2011 Ford F-350 Other / unspecified Problems

Annual inspection of the Progress Manufacturing Equal-I-Zer (model number 90-02-1200) steel head assembly revealed cracks in the welds holding the two steel plates that support the spring bar sockets and the welds that attach the head component (part with the hitch ball) to the U-shaped bracket that attaches/bolts the head to the shank that is inserted into the receiver. I have pictures of the cracked welds. The assembly has been sent to a certified welding/fabrication shop for repair at my expense. If the welds failed, two scenarios are very likely: 1. The spring bars will separate from the head assembly, releasing two 20+ pound steel rods in an uncontrolled and unconstrained manner onto the pavement. Of the tow vehicle, trailer, or another car are struck by one or both rods, the result could be severe damage and/or injury. 2. If the welds holding the head assembly containing the hitch ball to the U-shaped bracket that is bolted to the shank failed, the entire hitch assembly and trailer would detach from the tow vehicle; the safety chains would provide the only mechanism to keep the trailer from detaching completely from the tow vehicle. Severe damage could occur to the trailer and tow vehicle. If the safety chains fail, the trailer would careen uncontrolled into other drivers on the road. A master welder and certified weld inspector looked at the pictures of the cracked welds and stated that "Lack of weld metal fusion, likely it was there when you bought it." I posted the pictures of my cracked welds on three FaceBook groups focused on RVing with approximately 300,000 members. Several members stated they, too, found cracks in their welds. The manufacturer was sent the pictures. They refused to stand behind their product and told me to buy a replacement head for $275.00. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. There may be a systemic welding problem at the PM factory.

NHTSA ID

11514782

Incident

Mar 27, 2023

VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH NEAR DALTON GEORGIA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND FRONT END VIOLENTLY SHOOK AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SO BAD CONTROL OF THE F350 BECAME AN ISSUE. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE UNTIL I SLOWED TO BELOW 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE INCIDENT PRESENTED A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11374935

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

61,000 mi

DEATH WARBLE TWICE 7/15/2020 ON THE HIGHWAY DOING THE SPEED LIMIT ALMOST KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH TRUCK AND EMPTY TRAILER. DEATH WARBLE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME AND MONEY ON A TRUCK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11339670

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

Mileage

97,000 mi

CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TR M+S LT275/70R18 125/122S LOAD RANGE E TIRES. TIRE SPLIT ACROSS TREAD APPROX. 10 INCHES WHILE DRIVING, NOT UNDER LOAD AND NOT TOWING. TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON THEM.

NHTSA ID

10911033

Incident

Oct 2, 2016

Mileage

10,950 mi

AT ANY FREEWAY SPEED IF YOU HIT A POT HOLE OR A SEAM IN THE ROAD ON A TURN, THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A STOP. WE HAVE HAD FORD LOOK AT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH NOT SUCCESS IN GETTING A SOLUTION. THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE DRIVERS OF THIS TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

10876839

Incident

Jun 27, 2016

Mileage

27,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE OEM TRAILER HITCH HAD PREMATURE CRACKS NEAR THE WELDING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE OEM TRAILER HITCH WITH A NEW HITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LABEL THAT INDICATED THE TOWING CAPACITY MAY BE INCORRECT. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10865194

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

WHEN TRAVELING USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND I COME TO A DIFFERENCE IN SURFACES A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE ROAD SAY GOING OVER AN OVERPASS, THE STEARING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. ON YOU TUBE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VIDEOS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ITS VERY DANGEROUS, I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND AFTER SPENDING $1,300 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THIS WILL BE A YEAR OR TWO FIX AS THE SAME PARTS WILL FAIL AGAIN. FORD SHOULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10864348

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DUALLY WHEEL CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT IN SIX WEEKS WITH IDENTICAL FORD MODEL TRUCKS THAT WE OWN AND USE EVERYDAY. THE FIRST INCIDENT TWO WEEKS PRIOR THE WHEEL FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE TRUCK TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. THIS MODEL FORD TRUCK IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10693073

Incident

Feb 11, 2015

Mileage

86,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 FORD SD F-350 SRW WITH 26505 MILES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCE VIOLENT FRONT END SHIMMY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR AN EXPANSION JOINT ON A BRIDGE OR ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE REQUIRES SUDDEN BRAKING TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN CONTROL. THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF TAKING THE STEERING OUT OF YOUR HANDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS ON A BRIDGE. THE VIOLENT MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT END MOVED ME INTO THE ADJACENT LANE, LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN THE LANE. I COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465237

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

25,363 mi