81 of the 255 complaints about the 2008 Ford F-250 are about the steering — 32% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 77,000 miles.
81
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
Clock spring frayed and uncoiled. Unknown steering issue till clockspring checked. Airbag inflator is unoperational. Current clockspring recall for Ford does not cover this vehicle. Widen your recall. Most owners would believe it to be a power steering issue with pump and fluid, like we did.
NHTSA complaint #11611228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
Death wobble
NHTSA complaint #11591721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on a bridge, the vehicle drove over potholes and the vehicle experienced the death wobble, causing the steering wheel to shake uncontrollably. The contact firmly gripped the steering wheel and decelerated to 30 MPH to prevent the vehicle from shaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that several independent mechanics had previously replaced the tires, control arms, shocks, struts, steering damper, and pitman arm, as well as performed an alignment; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11579750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
Several times steering has been lost while making a turn. Thusfar accidents have been narrowly avoided. I have worked with the Ford dealer and replaced all major components in 2022. But the problem has started again. Most times the steering wheel is difficult to turn in parking situations; other times the steering wont work at all. I have had to swing wide into the oncoming lane during a turn to make the turn.
NHTSA complaint #11543990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
Experiencing the ford “death wobble”. Around 50 mph going over small road transition the vehicle start shaking violently and I have no control. The only way to stop it is come close to a dead stop in the middle of a highway.
NHTSA complaint #11510098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
When decelerating, such as taking an off-ramp, it loses power to the brakes and steering, which makes it unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11508548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I JUST PURCHASED THIS BEAUTIFUL F 250 TRUCK 2008, FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA. I WENT OUT ON THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THE TRUCK HAD A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM. IT IS DESCRIBED AS I CANNOT KEEP IT IN THE LANE I AM TRAVELING IN BECAUSE OF STEERING WOBBLE AND PLAYING THE STEERING AND WANDERS INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. I ALSO CHECKED UP UNDERNEATH AND THERE WERE LOOSE TIE ROD BRACKETS AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I DO NOT KNOW THE NAMES OF. IT'S A REAL SHAME WHEN THE SALESMAN YOU PURCHASED IT FROM WHEN I TEXTED THIS TO HIM WILL NOT CALL OR TEXT BACK, VERY DECEITFUL.
NHTSA complaint #11435492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
Bring truck to 60 or above it starts to shake and wobble to the point I can't go highway speeds.. I have only owned this truck for a couple months.
NHTSA complaint #11425115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
While driving down the interstate our truck started shaking violently and my husband had to stop the truck to get it to stop shaking. This happened twice during our trip.
NHTSA complaint #11421451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER FORD (543 W MAPLE ST, HARTVILLE, OH 44632) AND INFORMED THAT THE TRACK BAR, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD JOINTS AND POSSIBLE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN FOR THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT AN EXTRA HEAVY DUTY STEERING DAMPER BE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,048.
NHTSA complaint #11406671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DRIVING MY 2008 FORD F250 AT OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR AND HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE CURSED "DEATH WOBBLE". IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. ONCE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSED HER TO WRECK BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE INTERSTATE. HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING AFTER REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #11363177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DRIVING 60 ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS DESCRIBED AS THE DEATH WOBBLE.
NHTSA complaint #11351201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK STARTS VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY SHAKING AND DOESN'T CEASE UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN BELOW 20 MPH. THE FRONT END ALSO DOES THIS IF I'M DRIVING MORE THAN 25 MPH AND THE PAVEMENT CHANGES. THE COUNTY REPAVED A PORTION OF MY ROAD. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. EVERYTIME I REACH THE CHANGE IN ASPHALT, I HAVE TO ALMOST STOP TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #11350367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING REALLY BAD HIT A BUMP IN ROAD GOING ABOVE 50 MPH AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS I SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP.
NHTSA complaint #11329044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NEED TO BRAKE HEAVILY TO STOP THE SHAKING. I'VE READ UP ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND APPARENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK, SO I AM KEEPING IT OFF THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND THOSE AROUND ME. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11326156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
AT 65MPH+- ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL / STEER STRAIGHT.AND MAINTAIN POSITION IN LANE. HAVE SPENT $6,000.00 +- WITH FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE STEERING BOX TWICE, NEW SHOCKS, NEW TIRES, NEW TIE ROD ENDS, ALIGNMENT, TIRE BALANCING AND OTHER NEW PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING...AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND BOUGHT NEW IN 2009.
NHTSA complaint #11316778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
HAVE A VERY BAD DEATH WOBBLE. SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AND STILL HERE.
NHTSA complaint #11316076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHEN TRAVELING MORE THAN 40MPH AND A WHEEL HITS A GROOVE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND IS HARD TO CONTROL, FORCING THE DRIVER TO QUICKLY DECELERATE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. IT FEELS AS IF THE TIRES ARE BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2009. ALSO WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR VERY BUMPY ROADS, THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES, NORMAL BRAKING RETURNS, BUT THE INITIAL BRAKE FAILURE IS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IS THE UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #11296881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MY TRUCK HAS THE 6.4 DIESEL ENGINE. WHILE TURNING ON A ONE LANE STREET THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY EFFORTS. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS IT RESPONDED AND I MAINTAINED CONTROL. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT MIKE WHITE FORD IN COEUR ALENE IDAHO GETTING A NEW MOTOR INSTALLED. MYSELF AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR WALKED INTO THE SHOP TO HECK PROGRESS ON THE MOTOR INSTALL. I ASKED HIM TO ADDRESS THE STEERING BOX RECALL WHERE FROM THE FACTORY A STEERING BOX WAS INSTALLED THAT DOESNT SIT FLUSH WITH THE FRAME. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME BREAKING DUE TO THE POOR FITMENT. I SHOWED HIM A HOLE WHERE A BOLT ATTACHING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME WAS BROKEN OFF. HE STATED TO ME THAT HE DIDNT THOM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING BOX. I STATED THAT YES THERE WAS AND ASKED HOM TO PLEASE FIX IT. THIS LEMON OF A VEHICLE IS ALL THAT MY FAMILY HAS TO DRIVE! I WANT IT FIXED PROPERLY. NOT JUST SHIMMED AND THROW NEW BOLTS ON IT. I MEAN A NEW STEERING BOX THAT SITS FLUSH AGAINST THE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE CARRIE'S MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS AND NEEDS TO BE SAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #11278575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
IT STARTS SHIMMYING BACK AND FORTH VICIOUSLY AND WILL NOT STEER. I PUT ON NEW STRUTS, STEERING GEAR BOX, SHOCKS, TIRES, AND HAVE SPENT OVER $,3, 000 IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL START AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ MANY LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #11242819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING GEAR BOX SEEMS TO HAVE BROKE. LOSE OF ALL STEERING. STEERING WHEEL SPINS AROUND BUT DOES NOT CONTROL ANYTHING NOW
NHTSA complaint #11217337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE IN MOTION, AT 30 MPH OR HIGHER, THE TRUCK WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT. IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT TRAVEL...BASICALLY NO CENTERING OF STEERING. UNSAFE AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU ARE DRIVING AS A DRUNK WOULD. ALSO, VIOLENT SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11194425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE STEERING SORT OF WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY ON TURNS THEN IT GETS HARD TO STEER, YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60/70MPH SAME ISSUE THEN WHEN OVER A BUMP THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIFT OFF ROAD
NHTSA complaint #11105121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE TRUCK STEERING IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING ON REGULAR CITY STREETS.TRUCK TURN ON ITS OWN AND GOES INTO THE OTHER LANE. VERY HARD TO CORRECT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO 2 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. WE DID HAVE GEAR BOX CHANGED AND HAD IT CHANGED A SECOND TIME TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE STEERING BOX. CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NO MECHANIC CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK AND CAN NOT FIX THIS ISSUE.HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES.HAPPENS VERY TIME IT IS DROVE UNKNOWN PROBLEM! NOT DRIVE ABLE AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #11101750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65-70MPH AFTER HITTING BUMP IN THE ROAD. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY OCCURRENCES THAT A NAME HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ISSUE, THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT SEEMS FORD IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY TRY TO BLAME TIRE PRESSURE ACCORDING TO ONLINE SOURCES. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FORCED BY THE NHTSA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY! I HAD JUST HAD THE TRUCK TIRES ROTATED BALANCED AND AIR PRESSURE CHECKED BEFORE THIS TRIP!
NHTSA complaint #11073630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MY VEHICLE HAS A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES; SPECIAL FIELD ACTION 09L02 DATED JANUARY 2018. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT RECENTLY TALKED WITH SOMEONE WHO OWNS THE SAME VEHICLE AND HE HAPPENED TO ASK IF I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. UPON RECEIVING THE NOTICE AND RECALLING THAT CONVERSATION I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT. IN PARTICULAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RATTLE AND SHAKE IN A MANNER THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE UNTIL YOU COME TO A VIRTUAL STOP. I HAVE HAD ALMOST A DOZEN OCCURRENCES. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND ALIGNMENT AND STEERING ISSUES, TIE RODS AND BALL JOINT ETC. THEN AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SENT ME TO THE TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE SHOP CHECKED THE TIRES AND SENT ME BACK TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, REPLACED SOME WARN PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN (I BELIEVE IT WAS A BUSHING SOMEWHERE, BUT CAN CONFIRM IF NEEDED, I HAVE RECORDS SOMEWHERE). THAT DECREASED THE FREQUENCY, BUT I STILL HAVE EXPERIENCED IT TWICE SINCE THEN. IT SEEMS INTERMITTENT, AND FRANKLY ALMOST RANDOM AS I CAN NOT ALWAYS RECREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. I CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE SAME ROUTE, SAME SPEED, AND NOT ALWAYS EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF CONTROL I CALL A DEATH WOBBLE. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, AS DESCRIBED IN THE SFA YOU HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS, APPLY THE BRAKES AND HOLD THE WHEEL STRAIGHT. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND SCARED THE HELL OUT OF MY FATHER AND DAUGHTER WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED IT WITH ME ON A FREEWAY OVERPASS THAT CURVED AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND COULDN'T STEER.
NHTSA complaint #11073058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE INFAMOUS "SUPER DUTY DEATH SHAKE" FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW ....HAVE HAD DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL ....ALWAYS TOLD IT IS DUE TO TIRE PRESSURE OR WORN TIRES....I CHECK PRESSURES REGULARLY AND NEVER HAVE TO ADD MORE THAN A # OR TWO.....NEW TIRES MASK THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS STILL THERE......SEVERAL ENCOUNTERS HAVE NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS....USUALLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEED BUT OCCASIONALLY AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 35 MPH.....VIOLENT OSCILLATION AT TIMES HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ....THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED .....RECEIVED A "RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ON 2/6/2018 ....WAS TOLD BY FORD ON 2/7/2018 THAT THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE
NHTSA complaint #11067423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
SINCE OWNING MY F250, IT HAS RANDOMLY EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION "DEATH WOBBLE" AFTER HITTING BUMPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SO BAD, THAT I INSTALLED A STEERING STABILIZER TO HELP MITIGATE THE ISSUE (FORD DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A BETTER FIX). I ALWAYS KEEP MY LOAD "E "RATED TIRES INFLATED PER RECOMMENDED PRESSURES YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VIBRATIONS HAPPENED. FORD HAS YET TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SAY SLOW DOWN WHEN THE SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS. FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS THIS HAS BEEN AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN FOR MANY F250 OWNERS AND FORD'S ANSWER IS WHEN IT HAPPENS ," SLOW DOWN"? THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE; THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ABOVE ISSUE. NUMEROUS POST, BLOGS AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE, YET FORD CONTINUES TO BLAME THE OCCURRENCE ON LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND PASS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROLLING A VERY HAZARDOUS "DEATH WOBBLE" TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS, YET HAVE FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND CORRECT THE HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION FORD CREATED. ANY DATA ON HOW MANY ACCIDENTS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNSAFE HANDLING OF THEIR 7000 LB PLUSS TRUCKS?
NHTSA complaint #11067314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING GETS STIFF AND VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, REQUIRING A FORCEFUL TUG IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CORRECT STEERING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE, IT FEELS LIKE A BOAT CHINE WALKING, EXCEPT IS MUCH HARDER TO CORRECT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS AND ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. BEGAN IN THE LAST 250 MILES WITH ABOUT 143,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11010053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP GETTING OFF EXIT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #11002442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.