2015 Ford F-250 SD: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · TX

We were on vacation driving from [XXX] to [XXX] and experienced the Death Wobble. I though we were going to die. We stopped in [XXX] and took to a dealership there and they replaced the track ball joint for $757.59. We left there and 25 miles down the road it happened again. Went to [XXX] and they kept the truck and we had to rent a truck to continue our vacation. We rent back on our way back to [XXX] and they had replaced the steering stabilizer shock for $733.53 but we were afraid to drive home so we paid for it to be transported back to [XXX]. We had to pay $1414.00 to have it transported back but at least we made it back safe. Experiencing this death wobble 11 times as a passenger has given me PTSD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 16, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · 70,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle once the vehicle had slowed down. The contact stated that the violent shaking also ceased after slowing down. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the tie rods and all four tires were replaced; however, the failure returned approximately 30,000 miles later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Nov 23, 2023 · FL

At any given moment, if I have the wheel turned a little bit and hit a pot hole or crack in pavement, the drivers wheel will do a horrible wobble until I slam the brakes on and hold tight to the wheel. It will not come out of this wobble until I am at an almost complete stop. This has happened more than 10 times in a few weeks. It has been happening for a few months but is happening more and more now. I have had the tires balanced, changed the shocks, changed stabilizer shock, and replaced the tie rods. None of this has helped. After talking with a mechanic, this is a known Problem with Ford F250’s. This is very dangerous to not only me and my passengers but other drivers on the road as well when my truck swerves into other lanes and I have to slam my brakes on. I am hoping something can be done before injuries happen. Yesterday was the worst and almost caused an accident.

Filed May 11, 2023 · Steering · UT

This vehicle, like many others has a severe death wobble. I almost lost complete control of the vehicle on the freeway at 75MPH after hitting a pothole! I replaced tie rod ends and took it to the Ford dealer to have it aligned and had them check all other steering components. They only recommended new tires and said everything was tight and didn't need replacement. The tires have over 3/32's wear on them so they could have made it another summer before replacing them. It is at the dealer right now getting new tires but I am afraid this will not fix the actual problem. The problem had been reproduced at the dealer and the mechanic told me it was the worst one he has ever driven. This is a known vehicle defect and Ford will still not do anything to fix the issue since it has not been reported in new vehicles that are exactly the same. There were no messages or symptoms before this occurred and it was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I am only a 118lb Female and it was almost impossible to control the vehicle

Filed Dec 6, 2022 · Steering · 144,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle drove over a slight bump on the roadway and the steering wheel began to move left to right and the vehicle was shaking and unable to maintain a straight line in the lane. The contact stated he was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and placed the vehicle in park(P) and waited with the engine running. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ball joints and the steering dampener needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Filed Nov 30, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · TX

I was driving at approximatelly 60mmph when the left front end starte shaking and vibrating so bad I could not keep it on the road. Luckly it was a two lane road with an emergency lane. when I came to a stop the vibration and shakinf stopped. I took it to the ford dealership. They told me I needed frontsuspension tie rods, ball joint assy shock absorbers drag links . Plus $1,156 dollars labor. Told me the truck was fixed to come and get it. They test drove it 5 miles. I picked it up. I had an appointment to go to. I went to it, and on my return the truck did the same thing on my return, this time it pushed me into the right hand lane, barely missing a car beside me. The drive stopped and asked me wht the hell as going on.. I explained and he said you better get the damn thig fixed. This was a Friday night. I parkd it and took it back to the dealer Monday morning. They did not beleive me. I took the tech on a drive, it happened right where it happened to me. I drove back a different way to the dealership to avoid the freeway. I happened again on this road. They went back to work on it. This time they installed a dual steering stabilizer, another $842 dollars, no charge for labor after i bitched. As a 30 year degreed mechanical engineer with years of buying and having machines and equipment repaired I beleive the first fixed the effects of the issue and then with the stabilizer hopefully fixed the cause. There was no warning it just happened out of the blue. I haveread up on th death wobble, and feel lucky I did not get killed.

Filed Oct 24, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · TX

I have been experiencing what is known as the Death Wobble. The death wobble is a violent shaking that happens to the front end of many Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty trucks. It typically occurs at speeds over 50 miles per hour. It can also happen after going over bumps or grooves in the road. To stop the shaking, drivers must quickly slow way down or even stop completely. In addition to the shaking potentially causing the driver to lose control of the truck, slowing or having to stop on fast-moving highways also puts both truck occupants and other vehicles at risk. I have taken this Vehicle to NTB for repairs and even had new tires put on in the event that was the issue. They have replaced all the steering linkages, tie-rods, ball joints, etc dealing with steering to no avail. I have taken this pickup back into the repair shop on 10/24/2022 once again as this has made me have to stop on major freeways to get the wobble to stop. This is putting me and others in danger.

Filed Apr 29, 2022 · Driver assistance, Suspension · 135,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 -75 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact would aggressively apply the brakes to reduce the speed to 25 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the drag linkage, track bar, tie rod ends, stabilizer, and bushings. The failure had progressed since the repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Aug 26, 2021 · Steering · IL

Death wobble. This has happened several times now. I was driving down the highway, hit a bump, and the truck started to violently shake. I had to reduce speed to 30 mph before 8 could get it back under control and the shaking to stop. My service center replaced the tie rods, stabilizer bar, shocks and struts. None of this has resolved the issue. And it seems random as to when it happens. I can hit all kinds of potholes and bumps in the road and nothing happens. But when it does happen, you lose complete control of the vehicle.

Filed Mar 30, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · 140,225 miles · MO

While driving my 2015 f250 the front end began to shimmy and shake violently at 50 MPH. Truck was wobbling all over and to begin quick deceleration and slight braking. Once truck dropped to about 20 MPH the symptoms stopped. Looked over truck and saw no obvious issues . I drove slowly to repair shop and they checked over front end and stated would need traction rod, stabilizer and ball joints as this is known issues on 2005-2019 super duty vehicles. Ford dealer said they were unaware of any recall or issues but could check it out. If the other garage was corrected it would around $800 to 900 to repair. As I left and made right turn it again shimmied badly and I return to dealer. They suggested leaving truck and they could get to it in a few days. I feel this unacceptable from ford for a obvious safety issue. Has the federal safety agency been aware of this issue and is a recall to protect the consumer large investment in order? These trucks are not cheap and ford touts teh moto, built ford tough> please research and advise if there is a recourse for the consumers that are experiencing these safety issues. You can contact me at: [xxx]. Thanks for allowing me to express my concern for myself and others on the road that possibly receive life threatening injuries. Best and hope to here from you [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 25, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · 38,000 miles · CA

While driving over 60mph and hit a bump the truck goes into a violent front end wobble causing the whole truck to vibrate. It continues until the truck is slowed to approximately 30mph . It has happened many times., I took it to the ford dealership they tell me I need to replace tie rod,drag line and bar, track bar and steering shock. The truck only has 38,608 miles.

Filed Mar 8, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · 75,000 miles · MA

The first time it occurred the truck was five years old I was driving on an interstate highway at highway speed, passed over an expansion joint of a bridge, entire truck began to shake uncontrollably, I thought a had blown a tire, but as I slowed to pull to the side of the road, the truck "smoothed out" and I was able to continue on my way. However it happened again two more times that trip, each at highway speed (55-75) and would be "triggered" by small bumps in the road. I took it to a local garage they rotated the tires, did a front end alignment and replaced the steering dampener. Problem continued to reoccur. Has been back to a different garage 4 additional times: tie rod, drag link, track bar joints/bushings, shocks, all have been replaced, however while at highway speeds small bumps in the road continue to induce uncontrollable front end shaking. So far I have paid just under $2500, the problem continues and my mechanic is unsure what is left to try to correct the problem. Online search reveals this to be the "ford death wobble".