2016 Ford F-350 SD: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 29, 2024 · Steering · NM

I have had a recurring problem with the so-called "death wobble" whereby the vehicle starts to shake violently when hitting certain bumps above about 50 mph and cannot be brought back under control without completely coming to a stop. I've had the front end components, including tie rods, stabilizers, drag link, etc completely replaced THREE TIMES and within a year of normal driving it comes back. It has always been repaired at a Ford service center. It happens without warning, though I've learned now how the vehicle feels when the front end starts getting loose so I can have it repaired before it becomes dangerous.

Filed Sep 13, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · 87,120 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 55-60 MPH with her in the front passenger's seat, the vehicle was shuddering significantly, and the steering wheel was shuddering back and forth. The driver lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle nearly drove into a ditch. The driver was able to maintain the vehicle on the shoulder of the road and came to a complete stop. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving, and the contact became aware that the failure mostly occurred while exceeding 54 MPH on a bumpy road surface. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the long and short steering drag link, the steering dampener, the track bar ball joint, and bushing needed to be replaced, and the vehicle needed to be realigned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 87,120.

Filed Jul 26, 2023 · Electrical · VA

The control arm for the turnsignals and wiper system fails resulting in the delay wipers constantly running. This is both an annoyance to driving as well as an obstruction to your field of vision. There also a risk of damage to the windshield as well. This is a very, very common part failure with Ford Trucks.

Filed Jul 19, 2023 · Steering · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the front end of the vehicle was shuddering and rocking uncontrollably, and the vehicle nearly ran off the road. The contact veered to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the tie rod was replaced; however, the failure recurred several times while driving 60 MPH. The contact stated that the failure stopped after decelerating to 50 MPH. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · CO

This truck has the death wobble. Started when I purchased the truck at 19000 miles. When at highway speeds, bridge joints and bumps will make the truck nearly uncontrollable. This has happened MANY times in the 80K miles that I've put on the vehicle. It has new tie rod ends, new shocks and has had several sets of tires in the 70k miles that I've owned it. Nothing that I've had mechanics do has fixed the death wobble. The most recent incident is listed below.

Filed Dec 27, 2021 · Steering · VA

I was driving through a construction area on interstate 95 and hit uneven pavement and the front of the vehicle starting shaking violently. It took everything I had to hold the steering wheel the shaking was so violent it rendered the brakes almost useless. Fortunately no one was next to me in the next lane because I could not control the vehicle and I had to ride the shaking out in both lanes until my speed came down do approximately 40 mph, Everything smoothed out and the vehicle began to operate normally. I knew I experienced the Ford Death Wobble because It has happened to many of my friends vehicles already and has been a topic of discussion amongst many of us which is why I brought it to the dealership immediately. If you google "Ford death Wobble" thousands of people are experiencing the same problem and they have a Facebook page dedicated to it. I brought it to the dealership and they verified the play in the front end and replaced the steering track ball joint. My friends who had this done have had the problem return so it is a temporary fix for a potentially very dangerous situation. I spoke with the mechanic and he said he does 5 of these a week. The repair cost me about $700 for a defective part or design by Ford.

Filed Dec 17, 2021 · Suspension · 56,149 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger’s side track bar roller joint, passenger’s side tie rod, steering damper, and link boot to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,149.

Filed Oct 23, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · AZ

Front end shimmy few times installed new tires it seemed to help. Shimmy came back rebalanced wheels didnt happen for a while. Rotated tires and added new ones in rear. Drove for awhile seemed ok. 2 weeks ago we were driving about 50 mph had a shimmy but turned into violent shaking and truck was headingbinto oncoming traffic. My wife was screaming and ducking down. When it stopped and I steered it back to our lane. I had front end checked last year and before this incendent everything checked out good except stabilizer was dried out. It was replaced. The mechanic there informed us abpit fords problem with death wobble. Took to dealer for fix after finding letter they said steering damper replacement would fix it. It did not. Ford wanted to replace, track bar,some ball joints and bushings and another allignment. But could not state if it would fix the problem.

Filed Sep 9, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 44,600 miles · UT

While traveling freeway speed, hitting a bump on the road causes an uncontrollable shake in the front end and causes the truck to go towards the left, that only goes away after hitting the brakes and slowing down 10-15 MPH. A representative from ford calls it the "death wobble." I had the truck into ford before the warranty expired and they replaced a steering stabilizer shock, but the problem never went away totally. Ford confirmed the problem, and diagnosed it as track bar ball joint worn, excessive play, shimmy shock worn. The dealer is aware of the defect in their trucks, but refused to take responsibility for it and said it's just because the parts were worn out. They didn't say anything about any parts being worn when they replaced the steering shock, less than 10000 miles before. Vehicle was unsafe to drive with the "death wobble." ken garff ford was willing to pay for the oem parts to be replaced, and now the death wobble is gone. However, ford has known about this problem for 15 years and refuses to take responsibility for the defect.