Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
My truck has the death wobble for the second time. I took it to Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, Texas and they charged me to fix what is an inherently bad design flaw in the F350 that I own. The wobble stopped and has now reappeared. The death wobble is real. I want it fixed for free or I want Ford to buy my truck for top dollar.
When I hit a bump at between 55 and up, the Truck develops a death wobble even after having all the steering components, including ball joints, tie, rod ends, stabilizer, bar, shocks, replaced
While traveling at 65 mph, the truck crossed a separator strip resulting in loss of steering control. Vehicle steering wheel began violently "shaking" left to right and began to swerve violently in an area of heavy traffic. The vehicle was towing a 37 ft. 5th wheel at the time of the incident and I had to use a combination of braking and defensive steering to slow/stop the vehicle in the right side ditch of the road. Incident resulted in extreme wear to braking components, and minor alighnment issues due to leaving the roadway. Upon inspection by a certified mechanic, the issue was determined to be, "death wobble" and multiple components were replaced with OEM parts. Parts, services, inspection all paid for by me, yet the vehicle continues to shake violelently at random. New tires an quarterly alignments have not resolved this issue and 3 different Ford mechanics have advised removing the vehicle from service to avoid further accident or injury. Ford Motor has repeatedly denied assistance in any capacity concerning this issue.
Death wobble when hitting any bump whilr going over 55
Was operating vehicle on I-65 traveling at interstate speeds. Hit a bump and vehicle started shaking and violently vibrating. Had to slam on my breaks to get the vehicle to stop shaking and back under control. Feared for my life and my son from being rear ended due to it being a busy highway. The vehicle has done it several times and this is my second complaint due to not hearing anything back.
Hit a bump on the highway while driving. Vehicle started vibrating and shaking uncontrollably. Heavy traffic with Tractor Trailer behind on me was barely able to get vehicle stopped and to the shoulder of the highway. Was in fear for my life and haven’t had the vehicle a month yet after purchasing it from a cord dealership.
On September 4th & 5th two separate occasions I was driving on US 85 in WY when I hit a bump in the road and my truck started shaking violently and was hard to control. I immediately pulled over and slowed down until the shaking stopped but was almost rear ended by the truck behind me on one occasion.
SUDDEN EXTREME WOBBLE OF FRONT END WHILE DRIVING (KNOWN AS DEATH WOBBLE) HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN PAST TWO YEARS
I OWN A 2009 FORD F350 KING RANCH THAT I PURCHASED USED 2 YEARS AGO FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT END VIOLENTLY SHAKES WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS ANY DEFORMITY ON THE ROAD. THE SHAKES ARE SO INTENSE AND UNCONTROLLABLE THE I HAVE TO TRY AND PULL OFF THE ROAD TO NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SHAKING DOES NOT STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOPPED. I HAVE HAD THE BODY MOUNTS REPLACED, AN ALIGNMENT- BECAUSE I WAS TOLD PROPER TIRE INFLATION WOULD FIX IT- THE SHOCKS REPLACED, AND STEERING STABILIZER REPLACED. NONE OF THESE REMEDIED THE SITUATION. I AM TRYING TO SELL THE VEHICLE BUT SINCE THE DIFFERENT MECHANICS WE HAVE USED DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE/FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM UNABLE IT TO SELL IT WITH THIS COMMONLY KNOWN 'DEATH WOBBLE' THAT FORD IS AWARE OF. I ALSO CAN'T SAFELY DRIVE IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE, IN THE LAST MONTH, A COMPLETE FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM ($9,000) AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER, IN 2011, HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MOTOR-WHICH WE WERE UNAWARE OF. *TR
THE FIRST ITEM I HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH AND CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUE WITH IS THE PHENOMENON REFERRED TO AS DEATH WOBBLE THAT IS TRACEABLE TO STEERING COMPONENTS AND POTENTIALLY SUSPENSION. THERE IS NO CLEAR SOLUTION AND A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD DOES NOTHING ABOUT THE SECOND PROBLEM IS ANOTHER KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS WHICH DETERIORATE OVER TIME. BOTH ISSUES FORD IS AWARE OF BUT THEIR SERVICE PERSONNEL MUST BE DIRECTED TO ACT AS THE KNOW NOTHING BECAUSE IRONICALLY NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT EITHER OR THERE IS SPARCE KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH ISSUES THEY ARE BOTH DRIVING ISSUES. HOWEVER THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS YOU CAN SEE BEST WHEN PARKED
DRIVES REALLY ROUGH TRUCK BOUNCES AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER HAD TO SLOW DOWN SO I WOULDN'T LOSE CONTROL. IM A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVE BOUGHT ALOT OF TRUCKS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME.
WHEN I HIT A ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD WITH THE FRONT LEFT SIDE, I GET A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END AND ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. CONTROL IS REGAINED WHEN YOU SLOW TO 5-10MPH. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR AWHILE AND HAVE HAD THE FRONT END INSPECTED WITH NO DEFECTS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS CONDITION HAS A NAME "THE DEATH WOBBLE." FORD HAS ISSUED 2 TSBS # 18-2268 AND #06-2214. NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THESE TSBS TO ME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AS IT TAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH OTHER HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FROM DODGE.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING MY PICKUP TRUCK LISTED IN COMPLAINT. IT ADDRESSED ISSUES WITH STEERING AND FRONT WHEEL VIBRATIONS AND OSCILLATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT JUST GIVES SUGGESTIONS SUCH AS CHECKING PROPER INFLATION OF TIRES, ETC. HOWEVER, IN THE LAST 2-3 YEARS, I HAVE SPENT AN ESTIMATED $3000.00 ON REPAIRS TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE "DEATH WOBBLE" ISSUES, WHICH SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOU WHEN IT HAPPENS. SINCE COMPLETION OF THE WORK COMPLETED, I STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH VIBRATIONS AND OSCILLATIONS WITH MY FORD F350. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND MAKE GOOD TO THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS, INSTEAD OF SENDING ME WORTHLESS LETTERS OF ADVICE TO "CHECK THE PROPER INFLATION OF MY TIRES, WHEN IN ACTUALITY, MY TIRES ARE FINE.....THE FORD TRUCK IS THE THING WITH ISSUES. COME ON FORD.....FIX YOUR BAD!!!!!!!!
FRONT TIRES SUSPENSION BOUNCES LIKE A BASKET BALL UNCONTROLLABLY AT HIGH SPEED (60 MPH+) IF YOU HIT A CHUG HOLE ON STREET.. WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE HEAD ON COLLISION AND INJURY OR DEATH. YOU HAVE TO ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO MAKE THE SUSPENSION STOP BOUNCING.
THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK IN TWO TIMES AND HAVE WAITED THERE AT FORD FOR 4-6 HOURS AT A TIME. SO WHEN I AM DRIVING ALONG AND THE ROAD TURNS LEFT AND I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE MY ENTIRE FRONT LEFT END STARTS BOUNCING LIKE A BASKETBALL. FORD TELLS ME IT'S MY TIRES I HAVE GOTTEN THEM BALANCED AND EVEN NEW ONES ON THE BACK. I HAVE TO COME TO VERY SLOW SPEED TO MAKE IT STOP BOUNCING. THIS USUALLY TAKES PLACE ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65-75 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS NOW. I GET SCARED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NOW BECAUSE OF IT AND NOW TAKE TURN MUCH SLOWER. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG ........... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE AXLE AND U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,640.
WHEN MY TRUCK IS DRIVEN OVER A POTHOLE, ONTO A BRIDGE, OR ANY CHANGE IN ELEVATION IN THE DRIVING SURFACE, THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THE VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED TO AVOID LOSING CONTROL. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END WILL LITERALLY COME APART. THIS BEGAN NEAR THE END OF NOVEMBER AND HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND TO KEEP RECORDS OF MY REPAIRS IF THERE EVER IS ONE. THE PROBLEM IS THE TRACK BAR AND THE COST TO FIX THIS "DEATH WOBBLE" IS APPROXIMATELY 1200 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR. I NOW HAVE A 50,000 DOLLAR TRUCK THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO RIDE IN. THIS PROBLEM WILL CERTAINLY CAUSE FATALITIES IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. I AM A CDL DRIVER AND IF I CAN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE THEN I DOUBT ANYONE ELSE CAN EITHER. *TR
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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