The steering on my 2017 f-350 occasionally becomes uncontrollable and shakes violently from side to side when hitting bumps at highway speeds. The dealer referred to this as " death wobble" ford has already attempted to fix it once by replacing the steering damper but the problem persists. The truck is completely stock with all original components and tires. Ford is unwilling to make any more repairs to the vehicle at their expense. I have done quite a bit of research on line and this seems to be a very common problem with the 2017 and newer f 250 / 350 series trucks. The last time it happened to me was on tuesday, april 16, 2019 and I immediately took the vehicle to the nearest ford dealer- northside ford in san antonio, tx.
2017 Ford F-350 SD suspension complaints
Page 7 of 8: complaints 161 to 190 of 219, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ford f-350 sd. While driving 60 MPH over a dip in the roadway, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally. The vibration worsened when the brakes were applied. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the death wobble. Smith motor company inc (located at 359 nj-31, washington, nj 07882, (908) 835-8100) was contacted and a diagnostic appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
While traveling at approximately 65mph truck developed a high speed wobble. Wife was driving at the time and was barely able to get the truck stopped without losing control. The truck that has 26000 miles on it had no payload shook so hard that my wife was unable to hold on to the steering wheel and had to apply the brakes to get it stopped while trying to stay in her lane and on the road.
While driving on the highway about 50mph I passed over a small bump (roadway to overpass) in the road. The front end of my truck began to shake violently. I had to pull over to the side of the road and stop to get it to stop shaking. This has happened a few times in the past but the shaking has not been as violent and has stopped when letting off the throttle (not this time). This seems to be getting worse. My truck has 11,450 miles.
Hauling horse trailer with 4 horses, hit a bump in road and vehicle began shaking and almost lost control on a 5 lane highway thru slc ut. Also learned after the fact ford death wobble.
Experienced 'death wobble' several times when traveling on highways (between 65-75 MPH). This happened several times - once while pulling a fifth wheel trailer, which nearly caused accident. Dealer installed bar to address issue several months ago. Today, I experienced it again - 5 times in a matter of 60 miles - again on the highway when going over expansion joints on bridges. This is only stopped when slowed down significantly on highway - extremely dangerous. Based on the very similar and numerous complaints on this issue makes me think a class action is warranted and needs to be pursued - since it seems there aren't appropriate steps being to correct this very dangerous defect. The corrective steps ford has dealers performing aren't working and this is a serious safety issue that needs immediate attention.
Ford death wobble - at random times while driving at highway speeds (45-75mph) severe steering and front suspension shakes causing loss of control of vehicle. To gain control driver must brake heavily and reduce speed.
While driving at normal highway speeds (65) an 'extreme' wobble developed in front steering and suspension. Steering wheel deflection was around 30 degrees side to side from top center. A fifth wheel travel trailer was being towed and the wobble resulted in departure from travel lane; however, no accident occurred. Speed was reduced to 20 MPH before wobble ceased and trailer brakes we the only effective thing to straighten truck. Application of truck brakes seemed to worsen the wobble. Volumes of information exist on this issue labeled as 'death wobble.' https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4jv7l8bbo1q https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8euq6f8rgt4 vehicle is at purchasing dealer for repair. I am happy to speak with the federal safety agency if deemed appropriate.
At 60mph on the highway, after hitting a minor bump in the road, the truck shook and vibrated violently and the steering wheel was very difficult to hold onto to. The shaking stopped around 25mph as I was pulling on to the shoulder. The truck has 21,000 miles on it and all tires, wheels, parts, suspension do not appear damaged. Research into the issue revealed what is being called, "death wobble." those descriptions fit my experience perfectly. There seems to be no clear solution.
Experience 'death wobble' of front steering at about 17,000 miles. Truck has about 21,000 miles on it and I have owned it since new. Truck is completely stock with original tires, wheels and suspension. Last weekend I had the death wobble happen twice. This happened about 10 miles apart while in a construction zone on the freeway with no place to pull off or room as lanes were narrowed. A small bump starts it, but it takes about 2-3 seconds to 'ramp up' to where the steering wheel is violently shaking back and forth. Happen at a speed of about 58 MPH and had to slow down to under 40 to regain control. Tire pressure of both front tires has a reading of 63psi which cold inflation is 60. Tires are rotated at oil changes. Truck is an xlt crew cab with long box, powerstroke diesel, 4x4 with fx4 package and max gvwr 11,500. Does have chrome package that included chrome 18' wheels and goodyear all terrain tires. Completely stock as taken from dealer. My opion is that the solid front axle has a flaw with regard to track bar locating the axle position and the drag link of the steering. Both of these links are not exactly parallel or of equal length. Since one is attach directly to the axle and the other is attached to the steering arm, when the front axle oscillates going over a bump, the non-parallel, not equal length links introduce a condition sometime referred to bump steer. This then starts an oscillation of the steering arm as the truck wish to continue traveling the straight line, it compresses all of the rubber bushings which then cause the wheel to be jerked/sprung back violently and thus we have the wobble of the front steering oscillating at frequency that can not dampen out until vehicle is slowed down to a point to that no longer supports the natural frequency. College level kinematic and vehicle dynamics approach could solve the problem.
Death wobble! My truck has 31k. While on the expressway doing 50+ MPH if I hit and bump or take a turn fast, the entire front end shakes violently. Extremely scaring and dangerous, caused me to stop in the middle of the expressway before it went back to driving normal.
Truck currently at 18,250 miles. At normal highway speeds (70 MPH) when hitting an expansion joint in the express way or other depression in the road surface, will occasionally cause an uncontrolled and violent oscillation of the steering components. During one of these "death wobble" events loss of control is possible. To regain control, the vehicle must be slowed down to around 30 MPH which can cause an extremely dangerous situation for other motorists on the road.
While driving 45 - 60 MPH on a county road, after hitting a small bump in the road, the steering wheel and front end began to oscillate violently. The truck was difficult to control and the shaking only stopped after reducing speed under 30 MPH. On a road with a speed limit of 55 MPH doing rush hour traffic.
Experienced 'death wobble' at approximately 58 MPH on highway.
While driving my 2017 ford f350 lariat crew cab 4x4 long bed, I drove over an expansion joint on the highway going at approximately 65 MPH. Upon hitting the joint, the front end went into a violent oscillation bouncing left and right. The steering wheel was oscillating so violently that it took all that I had to hold it on the road. I had to reduce the speed rapidly from 65mph to 35mph in heavy traffic. Luckily no one was in my right lane, or I would have impacted the side of their vehicle. This felt like "death wobble" as the wheels were bouncing to the left and right when it happened. This is the first time that this vehicle has had this happen. It was purchased new from a dealer lot in kansas. Approximate mileage is 13,000. I took it to the dealer how claimed it was a failed steering dampener. The dealer replace the dampener, but the front end still feels loose and unweighted over bumps on the highway at speeds over 50 MPH. The weather when it happened was sunny and clear. Traffic was heavy but moving. This incident occurred maryland highway 100. This is a serious manufacturer defect that the federal safety agency needs to look into and recall these vehicles before someone gets killed.
When hitting a bump on the highway at 70 MPH, the steering wheel developed a violent shimmy. I had to slow down and pull over to get the truck back under control. It happens a speeds over 45 MPH for no apparent reason. It happens when you hit the right bump the wrong way.
Front end shaking uncontrollably, after hitting a bump at freeway speeds.
While driving 60 MPH on a county road, after hitting a small bump in the road, the steering wheel and front end began to oscillate violently. The truck was difficult to control and the shaking only stopped after reducing speed under 30 MPH.
While driving 65 MPH in heavy traffic curving to the right on the tollway I hit a pothole which sent the front end of the vehicle into violent shaking known as death wobble. The shaking was so violent it almost ripped the steering wheel out of my hands.the only way to regain control of the vehicle was to slow down to approximately 15 to 20 MPH.
2017 f350 18000 miles. At hwy speed, when a bump is hit with both front tires, the suspension shakes violently and the vehicle is nearly uncontrollable. Shaking continues until speed is significantly reduced and the steering can be turned aggressively.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ford f-350. While driving 65 MPH over a bump in the road, the vehicle violently vibrated. The contact stated that the failure worsened when the speed was lowered. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,254. *tt consumer stated the steering dampener shock was replaced.
Problem # 1 vehicle shakes violently while in motion when it hits a small bump or pothole. It has happened few time in the last couple weeks, on 2/15/2019 while driving at about 60 mhm the vehicle hit a small bump and the vehicle from suspension started to shake so violently that I almost lost control of it. I had to apply brakes and reduce speed by 50% to stop the shaking. Problem 2. Front air monitoring system failure. It all the sudden started to give wrong readings in both front tires.
Experienced heavy osculation at 25k miles. At 26k miles the truck will go into a "death wobble" at speeds over 60 MPH. Any time I hit a bump in the road at speeds about 60 MPH the truck violently shakes and it's very difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. This is a huge safety concern. Took the truck in to get it repaired under the warranty. The dealership was very familiar with the death wobble. The track bar was on backorder; however, I found one available at another dealership. I drove there, picked it up and took it to there dealership who fixed the truck the first. Got the truck back several days later. At 31/32k miles, it started to do the osculation/vibration and steering wheel shake when I hit any bump on the road/rough patch at speeds over 60 MPH. Took the truck back to the shop at 33k miles after it did the death wobble and I almost lost control of the truck. The dealership fixed it a second time. The same day I picked it up on the second attempt to fix it, I was driving home and it did the death wobble again. It was like a mini-death wobble with a very heavy osculation, shaking and vibration when I hit a rough patch at 60 MPH or greater. The truck is now back in the shop and waiting for the third repair. The death wobble occurs at speeds usually over 60 MPH on the freeway or any country roads. It has happened a few times at about 55 MPH. Driving in town it doesn't do it at lower speeds (40-45) unless you hit a very big bump/pot hole/rough patch.
While driving down I-5 between tacoma, wa and olympia, wa at 60 MPH, I encountered a steering wheel oscillation that affected by driving. I slowed down between 30-35 MPH before the shaking ceased. I drove safely home and crawled underneath and noticed I could move the drag link rod back and forth. The local ford dealership plans to replace parts but they are on back order. Ford does have a tsb out on this matter.
It has happened on more than one occasion. Will hit a bump in the road and the vehicle will start violently shaking. It will shake unitl you can get slowed down to about 20 to 25 MPH. It is very scary. When it happens, it continues to happen to all small bumps in the road. The weird thing is the next day you can drive it on the same road and it will not shake. It is extremely difficult to maintain control when it happens. So far it hasn't happened when pulling a trailer but scared to find out what might happen if we are.
Violent shaking of steering wheel and front end suspension at speed over 55 MPH when hitting a bump on the road.
Truck steering oscillates all the time. Turns into a death wobble when driving on roads above 55 MPH that are rough.
While driving approximately 75mph on the highway, I drove across a joint in the pavement (small bump) and the steering wheel started shaking back and forth violently, and the entire truck started shaking, vibrating and jumping around the lane. I had felt a few steering wheel shimmies prior to the major vibration/shake, but they dissipated quickly. When the steering wheel shook violently, I had to pull over onto the shoulder and reduce the speed to about 40 MPH before the shaking stopped. I then proceeded driving as I had before, noticing smaller steering wheel shimmying when going over bumps.
Coming a interstate bridge at 60 MPH the steering wheel started shaking badly. I had to slow down to stop the shaking.
Several times I have experienced severe shaking with the steering. It feels as if the front of the truck is going to fall out. It has happened at speeds between 50 and 70mph. I have to step on the brakes to the point I am afraid someone will hit me from the back. So far I have been able to keep control but it seems to be getting worse. I have about 25,000 miles on it. The first time this happened I had less than 15,000. These occurrences are frequent now and as a result I am afraid to drive it
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