2009 Ford F-250 Suspension Problems

While driving at freeway speeds (typically above 50mph) the vehicle will have extended steering oscillation (violent shaking of the steering wheel) after going over normal expansion joints in the roadway and other roadway bumps. It is impossible to control the vehicle steering when oscillations start. Sometimes the only thing that stops the oscillations is slowing, and leaving the freeway. No warning messages or lamps appear. When brought to dealership for repair, was told to contact manufacturer customer service.

NHTSA ID

11600339

Incident

Jul 7, 2024

Driving and suddenly the entire vehicle will start to shake until slow or near complete stop. I think it’s called a death wobble

NHTSA ID

11505711

Incident

Feb 3, 2023

Was driving on the highway when my truck started shaking violently, had to pull over and check what was wrong, but no did not see anything wrong. Took it to the Ford dealership near me. Was told the tires were my problem had them replaced but the shaking continues. Ford does not have an explanation for me. What are my options?

NHTSA ID

11445418

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Death Wobble. Hit a dip in the road steering wheel and whole truck Shakes out of control until you slow WAY down or stop.

NHTSA ID

11438657

Incident

Oct 29, 2021

Vehicle shakes violently at highway speeds. Suspected "death wobble."

NHTSA ID

11431499

Incident

Jul 2, 2021

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AND MY 2009 F250 STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND I COULD BARELY CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS LIKE I HAD BLOWN ALL 4 TIRES OR THE SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN APART. I WAS TALKING TO MY SISTER ON THE CAR SPEAKER WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SHE COULD EVEN HEAR THE SHAKING AND STARTED YELLING TO MAKE SURE I HAD NOT WRECKED MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, ALL TIRES IN TACT, SUSPENSION STILL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND ALSO ONCE ON A PACKED INTERSTATE. I CALLED A FORD DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" BUT WOULD NEED TO CHARGE ME $120 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT ONLY SCARY BUT ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I CHECKED GOOGLE AND SEE LAWSUITS AND FORD ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT NO RECALLS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIRS AND SAVE MY RECEIPTS! FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS! THAT IS TOO BIG OF A VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF KNOWN ISSUE AND NO RECALL TO REPAIR!

NHTSA ID

11340838

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

Mileage

156,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EPISODE OF DEATH WOBBLE. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT END SUSPENSION REBUILT TWICE AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM RETURN, MECHANICS SAY ITS THE WORSE THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE BODY MOUNTS BECAUSE THEY WERE DESTROYED BY THE VIOLENT WOBBLE. THIS HAPPENS AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MILES AN HOUR AND ONLY STOPS WHEN SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE INTERSTATE

NHTSA ID

11308419

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MILES PER HOUR, IF YOUR FRONT TIRES HIT A SMALL BUMP, ESPECIALLY ON CURVES, THE PICKUP FRONT END WIL GO INTO AN UNCONTOLLABLE WOBBLE AND YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY HIT YOUR BRAKES TO GET IT TO COME TO AN ALMOST DEAD STOP BEFORE IT WILL QUIT. YOU CAN END UP IN THE OTHER LANE OR CAUSE THE PERSON FOLLOWING YOU TO REAREND YOU OR END UP IN THE DITCH. SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AS WE LIVE IN A FARMING AREA AND NOT HEAVILY POPULATED BUT ARE AFRAID TO HAUL CATTLE TO SALE WITH THIS PICKUP WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED IT FOR. THIS STARTED AROUND AT AROUND 88,000 MILES ON SPEEDOMETER. WE HAVE RESEACHED THIS AND TALLED TO OTHERS AND FOUND IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE".

NHTSA ID

11286388

Incident

Sep 3, 2019

Mileage

88,000 mi

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A FORD F250 LARIET TRUCK FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA ON 3-11-2012. EVER SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A WOBBLE WHEN ON TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP ON MANY OCCASIONS AND WERE TOLD WE NEEDED NEW TIRES, ETC. SEVERAL TIMES WE BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING ON THE FREEWAY WHICH CAUSES US TO SLOW WAY DOWN AND MOVE TO THE SLOW LANE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM VISITS TO THE FORD GARAGE WHERE WE HAVE MENTIONED THE ISSUE AND HAVE HAD PAID FOR ITEMS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NECESSARY SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS STILL ONGOING. THE ISSUE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE SO WE RECENTLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO A DIFFERENT FORD GARAGE ON 7-25-19 WHERE WE WERE TOLD BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, WE NEED A NEW TRACK BAR AND HUB SEALS. THE BILL FOR THIS ALONG WITH A SMOG CHECK CAME TO $2296.16. THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT ON THIS ISSUE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS QUICK SIGNIFICANT. I STILL DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE ISSUE IS FIXED AND I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS AWARE OF AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT. WE HAVE A 5TH WHEEL THAT WE INTENDED TO PULL WITH THIS TRUCK BUT THE STRESS INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE IS ENOUGH TO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO THAT. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET REIMBURSEMENT AND HAVE FORD FIX THIS ISSUE AND GUARANTEE THIS WILL NOT BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

11243006

Incident

Jul 25, 2019

Mileage

105,895 mi

RIGHT AFTER PERFORMING THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKE PADS REPLACEMENT TOOK MY TRUCK FOR A FAMILY TRIP IN WHICH WE EXPERIENCE A SEVER SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK TO THE POINT THAT WE HAD TO COME TO A FULL STOP THE SPEED WE WERE TRAVELING WAS 70MPH, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT IT WASN'T THE CASE. WE CONTINUE TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEED (60 MPH) AND SLOWLY INCREASING IT AND AGAIN AT 70 MPH AND STEPPING ON A LITTLE BUMP THE SHAKE STARTED AGAIN. I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE DEALER TO FIND OUT IF THE ISSUE WAS RELATED WITH THE BREAK JOB THEY DID. THEY MENTIONED TO ME ABOUT A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT THIS KIND OF TRUCKS ARE BEEN REPORTING. DEFINITELY, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ⚠️ IF THIS ISSUE IS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE, DEFINITELY THERE IS A FAULT IN THE TRUCK SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

11241414

Incident

May 11, 2019

Mileage

247,500 mi

WHILE IN MOTION, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD VIOLENT SHAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60-70MPH AND AT LOW SPEEDS OF 30-40MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY SHAKES FROM SIDE TO SIDE ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TWICE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH VERY LIGHT LOAD IN THE BED (APPROXIMATELY 110LBS). THIS HAS BEEN COINED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" FROM OTHER F-250 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUES AS WELL. IT SEEMS THAT HITTING A BUMP CAUSES ISSUES WITHIN THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING.

NHTSA ID

11209680

Incident

May 22, 2019

Mileage

102,000 mi

MY TRUCK GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH DEATH WOBBLE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS IT'S WHERE THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL IT IS TO CONE TO A COMPLETE STOP WHICH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

11152390

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50 MPH OR HIGHER) THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES "DEATH WOBBLE" WHEN IT HITS A SMALL ROUGH PATCH. DURING "DEATH WOBBLE" THE VEHICLE SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND WON'T STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE SPEED IS BROUGHT DOWN TO 30 MPH OR LOWER.

NHTSA ID

11003246

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

MY TRUCK HAS BEGAN A VIOLENT SHAKING, BOUNCING, AND VIBRATING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I HIT AN UNEVEN SERVICE ON THE INTERSTATE. FEELS AS IF SOMEONE ELSE GRABS MY STEERING WHEEL AND SHAKES IT AS HARD AND AS FAST AS THEY CAN BACK AND FORTH LEAVING ME WITH LITTLE OR NO CONTROL. TERRIFYING!! THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VIOLENCE IS TO SLOW TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THIS BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. MY FAMILY IS AFRAID TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

10891558

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AND THE FRONT TIRES HIT A LARGE BUMP OR POT HOLE, THE FRONT END GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED (3) TIMES IN 2-WEEKS. ON THE INTERNET, IT IS KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE." THE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO GREAT THAT IT VIBRATED ME INTO THE NEXT LANE AND I ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO FORD AND THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE MY COMPLAINT. ALL THEY COULD OFFER WAS TO REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS, SHOCKS, STEERING STABILIZER, AND TRACK BAR "AT MY EXPENSE." I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS CONDITION ON THE INTERNET AND SEE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE DEATH WOBBLE, AND UNANIMOUSLY, EVERY PERSON SAYS THAT FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS PARKED UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE COSTLY RECOMMENDED REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10885118

Incident

Jul 8, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE BOUNCES/SHAKES LIKE A BASKETBALL AFTER HITTING A BUMP WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND MUST PULL OVER AND STOP VEHICLE TO STOP THE BOUNCE/SHAKE. FORD COMPANY REPLACED TRACK BAR WHEN THIS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED AND GUARANTEED IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED 2 DAYS AFTER REPAIRS WHEN TRAVELLING OUT OF TOWN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10861438

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

139,000 mi

DRIVING 2009 FORD F-50 SUPER DUTY FX4 ON INSTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, AS I EXITED TO ANOTHER INTERSTATE I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHICH ONLY STOPPED WHEN I BROUGHT THE PICKUP TRUCK TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY GAVE ME A SHOPPING LIST OF $3300. THIS INCLUDED WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND COULD NOT HELP. LOOKING INTO THIS ON GOOGLE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS COMMONLY CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE" ON THE INTERNET. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING HAS OCCURRED ONCE MORE TWO WEEKS LATER. I AM PARKING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT I NEED TO DO. I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10817038

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

Mileage

66,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HIT A BUMP AND THE FRONT TIRES STARTED TO HOP, INCREASING IN INTENSITY THE ENTIRE TIME. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY SCARY, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, VERY CAREFULLY, SINCE I HAD HARDLY NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED THE HOPPING OF THE FRONT TIRES EVERY TIME I HIT A LITTLE BUMP IN THE HIGHWAY OR A POTHOLE. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IS LESS FREQUENT TRAVELING ON LOCAL ROADS AT A SLOWER PACE. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE TIRES STOP FROM HOPPING IS TO EITHER GRADUALLY PULL OFF THE ROAD, OR JERK THE WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER VIOLENTLY. EITHER WAY I DO NOT CONSIDER IT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

10724770

Incident

Mar 9, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 2009 F-250XL 4X4 W/8'BOX, EQUIPED FROM FACTORY WITH THE CAMPER SUSPENSION & SNOW PLOW SUSPENSION PACKAGES. NOTE THAT THE TRUCK HAS NEVER CARRIED NOR PULLED A CAMPER NOR HAS IT EVER PUSHED A SNOW PLOW. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1010 AND CURRENTLY HAS 55XXX MILES ON IT AS A PASSENGER CARRIER. TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS FACTORY UNIT. CURRENT TIRE PRESSURE IS AT PROPPER INFLATION. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD THAT COULD BE CALLED ROUGH THE FRONT END WENT INTO A SEVERE SHIMMY/WOBBLE. CONTROL WAS OBTAINED WITHOUT INCIDENT ONLY DUE TO NO OTHER VEHICLE IN PROXIMITY. THIS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THAT FIRST EPISODE. I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK THE FRONT END COMPONENTS THAT NORMALLY CAUSE SUCH EVENTS AND ALL WAS TIGHT AND APPEARED O.K., HE DID RECOMMEND THAT I REPLACE MY SHOCKS AND STEERING STABILIZER. THIS WAS DONE BY MY MECHANIC ON 07-07-14 WITH BILSTEIN SHOCKS AND STABILIZER. THE PROBLEM WITH SEVERE SHIMMY/WOBBLE WAS EXPERIENCED 3 TIMES ON THE TRIP HOME ON A ROUGH ROAD. SHIMMY WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE GREAT EFFORT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE TO PREVENT A RUN OFF THE ROAD INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614506

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

54,245 mi

I'M YET ANOTHER SUPER DUTY OWNER THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE NOW INFAMOUS DEATH WOBBLE. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM AS IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. EVEN MORE SHOCKED THAT I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO FORD ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OR RECALLING TO FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596059

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHAT I HAVE FOUND ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHAT IT IS CALLED IS A 'FORD DEATH WOBBLE' ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594563

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHENEVER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP IN THE ROAD OR A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILIZER, SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND THE TRACK BAR BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10592650

Incident

May 15, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2009 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE RD. AT 50 MPH THE WHOLE CAB OF MY TRUCK, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TIRES STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY!!!!!!!!!!! BACK AND FORTH. THE TRUCK VEERED IN TO THE OPPOSITE LANE. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL. I TRULY THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH.WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THE TRUCKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.WHY WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WAS I NOT TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2005. MUST SOMEONE DIE BEFORE FORD IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. PLEASE INFORM ME OF OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576804

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE FRONT TIRES AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY LEFT TO RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WAS BROUGHT TOP THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO BE REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FOUND NO ISSUES WITH IT. IT WAS NOTICED AGAIN AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER. I WAS TOLD AT THAT POINT THE TRACK BAR BALL JOINT WAS WORN AND WAS CHARGED $400.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. NOW THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHIMMY AND IS UNSAFE FOR ANY SPEED ABOVE 45MPH. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ALL SUPER DUTY TRUCKS. THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN ON LINE AT YOU TUBE / FORD DEATH WOBBLE. THE TECHNICIAN THAT WORKED ON MY VEHICLE TOLD ME HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10544035

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

22,000 mi

THIS TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED THE "DEATH" WOBBLE. IF I HIT A BUMP, BRIDGE JOINT IT WILL SEND THE TRUCK INTO AN INSTANT WOBBLE THAT IS SO VIOLENT YOU HAVE TO SLOW TO ABOUT 20MPH TO STOP IT. VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS YOU CANNOT KEEP LANE CONTROL. ALREADY DESTROYING THE FRONT TIRES AND DEALERS HAVE SAID TO KEEP PROPER AIR PRESSURE. I HAVE BEEN AN AUTO MECHANIC FOR OVER 15 YRS NOW AND THAT IS THE BEST EXCUSE THE DEALER HAS. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT SAID THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND CAME UP WITH OVER 18,000 HITS ON GOOGLE FOR THIS TOPIC ALONE. PLEASE ASSIST WITH KEEPING US SAFE AND DEMAND A FIX AND RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED DRIVING OR EVEN BEING NEAR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509217

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

Mileage

27,000 mi