2003 FORD F-250 SD Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 228,000. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

I OWN A 2003 F-250 SUPERDUTY EXTENDED CAB TWO WHEEL DRIVE FORD PICK-UP, THE FRONT END WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT AROUND 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR EVEN MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVING TURN ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO PULL OF THE HIGHWAY TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. I REPLACED THE SHOCKS WITH MONROE GAS MAGNUM SHOCKS , NO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. *TR

Mileage: 83,225

I READ OF YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO 05 AND LATER FORD TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" SHAKING CAUSING MASSIVE INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM GOES BACK WAY FURTHER BUT I HAVE AN 03 F-250 TRUCK (AND IT IS TOTALLY STOCK) AND IT BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON ANY SURFACE WHETHER IN STRAIGHT LINE OR TURN. I HAVE HAD MANY THINGS LOOKED AT (ALIGNMENT, WHEEL AND TIRE BALANCE, BUSHINGS, TRACK BAR, TIE-ROD ENDS, ETC.) AND "REPAIRED" WITH NO FIX. FORD SAYS EVERYTHING IS WITHIN "SPECS". THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO DRIVE WITH ESPECIALLY WITH CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC. I DON'T THINK FORD WANTS TO OWN UP TO IT BECAUSE OF THE HUGE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DEALING WITH THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WHEN IN AN ALREADY FINANCIALLY CRIPPLED STATE. GUESS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A MORE STABLE VEHICLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS RATHER THAN THE INTERIOR COLOR CHOICES ON THEIR LATEST COMPANY JET. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM GOES BACK INTO LATE 1980S WHEN FORD WAS TOLD BY YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE IN MY VEHICLE WHILE SEARCHING FOR AN ADEQUATE FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 47,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELT VERY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END THINKING ITS BALL JOINTS UPPER OR LOWER I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF THEM HE SAID BECAUSE THERE IS NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THE BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS 34,400 MILES ON IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE IF THE PART WAS NOT MADE CORRECTLY.. I THINK IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END THINKING ITS BALL JOINTS UPPER OR LOWER I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF THEM HE SAID BECAUSE THERE IS NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THE BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS 34,400 MILES ON IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE IF THE PART WAS NOT MADE CORRECTLY.. I THINK IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

I OWN A 2003 FORD F-250 AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR THE OTHER DAY WHEN I CROSSED A BRIDGE WITH FOUR EVENLY-SPACED EXPANSION JOINTS. AFTER HITTING THEM, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I GRIPPED THE WHEEL AND STRUGGLED TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE AS I EASED ONTO THE BRAKE. THAT DIDN'T HELP, SO I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY STOPPED SHAKING - AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I'VE ALSO HAD SIMILAR TROUBLE WITH POTHOLES. ONE TIME I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE TRUCK SHOT HALFWAY OVER INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THERE WAS A CAR JUST BEHIND WHO HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 72,450

I HAVE A 2003 F250 GAS ENGINE WITH 46,000 MILES AND THE FRONT END WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN HITTING MINOR RUFF ROAD AT SPEEDS FROM 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THIS CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN VERY FAST WHICH LEAVE DRIVERS BEHIND ME SCRAMBLING TO SAFETY. I HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE FRONT END FOR DAMAGED OR LOOSE PARTS. ALL SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AT 35,800 MILES (WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT). WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT (THE NEXT DAY) THERE WAS 36,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT THERE WAS 36,900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE FRONT END AND DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS WORK IS $1,100. I SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN IT GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS!! *JB

Mileage: 35,800

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AT 35,800 MILES (WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT). WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT (THE NEXT DAY) THERE WAS 36,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT THERE WAS 36,900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE FRONT END AND DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS WORK IS $1,100. I SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN IT GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS!! *JB

Mileage: 35,800

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS OFFERED ANOTHER VEHICLE. ENGINEERS WERE GUESSING THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE IN THE FRAME. *AK

Mileage: 600

I HAD SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR MY 2003 F250 SD CC 4X4 TO HAVE DIRECTIONALS REPAIRED. ON DROP OFF, I ASKED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED FOR AN INTERMITTENT PULLING TO THE LEFT ON HARD BRAKING. TWO DAYS LATER I CHECKED ON THE STATUS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED BY FORD. THREE WEEKS LATER THE BRAKE PADS, CALIBERS AND FRONT LEAF SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT STILL PULLS. AWAITING FOR A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATION TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. *JB