2006 Ford F-350

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.

2006F-350 super duty 5.4engine,,had to be replaced two and a half years ago the Ford dealer at cirroca of York,,told me that the new motor was improved that the new motors valve train was improved,,why wasn't it a recall,, if it would affect emissions and overall performance and reliability

NHTSA ID

11700311

Incident

Feb 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the front passenger wheel drove over a small dip in the roadway and the vehicle started to shimmy. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer. The contact continued driving at a slower speed to allow the shimmy to self-correct. There was no warning illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found and the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic checked for recalls related to the failure and advised the contact that the manufacturer had issued a recall for the failure (09L02) for severe steering wheel and front wheel vibrations. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 265,000.

NHTSA ID

11675113

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

Mileage

265,000 mi

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that fuel was leaking underneath the front driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the fuel pump block-off plate and plug. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11588481

Incident

Apr 13, 2024

Mileage

190,000 mi

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11581799

Incident

Apr 8, 2024

Mileage

120,000 mi

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the front of the vehicle started to wobble. While driving over a pothole, the vehicle wobbled violently. The contact was unable to control the vehicle while driving over 35 MPH. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact detected smoke coming from the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 99,856.

NHTSA ID

11562586

Incident

Dec 15, 2023

Mileage

99,856 mi

While performing a lift of a 520-pound load in a boom position rated for 575 pounds, the crane abruptly failed due to a faulty weld and dropped the load approximately 18 inches, causing minor injuries to the crane operator. There was no sign of trouble before the failure. The failed weld was a circumferential weld between the support pillar and the bearing mount. This was concealed inside the base of the boom assembly and this part arrived already assembled. The skirt that extends from the boom assembly over the bearing mount caught on the pillar and stopped the boom from falling off the pillar entirely. The weld had a full bead but no penetration around most of its circumference. After painting this would have been hard to inspect visually even with the appropriate portion disassembled. Other reviews posted on Amazon.com, where the crane was purchased, show the same kind of deficient welding. The problem was reported to Amazon through a customer service representative and through their safety issue reporting system but they have made no acknowledgement of the issue and have not asked for more details. The broken component has since been repaired and returned to service but photographs of the failure are available.

NHTSA ID

11539396

Incident

Aug 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pedal remained on the floorboard. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was restarted but the failure persisted. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

NHTSA ID

11524001

Incident

Jan 30, 2022

Mileage

184,000 mi

Vehicle has experienced "death wobble," a common and well documented occurrence in Ford F250 and F350 model trucks. This has occurred on multiple occasions since 2006, and most recently on 4/26/2022. The incident occurred while traveling approximately 45 MPH, and hitting a small bump in the road. When the "death wobble" occurs, the vehicle shakes violently and is difficult to control. This creates a hazardous situation for the occupants of the vehicle and other vehicles/pedestrians in the vicinity of the vehicle. Prior and current attempts to contact Ford service departments, typically involves Ford stating there is not a recall and any repair outside of warranty are the responsibility of owner. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There is no warning prior to the "death wobble," and occurs when the vehicle is travelling at speed more than 45 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11462633

Incident

Apr 26, 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 TRUCK: SOME TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START/LONG CRANK OR NO START CONDITION DUE TO LOW INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE (ICP). *PE

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

WATER IN THE FUEL TANK BEHIND REAR AXLE - 6.0L, 6.4L AND 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE. *KB UPDATED 2/29/08. *NJ

MISFIRE AND DTC P0300. *KB

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