WE own a 2012 Ford F350 and have had two bad incidents with the dreaded “death wobble” and are afraid to even drive it because the truck now seems unsafe as it feels unsturdy as if it is starting to wobble and I don't dare even taking it on the freeway. My daughter had told me that the truck began shaking violently on her while on the freeway and I didn't fully understand what she meant until it happened to me. I was traveling on the freeway in cruise control, going the speed limit of 80 mph. Suddenly the truck began to shake violently. The whole front end, the steering wheel, my arms, my body, etc. were all shaking violently. I hit the brakes. I screamed and was terrified. I thought a tire had blown out or something and was sure I was going to wreck. Upon stopping, I just sat there for a moment in disbelief, trying to catch my breath. I am fortunate that no one hit me as I was halfway in the right lane of traffic. I got out expecting to see some kind of damage but saw none. I slowly drove to the first off ramp and gingerly drove home. Holding onto the steering wheel had left my arms feeling bruised and my mental being shaken. I was telling someone about what happened and he said "Oh, that is called a "Death Wobble" and he told me that Ford Super Duty F250s and F350s were known to have this problem. I went home a went on Google to educate myself about this "Death Wobble" and was so angry that Ford has done nothing to correct this problem or have a recall. I feel very lucky to not have caused or been in a serious accident. I look at this truck and am afraid to even drive it. I read that numerous drivers have reported frightening incidents of losing control of their trucks and that there have been serious accidents with injuries, and even deaths due to this defect on these Ford trucks. They should pay to correct whatever the problem is.
2012 Ford F-350 steering complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 66, newest first, as owners wrote them.
July 10 2023, driving on highway in my 2012 Ford F-350 super duty going 50-55 mph front passenger tire hit small bump in road causing vehicle to “death wobble”. Vehicle violently pulled to the left. Luckily there was not a vehicle in that lane otherwise an accident would have ensued. Steering wheel was shaking uncontrollably and I had no control of vehicle until I slowed down to 25 mph. I delivered truck to the Ford dealer on July 11, 2023 explaining my experience. Technician was also able to reproduce the “death wobble” problem and repairs were made at my expense. A year prior to this episode I had noticed a slight wobble in steering but not to this extent. I voiced my concern to the Ford dealer and they had replaced a few ball joints. There has not been any indication of steering issues up to my incident in July 2023. I would like this report to serve as a record as I feel this problem may arise again in the future. My understanding Ford has had issues with “death wobble”in their super duty trucks dating from 2005-2019. A recall should be issued from the manufacture regarding the unsafe and poorly engineered front end and steering components.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel started vibrating violently, causing the entire vehicle to shake. Upon reducing the speed to 10 MPH, the vehicle returned to normal functionality; however, the failure recurred. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 260,000.
While driving at speed higher than 60 miles, when hit a small road bump or imperfection, front wheels start to wobble uncontrollably, up to a point where steering becomes impossible to steer, making it very hard to control the vehicle. This is a life threatening event! As far as I know it is a problem that happens a lot on this particular model.
The contact's mother owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a depression in the roadway and lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was bouncing to the left and right and the steering column and steering wheel was vibrating. The contact stated that the vehicle became almost impossible to control. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 20N04 -Steering Linkage Damper (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Encountered violent shaking of whole truck traveling on I95. Transitioned from a bridge to road surface and the whole vehicle began to violently shake - Loosing all control of steering & braking. Released gas pedal and slowed to shoulder. Was informed later this is a known issue with all Ford Superduty trucks with solid front axle.
Death wobble. The steering wobbles back and forth. I have owner the vehicle for 4 years and had to have it fixed 3 times. This is extremely dangerous. Glad my wife was not driving when it has happened.
Sterring wheel started shaking violently back and forth, as wheel as the entire vehicle shaking. After checking on line foend the term "death wobble" associated with these symptoms. I was traveling at about 40 miles per hour on a paved highway. The only way I was able to stop violent shaking / wobble was to slow almost to a stop. Vehicle has about 77,000 miles on the odometer. I immediately contacted the local dealer and made an appointment to have it checkout and repaired. Appointment is scheduled for nov. 22, 2022.
when the truck is traveling at highway speeds and goes over an imperfection in the road surface like a bump, bridge expansion joint etc... The truck will vibrate violently and will not stop until the speed is reduced often times under 50 mph which can be dangerous on a highway. This has been happening for the past year and a half. I have tried brining it to multiple mechanics and have replaced a number of parts.
While traveling on the highway at 70~75 mph the vehicle went over a small highway joint. This caused the truck to shake violently with little to no control. Only after dropping speeds less than 45mph did the violent shaking stop. The sudden slow down in the middle of the highway, the violent shaking and the lack of steering control was extremely dangerous and caused an immediate life safety issue to myself , my family and other vehicles and motorists near mine. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic. The tires have been balanced and rotated are not worn. The shocks on all four tires were replaced. The steering stabilizer shock was replaced and joints inspected. The problem persists and only is replicable during highway speeds. The event comes without any warning and the vehicle is uncontrollable.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH on the expressway, the vehicle drove over a bump on the roadway and the vehicle and the steering wheel started shaking violently. The contact depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred three times while driving over bumps on the roadway the same day. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The dealer inspected the suspension and diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the dealer advised the contact that the tires needed to be replaced as they were worn on the inside. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
“Death Wobble” vehicle shakes uncontrollably when hitting bumps/grooves in pavement or going at speeds above 50 mph putting driver at extreme risks. Repaired steering dampener, shocks, and tires, but nothing has offered a solution to the issue.
My truck shakes violently at 40-45 mph. It has difficult to diagnose the exact component to replace. I took the truck to a independent repair service and they told me it was the death wobble. They did drive the vehicle and confirmed the shaking. It will cause me to pay over 1000.00 dollars to fix. Not to mention the tires that have been ruined because of it. No police or anyone else has inspeced it. No warniing lamps or messages present.
Death wobble, Fixed in 2021, and 2019 now I have to get it fixed again
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at 55-60 MPH on cruise control, the vehicle hit a bump and started shuddering uncontrollably, causing the steering wheel to shudder as well. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that as he was losing control of the vehicle, he depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle stopped shuddering. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The contact stated that the vehicle was not yet diagnosed; however, the dealer replaced the steering bar. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving at 50-65 MPH, and sometimes at slower speeds. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
On 10/29/2021 when driving I had the death wobble happen at 65 mph. Steer was shaking violently causing me to hit the ditch with no damage to my truck but really scared my wife and I. I am going to have most if not all the front end parts replaced at approximate cost of $2500.00. This is a Ford problem that they should pay for.
While traveling down the road at approximately 72 mph my vehicle front end began to shake unbelievably. It felt like all four tires had gone flat. I could not control the vehicle until the speed got down to around 40 mph.
Driving on highway at 60 m/h violent shaking of the front end and steering occurs when there is a change in pavement, also known as the "death wobble" replacing suspension, ty-rods and sway bar ,etc. Did not fix the problem
Driving at higher speeds in my 2012 f350 lariat, the truck gets to 60 fine but any faster then that and it begins to get a speed wobble that causes the entire truck to vibrate at a uncontrollable shake that throws the steering and I found it unsafe to hit the brakes, which forces you to just coast while the trucks shakes violently. For a truck that people pay up to $40,000 ot should be able to cruise at speeds above 60-70 MPH with no problem. It seems to be thrown off by the smallest divit or bump in the roads but only at highway speeds. Which makes it that much more dangerous. I have a 6 year old that was in the truck many times as this happens and it's a scary thing it feels like the wheels are going toncome off. Only had this truck for about 6 months now also. It seems in mint condition except for the speed wobble.
Truck started to wobble violently that it was extremely difficult to maintain control of vehicle and get the truck to the side of the interstate. I drove over a small bump in the road before the incident.
While driving on the freeway in heavy traffic at approximately 60 MPH my 2012 ford f-350 super duty crew cab truck began to shake violently so much so that the vehicle was hard to control resulting in a near miss of collision with vehicles next to me. With great effort I was able to control the truck and come to a stop safely. I exited the freeway and took surface roads at slow speeds to get home,
Driving on the highway at 70 MPH. The steering wheel wobbled out of control which made it so I could not control the vehicle. I applied the brake but it didn't respond until the truck slowed. Cars were serving off the road and I was within seconds of a very serious accident with 2 of my children. I am frightened to drive the truck as no one can tell me what the cause or repair needed. Had something similar on my former ford but not to the extent of this incident.
I recently crossed a bridge expansion joint doing somewhere between 70 and 75 MPH my truck steering wheel shook violently as I could barely hold it. I slowed down to about 40-45 MPH before it quit. This was on a saturday. Monday I took it to a local garage to have the tires rotated and balanced and check for anything that could be bad in the steering/front end suspension. They rotated the tires and found the steering stabilizer shock was leaking, they replaced it and started to bring me the truck. It started shaking violently at 50 MPH. They ended up replacing the drag link, right outer tie rod end, adjusting sleeve, ball joint at tracker bar and right outer lower tie rod end. They said I needed to get an alignment on it, I drove the truck a couple hundred miles seemed to be fine. I took to the shop they used for a alignment, they did their thing and I left. When I left I noticed the steering wheel wasn't straight so I took it for a quick drive. At 60 MPH I did the violent shaking again and having to slow down to 45 MPH for it to stop, it shook twice in a 6 mile stretch of interstate. I returned it to the alignment shop and they said they could not have done anything to cause it.. I took it back to the first shop and they got it in the ford garage for an alignment. Still shaking after they had it for most of a week they replaced the tires and it seemed to help. Until a couple days later I was running 62-64mph in a slight turn and it started doing it again. It is still doing it and I know when it is going to start so I'm ready. After research on the web I hear that this is called the "death wobble"
Truck has developed a very extreme death wobble in the front end at speeds over 50 MPH,when you hit any small bump, terrifying experience, loss of steering control.
Death wobble when driving and hit a small bump in the road, especially at speeds over 40 MPH. I've had shocks replaced, tires checked and rechecked, shocks on the body of the vehicle replaced, to no avail. Particularly bad if I'm at a slight turn and hit a bump at 60mph. Nearly lose control of the vehicle. The whole vehicle shakes. Mechanics can't find anything wrong, but the death wobble is still there. Has happened so frequently I brace when I hit small bumps or go over bridges with small ridges. Not one specific incident, it happens every single time I hit a small bump at speeds over 40 MPH.
October 16th friday picked up my wife martha from work around 5 pm. Driving on a country road, smooth straight section, felt shimmy in steering wheel. We didn't have trailer. Road was dry and in good condition. Had been looking in to death wobble and watching videos earlier in the week. Decided to move steering wheel a little left and then back a little right (as if trying to avoid a pot hole, no cars were on coming and one car was behind me), going about 50 MPH. Death wobble started and was totally unexpected, shook both the wheel violently and shook the whole truck. I put on the brakes but don't remember how long it took to slow and have the shacking stop, move truck to the side of the road and let car pass me. Dropped of the truck at martha's work and took her car to our destination. Items in the back seat of truck, cooler, plastic bin container and suitcase that was on the truck seat was now on the floor. Will add pdf with more related detail.
At speeds typically over 50 MPH vehicle, vehicle has a propensity to begin shaking violently, and uncontrollably. After doing some research this appears to be a common problem known among owners as "death wobble". The vehicle has been to my local dealership to for repairs and parts replacement but the problem remains unsolved. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle.
Death wobble! Has happened on many occasions! Driving down the highway any speed over 50 miles per hour. Truck front end and steering shake violently! It's very hard to keep control over truck. Afraid of killing my family and other drivers. Took the truck to shop and got two new front tires and a new rim. Truck has been service and no difference!
Driving at highway speed (55-75 MPH) the front wheels will start to shimmy and shudder causing steering wheel and front tires to oscillate severely (death wobble) when driving over rough surfaces. This causes entire vehicle to shake uncontrollably. This has caused loss of steering control and can only be be stopped by stopping or slowing vehicle. (unsafe at highway speeds with traffic following)
I have been dealing with wobble and vibration on my f-350 for years now and it seems to be getting worse. It has always seems to occur between 45-55 MPH. They first replaced ball joint, then I was told it's the tires, got new tires. It was always just a little vibration and play in the wheel. Now when I hit a bump, a frost heave or like a bridge joint I get extreme shake and vibration in the steering wheel that makes the vehicle hard to control. They most recently replaced stabilizer but it still occurs. The effect seems to be worse when I have my truck camper on it. Started to do research today on it and discovered this so call death wobble complaint. I am filing a complaint too because it almost caused me to have an accident today as I had no control and was forced to suddenly slow down today after I hit a bridge joint.
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