47 of the
552 complaints filed about the Ford F Super Duty
are about the steering —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
AFTER DRIVING OVER ROAD IMPERFECTIONS (E.G. BUMPS, POT HOLES, DIPS, ETC.) AT SPEEDS ABOUT 40MPH OR ABOVE, THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SHAKES VERY VIOLENTLY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES QUICKLY AND STRONGLY, ALTERNATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER-CLOCKWISE MOVEMENTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK; CONTROL CAN ONLY BE REGAINED AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BELOW ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR, WHICH IS WELL BELOW ACCEPTABLE SPEEDS ON AN EXPRESSWAY. THIS IS NOT A ONE-TIME INCIDENT, BUT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME A ROAD IMPERFECTION IS DRIVEN OVER. TIRE PRESSURE IS CONSTANTLY CHECKED AND MAINTAINED, THE TIRES ARE RELATIVELY NEW (I.E. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES), AND THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A MECHANIC WITH NO OBVIOUS PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #11076611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED SHIMMY, AKA DEATH WOBBLE, SINCE NEW. I HAVE HAD NO SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS AND NOT RUNNING ANYTHING OTHER THAN RECOMMENDED SIZE AND QUALITY OF TIRE. WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A BUMP THE TRUCK HOPS AND SHAKES IN A DANGEROUS WAY. I HAVE ONLY GOTTEN LETTERS FROM FORD SAYING TO USE THE CORRECT TIRES AND PSI RATING. WHICH I HAVE AND IT STILL HAPPENS.
NHTSA complaint #11072649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY F250 WHEN I WAS EXITING FOOT ON BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED EVERYTIME I HIT THE BRAKE AND TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL LOCKS
NHTSA complaint #11058451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED USED IN 2012 AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITH A VERY WIDE TURNING RADIUS. I'VE DRIVEN OTHER FORDS AT A LOCAL AUCTION HOUSE SAME YEAR/MODEL THAT STEER FINE AND TURN TIGHTER. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN MINE THAT'S DIMINISHING ITS SAFETY AND USABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #11002730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK, IT HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER IN 02/2005. THERE IS NO FRONT END ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK. WHEEL HUB BEARINGS FAILURES, FRONT AXLE, TRUCK HAD OVER 200,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST WHEEL HUB BEARING FAILURE, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 WHEEL HUBS BEARING FAILURES ON MY (2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY XL 4X4 7.3 POWER STROKE DIESEL), THE TRUCK ONLY HAS ROAD MILES AND I DO NOT TAKE IT 4 WHEELING. IT IS MY WORK AND EVERY DAY DRIVING TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 320,000 MILES ON IT NOW.( I LOVE THIS TRUCK) THE LAST SET OF WHEEL HUBS WAS INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK 04/01/2015 AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN, SAD DAY FOR ME. 08/22/2015. THEY ONLY HAD 5,000 MILES ON THEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE FLAW IN THE HUBS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BUT MORE OVER YOU SHOULD GET MORE THAN 5,000 MILES OUT OF THESE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10758641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELLING ON A STRAIGHT, SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL, DRY SECTION OF HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR, AN EXAGGERATED SHAKING BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS QUICKLY BECAME AN ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE BOUNCING OF THE TRUCK. IT BECAME INCREASINGLY VIOLENT IN JUMPING TO THE POINT IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I BRAKED AND SLOWED TO UNDER 20 MPH WHEN IT STOPPED. PULLED OVER, CHECKED ALL, NOTHING OUT OF SORTS. NO SIGN OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR TIRE TROUBLE. FELT LIKE FLAT TIRE AT FIRST.
NHTSA complaint #10746780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2002 F250 SUPERDUTY WITH 7.3L DIESEL WILL NOT TURN AT PARKING SPEEDS AND HIGHER SPEEDS IF APPLYING THE BRAKE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND THEY ALL SAY IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE 7.3L POWERED SUPERDUTY TRUCKS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND DO NOT WANT TO BE PUT INTO A POSITION WHERE I MAY HURT SOMEBODY DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGNED STEERING SYSTEM. INCREASING RPM DOES NOT HELP. MY TALKING TO EXPERTS HAS FOUND THE GENERAL CONSENSUS TO BE THAT THE HYDRO BOOST PUMP DOES NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH VOLUME AND WAS A POOR DESIGN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. MY RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ALSO FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS COMPLAINED EARLY ON AND BECAUSE THERE WERE NO DEATHS IT WAS DISMISSED AS A NON ISSUE. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS I HAVE ONLY 40,000 MILES AND THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT HAS ONLY FORTUNATELY NOT CAUSED ANY DEATHS THAT I'M AWARE OF.
NHTSA complaint #10731993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY TRUCKS FRONT END SHAKES AND BOUNCES WHEN I HIT A ROUGH AREA ON THE HWY TO POINT IT FORCES ME INTO OTHER LANES OR OFF THE ROAD. WHEN IT STARTS BOUNCING I HAVE HIT THE BREAKS HARD AND COME TO A STOP. REALLY DANGEROUS ON A WELL TRAVELED ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK CHECK AFTER EACH INCIDENT AND AM TOLD EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK. THEY SAID TO KEEP TIRES AT 65 PSI AND THEN 75 PSI NEITHER HELPED. TODAY AFTER ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON HWY 175 I DECIDED IT'S TIME TO REPORT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10712815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FIRST TIME, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM AN OFF RAMP AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, THE WHEELS WERE GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS BROKE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LIMPED TO MY MECHANIC SHOP AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH HIM FOR 2 DAYS HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STEERING PROBLEM. HE DID DO MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE AND WITH ONE OF HIS FRIENDS THAT IS A MECHANIC AT FORD AND HE SAID IT IS A MAJOR FLAW BUT, FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THEN CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING AND THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS, IT HAS ALSO HAPPEN 2 OTHER TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 3. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IT HAD NO CAR FAX ISSUES AT ALL. I FOUND OUT I AM THE 3RD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OUT WHO THE OTHER 2 ARE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING, AND DID NOT TAKE IT BACK TO FORD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AND, MYSTERIOUSLY NOTHING COMES UP ON CAR FAX. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE FORD IS HIDING SOMETHING. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OF KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10595607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ON HIGHWAYS WITH POTHOLES, I HIT THE POTHOLES AND IMMEDIATELY FELT A VIOLENT SHAKING OR SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE SHIMMY OCCURS IN WHICH EVER TIRE HITS THE HOLE AND WILL STOP AS SOON AS I REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 40 MPH. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF TIE ROD WEAR OR ANY OTHER REPAIRABLE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10583894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999.5 FORD-F350 DIESEL STEERING SECTOR SHAFT SNAPPED. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF 1/4 TURN. IN PARKING LOT, SHAFT SNAPPED AND STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY WITHOUT ANY WHEEL MOVEMENT. LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION, ACTION # EA01009 (SECTOR SHAFT FRACTURES) BUT NO RECALL. CHAT BOARDS HAVE THIS HAPPENING WAY TOO OFTEN. THE ONLY THINGS ON A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK ARE THE BREAKS AND THE STEERING!
NHTSA complaint #10579540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON APRIL 5, I WAS IN HE PROCESS OF STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE TRUCK. I DROVE LESS THAN 2 MILES, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TRUCK TOWED TO AUTONATION FORD IN ST. PETERSBURG FL. MECHANIC NOT ON DUTY, BUT MONDAY (APRIL 7, 2014), SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND SAID NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THEIR COMPUTER CHECK, AND WAS STARTING FINE AFTER A MINOR ADJUSTMENT. I PICKED UP THE TRUCK, DROVE LESS THAN 2 MILES, WHEN IT STALLED AS I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF COMING TO A STOP, WHILE MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 30 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART TRUCK AND RETURNED TO DEALER. TOLD THEM I DID NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST, SINCE THEY HAD FAILED TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. ON APRIL 10, DEALER CALLED SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT COULD BE EGR DIRTY OR TURBO BOOST. SINCE I HAD NOTICED TURBO WAS NOT KICKING IN PROPERLY DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, I TOLD THEM TO DO BOTH BUT TO TAKE OFF THE $155 THEY HAD CHARGED ME FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEY AGREED AND MY TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME ON APRIL 12, 2014. ON APRIL 13, THE TRUCK STALLED WHEN COMING TO A STOP FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. LOST POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. LESS THAN A MILE LATER WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN, ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MISS STRIKING A HOUSE AT THE INTERSECTION. TRUCK STALLED TWICE DURING THE NEXT 2 MILE TRIP. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD OR IT'S DEALER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR UPDATED 10/2/2014
NHTSA complaint #10579448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE DANGEROUS. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN "INTERNAL FAILURE" IN THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX. THEY CANNOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME DUE TO IT BEING ON BACKORDER. THEY WARNED AGAINST PURCHASING AN "AFTERMARKET" REMANUFACTURED PART DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. I NEED MY TRUCK, AND AM AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO GET IT FIXED, AND FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE VAST NUMBER OF THESE "FAILURES," AND NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR OWNERS OF THESE FAULTY PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10574637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, CROSSED THE CENTER LINE IN THE TOWN .STEPPING ON THE BRAKES ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE; BECAUSE NOW IT PULLED HARDER TO THE LEFT. CRAIN FORD AFTER REPLACE EVERY PART ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT AGAIN THE TRUCK PULLED TO LEFT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BENT CALIPER. THERE WAS STEERING JOINT REPLACED,U JOINT, AND WHEEL BEARING THEN AFTER BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10567758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING HOME WITH MY FAMILY WE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE TRUCKS FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UP AND DOWN AND SIDE TO SIDE. I CLASP THE WHEEL TIGHTLY TO TRY TO CONTROL THE SHAKE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN (WHICH DIDN'T HELP).AS THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND PULL OFF TO SAFETY FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION I COULD SEE NOTHING IMMEDIATELY WRONG. WHEN RETURNING HOME I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY F250 OWNERS FROM 2005/ CURRENT THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10557657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERE VIBRATION AND COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AFTER GOING OVER BUMP/ROUGH AREA OF ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. NEAR CRASH OVER SIDE OF MOUNTAIN AS VIBRATION WAS SO SEVERE AS TO INVOLUNTARILY CHANGE MORE THAN ONE LANE. BRAKING INSUFFICIENT DURING THIS PERIOD OF SEVERE VIBRATION. CONTROL OF VEHICLE OBTAIN ONLY AFTER SPEED REDUCTION ATTAINED (NOT EASILY ACCOMPLISHED WHEN IT HAPPENS GOING DOWNHILL!) TWICE HAPPENED AT 65MPH AND TWICE APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. FORD DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED FAMILIARITY WITH THIS PROBLEM, CALLING IT THE "DEATH WOBBLES". STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE "OLD STYLE" STEERING DAMPENER WITH NEW. IF IT WASN'T A DEFECTIVE PART/DESIGN, WHY WOULDN'T THEY REPLACE IT WITH A DUPLICATE OF THE ORIGINAL. NO CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AS VEHICLE "TOO OLD"...EVEN WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10548342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE MAKING A TURN IN MY 08 F250 I HEARD A CLICK AND MY TRUCK NO LONGER WILL COME BACK STRAIGHT AFTER A TURN. IT WILL EITHER PULL HARD RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE WHEEL BOTH DIRECTIONS TO GET THE TRUCK TO DRIVE STRAIGHT AGAIN. NEARLY DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN OFF THE ROAD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. FORD TOLD ME IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. I FOLLOWED UP THE FOLLOWING WEEK WITH NO RESPONSE. IT TOOK ME GOING TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE BACKORDER IS 120 DAYS! I EXPLAINED ITS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE TRUCK ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD TRY AND AFTERMARKET STEERING BOX. AFTER TWO WEEKS THEY SCHEDULED MY APPT. ONLY TO TELL ME AT 4:45PM ON FRIDAY THAT THE PART THEY ORDERED WON'T FIT AND THEIR GIVING ME MY TRUCK BACK WITH THE ORIGINAL FAULTY PART. AFTER I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH MY FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY HAVE NO RESPONSE FOR ME OTHER THAN WAITING 120 DAYS MINIMUM FOR A STEERING BOX. LOVE HAVING A $60,000 DEATH TRAP IN THE DRIVEWAY. BY THE WAY I ALSO HAVE HAD WHAT PEOPLE CALL THE DEATH SHAKE IN THE TRUCK HAPPEN WELL OVER A DOZEN TIMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD SHOCKS AND TIRES. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I WON'T LET MY KIDS DRIVE WITH ME IN THE TRUCK ANYMORE AS A RESULT. EVEN IF THEY FIX THE STEERING BOX BY CHRISTMAS (4 MONTHS AWAY) I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. I LOVE THIS TRUCK, BUT REFUSE TO DIE IN IT.
NHTSA complaint #10536200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX 65MPH, I HIT A ROUGH AREA AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO A VERY UNSAFE APPROX 30MPH BEFORE THE SHAKING STOPPED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, JUST THE MOST RECENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS CARRYING MY 4000 POUND CAMPER AND PULLING A BOAT WITH MY FAMILY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ONLY CORRECTED BY SLOWING DOWN. I HAVE BEEN READING HUNDREDS OF ON-LINE POSTINGS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHERS PLEADING F350 OWNERS TO SUBMIT THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE.
NHTSA complaint #10535861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.