2001 Ford F-250 SD suspension problems

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F250 SD CREW/4X4 AND THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END STEERING SYSTEM. TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE SO HARD THAT AT 55MPH BY THE TIME I GOT THE TRUCK SLOWED TO ABOUT 15MPH I WAS OVER INTO THE LANE OF THE ON COMING TRAFFIC (LUCKLY NO ONE WAS THERE). THE OTHER DAY WITH MY WIFE IN THE TRUCK WE TURNED A CORNER AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMY REALLY HARD AND I LOST SOME RESPONSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK THE STEERING BECAME SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE, AND I WAS FORCED TO ALLOW THE TRUCK TO TRACK INTO THE BAILY POST OFFICE PARKING LOT. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT THE MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THAT THEY CAN FIND. THE TRUCK DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME, IT COMES AND GOES, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT AND THEN IT CAN GO WEEKS WITHOUT HAPPENING. I WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS AND I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FORD F-SERIES TRUCKS AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH A BAD DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN CAUSES A LIGHT SHIMMY TO TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THESE TRUCKS AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR EVEN DEATH TO THE OWNER. MY WIFE WILL NOT EVEN RIDE IN THE TRUCK ANY MORE BECAUSE SHE IS TOO SCARED TO DO SO. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. GARY

NHTSA complaint #10283965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

NOTHING LEAD UP TO THIS. I JUST SOLD MY 2001 F250 XLT TO A FRIEND. WITHIN DAYS THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN THEY WOULD REACH A SPEED AROUND 40MPH. THEY HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SPENT DAYS LOOKING AT IT AND CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ITS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT ALMOST CAUSED THEM TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. TRUCK HAD TO BE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!

NHTSA complaint #10229216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

2001 FORD F-250 WEAVES ON THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CONSUMER NEEDED NEW TIRES AND TO HAVE THE FRONT END REALIGNED. PROBLEM RESISTED. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE FRONT END HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THAT'S WHY THE VEHICLE WAS WANDERING.

NHTSA complaint #10165861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WEAVED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CAUSING INCREASED STEERING EFFORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE REPAIR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10162764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD ON THE VEHICLE FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD RUSTED THROUGH. UPDATED 08/14/06.

NHTSA complaint #10162379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WEAVED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. HOWEVER IT WORSENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW TIRES AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE BALL JOINTS WERE STUCK AND GREASE FITTINGS MIGHT HELP SOLVE THE WEAVING, BUT THIS REMEDY COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10161968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

ALL FRONT AXLE SEALS, HUB SEALS, HUBS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10114780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10052482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10052482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINT.

NHTSA complaint #10045273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINT.

NHTSA complaint #10045273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FRONT WHEEL BEARING MALFUNCTION WHICH JUST ABOUT RESULTED IN A POTENTIAL CRASH IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. LUCKILY I HAD STOPPED FOR GAS. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT FIXED THE PART SAID IT WAS SEALED AND WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I CALLED FORD BACK TO REPORT IT AND THEY INSIST THERE IN NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE 5 FRIENDS WHO HAVE EXPEREINCE THE EXACT PROBLEM IN THEIR F250 TRUCKS. I ALSO REFERRED FORD TO A WEBSITE CHAT THAT INDICATED OVER 200 OF THE SAME PROBLEM ALL AT DIFFERENT POINTS OF THE OWNERSHIP (10K, 25K, 50K MILES) SOME UNDER WARRANTY SOME NOT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE ENOUGH FOR FORD TO TAKE OWNERSHIP. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR MY REPAIRS AS WELL AS LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THEY CONTINUE TO PUT THIS PART ON THE TRUCKS KNOWING THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND CANNONT FUNCTION ONT HE SUPERDUTY TRUCK FRONT ENDS. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN WITH DIFFERENT FORD MECHANICS WHO ADMIT IT IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" AND THEY KEEP THE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY REPLACE THEM SO MUCH. THE WORD FROM FORD ABOVE IS "IF IT IS IN WARRANTY FIX IT, IF IT IS OUT CHARGE, AND IF THEY COMPLAIN COMPENSATE" WHEN ASKED ABOUT POTENTIAL ACCIDENT IT WAS SAID "THEY WOULD DEAL WITH IT AS THEY ARISE". I THINK THIS NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO. I AM ONLY OUT $500 BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE OUT ALOT MORE IF THAT FRONT END LOCKS UP GOING 70 DOWN A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10005624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.