31 of the
552 complaints filed about the Ford F Super Duty
are about the suspension —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN CROSSING TRANSITION ON INTERSTATE BRIDGE FRONT END OF TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY; STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL. BROUGHT VEHICLE SAFELY TO A STOP, MOVED INTO EMERGENCY LANE, CHECKED ALL TIRES, NO APPARENT PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DRIVING LANE AND IN LESS THAN 1 MILE UPON HITTING ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROADWAY TRUCK AGAIN BEGIN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY*. AGAIN, DRIVER HAD VIRTUALLY NO CONTROL OVER STEERING UNTIL VEHICLE HAD SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AT WHICH TIME DRIVER ELECTED TO RETURN HOME RATHER THAN CONTINUE TRIP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. DEALER STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' HOWEVER THEY HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. DEALER EXAMINED TRUCK AND DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, DAMPERS, AND AXLE SE SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE DID NOT INDICATE THE PARTS WERE WORN, AND SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE NOT DRIVEN VEHICLE OVER 50 MPH SINCE RECEIVING IT AFTER REPAIRS, SO DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS ACTUALLY REPAIRED. *THE SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT EVERYTHING LOOSE IN THE TRUCK IS THROWN ABOUT. THIS WAS NOT A TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE! TIRES PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND ALL 4 TIRES WERE WELL WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TOLERANCES.
NHTSA complaint #10483423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES WHEN DRIVER IS ON FREEWAY AND HITS A BUMP. THE TIRES AND AIR PRESSURE ARE MAINTAINED PER FORD GUIDELINES. INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING MORE AND MORE AND THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT. THE VEHICLE IS GOING INTO THE FORD DEALER ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011. THE DRIVER IS INCREASINGLY ALARMED THAT AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR WHEN DRIVER IS NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10440334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2008 FORD F250 AND EVERYTIME I HIT A BUMP THE FRONT END SHAKES REAL BAD . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER MANY OF TIMES THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG .THEY JUST TOLD ME MY AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW. I EVEN CHANGE THE TIRES AND IT STILL DOSE IT. HELP PLEASE THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10335535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE BRAKES RESERVOIR EMPTY, THEN INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES AND SAW A HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE. *NM CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES WENT OUT AND WENT OVER A CURB, OVER PARKING LOTS, INTO A PARKING LOT, AND CAUSED FUEL TANK AND STRAP DAMAGE, FRONT END AND REAR TAD AXLE OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER FOUND WEAR HOLE IN REAR BRAKE LINE, EGR TUBE CORRODED, BURNT ENGINE COVER, AND CARPET. *SB
NHTSA complaint #10127908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 F-250 4X4 FRONT HUB: I HAD TO CHANGE BOTH FRONT HUBS ON MY 2000 4X4 F-250 WITH ONLY 62,790 MILES AND THE BEARING LOCKED-UP ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER WAS LOOSE. IT COST ME $ 1,225.00 TO REPLACE THE HUBS AND SEALS, EACH HUB COST 408.00 AND EACH SEAL COST 38.00 FROM FORD. I TALKED TO 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH A FORD 4X4 AND THAY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY 62,790 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ,ONE HAD 46,000 MILES AND THE OTHER HAD 74,000 MILES . THE BEARING COULD BE CHANGED @ AROUND 40.00 TO 60.00 BUT FORD HAS ON THE BEARINGRETANER NUT PART DO NOT REMOVE. TO ME I THINK FORD JUST WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON THE WHOLE HUB WITH THE BEARINGS . PS ALSO GLAD I WASN'T GOING TO FAST WHEN IT LOCKED UP
NHTSA complaint #10086278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. WITH ALMOST NO PRECEDING EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING FAILED, CAUSING THE TOW VEHICLE, FORD F350 DRW 6X6, TO ABRUPTLY VEER FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STABILIZING ANTI-SWAY EQUIPMENT THAT CONNECTED THE TRUCK TO THE 34' TRAVEL TRAILER ENABLED ME TO KEEP FROM INADVERTENTLY EXITING A 200' HIGH BRIDGE. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ABRUPT FAILURE WAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE ABS WARNING LIGHT. WE STOPPED TO CHECK THE WHEELS FOR EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND NOTED NO PULLING OR NOISE. ALL BRAKE APPLICATIONS WERE SMOOTH AND NO DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. UNTIL WE BEGAN THE CLIMB UP AND OVER THE JACKSONVILLE FLA I-295 BYPASS BRIDGE OVER THE ST JOHNS RIVER. AS WE BEGAN THE DESCENT [CENTER LANE] THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY LURCH FROM SIDE TO SIDE, THE STEERING WHEEL DRIVEN TO FULL LEFT AND THEN FULL RIGHT ROTATION--THE VEHICLE/RIG WOBBLING FROM LANE TO LANE. WE NOTED NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE, HOT BRAKES. I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW US DOWN AS WE ENTERED THE EXIT RAMP, WE LOST ALL TRUCK BRAKES AND I USED THE JORDAN TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER TO BRING THE RIG TO A HALT. 2. UPON DELIVERY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THE TECHNICIANS DISCOVERED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING. HAD THE TRUCK BEEN DRIVEN WITHOUT THE AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER AND REESE STRAIT LINE DUAL CAM SWAY SYSTEM, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CERTAIN FATALITIES. 3. THE MIKE SHAD FORD TRUCK CENTER REPLACED THE DAMAGED EQUIPMENT [AXLE, HUB ASSEMBLY, BEARINGS, ALL ELECTRONICS RELATED, NEW BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND RE-ALIGNED THE FRONT END. ] A DISCUSSION WITH THE TRUCK CENTER MANAGER REVEALED THAT 1. HAVING GONE 95.570 MILES AND NOT HAVE INCURRED A FAILURE OF THE HUB BEARINGS WAS UNIQUE FOR THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OVER DECADES SHOWS THESE FACTORY SEALED BEARINGS FAIL AROUND A MEAN MILEAGE OF 40,000 MILES...
NHTSA complaint #10073194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITH A LIGHT TAP AND RELEASE ON THE BRAKES, THE ENTIRE FRONT END STARTS VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY STEER IN LEFT AND RIGHT VIOLENT MOTIONS. REFUSES TO STOP SHAKING UNTIL THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE REST. DURING THIS TIME I HAVE NO STEERING, OR BRAKING. THIS MOST NOTABLY HAPPENS WHILE HAULING A TRAILER (5TH WHEEL OR BUMPER TOW), BUT HAS BEEN DUPLICATED BY DEALER WITHOUT A TRAILER. WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP, HAD TO USE THE TRAILER BRAKES (ELECTRONIC), AND DOWNSHIFTING, AND SOME VERY TRICKY DRIVING TECHNIQUES TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE TO THE FRONT END EARLIER ON DO TO EXCESSIVE FRONT TIRE WEAR WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE ONSET OF THIS HIDDEN PROBLEM. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON SEVERAL MOUNTAIN DOWNGRADES. EACH TIME AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED DO TO MY SUPERIOR DRIVING SKILLS. DEALERSHIP, FORD, AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSE TO REPLACE PART THAT THEY ADJUSTED AND COVER UNDER WARRANTY.(STEERING BOX, AND LINKAGE), THAT MOST DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE SEEN SOME EXCESSIVE WEAR DURING THE TIMES THAT IT WAS DOING THIS. VERY DEADLY SITUATION, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS ARE AVAILABLE AT REQUEST. HAPPENED ON FEB 29, FEB 27, MARCH 14, MARCH 12, MARCH 15, AND SO ON... TOOK THE DEALER NEARLY 3 DAYS WITH THE VEHICLE TO FIND THIS PROBLEM!
NHTSA complaint #10062433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RV VIBRATED AT SPEED OFF 55 MPH AND HIGHER. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVELINE WAS UNDER COATED AND OUT OF ROUND. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS REPLACED/REPAIRS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *PH *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10011494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRUCK PULLING HARD -VERY HARD TO RIGHT WHILE BRAKING TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING BACK INTO OVER DRIVE WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL TRANS WILL NOT SHIFT UN LESS YOU HIT DECEL OR HIT BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10005104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ALL F -SUPERDUTYS WITH THE 7.3L DIESEL MOTORS FRONT END SHAKING VIOLENTLY THE FRONT WHEELS ON THESE VEHICLES START SHAKING VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH, WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS IS GOING ON IT GETS WORSE AND EVENTUALLY WILL RESULT IN A CRASH. ALL FORD SUPERDUTYS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN DO THIS AT SPEEDS OF 40-70 MPH THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COME ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN START AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #752946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.