2008 FORD F-350 SD Suspension Problems

THE 2008, AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS OF THE FORD F-350 ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A FRONT-END SHIMMY OR "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK DONE TO MY F-350 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE DEATH WOBBLE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WORK FOR A TIME AND THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNS. THE FACT THAT THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, AT HIGH SPEEDS, BY DRIVING OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MAKES THIS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I CAN ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE EXTREME NATURE OF THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT-END OF THE TRUCK IS BOUNCING LEFT AND RIGHT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS TWISTING AND ROLLING, THE STEERING WHEEL IS BARELY CONTROLLABLE, ANYTHING LOOSE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT GOES FLYING AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. REDUCING SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE ONLY RECOURSE AND THIS POSES A DANGER PARTICULARLY WHEN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. EVEN AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON COMPLETE FRONT-END REBUILDS, AND IMPECCABLE MAINTENANCE, THE PROBLEM WILL SUDDENLY REOCCUR. THE DESIGN OF THIS FRONT-END IS FAULTY AND VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND BEING EXPOSED TO GREAT RISK.

Mileage: 128,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RANDOM DEATH WOBBLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. A DEALER PERFORMED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, BUT THE CONDITION CONTINUED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN DUE TO A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO BE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2008 F350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL!!!! DEATH WOBBLE WITH MY FRIENDS BOSTON WHALER GOING DOWN 495 TO THE CAPE!!!! HAD THE TRUCK FOR FOUR YEARS!!! REPLACED 2 STEERING SHOCKS,TIEROD ENDS!! TIRES!! 2 FRONT ALIGNMENTS!!! TRUCK IS A PIECE OF [XXX]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD A 1978 F150,1979 F250,1988 F150,1995 F150,1996 F250,1999 F350 AND LOVED ALL OF THEM AND GOT THIS 2008 F350 AND NEVER HAD A WORSE CONTROLLING TRUCK IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE BEAN A MECHANIC FOR 30!!!! I REPEAT 30 YEARS AND WHAT A [XXX] BOX FRONT END WOW!!!! FORD PLEASE HAVE A RECALL BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEBODY IN THE TRUCK OR HITTING SOME ONE!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 11/18/2014 *JS

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS

Mileage: 75,000

REPEATED "DEATH WOBBLE". MANY TIMES, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND LOOSE STEERING CONTROL. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN DURING CURVES IN THE ROAD. I HAVE SHOT SIDEWAYS ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION VERY NARROWLY AVOIDING A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. HAPPENS BOTH WHILE PULLING A LOAD OR NOT. DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO HELP. VERY SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM GOING ON AND I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD IS UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS BEFORE THEY WILL ACT. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE LONG BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FROM THIS LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL! *TR

Mileage: 20,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 55-70 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE SPECIALIST WHO PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND REPLACED THE TIRES AND SHOCKS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 29,800

START OF MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF DEATH WOBBLE WITH THIS TRUCK AND NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIPS WITH NO FIX. TIRES REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE: ( WAS TOLD THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY FIX THE WOBBLE). I WAS ADVISED THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT OUT (CASTER SETTING) AND COULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD BECAUSE THE CASTER ADJUSTERS NECESSARY TO REPAIR - NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. BUT FORD ADVISED ME THE ALIGNMENT WITHOUT THE CASTER ADJUSTERS WAS STILL WITHIN FORD SPECS AND WOULD BE FINE. LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE DEATH WOBBLE AROUND 09-19-2012, VEHICLE @ 34,090. ADVISED THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN VEHICLE WITH CASTER ADJUSTER SLEEVES; WAS UNABLE TO FIX, WRONG SLEEVES. WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR APPROX. 400.00. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD THE FRONT ALIGNED CORRECTLY IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF DEATH WOBBLE. 95% SURE IT WOULD FIX. I FINALLY WENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC SHOPS. FIXED WOBBLE WITH 2 STEERING STABILIZERS @ 324.74 CHARGE. ALIGNMENT WITH CASTER SLEEVES @ 414.22 CHARGE. I AM PLANNING TO ASK FORD FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT I DOUBT THEY WILL COMPLY. *TR

Mileage: 9,378

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, MY TRUCK HIT A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT AND I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS. AS A RESULT, I SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS, IF THE TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAVIER (THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE PENTAGON, JUST OFF OF 395 N) I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JS

Mileage: 58,300

EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHUDDER / WOBBLE AFTER HITTING BUMP AT 65 MPH WHILE TOWING 7,000 LBS. CAMPER. EXPERIENCED SAME WOBBLE AT 40 MPH AFTER HITTING POT HOLE 7 DAYS LATER. AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE FOOTAGE, I APPEAR TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EVENT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 'DEATH WOBBLE'. PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

Mileage: 88,900

2008 F350 SUPER DUTY ----VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MET 10 TIMES. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ANY SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO70 MPH AND I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND DROP THE SPEED FAST TO AROUND 35MPH TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK . IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DEAL WITH . I GOT RID OF MY 2005 F350 BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2008 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW *TGW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS WERE TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK AND FOR THE TYPE OF LOAD IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END WAS RATED TO CARRY 5200LBS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY, THERE WAS ALREADY 4800LBS ON THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SUPER DUTY TRUCK, BUT APPARENTLY IT CAN'T CARRY ANYTHING EXCEPT A PASSENGER OR TWO BEFORE THE FRONT END IS OVERLOADED. THE STEERING BOX BROKE SUDDENLY FOR THE TIME AT 26,050 MILES. WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, BUT THE NEW ONE FAILED AT 29, 581 MILES. THE CURRENT STEERING BOX IS FEELING LOOSE AND THE TRUCK WANDERS. THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED AT 38,587 MILES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP, IF FELT AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED FOR A FEW SECONDS. *JB

Mileage: 26,050

2008 F-350 HAS WHAT THEY CALL THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND HAS A CONSTANT SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES. I REPLACED TIRES WITH ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY. CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING. FORD BLAMED IT ON THOSE TIRES. BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES IN 1 YEAR. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOT TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. FORD TELLS ME TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SOMEDAY I'M GOING TO KILL SOMEONE OR MYSELF IN THIS TRUCK SINCE I HAVE NO CONTROL WHEN THE "DEATH WOBBLE" STARTS UNTIL I CAN SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. UPDATED IVOQ 05/26/10

Mileage: 2,285

OUR BUSINESS OWNS 4 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS (2-2006 AND 2-2008). ALL OF THEM HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHIMMY THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENT. WE TOW LARGE TRAILERS (20'), LOADED WITH LARGE SPOOLS OF COAXIAL CABLE. THESE REELS AND THE TRAILER HAVE A COMBINED WAIT IN EXCESS OF 3000-4000 LBS., AND THE TRUCKS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 LBS. WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THIS MUCH WEIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. ALL FOUR TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CLAIMS THAT IF YOU SLOW DOWN, IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT OFTEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IN AND OF ITSELF, AND OFTEN YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH WITH A 4,000LB IN TOW. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF FORCING CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF THEIR INEPT MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN. *TR

Mileage: 16,000