2006 Ford F-250

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.

While driving on the freeway the vehicle started to shake violently. I had to pump the breaks slowly and pull to the side of the road. After checking everything we took it to the shop and they did 2k in repairs and said it was fixed. It did it again. They said they don't know what it is.

NHTSA ID

11599579

Incident

Jun 18, 2024

Our truck has been doing the "death wobble" several times over the last 2 years. The truck will suddenly shake violently at high speeds and go into limp mode. We have to pull over pumping the brakes slowly. It is EXTREMELY TERRIFYING to have happen and we have spent THOUSANDS trying to get it repaired but it continues.

NHTSA ID

11599578

Incident

Jul 6, 2024

Purchased my truck last year and was unaware of problems with this truck.whikr traveling couple miles from my home on a paved two lane road I ran over a small gravel or walnut which immediately sent my truck into uncontrollably shaking in the front end my speed was between 30 and 35 mph it was all I could do to get it to the side of the road and stopped.Shaking I got out and looked underneath the front thinking I had a wheel or something about to come off.I couldn't see anything noticeable loose.So I got back in and very slowly continued to my destination.Since then it has happened more times than I can count small hump or raised pavement or even a hole in the road will send it into a shaking fit all I can do is try and get to the side of the road and come to a stop.Im in a fix as this is the only vehicle I own and I can't afford to buy another and no one knows what to do to fix it.I feel like I'm riding in a death trap Everytime I have to run out I try and stay on the back roads where I don't have as much traffic and don't have to go as fast having this happen on the interstate is extremely scary not to mention trying to get to the side of the road and not get ran over by tractor trailers.When I purchased this truck it only had around 53,000 miles on it and is still under 60,000.Ive seen read about the problem Ford is having and that they are doing nothing about it.I think this is a disgrace for a company my own father worked for them for 15 years and it's ashame they don't care about their reputation or their company or the safety of their customers and families.I want my truck added to the list of the ticking time bombs they have out on the road.

NHTSA ID

11557554

Incident

Oct 3, 2023

The check engine light continues to stay on no matter what Ford tries to do. We can not get the truck smogged for registration due to this problem.

NHTSA ID

11525797

Incident

Jun 7, 2023

My son was driving on the freeway, traveling approximately 83 mph, when the vehicle lost power, the engine stalled and he lost the ability to steer the vehicle properly. The vehicle was parked at nearest gas station until i could get to it. After inspecting engine, I noticed some wires that had the insulation coming off. I replaced wiring harness, and when doing so, found the main harness to be severely chafed from rubbing the under side of air filter ducts. When looking around engine bay I noticed other wires with insulation coming off too.

NHTSA ID

11522562

Incident

May 8, 2023

The front end wanders and grabs any road deformities severely enough to put you in another lane

NHTSA ID

11493286

Incident

Jun 11, 2021

On 6/25/2022 I experienced violent shaking at freeway speed in southern California. The vehicle was difficult to control - the steering wheel shook violently, and it could be felt throughout the vehicle. The ride was completely smooth when I began the freeway drive; the problem came on all of a sudden, then continued at all speeds, but was particularly violent over 50 MPH. I have not had it inspected yet, but research revealed this is most likely the Ford "Death Wobble" affecting F250 and F350 trucks years 2005 to 2021. I haven't discerned all the information yet as to how to make repairs. My understanding is the cause is inadequate front end suspension parts, a Ford manufacturing safety issue. Mine is a 2006 model, and some articles report that year was notably the worse. There was no traffic accident, no police report was filed, and we made it home safely. There were no warning lights or messages. The truck is not under warranty.

NHTSA ID

11471295

Incident

Jun 25, 2022

In two separate instances, traveling on the highway, after going over a bridge transition, the steering wheel and front end began to shake violently. This shaking reverberated throughout the truck causing me to have to slow down immediately and exit the freeway. This was the only thing that stopped the shaking. This is commonly referred to as the “Death Wobble”.

NHTSA ID

11463770

Incident

May 6, 2022

In monitoring our technical service inquiries and technical service bulletins from Ford, there is the potential for moderate to severe steering wheel oscillation (wobble) to occur. After extensive testing and outside feedback, the following details have been established to correct or prevent steering wheel oscillation occurrences in lifted 05-16 Ford Super Duty 4wd pickups.

FORD: 2005-2011 F250/F350. THE FUEL FILL NOZZLE MAY AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF TOO EARLY. *RM

SLOW FUEL FILL--MIL ON WITH DTC P0191. *NJ

BRAKE LINE MODIFICATION NEEDED DUE TO FRONT WHEELS COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE LINES. *KB

FRONT SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT (HITTING THE JOUNCE BUMPERS) AND/OR MAKING A BANGING/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. *TT

MISFIRE LACK OF POWER BUCK JERK EXCESSIVE SMOKE CRANK NO START 6.0L ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS FOR FUEL SYSTEM . *EH SERVICE TIPS. *TT