POT HOLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL OVER, INSPECT VEHICLE AND DETERMINED EVERYTHING "LOOKED" OKAY. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I SAW THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, FORDS FAMOUS "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE 25K MILES, MY TRUCK IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW, 80% MILES PLACED ON IN ARE HIGHWAY MILES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE, FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11396854

UNDER 5MPH MY POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11389162

THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS ON 2019-2020 F250/350 BUILT AT THE KENTUKY PLANT MY VEHICLE HOWEVER IS APPARENTLY NOT ONE OF THEM BUT I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 21 2020 I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WAS NON RESPONSIVE TO WHAT I WANTED IT TO DO I ALMOST HIT A SMALL VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BUT SWERVED AND CRASHED IN A FIELD THE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DID NOT TEST DRIVE IT OR ANYTHING SINCE I WAS GOING FROM A 2020 TO ANOTHER 2020 F250 LARIAT TO LIMITED NOW THE LARIAT EVERYTHING WORKED ON IT IT WOULD TELL ME THAT I WAS CLOSING ONTO A VEHICLE WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO BREAK AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY BREAK NOT PULL TO ETIHER SIDE AS THIS ONE HAS DONE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I DID LET FORD KNOW BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE PLENTY BACKED UP AND COULD GET TO ME IN A COUPLE WEEKS WELL THATS WHEN MY ACCIDENT OCCURED YOU SEE I THINK THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY SAID RECALLS BUT SOMEONE IS USING US AS CRASH TEST DUMMIES JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS I AM GLAD I DID NOT HIT THAT FAMILY COS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE COLLISION CENTER THAT FIXED MY VEHICLE SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT TO ANY TIRE LOCATION TO GET IT ALIGNED BECAUSE THESE PLACES WOULDNT DO THE JOB SO THEY TOOK IT TO FORD AND WELL TRUCK IS PULLING TO THE LEFT BUT STEERING WHEEL IS COCKEYED TO THE RIGHT IT JUST DOES NOT RIDE WELL I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT SAFETY IS FIRST I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER "RECALIBRATION" AND WELL IT STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUES WARNING SENSORS DONT ALERT YOU AS THEY SHOULD NOT ENOUGH WARNING FROM PRE-COLLISION PULLS TO THE SIDE RIDES REAL ROUGH ETC. ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11378610

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES EACH TIME I DRIVE. THIS HAS OCCURRED REGULARLY SINCE THE FIRST DAY I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11376440

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE PULLING A CAMPER.

NHTSA ODI 11366379

TRUCK HAS A BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN IT HITS BUMPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAS 2,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE CALLED THIS A "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN IT HAPPENS IT COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT HAS TOO MUCH SLOP IN IT EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I'VE SEEN THIS MENTIONED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE JUST OLD TRUCKS, BUT MINE IS BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI 11306302