2019 Ford F-250 SD: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Sep 24, 2025 · Steering · 185,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 - 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the vehicle experienced the death wobble, causing the vehicle to independently shift into either the left or right lane. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the result was unknown. The contact was informed that a steering dampener could be added to the control arms. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.

Filed Jun 16, 2025 · Fuel system, Steering · TX

Only had my truck for 6 months, my suspension is worn out causing a known issue known as death wobble. I was driving at 65mph with my family and extreme shaking occurred. Yes by a Ford dealership. Yes the truck and the area was inspected and confirmed to needing replaced parts. No warning lamps/lights appeared due to it being mechanical, I went to another shop after i already took it in to Ford, and they told me a missing component that may be the leading issue of it was deleted never there to begin with when i bought the vehicle at the ford dealership. •Truck details (2019 F-250 XLT 4x4, 88k miles) •Death wobble at highway speeds •Firestone confirmed factory stabilizer was deleted •DEF system not working •Worn tie rods, drag link •Low oil at purchase (indicating no inspection) •Dealer is refusing to help •Ford Corporate says there’s no active program — but i know TSB 19-2274 and CSP 20N04 exist

Filed Mar 10, 2025 · Steering · 11,137 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH over a bumpy road surface, the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel started shuddering violently, causing the vehicle to veer to the right into the slow lane independently. The contact swerved and was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact resumed driving at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering damper had failed, and the tie rods and ball joints were damaged due to the shuddering. The dealer informed the contact that Ford Campaign Number: 20N04 only covered the steering linkage damper replacement. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 11,137.

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Suspension · OH

Failure of the track bar bushings, failure of tie rod ends and failure of steering linkage dampers. This results in “death wobble” while driving at random speeds and contacting abnormal road surfaces. This results in the vehicle violently shaking and can lead to serious injury or death.

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Suspension · OH

After receiving a repair for the failure of track bar bushing, steering linkage dampers and tie rod ends from the ford dealership, death wobble continues in my vehicle. This results in an almost $2000 fix. The vehicle violently shakes and could lead to serious injury or death.

Filed Aug 9, 2024 · Steering · PA

Truck was purchased used in Sept of 2023. Shortly after the truck started suffering from Death Wobble. All steering tie rod ends (all 4), track bar shocks and steering stabilizer were replaced. Tires were rotated Ball joints were checked and were good. Truck still has death wobble. I'm sure this is why the truck was traded. Ford has declined to repair under tsb 18 2268 due to build date.

Filed Nov 3, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · GA

Odometer: 45847. Two weeks ago I hit a bump on GA 400 going about 70MPH and the death wobble happened. Had to brake heavily to get it to stop. No warning lights. Knew there was an ESB on the Steering Dampner and took it to the dealer to have that replaced along with the other recalls. The service advisor calls today and wants to charge me $1800 to replace the tie rods. Ford should be taking care of the affected components in relation to the steering dampener not holding up.

Filed Oct 28, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · TX

This has now happened on two separate occasions. When driving the truck at 55mph and hitting a small bump in the road the truck started shaking violently and would not stop until I slowed down to under 25mph. Upon researching this, consumers are calling this the Ford Wobble of Death. The truck became uncontrollable until I slowed down and the vibration ceased. Fortunately, it was on a straight section of roadway and no other cars were in close proximity at the time. There was little steering control of the truck until I slowed down to make the violent shaking stop. The problem appears to be with the front steering components (drag link, tie rod, tie rod ends, ball joints). Since this occurrence the front of the truck vibrates slightly almost all of the time when driving over 55mph. The Ford dealer replace the steering damper, and this helped the vibration, but it still continues to vibrate. Ford may still have the replaced part (but this part replacement has not fixed the problem.) The Ford dealer has said replacing the steering damper was the first item to change (per Ford Corporate) to fix this problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than the Ford dealer. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms of the upcoming problem until the first time is shook violently.

Filed Sep 21, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · 80,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and driving over a speed bump, the vehicle started to shake uncontrollably. The contact stated that the vehicle was pulled over and stopped, restarted, and the vehicle operated normally; however, the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing the death wobble. The contact was informed that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Additionally, the driver’s and passenger’s side control arms needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure stated in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20E090000 (Steering, Suspension, Equipment). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Aug 12, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · CA

While towing my 15,500 GVWR fifth wheel at approximately 60 mph on the 210 fwy in a construction zone I encountered some very rough asphalt repairs just on the drivers side of the lane. I had a, close to the lane, K-rail on the passenger side and one lane next to me on the drivers side with a K-rail on the drivers side of that lane. When I hit the rough pavement my wheels started to oscillate violently back and forth and pulled me about 3 feet into the next lane on the drivers side. Luckily there was not anyone in the lane at the time. I forced the wheel to the right and straightened out when I got back in the right lane but the "Death Wobble" continued so I slowed down to about 35 mph and the wobbling finally stopped. The rest of the 3 day trip I stayed at or below 55 mph to be safe. I could have been much worse had there been someone in the next lane or if it had pulled me to the right into the K-rail. Someone could have been injured or killed. I took the truck to Upland ford in California and they said that the steering stabilizer, both drag links and the track bar needed to be replaced but that the stabilizer was on back order. I also took it to Sunrise Ford in Fontana California, where I bought the truck, and they confirmed that I needed the exact same things plus they included that the tie rods needed to be replaced. I have about 22,200 miles on the truck and it is out of the factory warranty. I have an extended warranty with Portfolio Protection and Sunrise Ford had 2 different inspectors from Portfolio come out and inspect the front suspension to authorize repairs. They would only authorize replacing one of the drag links. Before this incident I did feel that the steering had, slowly over time, started to feel a little loose when I hit smaller bumps. There were no warning lamps that came on. I am afraid to drive the truck especially pulling my fifth wheel trailer.

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · NE

When traveling at highway speed, experienced the "death wobble". The front end and steering wheel shakes violently making steering impossible. Slow down to about 40mph and it stops. This has occurred 3 times when hitting a bump. Occurred once with just the truck and twice while pulling a 5th wheel. Ford dealer replaced tie rod ends etc but still Occurred after that, now waiting on a new steering damper.

Filed Sep 30, 2021 · Suspension · TX

Last month we purchased a 2019 F250 SD..with less than 32K miles...(under Warranty). Since the purchase, we have had 3 incidents of the Ford "DEATH WOBBLE", each one increasingly worse than the last. The local Ford dealer finally ( a week to get in ) begrudgingly DROVE & INSPECTED the truck & said "NOTHING WRONG". We asked they check the bushings, balljoints, steering system for Wobble... they said NO SUCH THING...and then aligned the front tires free of charge ? Two days later as I was heading to Texas...I hit a bump in the road and the RIGHT tire lost contact w/the road. Then after it made contact w/road, I had EXTREME jerking Left & Right IN THE STEERING...causing the truck to veer into the left lane ( a 4 lane)...I was within 2' of hitting the concrete divider ! Traffic behind me SLOWED. The WOBBLE is most violent when the Truck hits a defect in the pavement at 45 to 70MPH wherein the wheel is momentarily airborne...THEN on impact w/the road, the Wobble begins..there is NO CONTROL at that point. Once in Texas, I went to an Independent Service Center who had a great deal of experience w/the DEATH WOBBLE...not only verified the problem as the Death Wobble BUT FIXED IT !...to the point my wife will now travel with me...she had refused the trip from AL. to Tx. I did not blame her...it is very scary stuff. Safer on the airline, Covid & all ! PARTS NEEDED: Caster/camber adjusting bushings, Rod Assy-Drag Lind, Tie Rod Ends, 2 Ball Joints, Stabilizer/Track Bar, Tie rod end were all replaced. It drives good, no Death Wobble !!...VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD...