10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 67,183 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Within a span of 30 min. I experienced 3 uncontrollable steering oscillations also known as the "death wobble." The DW experienced, the speeds were around 50 miles per hour. Less than that, the aforementioned oscillations were not experienced. Reason for the 30 min time frame was due to making it back home from the first occurrence. First oscillation was on smooth road, the other two were on less than smooth roads.
- Box Elder, SD, USA
It-??s doing the death wobble and has almost made me lose control on the interstate and seriously could have had my 9month daughter and I killed.
- Clear Lake , MN, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the steering column and the front-end of the vehicle started shuddering significantly. The contact depressed the brake pedal and slowed down significantly until the vehicle operated as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred a second time while driving over a bump on the roadway. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred a third time while his wife was driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
- Hatteras, NC, USA
While traveling down the highway at the speed limit, the truck hit a bump and started to shake violently. I slowed down and pulled over to resecure a freezer that was shook loose. We continued on and when I went to make the next right turn, one of the straps, which was sliced during the death wobble, snapped. The freezer slid and seesawed over a cooler. The corner of the freezer came through the rear window striking my wife in the arm and head. I have brought the truck to multiple shops, replaced steering stabilizer, shock, and tires to no avail.
- Katy, TX, USA
I own a 2011 Ford F-350 Lariat Dually truck and was driving down the highway at approximately 60 mph, when I hit a bump in the road and all of a sudden my truck started to shake violently. I didn't know what happened as this was the first time this has ever happened. I thought something happened with the rear wheels on my truck. I was shaken up, scared and had to stop on the side of a busy road to see what it was. I looked around the truck and didn't see anything and was unaware of the famous "Death Wobble" that are notorious on F-250 & F-350 Ford trucks. I then returned to the highway with my flashers on and drive, but at a lot slower speed because I was unsure of what caused the shake. I was able to make it home safely and I told my husband about it. He wanted to see if it would happen to him so he took it for a spin and it happened to him 3 times in a 5 mile trip. Therefore he came home and parked the truck. We took it to Ford and they advised that this issue is common. Having a vehicle with this unwanted feature is a concern as we purchased this truck to run a business and now it just sits. Please put yourself in others shoes. Imagine you are traveling 70 mph down the interstate with a loaded trailer and you hit a bump or change lanes and the death wobble starts to happen. Would the driver be able to prevent a horrific accident from happening or cause one by trying to slow to an acceptable speed and sometimes completely stopping just to get the uncontrollable shaking to stop. This could cause a very bad outcome for the driver and possibly other unsuspecting drivers that are unaware of the issue / situation. This is not the situation any driver wants to be in on any highway. Please consider doing a recall on all Ford F-350's trucks so that this issue can be corrected and give owners peace of mind. Imagine if your family was traveling and this happened. I ask you, how would you handle this situation?
- Greenwood, LA, USA
at any given time traveling over speeds of 50-60 MPH truck has a wobble that can't be stopped until I slow down completely. at highway speeds this can be very dangerous.
- Clarkston, MI, USA
The steering gets stiff all of a sudden. You have to pull it back when making a turn right or left. It happens intermittent. If you had to swerve to miss an animal or road obstruction you could be in a world of trouble. It seems to be happening more frequent now. Had a shop look at it but didn't act up. We will try again. I'm not they only one having this problem.
- Silex, MO, USA
When you hit a bump, the truck violently shakes. This usually occurs at speeds greater than 40mph. The only way to get it to stop is to come to almost a complete stop. Very dangerous if someone is behind you and you have to stop fast to get it to stop. This occurs very frequently. I replaced parts the repair ship tells me is bad and the problem continues to occur. This occurs almost every time I drive.
- Loris, SC, USA
The steering wheel shakes violently. It occurs at above 50MPH. The steering wheel can not be held or the vehicle controlled. You have to slow to almost a stop to regain control of the wheel and ultimately the vehicle. The shacking was very subtle to begin with but now it is getting more violent as time goes on.
- Fork, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced the death wobble after driving over a bump in the road. The contact stated that the vehicle violently and uncontrollably shook after driving over the bump in the roadway and the contact was able to regain control of the vehicle once the vehicle had slowed down. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
- Portsmouth, VA, USA
On 5/8/21, while driving at approximatly55-60 mph, I hit a pothole on hwy231 South (4 lane) and the front end of my 2011 F350 truck started to shake violently and became hard to steer. I had to almost stop before it quit shaking. I was afraid we (wife & I) were going to loose control and hit another vehicle. I took it to a repair shop and after inspection, they told me there was a problem only a Ford dealer could fix. The shop had seen this before and Ford refused to tell them what parts were needed to do that fix. On 5/12/21, I took the truck to tallassee automotive Ford dealer for repair. After inspection, they said they knew the problem and could fix it for $1100 (or $11?? something. I was flabbergasted at the amount, but had to have it fixed and agreed. They oredered parts and called two days later to come pick it up. Upon arrival, they said my bill was $1450. I complained loudly that they told me $1100 something. After consultation between someone I did not see, they agreed to discount it by $300. Later someone told me they had heard of this Ford problem and I should look it up online. I did and found stories about something called the "death wabble." My purpose for this complaint is to add my voice to the group of pepople who have had a similar experience and may require Ford Motor Company to take responsibility for their obvious design flaw that could cause injuries or death to unknowing people. As for the repairs, it seems they replaced everything between the two front wheels and the steering column. Not being a mechanic, I do not know what caused this or what was really necessary to fix it. No symptoms before this incident indicated there was anything wrong with my truck. There were no warnings or events that could have made me check out any problem like this situation. I have not contacted Ford Motor Co., the police, or insurance company. Looking on the internet, it is apparent Ford is aware of thiis problem and claims no responsibility.
- Wetumpka, AL, USA
The vehicle is shaking terrible at 50 maybe 60 mph can't tel exactly because I was scared.I got new tires and is still doing same. I was on hwy 83 toward scott city ks.
- Scott City, KS, USA
When driving down the roads the front end and steering wheel goes into a violent shaking and vibration to point where I have to almost stop the truck. It seems to happen on both town roads and highways it also seems to be worse on the highway.
- Bellingham, MA, USA
On multiple occasions when driving at highway speeds when I run across ruff roads or bumps the trucks front end begins to wobble and shake. The shake is worse if I am in any kind of turn, but it will do it on straight roads also. I must slow down to under 30 mph to regain control of vehicle. I have taken it into Ford dealerships and gotten no results. One dealership claimed it to be in the ball joints and I had them replaced but the problem still exists. Doing online research, I am seeing others with the same issue and some calling it the death wobble. I have been experiencing this since 2018 but the last time was 10/22/2020.
- Baytown, TX, USA
Vehicle hit a pothole on interstate 75 North near dalton Georgia at approximately 65 miles per hour. The front right wheel and front end violently shook and the steering wheel shook so bad control of the F350 became an issue. I was unable to control the vehicle until I slowed to below 20 miles per hour. The incident presented a very serious safety issue
- Loganville, GA, USA
I was driving and my steering arms caught on fire.
- Lovington, NM, USA
Driving my 2011 Ford F-350 today and hit a bump doing 55mph on a black top road going straight forward, after the bump the "death wobble" started and almost shook my pickup into the ditch. I had to slow down to 20 mph to get it to stop. After a lot of reading, this is a common problem in Ford super dutys that are my pickups age and brand new. Why have they not fixed this problem and made a recall to fix all the older pickups as well??!!
- Mound City, MO, USA
Death warble twice 7/15/2020 on the highway doing the speed limit almost killed several people with truck and empty trailer. Death warble needs to be addressed immediately. Have spent too much time and money on a truck that should be considered unsafe to drive on the freeway.
- Cedar Creek, TX, USA
08during 2018 we took an extended camping trip to Maine. It was at this time we experienced the most instances of what I have heard called "death wobble".the first time was in Pennsylvania pulling the fifth wheel camper when we hit a pothole and was terrified I was going lose control. This occurred at least three more times, once more with the cmper and twice just traveling with the truck, but all brought on by hitting a bump in the pavement.all happened on interstates and fairly heavy traffic. Having to come almost to a stop in heavy traffic is not something no one should have to experience.in 2019 we finally got to where we could financially have a Ford dealer look at.this. They replaced the ball joints, upper and lower and aligned the front end. So far it has not occurred again.
- Mary Esther, FL, USA
- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA