Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words
Clock spring frayed and uncoiled. Unknown steering issue till clockspring checked. Airbag inflator is unoperational. Current clockspring recall for Ford does not cover this vehicle. Widen your recall. Most owners would believe it to be a power steering issue with pump and fluid, like we did.
Death wobble
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on a bridge, the vehicle drove over potholes and the vehicle experienced the death wobble, causing the steering wheel to shake uncontrollably. The contact firmly gripped the steering wheel and decelerated to 30 MPH to prevent the vehicle from shaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that several independent mechanics had previously replaced the tires, control arms, shocks, struts, steering damper, and pitman arm, as well as performed an alignment; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Several times steering has been lost while making a turn. Thusfar accidents have been narrowly avoided. I have worked with the Ford dealer and replaced all major components in 2022. But the problem has started again. Most times the steering wheel is difficult to turn in parking situations; other times the steering wont work at all. I have had to swing wide into the oncoming lane during a turn to make the turn.
Experiencing the ford “death wobble”. Around 50 mph going over small road transition the vehicle start shaking violently and I have no control. The only way to stop it is come close to a dead stop in the middle of a highway.
When decelerating, such as taking an off-ramp, it loses power to the brakes and steering, which makes it unsafe.
I JUST PURCHASED THIS BEAUTIFUL F 250 TRUCK 2008, FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA. I WENT OUT ON THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THE TRUCK HAD A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM. IT IS DESCRIBED AS I CANNOT KEEP IT IN THE LANE I AM TRAVELING IN BECAUSE OF STEERING WOBBLE AND PLAYING THE STEERING AND WANDERS INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. I ALSO CHECKED UP UNDERNEATH AND THERE WERE LOOSE TIE ROD BRACKETS AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I DO NOT KNOW THE NAMES OF. IT'S A REAL SHAME WHEN THE SALESMAN YOU PURCHASED IT FROM WHEN I TEXTED THIS TO HIM WILL NOT CALL OR TEXT BACK, VERY DECEITFUL.
Bring truck to 60 or above it starts to shake and wobble to the point I can't go highway speeds.. I have only owned this truck for a couple months.
While driving down the interstate our truck started shaking violently and my husband had to stop the truck to get it to stop shaking. This happened twice during our trip.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER FORD (543 W MAPLE ST, HARTVILLE, OH 44632) AND INFORMED THAT THE TRACK BAR, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD JOINTS AND POSSIBLE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN FOR THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT AN EXTRA HEAVY DUTY STEERING DAMPER BE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,048.*DT
DRIVING MY 2008 FORD F250 AT OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR AND HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE CURSED "DEATH WOBBLE". IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. ONCE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSED HER TO WRECK BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE INTERSTATE. HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING AFTER REPAIRS.
DRIVING 60 ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS DESCRIBED AS THE DEATH WOBBLE.
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK STARTS VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY SHAKING AND DOESN'T CEASE UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN BELOW 20 MPH. THE FRONT END ALSO DOES THIS IF I'M DRIVING MORE THAN 25 MPH AND THE PAVEMENT CHANGES. THE COUNTY REPAVED A PORTION OF MY ROAD. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. EVERYTIME I REACH THE CHANGE IN ASPHALT, I HAVE TO ALMOST STOP TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP.
THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING REALLY BAD HIT A BUMP IN ROAD GOING ABOVE 50 MPH AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS I SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NEED TO BRAKE HEAVILY TO STOP THE SHAKING. I'VE READ UP ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND APPARENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK, SO I AM KEEPING IT OFF THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND THOSE AROUND ME. THANK YOU. *TR
AT 65MPH+- ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL / STEER STRAIGHT.AND MAINTAIN POSITION IN LANE. HAVE SPENT $6,000.00 +- WITH FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE STEERING BOX TWICE, NEW SHOCKS, NEW TIRES, NEW TIE ROD ENDS, ALIGNMENT, TIRE BALANCING AND OTHER NEW PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING...AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND BOUGHT NEW IN 2009.
HAVE A VERY BAD DEATH WOBBLE. SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AND STILL HERE.
WHEN TRAVELING MORE THAN 40MPH AND A WHEEL HITS A GROOVE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND IS HARD TO CONTROL, FORCING THE DRIVER TO QUICKLY DECELERATE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. IT FEELS AS IF THE TIRES ARE BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2009. ALSO WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR VERY BUMPY ROADS, THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES, NORMAL BRAKING RETURNS, BUT THE INITIAL BRAKE FAILURE IS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IS THE UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
MY TRUCK HAS THE 6.4 DIESEL ENGINE. WHILE TURNING ON A ONE LANE STREET THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY EFFORTS. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS IT RESPONDED AND I MAINTAINED CONTROL. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT MIKE WHITE FORD IN COEUR ALENE IDAHO GETTING A NEW MOTOR INSTALLED. MYSELF AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR WALKED INTO THE SHOP TO HECK PROGRESS ON THE MOTOR INSTALL. I ASKED HIM TO ADDRESS THE STEERING BOX RECALL WHERE FROM THE FACTORY A STEERING BOX WAS INSTALLED THAT DOESNT SIT FLUSH WITH THE FRAME. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME BREAKING DUE TO THE POOR FITMENT. I SHOWED HIM A HOLE WHERE A BOLT ATTACHING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME WAS BROKEN OFF. HE STATED TO ME THAT HE DIDNT THOM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING BOX. I STATED THAT YES THERE WAS AND ASKED HOM TO PLEASE FIX IT. THIS LEMON OF A VEHICLE IS ALL THAT MY FAMILY HAS TO DRIVE! I WANT IT FIXED PROPERLY. NOT JUST SHIMMED AND THROW NEW BOLTS ON IT. I MEAN A NEW STEERING BOX THAT SITS FLUSH AGAINST THE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE CARRIE'S MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS AND NEEDS TO BE SAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER.
IT STARTS SHIMMYING BACK AND FORTH VICIOUSLY AND WILL NOT STEER. I PUT ON NEW STRUTS, STEERING GEAR BOX, SHOCKS, TIRES, AND HAVE SPENT OVER $,3, 000 IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL START AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ MANY LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?
STEERING GEAR BOX SEEMS TO HAVE BROKE. LOSE OF ALL STEERING. STEERING WHEEL SPINS AROUND BUT DOES NOT CONTROL ANYTHING NOW
WHILE IN MOTION, AT 30 MPH OR HIGHER, THE TRUCK WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT. IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT TRAVEL...BASICALLY NO CENTERING OF STEERING. UNSAFE AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU ARE DRIVING AS A DRUNK WOULD. ALSO, VIOLENT SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT SPEED.
THE STEERING SORT OF WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY ON TURNS THEN IT GETS HARD TO STEER, YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60/70MPH SAME ISSUE THEN WHEN OVER A BUMP THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIFT OFF ROAD
THE TRUCK STEERING IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING ON REGULAR CITY STREETS.TRUCK TURN ON ITS OWN AND GOES INTO THE OTHER LANE. VERY HARD TO CORRECT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO 2 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. WE DID HAVE GEAR BOX CHANGED AND HAD IT CHANGED A SECOND TIME TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE STEERING BOX. CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NO MECHANIC CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK AND CAN NOT FIX THIS ISSUE.HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES.HAPPENS VERY TIME IT IS DROVE UNKNOWN PROBLEM! NOT DRIVE ABLE AND DANGEROUS.
VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65-70MPH AFTER HITTING BUMP IN THE ROAD. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY OCCURRENCES THAT A NAME HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ISSUE, THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT SEEMS FORD IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY TRY TO BLAME TIRE PRESSURE ACCORDING TO ONLINE SOURCES. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FORCED BY THE NHTSA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY! I HAD JUST HAD THE TRUCK TIRES ROTATED BALANCED AND AIR PRESSURE CHECKED BEFORE THIS TRIP!
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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