The contact owns 2004 Ford F-250 equipped with Maxwrx Tires, Tire Line: Rcveita, Tire Size: 33x12.50 R20. The contact stated that approximately one month after the tires were purchased from Dutchman's Tire Warehouse #2 , the tires started bouncing significantly while driving over 60 MPH, causing the vehicle to shudder. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that the tires were not DOT certified and advised the contact to discard the tires due to safety concerns. The contact verified that the tires did not have a DOT number. The contact recalled that Dutchman's Tire Warehouse #2 had informed him that the tires were coming from Vietnam and were a great deal. The contact attempted to research the tires online but could not find any information on the tires. The tires failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Ford F-250 shudder problems
16 of the 4,361 owner complaints about the Ford F-250 describe shudder or vibration when accelerating, most of them for the 1999 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 1999
- typical mileage
- 157,000
By model year
- 20131
- 20123
- 20113
- 20042
- 20002
- 19993
- 19981
- 19941
Often reported together
What owners say
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle vigorously shuddered. In addition, the contact allowed the vehicle to decelerate independently to come to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
My 2004 F250 has developed the "Death Wobble" that is normally associated with newer models, but the shudder at or around 40-45mph is identical to the described problems of the newer models in the class action lawsuit and tech bulletins published by Ford. Older models need to be considered in the tech bulletins, customer satisfaction programs, and fixed by ford despite being 1 year older than the current guidelines.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 MPH and driving over a bump in the roadway, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the entire vehicle were shuddering violently, almost causing loss in control of the vehicle. The contact decelerated to 45 MPH and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where the front end of the vehicle, the wheel alignment, and other unknown parts were inspected; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving on bumpy road surfaces. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.
Death wobble--great oscillation and shuddering of steering wheel and vehicle itself after hitting patches of rough road at highway speeds. This has happened 5 times now. Truck is currently being inspected for any faulty equipment. This occurred on interstate 10 in LA, and if not for quick thinking, I would have swerved into other traffic or lost control completely. This is a known problem with Ford F250s and is very dangerous. No warnings, no lights, and no way to predict that this might occur driving over rough pavement.
Let me start by saying that my truck does not have any aftermarket changes - it is completely stock/oem. At highway speeds (60mph+), the front end of my truck sometimes shudders severely after going over small road surface changes such as joints/seams in the highway. At first it only occurred during sweeping highway turns, but it has progressed to happening on straights as well. The shudder is so severe that the steering wheel nearly shakes out of my hands and things in the stowage spots on the doors are shaken out. I now have to slow to <30mph in order to settle the front end which is obviously extremely dangerous to have to suddenly do on a highway. The initial event occurred at roughly 80k miles and only happened a few times a year. I now have 130k miles and the problem has occurred 3 times within the last month. I've recently replaced all shock absorbers and the steering dampener, had an alignment and the tires balanced and rotated - to no avail. The truck is currently in the shop where they are trying to identify the specific problem but have told me this is relatively common among ford super duty trucks. After doing some research online I have found numerous online communities discussing this problem that has apparently been occurring with ford super duty trucks for over a decade and is still occurring on new units with as few as 15k miles.
Truck has less than 70k miles and is exhibiting the stereo typical death wobble. When traveling over 50 MPH any bump in the road may produce an uncontrollable shudder. The only solution is to rapidly slow until the truck stops shaking. This has occurred multiple times over the last several months. Ford will not acknowledge the problem. I have had the truck aligned to verify the serviceability of the steering components. I have replaced all 4 shocks and ensured that my tires are properly balanced. Tires are wearing consistently and have been regularly rotated and balanced. When the death wobble occurs my ability to control the truck is severely degraded and I am afraid the situation could prove catastrophic.
Severe shaking in front end around 60mph. Truck becomes uncontrollable and very dangerous. "death shudder"
Our first f150 ecoboost purchased in july 2011 was taken by ford as a lemon. The replacement truck provided in november 2011 has the same issues. While driving in rain on a freeway our v6 ecoboost f150 truck engine starts to shudder, shake and then rapidly lose power while driving at highway speeds. Then the engine completely shuts down when accelerating. Our vehicle barely made it to the side of the road where it stopped running. After letting it sit for a few minutes the engine was restarted. Although the engine worked the truck continued to shudder and shake with limited ability to accelerate for the remainder of the 3 hour drive. Over a period of many months the problem recurred many times, almost always when driving in the rain. The problem was even worse while driving in the rain and towing a boat trailer. The problem is especially horrific when towing a trailer and driving in the mountains in the rain. The problem also occurs no matter then weather when driving through the mountains of kentucky, tennessee and northern georgia. The truck is totally undependable. Although the truck has been in the dealership for repairs the problem is not fixed! On top of the loss of power, a life threatening situation when driving in traffic on any road especially a freeway, the miles per gallon has never been higher than 18mpg when driving on a freeway at 55mph (confirmed by a ford mechanic) significantly below the product advertisement by ford. To date after multiple times in the ford dealership repair shop the problem has not been fixed.
Consumer was towing a trailer and applied brakes the truck shuddered violently and the trailer almost "jack knifed". Vehicle was checked by dealer who determined that the front rotors were warping excessively due to water being splashed and the heat generated when brakes are applied. First time the rotors had to be turned was at 38k miles. The second time was at 58k miles. Ts
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-150 vehicles manufactured from september 9, 2011, through september 22, 2011, and model year 2012 f-250, f-350, f-450 and f-550 heavy duty vehicles manufactured from september 12, 2011, through september 22, 2011. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection. the transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
- Risk
- This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch function and replace the switch if necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on december 22, 2011. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 11V582000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks equipped with a 6.4l diesel engine, excessive temperatures in the diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system may result from excess hydrocarbons in the exhaust.
- Risk
- Lack of power or rough operation, unusual noises from the engine or exhaust, white smoke from the exhaust, and potentially a visible flame out the tailpipe can occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the power train control module. The recall began on april 3, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 07V139000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
- Risk
- The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
- Remedy
- Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Recall number 97V171000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- Under certain conditions, the snap ring that locates the park gear on the output shaft of the transmission may fracture.
- Risk
- When the gear is placed in park, the park gear would notengage, allowing the truck to roll freely if the parking brake is not properlyset. This could result in an accident.
- Remedy
- Install improved snap ring and revised transmission extension housing.
Recall number 90V101000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford F-250 shudder
Which Ford F-250 years have shudder or vibration when accelerating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1999 (3 complaints), 2011 (3 complaints) and 2012 (3 complaints).
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