2012 Ford F-350: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Feb 15, 2024 · Steering · 98,000 miles · RI

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump and experienced the death wobble. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the tie rods and shock absorbers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 05UPF250SW (05-16 Ford F250 / F350 4WD Vehicles with Steering Wheel Oscillation); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Filed Nov 16, 2023 · Steering · 200,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle drove over a small depression in the roadway and the vehicle started vibrating violently. The contact was able to steer the vehicle however, it was difficult to keep the vehicle in the lane. The contact stated he stopped depressing the accelerator and was tapping the brake pedal to slow the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after slowing down to 30 MPH, the vibration stopped, and he regained control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vibration failure had become a recurring failure at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front shocks, steering control arms, and ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the vibration failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · NE

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.

Filed Dec 12, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 109,000 miles · KY

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"

Filed Jul 11, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 67,000 miles · AK

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.

Filed Dec 27, 2019 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-350. While switching lanes at 65 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle shook violently and experienced the "death wobble". When the contact released the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stopped shaking and was driven to its destination. The contact called hoffman ford (5200 jonestown rd, harrisburg, pa 17112, (717) 657-1600) and was informed to have an independent mechanic observe the suspension from underneath the vehicle while turning the steering wheel aggressively from side to side. The dealer stated that the track bar attached to the ball joint should turn from side to side. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a case number. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2019 · Steering · 125,000 miles · WI

This truck has a death wobble,it's a nice truck,but going down the road the front end shakes so violently that it is almost impossible to keep it under control it does it with or without a trailer.I contacted ford headquarters and was given a case number and took it to a ford dealer where they aligned it after I had new tires,track bar ball joint,steering stabilizer,u-joints,and front shocks installed.it cost me$2000.00 for this to be completed.well sorry to say it was a band-aid fix.after 2500 miles it is back and worse than ever I have once again contacted ford where I have received yet another case number,I am to take it back in on 3/19/19 so they can look at once again.this is an ongoing issue and has been for years. Google death wobble there are alot of videos on this subject.this is a safty issue I don't understand why this is not being taken more seriously.ford says they must determine if it is a maintenance before they can move forward.this is a $50,000.00 truck that isn't worth a plug nickel in it's current condition.I use this vehicle for my business so as of now I am shut down.this wobble happens anywhere from 35-70mph and is very scary to drive.it is currently out of service.please help me

Filed Aug 13, 2016 · Suspension · 91,000 miles · GA

Front end suspension bouncing at med-high speeds upon hitting a bump. Described in other searches as caster wobble or "death wobble" truck has less than 100,000 miles, unable to correct the problem even after replacement of over $2000 worth of parts. Multiple other complaints found online from other owners. Parts replaced include, tie rod ends, tie rod tube, ball joints, track bar, steering stabilizer and end bushings. The issue creates an undrivable and extremely dangerous condition for driver, passengers and other motorists. Upon reaching speeds of 40 MPH+ any disturbance (bumps) in the road creates the start of the front end violently bouncing and it will not stop until the vehicle comes to almost a complete stop. I was required to stop 6 times within 3 miles of a busy 5 lane interstate (I-285 in atlanta) quite literally in the middle of the interstate. This has been worked on with 2 different dealerships , sunbelt ford in albany ga, & angela krause ford in alpharetta ga. It's my feeling that a $65,000 vehicle with less than 100,000 miles should never have a dangerous issue like this. There should absolutely be a fix and/or recal ahgainst this vehicle before someone gets killed.

Filed Jun 27, 2014 · Body, Steering · 42,000 miles · CO

At 55 miles an hour on rough pavement, the truck begin to violently shake back and forth. This shaking and jerking caused me to enter into the oncoming lane of traffic. In order to regain I had to slam on the brake pedal control thereby getting the speed down to 40 miles an hour. Ford suggested I checking the ball joints and the steering stabilizers. After spending over $600 in parts (not covered by warranty)and replacing the whole front end linkage, the vehicle then drove fine until I reached another 45 thousand miles or approximately 90 thousand miles total on truck. Now it has repeated the same process all over again throwing me into the opposite lane of traffic. The reason for purchasing a new truck is to have a save vehicle to use for performing my job. This truck has all original equipment and has not been altered in any way prior to this experience. This is definitely a safety issue that needs to be addressed by ford. I have found an aftermarket stabilizer bar that corrected the problem, however I feel that ford should recall and repair this problem with the proper equipment before someone looses their life of it.