Ford F-250 jerking problems

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 27,500 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine seizure due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact stated that while the dealer was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission also needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the engine and the transmission. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was bucking and jerking. The gear shift indicator light displayed that the transmission was slipping from drive(D) to neutral(N) and reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the part was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,500.

Filed Jun 2, 2025 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle jerked and briefly lost motive power before the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Feb 15, 2024 · Steering · MO

I was driving on a paved road at 55mph, I did have a passenger in the vehicle. As I steered through the slight curve to the left the steering wheel started to jerk in my hands and the truck started to shake/wobble violently. I removed my foot from the accelerator and started to apply the brake while trying to keep the steering under control. From the violent wobble in the front end of the truck it did cross over the center line slightly, thankfully there were no oncoming vehicles. The wobble in the front end of the truck and jerking of the wheel did not stop until I came to a complete stop. I made sure there was no physical damage, or anything that looked unsafe, and drove the 1 1/2 mile back to my garage at 25mph. The truck is now parked awaiting another inspection. I had an inspection of this vehicle done on January 26, 2024. The wheel bearing on the right front was found to be wearing and in need of replacement. The wheel bearing (hub unit) was replaced to spec on February 11, 2024. Between the time of bearing replacement and incident I had driven this vehicle with no issues for approximately 70 miles.

Filed Jan 31, 2023 · Suspension · GA

The issue is the Ford Death Wobble. It has happened to me four times now in the past two months. The first two times, I was not sure what it was. After the third, I called my local Ford dealership and informed them. They scheduled a time and I was to bring it there. The day before I was supposed to bring it, it did it again. The first time it happened, I was driving 70mph on a 65mph highway, going over a bridge when the truck started to shake profusely causing the steering wheel to jerk left and right. I had zero control over the truck. I began to slowly mash the break while being violently shaken and bounced around for a hundred yards, bouncing in and out of my lane. Luckily, there was no traffic at this time and I stopped without harm to any individual. I chalked it up to a scary incident and went about my business. Second time I was going over a bumpy road at 55mph when again, the truck began to violently shake and bounce out of control until I could get it to stop in the ditch on the side of the road. After taking it to a Ford dealer, they informed me of a few things that needed to be done and replaced, which we did. Four days after getting the truck back and “fixed” I was hauling my trailer and equipment for work when going 45min over a bumpy road, the truck began to again, violently shake and bounce until I could come to a stop. I took it back to the Ford dealership and they now recommend replacing all wheel bearings and damper assembly. They assured me the first time, the problem would be fixed. Have already spent $2,300 on them attempting to fix it and now they are recommending another fix of over $1,800 but now telling me, “it might not fix the issue.” I have a family. I am terrified I am going to harm myself or another individual while operating this f250. Ford wants me to dump money into a problem that they are aware of but refuse to make right. This issue, if not fixed, could kill myself or another individual or seriously harm someone.

Filed Sep 25, 2021 · Suspension · VA

While traveling on the highway, after driving over a slight bump prior to an overpass, the front wheels shook violently while jerking the steering wheel from my hands. This occurred three separate times.

Filed Dec 13, 2020 · Suspension · 35,000 miles · CA

My 2014 f250 has recently had the condition described by numerous others as the ford death wobble. The truck has 35,000 miles and this dangerous condition just started. The first occurrence was on 12/9/20. Second on 12/11/20. Third and fourth occurrence on 12/13/20. The first two times the shaking was extreme, nearly jerked the steering wheel from my hands and could have easily caused an accident. The last two were less extreme but I still needed to slow way down to stop the shaking. All four times this occurred I was driving on straight, paved, roadway and hit a small bump in the road. The small bump set the shaking in motion. Approximate speeds were 60, 70, 65 and 65 MPH in order of occurrence. I was driving alone each time this happened so do not have any witnesses to this condition. However, as stated above, hundreds of others have reported this same condition with f250 and f350 trucks.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 104,000 miles · FL

Traveling on florida I 95 north at 74mph my family and I went over a bridge expansion joint that was no more than 1-1/2" drop and the front end of my truck started shaking so violently the steering wheel almost was jerked out of my hands. I had to slow down in heavy traffic and get to the side of the road, the violent shimmy stopped as my speed got down to 35mph. This is the second time we experienced this kind of reaction going over a bump at hwy. Speeds. The ford dealer (sunrise ford in fort pierce, fl.) changed the front steering stabilizer strut, still having the same problem 100miles later. We were traveling on a straight section of the interstate when this happened. We were in the middle lane of the three lane hwy.

Filed Nov 14, 2019 · Suspension · 92,000 miles · OK

When you are driving down the highway and reach about 50 MPH the wheels on the truck shake uncontrollably and it jerks you off the highway almost causing a wreck.

Filed Aug 26, 2019 · Suspension · 115,000 miles · CA

My 2005 ford f250 super duty truck exhibits a condition referred to in forums as 'death wobble', in which the truck's front suspension shakes violently at highway speeds above 50 MPH. This condition is generally brought on by either of the front wheels hitting any deviation in the road surface such as bridge expansion joints, potholes, etc. The condition is so bad that immediate loss of control can only be controlled by jerking of the steering wheel or an immediate reduction in speed, generally to 25 MPH. I have experienced this condition several times over the past 9 years since purchasing this vehicle, most recently on july 12th while traveling on the 57 freeway in southern california at 65 MPH. I was travelling in the left hand lane next to the carpool lane (in moderate traffic) when I rolled over a bridge expansion and the left front wheel started shaking violently and causing me to immediately apply my brakes to regain control. The severity seems to be greatly reduced when hauling a substantial load in the truck bed, but I did experience this twice while hauling a 20' cargo trailer across the country. I understand that a class action suit was filed against ford in june/2019 and that ford has been aware of this issue with other truck owners filing complaints regarding this condition. I personally have not gone to ford regarding this as it is a waste of my time. The components they replace do not cure the problem, as many truck owners will attest. In my research, I found a company in utah that provides an aftermarket kit that appears to fix the issue. As I am about to embark on another 6000 mile journey with my wife and family, I intend to purchase and install this kit on my vehicle. If I find upon returning that this kit has alleviated my truck's issue, I will re-contact the federal safety agency with my results.

Filed Jun 13, 2018 · Steering · 105,000 miles · NE

The truck steering is uncontrollable and dangerous. When driving the truck jerk the steering wheel over into the other lane.this happens all the time when driving on regular city streets.truck turn on its own and goes into the other lane. Very hard to correct wheel will not turn back to straight position. We have taken it into 2 different auto repair shop 4 times and no one can find the problem. We did have gear box changed and had it changed a second time to make sure this was not a defective steering box. Cant find anything wrong with it. No mechanic can find anything wrong with truck and can not fix this issue.has happened over 10 times.happens very time it is drove unknown problem! Not drive able and dangerous.