2017 Ford F-250 SD: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · FL

While pulling a 38ft 5th wheel camper on an incline with the cruise control set at random the vehicle completely dies. It experiences a total shutdown of the engine, which in return causes a complete loss of power steering, brakes etc. The truck will not restart until you push the off button and open the drivers door to shut the entire system down

Filed Dec 28, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 36,000 miles · NV

While driving with the cruise control set at 78 MPH (speed limit 80 MPH) on I-80 between salt lake city, ut and wendover, nv, I went over a rough patch of road on a turn and the vehicle began to shake violently. The steering wheel was shaking back and forth rapidly and I was unable to maintain my lane through the turn. The shaking continued until I was able to slow to around 20 MPH. If there would have been traffic around me I am convinced there would have been an accident. My wife, 4 year old daughter and new born son was in the vehicle. I searched the federal safety agency for a safety recall on the steering for ford superduty pickups but found nothing but complaints about this issue. If this is not a recall worthy safety issue then I do not know what is. I no longer trust this truck to safely transport my family. I have maintained this vehicle well and it has only 36,000 miles on it.

Filed Feb 19, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 15,500 miles · AR

At 71 MPH while the truck was on cruise control going down the interstate, I went over a bridge and the truck began to violently shake like it was coming apart. The truck's back end started to come around on me like it was skidding and went back and forth a couple times. The road was completely straight and dry so there shouldn't be any reason this would have happened either. Cars on both sides of me went to the shoulder and ditch trying to get out of the way. I slowed down to about 30 MPH and the shaking stopped. I took the truck to the ford dealer and they instantly knew what I was describing and call it the ford death wobble. The truck has 15,500 miles on it with original tires, never been in an accident or any other reason to do this. Very scary and I won't let the family in it now. The ford dealership said it will most likely happen again as they have trucks come back over and over trying to fix it but there isn't a legitimate fix from ford.

Filed Feb 6, 2020 · Driver assistance, Suspension · 28,000 miles · LA

Death wobble - driving with or without cruise control, within 65 and 70 MPH, a slight bump in the road will cause the front suspension, both wheels, to shake violently until the speed is reduced to below 35 MPH.

Filed Oct 14, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 23,000 miles · AZ

I was in cruise control coming down highway 260 in arizona, very mountainous roads. Cruising at about 75, hit a rough patch of road and the vehicle began shaking violently, throwing me into oncoming traffic to the left. There was no warning and the truck normally drives smooth, this unexpected event will kill someone they should recall all f250s and f350s, this is a severe issue and you are being complacent not treating this as a dangerous issue. This needs to be resolved and ford knows this is an issue and doesn't do anything but throw parts at it. I've read this is a caster issue. Total [xxx] I have a 65k truck I'm afraid to drive, be careful people this can kill you and anyone in your vehicle. When this happens to you, you will thank god when you can make it stop if you're alive, I'm a total ford guy, but this completely changed my opinion on my very expensive truck and ford. Ford if anyone reads this you people are pukes. Knowing this issue and not recalling it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 9, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 28,000 miles · TN

The issue started with the automatic tailgate deploying or opening during transit. I was hauling cargo and the at highway speed the tailgate opened and the load ejected from the the bed of truck onto the highway. Fortunately there was no accident or damage to anyone else property. After this occurrence over a period of weeks the issue continues to get worse. It happens now regularly and numerous times during a day. I do not haul cargo now because of this. Now the truck electrical system seems to be involved. The windows, radio and lights have issues. The tailgate has no now stopped opening randomly and is stuck in the closed position, this could be do to extreme force I applied during closing it in while stetting at a busy intersection recently. The instrument p[panel on the vehicle is very intelligent and all the settings regular disconnect or malfunction now. I am afraid to use the the cruise control because of the continuously random nature of the electronic failures.