2016 Ford F-250 SD: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Oct 21, 2024 · Steering · 249,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle violently shook while driving over a bump on the roadway. The contact slowed down, pulled over, and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times and was able to drive the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving over bumps on the roadway. The vehicle was taken to three different independent mechanics and the contact was informed that an alignment, shocks, ball joints, and the traction bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and verified that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The contact researched online and discovered that the failure was related to a steering linkage damper. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had previously issued a Customer Service Program for the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 249,000.

Filed Feb 8, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · MO

-I was driving 65 mph in morning rush traffic when I drove over an overpass. Near the end of the there are some small wrinkles in the concrete. Once I drove over these wrinkles in the pavement, my steering wheel and front end started violently shaking. I removed my foot from the accelerator and once my speed decreased to I'd say 20-30 mph the shaking stopped. My research show that this if referred to as the Ford Death Wobble. -The system that failed were likely the track bar bushing, damper bracket, ball joints, control arms, shocks, and struts. Yes, the truck is available for inspection upon request. -When the front end of the truck started violently shacking I was going 65 mph in lunch rush hour traffic. I'd say that my life and the life of the drivers of the vehicles to my left, right, and rear were at risk. -No, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or anyone else. -No, the vehicle or components have not been inspected by anyone. -No, there were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, nor did any warning appear during or after the shaking. -My best assessment of the cause

Filed Sep 24, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · OK

DEATH WOBBLE! Driving at any speeds from 30 MPH to highway speeds of 65-70 MPH, the front end (front suspension) of the truck will Wobble Uncontrollably in a Vehement and Violent Manner, making driving unsafe with loss of steering after hitting a small bump or dip in the road/highway. The condition is worse when pulling a 30 foot gooseneck trailer. I have replaced the front shocks, steering damper, and rear shocks and to no avail, the Death Wobble still occurs! This is Major Safety Concern and Life Threatening to myself and anyone on the road during the Death Wobble, and seeing the reaction of other drivers in the opposite direction should be cause for concern! My truck is at a dealer now for inspection of the front end suspension system (drag link, track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, tires, and alignment), to include the engine mounts, which were worn and deteriorating (I noticed this when I was replacing my steering damper) probably from the Death Wobble. The tires were balanced and rotated on September 9th by Discount Tire and the technicians there didn't see any problems with the tires or the wheels. I get my tires balanced and rotated about every 7,500 miles and I keep an accurate vehicle history of my truck.

Filed Aug 28, 2023 · Steering · OH

Death wobble. I took it to Vallery Ford in Waverly Ohio. They told Ford recommended that the steering linkage be replaced. They did that and told me the truck was repaired and ready to pick up. I picked it up and as soon as I got over 45mph and ran over a seam in the road the death wobble was the same. I turned around and took it back. They acted like they didn't believe me. I waited about 1 1/2 hours and the service manager finally drove it. When he came back he apologized and said he thought he was going to die. So I left the truck there again. The next time they called to say it was repaired I went back to pick it up. They replaced tie rods, ball joints and track bar ball joints. I drove it home and it kind of bumped along and the steering wheel wasn't straight it was off center to the right. I called them and they told me to bring it back again. I waited at the dealer because they said it would only take about an hour to realign it again. When I drove away the steering wheel was not straight, it was not straight to the left. Turned around and took it back. They said maybe one of the tie rods was defective. I left it there. After about a week and a half they called and said it was done again. I picked it up today. As soon as I got over 45mph the death wobble was back as bad or even worse before I took it in the first time there. I left it, but they said they don't know what else they can do. It's not safe to drive. I'm 68 years old, I am lost over this. What can I do?

Filed Jun 22, 2023 · Suspension · WA

Since I purchased this vehicle, it has always had a bad shaking in the steering wheel/front end when I hit a bump at high speeds. I took it to ford in 2019 and they replaced one of the steering components (track bar ball joint) and told me it had resolved the issue. It didn't. I took it back and they said it was a known problem and that there is nothing they can do for me. It is still happening and is getting worse. Ford should be required to resolve this safety issue.

Filed Jun 13, 2023 · Suspension · 30,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced severe shaking and vibration after driving over bumps on the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front ball joints were faulty and needed to be replaced. The ball joints were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · AZ

Upon hitting small road bump while accelerating to highway speed, steering wheel started violently shaking (death wobble), had to decelerate quickly to regain control. Upon later inspection found steering damper bad and some resulting ball joint play in several areas due to bad steering damper.

Filed Oct 7, 2022 · Suspension · TX

Front wheels wobble uncontrolably after hitting a bump at speeds above 30 MPH. Problem confirmed by mechanic and temperary fix acomplished by adding 2 more dampening shock absorbers in addition to the one provided by the factory and replacing front struts and frontend ball joints.

Filed Aug 12, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · CA

On 08/01/2022 at approximately 1400 hours, I was driving my 2016 Ford F250 4x4 and towing a 5th wheel trailer weighing approximately 14000 lbs. I was traveling at approximately 60 MPH when I hit a small bump on I-215 which caused a violent shaking from the front end of the vehicle (condition commonly referred to as "death wobble"). I immediately released the accelerator to try and correct the violent shake, but the condition continued. I attempted to brake, which caused the condition to worsen and brake efficiency was greatly reduced. Allowing the vehicle to coast and slow down without brake input was the only way to correct the condition. Once we slowed to below 45 MPH, the condition was no longer present. I inspected the front end suspension and steering components of the vehicle. I discovered the ball joint (Ford Part# MCF-2225) securing the track bar to the front axle was warn and had excessive play in it. This play allowed the front axle to have lateral movement perpendicular to the vehicles travel. All other suspension and steering components checked okay. After replacement of the track bar ball joint, the condition has not reoccured. The defective ball joint is available for inspection, however it fell apart when pressed out of the front axle. This issue caused a severe reduction in steering and braking, putting myself and those around me at risk. As the truck is no longer in warranty, it has not been seen by the dealer or a third party. There was no warning prior to the condition occurring.

Filed Jul 18, 2022 · Steering · MS

While driving south on interstate 59, I crossed over a bridge and when I went across the bridge to highway connection and it had a bump in it at this point and at 65 mph the front end went into a violet shimmy and with cars on both sides of me it was all I could do to keep from colliding with the other cars before I could get the truck stopped and off the road. I have inspected all the front ball joints and wheel bearings, can't determine what caused it, but now I'm scared to drive it.

Filed Nov 29, 2021 · Steering · CO

Both Control Arm bushings and Steering Stabilizer have both failed causing a severe Death Wobble at highway speeds. This condition has nearly caused an accident on 4 separate occasions.

Filed Nov 19, 2021 · Suspension · ME

My problem is with Steering and or Suspension. A common issue with these trucks known as "The Death wobble" steering wheel and truck shake so violently that it will rip the wheel out of you hand. it is one of the scariest things especially if towing a trailer! It is even more scary if you have no idea what it is, IE my wife will no longer be able to use my truck unless I know it won't happen because if it happens to her I'd be afraid she would get scared and could crash, hurt herself, and or hurt others or possibly worse.... I have had many ford trucks and grew up with fords. This has been known about by friends and family since I was a kid and I am now 43. I had a 2002 f250 do this to me, a 2006 f350, and now my 2016 f250 is doing it! On my older trucks I just figured it was because they had high mileage and parts ware some so I just repaired the front ends and basically replaced any and all components... Everything ball joint, tie rods , steering dampers on my 2002 I had installed an aftermarket, axles and ujoints, steering linkage and even went as far as replacing the steering box on the 2002. This costs a couple thousand dollars if you use high end parts and do it yourself. I can't imagine the cost of having a shop do it, which is exactly the situation I am in now. a 2016 f250 with not even 80k on it with no plow should not be having frontend issues like this. and upon searching for a fix on the 2016s. welp seems to be a huge issue, these trucks are wicked expensive and I would expect Ford to be of better quality. This is a very scary and very dangerous problem and I have seen it on my own vehicles, on work trucks I have driven and on friends trucks. I have heard it is an alignment issue. Also, replace the steering damper and will replace the shocks 4 or 5 hundred bucks. It is the cheapest route for now so I am going to try that first. if that doesn't fix it then it will have to have the front end done and that is gonna be not cheap!