2005 Ford F-250 steering problems

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While driving at 65 Mph, towing a fifth wheel camper, encountered a mildly rough section of highway when entire front end began to wobble and shake violently. Slowed the vehicle, maintaining control. When going back up to speed, the same shaking occured again. Also noted a less violent shaking at 45 mph. Took vehicle to have new tires rebalanced but did not change condition much. Inspected front end components. Currently replacing steering damper and shocks in hopes of correcting issue. All other components new or nearly new (3 years) with no issues. Vehicle and components can be inspected, and all replaced parts will be kept for inspection if required. Safety of my vehicle and others on busy highway could have been compromised had I not slowed and maintained control. The problem is being dealt with by me, as I do most maintenance on vehicle. The vehicle has not been seen or inspected by others except by tire mechanic who noted no obvious issues but did re-balance all tires. There was NO advance warning of a failure or compromise.

NHTSA complaint #11636147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Wrench light comes on, but truck goes into limp loses power very dangerous don't know if it's going to cause me to be rear-ended, steering goes back and forth right to left can't hardly hold it in road

NHTSA complaint #11606568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The back bed rails rot/rust very quickly and trying to buy new beds run 4500$ along with o2 sensors ir intake sensors go out of blue no reasoning let alone the power steering lines rusting very very quickly

NHTSA complaint #11582251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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In 2014, I got the “Ford death wobble” in the right front. VERY scary and dangerous. Trying to quickly slow down to stop it in traffic is almost as dangerous as the wobble itself. You have very little to no control with the steering when it happens. I had to repair the problem out of pocket because Ford won’t do anything about it. Now, two weeks ago, I had the same death wobble happen at 70 mph on the left front. So frightening. My passengers thought we had a blowout and we’re about to crash. I successfully slowed it down but this problem is a road hazard to me and everyone else on the road. So now, once again, it’s on me to shell out to fix a problem that should have been a recall a long time ago but Ford won’t step up and do the right thing. Please give us some relief here.

NHTSA complaint #11487504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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towing a trailer, traveling at 70 mph, I hit a pothole and vehicle violently shook. The episode lasted for approx 30 seconds. It was very Difficult to maintain control and I almost ran off the road. It happened several times before I took it for repairs. The stabilizer bar was replaced, however the violent shaking has still continued.

NHTSA complaint #11486705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Front end suspension shimmy> My granddaughter and I were driving at 60mpa and hit a bump and could not control shaking of truck until pulling over to stop. This happened without warning. Had to drive back roads to get home.

NHTSA complaint #11481545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Driving on the freeway at apps 65 miles per hour, the truck hit a numb in the road and started to shaking causing the truck to shake violently. I was able to get to the side of the road and slow down which eased the shaking. I started driving again and after reaching speeds this happened two more times, then I got off the freeway and drove backroads home under 40 miles per hour.

NHTSA complaint #11440138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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A SCARY AND SERIOUS WOBBLE AT 35 MPH. HAD TO CREEP HOME. ALMOST LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #11408496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT ANY TIME BETWEEN 30 AN 70 MPH I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE IT STOP WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AN HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint #11316737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE FORD 250 INITIATES A 'DEATH WOBBLE' OR INTENSE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH ANYTIME ANY SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON ROAD. THIS INSTANCE INITIATED 5 TIMES IN A 500 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AT SUCH AN INTENSE RATE THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SIGNIFICANT STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO NEARLY 20 MPH FOR IT TO STOP. INITIAL SPEED WAS CLOSE TO 63 MPH. THE SHIMMY INITIATED WHEN A SMALL BUMP IS PASSED OVER AND ON THREE OF THESE INSTANCES IT INITIATED WITH THE CROSSING OF A EXPANSION GAP OR TRANSITION FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A BRIDGE OR BRIDGELIKE STRUCTURE. THE WOBBLE SHOOK TRUCK SO MUCH THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. APPROACHING (TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR) HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THEY WAY TO AVOID A REAR COLLISION. IF DECELERATION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPOSED THE VEHICLE MAINTAINS THE SHIMMY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. IN TWO INSTANCES ON THIS TRIP I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE WOBBLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER TO THEN BRAKE TILL CONTROL COULD BE RETRIEVED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHEN ACCESS TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IMPEDED SUCH AS WHEN PASSING IN LEFT LANE. THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY TRIP TO ANOTHER STATE 6 MONTHS BEFORE.

NHTSA complaint #11315775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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2005 FORD F250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,100 MILES. ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES, SUSPENSION- NO MODIFICATIONS. TIRE PRESSURE SET TO FACTORY DOOR LABEL SPECS. ON MONDAY, 8-19-2019 WHILE ON I-95, TRAVEL SPEED AT ABOUT 60 M.P.H., I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT & THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING/SHAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IN MY ESTABLISHED LANE AND NEARLY TOOK OUT SEVERAL CARS IN THE ADJACENT LANES NEARLY CAUSING MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION. WENT ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE I JUST EXPERIENCED. LATER FOUND OUT IT IS CALLED HARMONIC RESONANCE A.K.A. THE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST'S AND THEIR PASSENGERS WHOM SHARE THE SAME ROADWAYS.

NHTSA complaint #11246578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA complaint #11191787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #11097019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 45MPH, AND 70 THE TRUCK WILL WOBBLE AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. TRUCK CAN BARELY BE DRIVEN AND IS VERY UNSAFE

NHTSA complaint #11031801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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ON MY 2005 FORD DIESEL F250,AFTER 126000 MILES, STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. HAD ENTIRE FRONT END REPLACED INCLUDING GEAR BOX. REBUILDER PURCHASED MOTOCRAFT REBUILT STEERING BOXES FROM FORD. FOUR OF THESE REBUILT BOXES WERE TRIED ON THE TRUCK. NONE WERE ANY GOOD. BUILDER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD GEAR BOXES. THEY INDICATED THAT THE GEAR BOX REBUILDERS ONLY REPLACED THE BEARINGS, NOT THE WORN-OUT GEARS WITHIN THE BOX. THE FORTH GEARBOX INSTALLED WAS EVEN WORSE, IT WAS DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUCK WOULD VEER WITHOUT WARNING INTO ANOTHER LANE AND WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT. THE TRUCK IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN. THIS TIME TO BUY AN AFTER MARKET (NON FORD) GEAR BOX. THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT END PROBLEM HAS SO FAR COST ME OVER $4000. IN REPAIRS, BUT , WHAT IS WORSE THESE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENTS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10840049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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SEVERE STEERING SHAKE AND FRONT SHIMMY AFTER GOING OVER ROUGHNESS IN ROAD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOWED TO ALMOST REST TO STOP SHIMMY. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10557180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE WORK DONE ON MY TRUCK. THREE OF THE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN AND SO CALIPERS PADS AND (EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME) ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ABSURD FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. UNDERSTAND THIS IS EXPENSIVE!! HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OFT TALKED ABOUT "DEATH WOBBLE" A FEW TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS REAR BRAKES IN 2010' FRONTS IN 2011' NOW REARS AGAIN IN 2013.

NHTSA complaint #10503450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH, A POT HOLE WAS HIT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TIE RODS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA complaint #10495353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING WHICH TOOK ME OFF THE ROAD INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA complaint #10451931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND RAN OFF ONTO RUMBLE STRIPS ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WHEEL SHAKE BECAME EXTREMELY VIOLENT.HAD TO BRING VEHICLE DOWN TO 30 MPH FROM 75 VERY QUICKLY AND ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND DOING SO.HAVE SEEN THIS AND HAD IT HAPPEN ON OLDER TRUCKS THAT HAD EXCESSIVE WERE IN TIE RODS AND WORN FRONT END PARTS BUT THIS TRUCK IS TIGHT SO I THOUGHT. FIRST TIME FOR THIS AND IT WAS VERY FRIGHTEN COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW VIOLENT SHAKE WAS. FORD DOES NEED TO ADDRESS THIS OR OFFER A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT. WONDER HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN RID OF OR NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT?

NHTSA complaint #10442790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IMMEDIATELY VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECENTLY RECEIVED AN ADVISORY NOTIFICATION LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROAD SURFACES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED OWNERS TO MAINTAIN PROPER TIRE INFLATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.

NHTSA complaint #10442409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN WHILE DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE A CAMBER ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 02/27/12

NHTSA complaint #10439148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CRUISING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD DOING ANY SPEED OVER 55 MPH THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SHAKE VERY BADLY!! SO BAD THAT I CAN HARDLY CONTROL THE TRUCK. ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP IS TO SLOW TO 40 MPH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ANY HIGHWAY!! THERE IS NO BAD PARTS ON THIS TRUCK...

NHTSA complaint #10428509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A SET OF BUMPS OR A SINGLE BUMP MY TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT THE FRONT END. IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS COMING APART! FORD WILL NOT ADMIT ANYTHING IS WRONG.. THERE ARE COUNTLESS ENTRIES ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE WEB.. IS SOMEBODY GOING TO DO SOMETHING??

NHTSA complaint #10424761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY KIDS AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-70 WEST COMING FROM CAMBRIDGE OHIO TO COLUMBUS. WE HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS SHAKING. I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CHANGED LANES. THIS DID NOT STOP THE SHAKING. I WENT OFF ON THE BERM AND CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN. AT APPROX. 35-40 MPH IT STOPPED SHAKING. I CHECKED THE TIRES AND ALL WERE FINE. WE PROCEEDED ON AND ROUGHLY 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT DID IT AGAIN. I AGAIN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND HEADED TOWARDS THE BERM, I DID TRY HITTING THE BRAKES THIS TIME. BRAKES MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE SHAKING DID NOT STOP UNTIL WE WERE BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE IT HAD 5,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE TRAVELED THIS ROAD MANY TIMES. THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BOUNCED AROUND WHEN HITTING ROUGH ROAD SURFACES, HOWEVER, IT STOPPED ONCE PAST THE ROUGH SPOT. MY TRUCK IS ONLY USED OCCASIONALLY AND HAS ALL OF ITS ORIGINAL COMPONENTS IT LEFT THE FACTORY WITH, INCLUDING THE TIRES. I CAN NOT FIND ANY LOOSE TIE ROD ENDS. ONCE I GOT HOME I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND WHEN I WENT TO RESTART IT TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS COULD OF BEEN TOTALLY COINCIDENCE, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSED A BATTERY PLATE TO SHORT OUT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION FOR ANYONE TO BE IN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AS IT COULD HAVE VERY SERIOUS AND UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHER OWNERS WHO COULD EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10415851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AS HE CORRECTED THE STEERING WHEEL IT VEERED TO THE LEFT SENDING HIM ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DROVE INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10398511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10392304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT STARTED SHAKING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING EXCESSIVELY THEREFORE; THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE FAILURE AND THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 50000.

NHTSA complaint #10357223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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EVERYTIME I EXIST THE BACKSIDE OF A BRIDGE MY 2005 F-250 4X4 BEGINS TO SHAKE SO BAD I AM UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND HAVE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA complaint #10356609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.