2007 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.

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11585752

Incident

Oct 10, 2023

Have owned this truck for a couple of years and have been enduring the "Death Wobble" over the local train tracks, but I am always able to control my speed. But the other day while traveling down the interstate, I hit a pothole and truck was shaking until brought the truck to a stop. Luckily I was able to get off the road, but this event could have been much worse. Apparently this is a known problem, and it is a shame that the manufacturer has not fixed this obvious safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11522626

Incident

May 1, 2023

Rear fuel tank strap broke on 6/20/2022. Fuel tank hit ground. Very dangerous cant believe i am only one and this hasnt been recalled.

NHTSA ID

11470654

Incident

Jun 23, 2022

Truck randomly has the notorious death wobble when going over bumps. It shakes violently and i have to slow down or stop. Tried to have it diagnosed by mechanic several times with no outcome, this is when I researched and found out a lot of ford trucks have this issue. Is it a severe safety issue and with the outrageous price of trucks, I can not buy a new one. Ford should have recalled this a long time ago

NHTSA ID

11457073

Incident

Mar 16, 2022

On our most recent trip, our Ford truck a 2007 F250 model experienced what is called the death wobble, where the front shakes violently. Which occurs in speeds of 70 or higher, when it hits a bump the front end shakes violently. It has happened in the past when we were on vacation. The dealer could not find the cause. It is now at the dealer again, to see what can be done. There is a known class action suit filed in 2019. For Ford F250 & F350 models from 2005 to 2019. Ford knew about it but did not inform any owners. We are wanting to get this on record so you can monitor Ford to see what they are doing about it. It is a shame that people pay big bucks for the trucks and Ford won't tell owners about it or find a true fix. We are also going to file on the class action suit that is out there. PLEASE MAKE FORD ACCOUNTABLE, TO SAVE LIVES

NHTSA ID

11433091

Incident

Sep 10, 2021

The contact owns a 2007 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the passenger’s and driver’s side rear door locking mechanisms were faulty and the doors could no longer be opened. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11433071

Incident

Aug 15, 2020

INSTRUMENT PANEL LOSES POWER. NO GUAGES WORK WHEN POWER IS LOST. NO TACH OR SPEEDOMETER, ELECTRIC WINDOWS ALSO DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I CANT DETERMINE HOW FAST I AM GOING.

NHTSA ID

11352071

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWICE TO SOUR LAKE FORD LOCATED AT 190 HWY 105 E, SOUR LAKE, TX 77659, (409) 287-3583, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,823.

NHTSA ID

11331958

Incident

Apr 21, 2017

Mileage

162,823 mi

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

FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION. *RM

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

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIXED PEDALS ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSPECTION. EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2007. *KB THIS PROGRAM IS BEING EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 30, 2008. UPDATED ON 09/25/07. *NJ

REAR WHEEL BEARING LUBRICATION UPGRADE PRIOR TO SALE. *KB