15 of the 448 complaints about the 2016 Ford F-250 SD are about the wheels — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 42,325 miles.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
WHEELS
Driving on highway 70 mph. Drove a rough spot on highway. Pot hole patch. Death wobble started. Had to preform emergency stop to end death wooble. This is the 10th time this has happened.
NHTSA complaint #11659551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
Death Wobble on several occasions very scary! speed over 50 mph vehicle began violently shaking had to get off roadway very dangerous almost uncontrolable!
NHTSA complaint #11608447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
The problem is commonly called "DEATH WOBBLE". The steering system enters an extremely violent wobble/shake making control of the vehicle nearly impossible. 2 independent service centers have addressed the issue. The first did repairs, including warranty replacement of a faulty part and the truck still has the "DEATH WOBBLE". The 2nd independent service center made note of the 2nd faulty replacement part (TRACK BAR) and reports "TRACK BAR BUSHING IS MOVING EXCESSIVELY. TRACK BAR SHOULD BE REPLACED." No other physical inspections have been performed. There were no vehicle warning lights due to this issue. There were a few incidences of the "DEATH WOBBLE" prior to my first appointment with an independent service center. That first appointment was approx. 2/19/2024, completed on 2/27/2024. Second time completed on 6/21/2024.
NHTSA complaint #11596584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
Increase of speed on a rough tar highway road caused a violent Death Wobble.
NHTSA complaint #11563476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
DEATH WOBBLE! Driving at any speeds from 30 MPH to highway speeds of 65-70 MPH, the front end (front suspension) of the truck will Wobble Uncontrollably in a Vehement and Violent Manner, making driving unsafe with loss of steering after hitting a small bump or dip in the road/highway. The condition is worse when pulling a 30 foot gooseneck trailer. I have replaced the front shocks, steering damper, and rear shocks and to no avail, the Death Wobble still occurs! This is Major Safety Concern and Life Threatening to myself and anyone on the road during the Death Wobble, and seeing the reaction of other drivers in the opposite direction should be cause for concern! My truck is at a dealer now for inspection of the front end suspension system (drag link, track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, tires, and alignment), to include the engine mounts, which were worn and deteriorating (I noticed this when I was replacing my steering damper) probably from the Death Wobble. The tires were balanced and rotated on September 9th by Discount Tire and the technicians there didn't see any problems with the tires or the wheels. I get my tires balanced and rotated about every 7,500 miles and I keep an accurate vehicle history of my truck.
NHTSA complaint #11546284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
Truck was driving 70 mph going to TN when it started shaking and grinding or awful noise. Lost control of steering d/t shaking. Slowed down and pulled over to side of road to check vehicle equipment. Made call to my son who said it's the death wobble, advised to slow below 60 mph. No death wobble again unless I hit a bump then it started again.
NHTSA complaint #11500521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
Violently shaking can not control truck, I’ve looked this up and it is known as the death wobble. It looks like they have recalled /027 but not 2016 models what can be done about this. It has happened about 6 times in 3 days
NHTSA complaint #11495025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
Death wobble occurred this morning for the first time ever. It was terrifying for me and my children. I had to slam on the brakes so hard that I nearly slid off the road! The fact that Ford doesn’t acknowledge this is ridiculous. I hope and pray that this does not occur with my children in the vehicle, or while I’m hauling my horses.
NHTSA complaint #11486890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM PRIORTY FORD IN NORFOLK, VA ON SUNDAY MARCH 21ST 2021. INCIDENT #1 MARCH 22ND 2021: FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW ON HIGHWAY EN ROUTE TO TENNESSE AN HOUR AND A HALF OUT OF GATLINBURG, TN. SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY PRIOR TO SAYING WE WERE DRIVING A FASTER THAN ACTUAL MPH (CONFIRMED WHILE USING GPS). SPARE TIRE WAS PUT IN PLACE OF BLOWN OUT TIRE, CHANGED SPARK PLUG WIRE (WHICH DIDN'T REPAIR TICKING NOISE PER MECHANIC) MECHANIC ALSO SAID WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO WITH SPARE TIRE. INCIDENT #2 MARCH 24TH 2021: WHILE EN ROUTE TO NEXT DESTINATION (NEW ORLEANS, LA) TRED CAME OFF REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE CAUSING TRUCK TO GO OUT OF CONTROL ON I-59 NEAR BIRMINGHAM, AL. VEHICLE SPUN INTO GRASS MEDIAN ONTO OPPOSITE SIDE OF INTERSTATE AND WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND TRUCK WAS TOWED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PROOF VIA PICTURES AND REPORTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.**
NHTSA complaint #11404759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED OFF OF PINNACLE FORD IN NICHOLASVILLE KY, (NOW HAS 36,700 MILES) I HAD NO IDEA THAT I WAS BUYING A TRUCK WITH THE SO-CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE." LONG STORY SHORT I HAVENT BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK ON ANY LONG TRIPS AND BADLY DREAD IT WHEN I HAVE TO BE ON ANY ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OVER 55 BECAUSE ONCE I BEGIN TO HIT 60 M.P.H. THE FRONT END WILL START TO SHAKE SO BAD THAT THE WORDS SCARY, UNSAFE, AND EMBARRASSING ARE UNDERSTATEMENTS. I HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE FORD "DEATH WOBBLE" RECALL FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT I JUST CANT WAIT ANYMORE; I WAS RECENTLY ADVISED TO FILE THIS REPORT. I AM INCLUDING A PICTURE OF ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES THAT WAS NOT SO LONG AGO NEW, AND THEY ARE BOTH CHOPPED SO BAD THAT IF YOU RUN YOUR HAND ACROSS THE TREAD YOUR HAND WILL STOP DUE TO THE EXTREME UNLEVELNESS OF THE TREAD WITH NO EXAGGERATION WHATSOEVER. PLEASE, PLEASE, FORCE FORD TO RECALL THIS TRUCK. I OWN A CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS, AND IF I WERE TO MESS UP SOMEONES NEW DRIVEWAY WITH NO SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED, I WOULD BE EXPECTED TO FIX IT ASAP, AND FOR THE INTEGRITY OF MYSELF AND MY BUSINESS I SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO FIX IT. IT TRULY AMAZES ME HOW BIG CORPOROTIONS CAN SCREW UP THEIR PRODUCT THAT WE PAY WAY TOO MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THESE DAYS AND EVEN WITH EXTREME SAFETY ISSUES BEYOND JUST A FAULTY PRODUCT SOLD, THEY CAN LITERALLY CAN GET BY WITH CAUSING WRECKS, DEATHS, AND SELLING FAULTY UNSAFE PRODUCTS; THEY CLEARLY GET BY WITH WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON OR SMALL BUSINESS OWNER COULD NOT AND CANNOT.
NHTSA complaint #11389470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH IN CASTAIC, CA. THE TRUCK FRONT END SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER WHEN THE SHAKING STOPPED AND THE TRUCK DROVE NORMALLY. I LATER CAME TO REALIZE I HAD EXPERIENCED WHAT MANY CALL THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS
NHTSA complaint #11365654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH HAD A CATASTROPHIC BLOW OUT. THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN SECONDS THE TIRE BLEW. ALSO AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER TIRES NOTICED A CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING ON ANOTHER TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11320037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHEN DRIVING ON ROAD/INTERSTATE OVER 60 MPH AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY. ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. SHAKES SO BAD YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH BEFORE IT STOPS. NOT SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #11244056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
HAD 2 SETS OF THESE TIRES INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSED BY SEPARATION OF THE TREAD PLIES WITHIN THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11152128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
BOUGHT 2016 F 250 USED FROM DEALER NOW I HAVE TIRE TREAD ISSUES. WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN USE THIS VEHICLE AS A DAILY DRIVER BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SAFE. NOW NOT SO SURE. ALL TIRES ARE ORIGINAL AND IN GOOD SHAPE UNTIL WE NOTICED A CHUNK OF THREAD STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11072004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.