2011 Ford F-250: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Steering, Suspension · 263,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving over a bump at a high rate of speed, the contact experienced the death wobble and the contact temporarily lost control of the vehicle. The contact slowed down and the violent shaking ceased. The contact stated that the tie rods, ball joints, and other front-end parts were replaced to reduce the risk of the failure recurring. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH and towing a trailer, the contact experienced the death wobble. The vehicle drifted from the far-left lane over to the far-right lane and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer and was provided a case number. The manufacturer advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 263,000.

Filed Aug 30, 2023 · Steering · 167,000 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 68-70 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump and experienced a death wobble. The contact attempted to turn the steering wheel with force, but the vehicle crashed into a guardrail. The contact developed blisters on the palms of his hands from gripping the steering wheel, but medical attention was not received. Police arrived on the scene; however, no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that he needed to pay for the diagnostic. The vehicle was then towed to the residence, where the contact replaced the steering gearbox, ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar, shocks, front springs, and wheel bearings. The failure recurred. The vehicle was later taken to three different independent mechanics; however, the cause of failure was not found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Filed Oct 9, 2021 · Suspension · NJ

I was going 65 MPH in center lane, hit a pothole. The right front wheel began to vibrate wildly. I thought it was going to fall off. I slammed my brakes and veered sharply right to reach the breakdown lane. We were nearly in a violent collision. The car behind me slammed his breaks, leaving skid marks, the car in the lane to my right was forced into the breakdown lane, also leaving skid marks. We had 200 miles to home which we drove slowly without further incident. I had to replace: tie rod ends, steering damper, ball joint, stabilizer bar. Truck needed an alignment. $1008.37. 4 months later, I hit a pothole. The LEFT front tire vibrated wildly. Now I knew what do do.

Filed Jun 2, 2021 · Suspension · TX

The problem with this vehicle is Death Wobble from the front suspension of the truck. Over the years it has done this and is quite dangerous when at highway speed, because when it happens, you will have to slow to 30 MPH to regain control of the the truck. I have had this issue fixed two separate times, about every four years, by replacing the ball joint and track bar. These repairs are costing about $450 usd. There are no warning before this problem happens. You simply have to hit a bump in the road going 60-70 MPH for it happen.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 94,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford f-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH and driving over a bump in the roadway, the front end of the vehicle suddenly started to violently shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer autonation ford located at 4355 jonesboro rd, union city, ga 30291, who diagnosed that the suspension needed to be repaired. The damper assembly, front suspension, ball joints, and tie rod connections were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · IL

Vehicle is experiencing "death wobble". Dealership installed kc3z 3e651 b:damper assy to fix the issue. Problem re-occurred within weeks. Took it back to the dealer and they could not explain. This time they said the trac bar ball joint needed to be replaced. Replaced it and had the same problem re-occurring within days. This problem occurs randomly when driving over minor bumps, road seams in bridges, etc. With and without carrying a load. Indications are heavy vibrations in the front end/steering that will not stop until you let the vehicle de-accelerate on it's own without using the brake.

Filed May 11, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 87,000 miles · AR

Truck has excessive wobble at highway speeds causing loss of control. Death wobble. New tires, track bar, tie rod ends have been installed and front end adjusted to ford bulletin with no solution of correcting the issue. This issue started in august 2018 and has been in the dealership several times for corrections. The truck was in the shop again last week with the same issue.

Filed Nov 9, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 61,000 miles · TX

Death wobble! Dealership has replaced ball joint, bushing, new tires, some connecting rod ' still happens!!! This is going to kill me or somebody!!! It happens at 70 MPH and above. This is all over the internet ' ford knows about it; they just haven't fixed it.

Filed Sep 26, 2019 · Suspension · 168,000 miles · ID

Bought this truck in april has had the death wobble twice above 60 MPH installed new tires and shocks , tie rod end on right side and alignment still has a uncomfortable vibration at high way speeds haven't taken to a dealer yet but looking at other forums dealer fix does not fix it

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 214,000 miles · AR

Truck developed what is called "death wobble". When I hit a bump on highway, usually at speeds around 65 MPH the steering wheel and whole truck shake violently until I slow down to 35. Replaced trackbar, draglink, tie rods, steering dampner, had the front end aligned by two different shops, still does it. This has been happening for several years, I will put the date of the latest below.

Filed Aug 26, 2019 · Suspension · 128,000 miles · KS

When hitting a bump or a bridge at speeds in excess of 50 MPH the vehicle would go into what is called a "death wobble" or sustained steering wheel oscillation. This was more likely to occur when the front drivers side hit the bump first or in a slight left hand turn when hitting the bump in the road. I have to immediately let off of the throttle and softly apply the breaks to about 25 MPH to get the very aggressive wobbling to quit. During which time, the vehicle is very difficult to control. I have had stabilizer shocks, track bar assembly, ball joints, tires, alignments, etc completed and still experience this death wobble almost daily. It appears by reading about every forum available online, ford is aware of this problem for years, but has failed to do anything to correct the problem. (see tsb 18-2268) for vehicles 2017-2019, but this is clearly a problem for older model vehicle also. Someone is going to die from this problem. It should be addressed.

Filed Mar 5, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 128,000 miles · TX

At 125,000 miles, I began to experience the "death wobble". Hitting a rough spot on the highway, especially on a curve, the truck will randomly begin to shake. It begins in the front, shakes the steering wheel violently until I am able to slow down enough to stop it. I have replaced front stabilizer (steering damper), drag link, tie rod end, alignment, tire rotation, track bar bushing, ball joint, tie rods and another alignment. It still will randomly start to shake violently after I have hit a rough spot and especially in a curve at highway speeds. I cannot find anything else to replace. I have had two different mechanics work on the vehicle and we have together searched the web for other cures, but there are none to be found. It is not safe to drive my truck on the highway...the shaking becomes so violent that I become a traffic hazard and do not have enough control of the vehicle to handle it safely. The most recent event was today, 3/5/2019 but it has been happening, in between stays at the mechanic, since november.