2005 Ford F-250 Suspension Problems

While driving at 65 Mph, towing a fifth wheel camper, encountered a mildly rough section of highway when entire front end began to wobble and shake violently. Slowed the vehicle, maintaining control. When going back up to speed, the same shaking occured again. Also noted a less violent shaking at 45 mph. Took vehicle to have new tires rebalanced but did not change condition much. Inspected front end components. Currently replacing steering damper and shocks in hopes of correcting issue. All other components new or nearly new (3 years) with no issues. Vehicle and components can be inspected, and all replaced parts will be kept for inspection if required. Safety of my vehicle and others on busy highway could have been compromised had I not slowed and maintained control. The problem is being dealt with by me, as I do most maintenance on vehicle. The vehicle has not been seen or inspected by others except by tire mechanic who noted no obvious issues but did re-balance all tires. There was NO advance warning of a failure or compromise.

NHTSA ID

11636147

Incident

Sep 27, 2024

In 2014, I got the “Ford death wobble” in the right front. VERY scary and dangerous. Trying to quickly slow down to stop it in traffic is almost as dangerous as the wobble itself. You have very little to no control with the steering when it happens. I had to repair the problem out of pocket because Ford won’t do anything about it. Now, two weeks ago, I had the same death wobble happen at 70 mph on the left front. So frightening. My passengers thought we had a blowout and we’re about to crash. I successfully slowed it down but this problem is a road hazard to me and everyone else on the road. So now, once again, it’s on me to shell out to fix a problem that should have been a recall a long time ago but Ford won’t step up and do the right thing. Please give us some relief here.

NHTSA ID

11487504

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

towing a trailer, traveling at 70 mph, I hit a pothole and vehicle violently shook. The episode lasted for approx 30 seconds. It was very Difficult to maintain control and I almost ran off the road. It happened several times before I took it for repairs. The stabilizer bar was replaced, however the violent shaking has still continued.

NHTSA ID

11486705

Incident

Sep 24, 2022

Front end suspension shimmy> My granddaughter and I were driving at 60mpa and hit a bump and could not control shaking of truck until pulling over to stop. This happened without warning. Had to drive back roads to get home.

NHTSA ID

11481545

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the front suspension started to bounce and vibrate, causing the vehicle to shift independently to the right lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed the vehicle and the failure stopped. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11481253

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Driving on the freeway at apps 65 miles per hour, the truck hit a numb in the road and started to shaking causing the truck to shake violently. I was able to get to the side of the road and slow down which eased the shaking. I started driving again and after reaching speeds this happened two more times, then I got off the freeway and drove backroads home under 40 miles per hour.

NHTSA ID

11440138

Incident

Nov 8, 2021

The steering is extremely lose and has a shimmy or “death wobble” when going over any type of bumps or other issues and at speed on the highway. Similar to recall 09L02

NHTSA ID

11437875

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

A SCARY AND SERIOUS WOBBLE AT 35 MPH. HAD TO CREEP HOME. ALMOST LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11408496

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

112,000 mi

MY TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT ANY TIME BETWEEN 30 AN 70 MPH I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE IT STOP WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AN HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11316737

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

265,000 mi

2005 FORD F250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,100 MILES. ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES, SUSPENSION- NO MODIFICATIONS. TIRE PRESSURE SET TO FACTORY DOOR LABEL SPECS. ON MONDAY, 8-19-2019 WHILE ON I-95, TRAVEL SPEED AT ABOUT 60 M.P.H., I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT & THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING/SHAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IN MY ESTABLISHED LANE AND NEARLY TOOK OUT SEVERAL CARS IN THE ADJACENT LANES NEARLY CAUSING MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION. WENT ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE I JUST EXPERIENCED. LATER FOUND OUT IT IS CALLED HARMONIC RESONANCE A.K.A. THE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST'S AND THEIR PASSENGERS WHOM SHARE THE SAME ROADWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11246578

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

19,100 mi

MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK EXHIBITS A CONDITION REFERRED TO IN FORUMS AS 'DEATH WOBBLE', IN WHICH THE TRUCK'S FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS CONDITION IS GENERALLY BROUGHT ON BY EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEELS HITTING ANY DEVIATION IN THE ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS, POTHOLES, ETC. THE CONDITION IS SO BAD THAT IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED, GENERALLY TO 25 MPH. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, MOST RECENTLY ON JULY 12TH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE 57 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT 65 MPH. I WAS TRAVELLING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE (IN MODERATE TRAFFIC) WHEN I ROLLED OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND CAUSING ME TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY MY BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE SEVERITY SEEMS TO BE GREATLY REDUCED WHEN HAULING A SUBSTANTIAL LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED, BUT I DID EXPERIENCE THIS TWICE WHILE HAULING A 20' CARGO TRAILER ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST FORD IN JUNE/2019 AND THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TRUCK OWNERS FILING COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS CONDITION. I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT GONE TO FORD REGARDING THIS AS IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME. THE COMPONENTS THEY REPLACE DO NOT CURE THE PROBLEM, AS MANY TRUCK OWNERS WILL ATTEST. IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND A COMPANY IN UTAH THAT PROVIDES AN AFTERMARKET KIT THAT APPEARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER 6000 MILE JOURNEY WITH MY WIFE AND FAMILY, I INTEND TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THIS KIT ON MY VEHICLE. IF I FIND UPON RETURNING THAT THIS KIT HAS ALLEVIATED MY TRUCK'S ISSUE, I WILL RE-CONTACT NHTSA WITH MY RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

11246395

Incident

Jul 12, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11191787

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

109,000 mi

AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 45MPH, AND 70 THE TRUCK WILL WOBBLE AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. TRUCK CAN BARELY BE DRIVEN AND IS VERY UNSAFE

NHTSA ID

11031801

Incident

Oct 4, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

HIT A BUMP GOING ACROSS A BRIDGE ON I-74. THE ENTIRE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EVIDENTLY WHAT FORD IS CALLING A " SHIMMY" . I HAD ALMOST NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. IF THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WAS ANY NARROWER I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A TRUCK THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS "SHIMMY " IS GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595469

Incident

May 29, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

SEVERE STEERING SHAKE AND FRONT SHIMMY AFTER GOING OVER ROUGHNESS IN ROAD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOWED TO ALMOST REST TO STOP SHIMMY. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557180

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE WORK DONE ON MY TRUCK. THREE OF THE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN AND SO CALIPERS PADS AND (EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME) ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ABSURD FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. UNDERSTAND THIS IS EXPENSIVE!! HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OFT TALKED ABOUT "DEATH WOBBLE" A FEW TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS REAR BRAKES IN 2010' FRONTS IN 2011' NOW REARS AGAIN IN 2013. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503450

Incident

May 21, 2010

Mileage

21,419 mi

I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING WHICH TOOK ME OFF THE ROAD INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451931

Incident

Apr 22, 2010

Mileage

36,000 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND RAN OFF ONTO RUMBLE STRIPS ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WHEEL SHAKE BECAME EXTREMELY VIOLENT.HAD TO BRING VEHICLE DOWN TO 30 MPH FROM 75 VERY QUICKLY AND ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND DOING SO.HAVE SEEN THIS AND HAD IT HAPPEN ON OLDER TRUCKS THAT HAD EXCESSIVE WERE IN TIE RODS AND WORN FRONT END PARTS BUT THIS TRUCK IS TIGHT SO I THOUGHT. FIRST TIME FOR THIS AND IT WAS VERY FRIGHTEN COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW VIOLENT SHAKE WAS. FORD DOES NEED TO ADDRESS THIS OR OFFER A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT. WONDER HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN RID OF OR NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10442790

Incident

Jan 5, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES HIMSELF, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID

10439875

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F250. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY, CAUSING IT TO TRAVEL UNCONTROLLABLY ACROSS TWO LANES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE OWNERS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE A POTENTIAL SHIMMY AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIRES BE INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECURRING PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10438969

Incident

Mar 14, 2007

Mileage

47,000 mi

WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE DOING 50MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STARTS TO SHAKE ON UNCONTROLLABLY PRESSURE IS OK. BRAKES ARE NEW,WHAT SHOULD I DO TO REPAIR THIS ? *TR

NHTSA ID

10438844

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

I JUST RECEIVED FROM FORD ANOTHER NOTICE ABOUT THE OUT OF CONTROL SHIMMING THAT TAKES PLACE CONCERNING THE 2005 F- 250 . FORD HAS DOES NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN TO BLOW SMOKE AT EVERYONE ABOUT THE TIRE PRESSURE. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS UNIT NEW, THE TIRE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CORRECTED TO THE PROPER AMOUNT OR THE CORRECT TIRES BEEN REPLACED. STILL THIS ISSUE TAKES PLACE . ITS AN UNBELIEVABLE TERRIFYING SHAKING THAT TAKES PLACE , AND ONLY STOPS WHEN THE TRUCK GETS TO ABOUT 20-25 MILES AN HOUR. THIS OCCURRED MOST RECENTLY, LAST THAT A CAR FOLLOWING ME , PULLED ME OVER TO TELL ME HOW IT LOOKED FROM THE REAR, TO THE POINT THE PERSON BEHIND ME WAS FEARFUL FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL. I REFUSE TO LET ANY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY DRIVE THIS TRUCK ,OTHER THAN MYSELF. THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE TO THIS ISSUE THAN WHAT FORD IS MAKING OUT TO BE AND ALL FORD WANTS TO DO IS BLOW SMOKE AT US ABOUT THE TIRE PRESSURE. I'VE TRIED TO SELL THIS UNIT TO NO AVAIL, AS THE DEALERS DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THIS UNIT AND OTHERS HAVE CHECKED ON LINE TO HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND ASKED ME ABOUT IT , AND WANTING TO BE HONEST I TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. SO NOW I HAVE A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN SELL AT A DEEP DISCOUNT. THANKS FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438592

Incident

Nov 23, 2005

Mileage

23,000 mi

MY FORD F250 HAS A VERY DANGEROUS WOBBLE WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND ALL FOUR TIRES ARE FINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAD FOUND THAT THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD SD TRUCKS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED DUE TO A BAD ACCIDENT. EVERY DEALER THAT I TALK TO HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT YET I SEE IT POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM VERY UPSET AND I AM GOING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429550

Incident

Oct 8, 2011

Mileage

129,000 mi

CRUISING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD DOING ANY SPEED OVER 55 MPH THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SHAKE VERY BADLY!! SO BAD THAT I CAN HARDLY CONTROL THE TRUCK. ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP IS TO SLOW TO 40 MPH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ANY HIGHWAY!! THERE IS NO BAD PARTS ON THIS TRUCK...

NHTSA ID

10428509

Incident

Sep 24, 2011

Mileage

50,035 mi

DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A SET OF BUMPS OR A SINGLE BUMP MY TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT THE FRONT END. IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS COMING APART! FORD WILL NOT ADMIT ANYTHING IS WRONG.. THERE ARE COUNTLESS ENTRIES ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE WEB.. IS SOMEBODY GOING TO DO SOMETHING?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10424761

Incident

Sep 9, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi