2017 FORD F-350 SD Suspension Problems

While traveling down the road a bump or dip in the road causes the front wheels begin to shake and jerk violently causing the vehicle to drift over the road and loose steering control. This situation is amplified when carrying or pulling a load and is extremely difficult to manage and stop once started. Braking exacerbates the situation resulting in almost loosing control. This has happed multiple times, multiple dates over the years, at different speeds usually over 45mph.

I experienced what is known as the “Death wobble” after contacting a bumpy road at approximately 70 mph. I was able to exit the freeway and determine that it wasn’t a blown tire or some other condition that caused this. After some research on my vehicle, I determined that this “death wobble” is fairly common with my model and year of truck.

I’ve been having repeated issue with a death wobble I’ve replaced my draglink and tie rod end and it hasn’t helped in the slightest

When towing a fifth wheel trailer and going down a hill the vehicle went into an oscillation that caused sever wobbling of the front end almost causing me to lose control of the vehicle that was towing the trailer. This was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced in my life. after doing some research Ford Motor Company knows about this issue and has yet to recall this problem it is also known as the Death wobble. Is it actually going to take someone's death to see something happen about this well know issue, I certainly hope not and I hope the NHTSA will do something to force Ford Motor Company to correct this issue before someone does die from the "Death Wobble"

At differing speeds the truck experienced the "death wobble" causing the front end of the vehicle to shake uncontrollably. This happened 2 times before I had the tie rod ends replaced and several times afterward. You have to almost stop the vehicle to get the shaking to go away. It is a tremendous safety risk and could cause an accident due to the shaking or due to needing to slow almost to a stop - which could cause a rear end collision. This is a common problem with Ford F250 and F350 trucks. I had my mechanic inspect all the front end parts and he recommended replacing the tie rods and track bar. No warning lamps or other symptoms. The issue happened out of the blue.

TL* THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 2017 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM KNOWN AS THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' OVER THE PHONE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE STABILIZER THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT GOT WORSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE JOB SITE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE DEALER GROOVE FORD (10039 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR REFERRED TO THE FAILURE AS " DEATH WOBBLE "ADVISED THE CONTACT , THAT THE ISSUE WAS A COMMUN OCCURRANCE AND THEY WERE INSTALLING A SECOND STABILIZER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. VIN UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 30,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED AT MCMULLEN FORD (3401 S EXPRESSWAY ST, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51501, (712) 366-0531), WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 26,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A DIP IN THE ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VIBRATION WORSENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. SMITH MOTOR COMPANY INC (LOCATED AT 359 NJ-31, WASHINGTON, NJ 07882, (908) 835-8100) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

EXPERIENCED 'DEATH WOBBLE' SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAYS (BETWEEN 65-75 MPH). THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES - ONCE WHILE PULLING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. DEALER INSTALLED BAR TO ADDRESS ISSUE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. TODAY, I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN - 5 TIMES IN A MATTER OF 60 MILES - AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN GOING OVER EXPANSION JOINTS ON BRIDGES. THIS IS ONLY STOPPED WHEN SLOWED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY ON HIGHWAY - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. BASED ON THE VERY SIMILAR AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE MAKES ME THINK A CLASS ACTION IS WARRANTED AND NEEDS TO BE PURSUED - SINCE IT SEEMS THERE AREN'T APPROPRIATE STEPS BEING TO CORRECT THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. THE CORRECTIVE STEPS FORD HAS DEALERS PERFORMING AREN'T WORKING AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR

Mileage: 49,500

EXPERIENCE 'DEATH WOBBLE' OF FRONT STEERING AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES. TRUCK HAS ABOUT 21,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE NEW. TRUCK IS COMPLETELY STOCK WITH ORIGINAL TIRES, WHEELS AND SUSPENSION. LAST WEEKEND I HAD THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPEN TWICE. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 MILES APART WHILE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF OR ROOM AS LANES WERE NARROWED. A SMALL BUMP STARTS IT, BUT IT TAKES ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS TO 'RAMP UP' TO WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL IS VIOLENTLY SHAKING BACK AND FORTH. HAPPEN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 58 MPH AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO UNDER 40 TO REGAIN CONTROL. TIRE PRESSURE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES HAS A READING OF 63PSI WHICH COLD INFLATION IS 60. TIRES ARE ROTATED AT OIL CHANGES. TRUCK IS AN XLT CREW CAB WITH LONG BOX, POWERSTROKE DIESEL, 4X4 WITH FX4 PACKAGE AND MAX GVWR 11,500. DOES HAVE CHROME PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED CHROME 18' WHEELS AND GOODYEAR ALL TERRAIN TIRES. COMPLETELY STOCK AS TAKEN FROM DEALER. MY OPION IS THAT THE SOLID FRONT AXLE HAS A FLAW WITH REGARD TO TRACK BAR LOCATING THE AXLE POSITION AND THE DRAG LINK OF THE STEERING. BOTH OF THESE LINKS ARE NOT EXACTLY PARALLEL OR OF EQUAL LENGTH. SINCE ONE IS ATTACH DIRECTLY TO THE AXLE AND THE OTHER IS ATTACHED TO THE STEERING ARM, WHEN THE FRONT AXLE OSCILLATES GOING OVER A BUMP, THE NON-PARALLEL, NOT EQUAL LENGTH LINKS INTRODUCE A CONDITION SOMETIME REFERRED TO BUMP STEER. THIS THEN STARTS AN OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING ARM AS THE TRUCK WISH TO CONTINUE TRAVELING THE STRAIGHT LINE, IT COMPRESSES ALL OF THE RUBBER BUSHINGS WHICH THEN CAUSE THE WHEEL TO BE JERKED/SPRUNG BACK VIOLENTLY AND THUS WE HAVE THE WOBBLE OF THE FRONT STEERING OSCILLATING AT FREQUENCY THAT CAN NOT DAMPEN OUT UNTIL VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN TO A POINT TO THAT NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE NATURAL FREQUENCY. COLLEGE LEVEL KINEMATIC AND VEHICLE DYNAMICS APPROACH COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 21,000

TRUCK CURRENTLY AT 18,250 MILES. AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH) WHEN HITTING AN EXPANSION JOINT IN THE EXPRESS WAY OR OTHER DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD SURFACE, WILL OCCASIONALLY CAUSE AN UNCONTROLLED AND VIOLENT OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS. DURING ONE OF THESE "DEATH WOBBLE" EVENTS LOSS OF CONTROL IS POSSIBLE. TO REGAIN CONTROL, THE VEHICLE MUST BE SLOWED DOWN TO AROUND 30 MPH WHICH CAN CAUSE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD.

Mileage: 18,250

WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 FORD F350 LARIAT CREW CAB 4X4 LONG BED, I DROVE OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. UPON HITTING THE JOINT, THE FRONT END WENT INTO A VIOLENT OSCILLATION BOUNCING LEFT AND RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OSCILLATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT TOOK ALL THAT I HAD TO HOLD IT ON THE ROAD. I HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED RAPIDLY FROM 65MPH TO 35MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN MY RIGHT LANE, OR I WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE SIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE. THIS FELT LIKE "DEATH WOBBLE" AS THE WHEELS WERE BOUNCING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A DEALER LOT IN KANSAS. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE IS 13,000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HOW CLAIMED IT WAS A FAILED STEERING DAMPENER. THE DEALER REPLACE THE DAMPENER, BUT THE FRONT END STILL FEELS LOOSE AND UNWEIGHTED OVER BUMPS ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. THE WEATHER WHEN IT HAPPENED WAS SUNNY AND CLEAR. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY BUT MOVING. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED MARYLAND HIGHWAY 100. THIS IS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

Mileage: 13,000

2017 F350 18000 MILES. AT HWY SPEED, WHEN A BUMP IS HIT WITH BOTH FRONT TIRES, THE SUSPENSION SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE. SHAKING CONTINUES UNTIL SPEED IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND THE STEERING CAN BE TURNED AGGRESSIVELY.

Mileage: 18,000

EXPERIENCED HEAVY OSCULATION AT 25K MILES. AT 26K MILES THE TRUCK WILL GO INTO A "DEATH WOBBLE" AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. ANY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS ABOUT 60 MPH THE TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKES AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO GET IT REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE TRACK BAR WAS ON BACKORDER; HOWEVER, I FOUND ONE AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I DROVE THERE, PICKED IT UP AND TOOK IT TO THERE DEALERSHIP WHO FIXED THE TRUCK THE FIRST. GOT THE TRUCK BACK SEVERAL DAYS LATER. AT 31/32K MILES, IT STARTED TO DO THE OSCULATION/VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN I HIT ANY BUMP ON THE ROAD/ROUGH PATCH AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP AT 33K MILES AFTER IT DID THE DEATH WOBBLE AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT A SECOND TIME. THE SAME DAY I PICKED IT UP ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO FIX IT, I WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT DID THE DEATH WOBBLE AGAIN. IT WAS LIKE A MINI-DEATH WOBBLE WITH A VERY HEAVY OSCULATION, SHAKING AND VIBRATION WHEN I HIT A ROUGH PATCH AT 60 MPH OR GREATER. THE TRUCK IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP AND WAITING FOR THE THIRD REPAIR. THE DEATH WOBBLE OCCURS AT SPEEDS USUALLY OVER 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY OR ANY COUNTRY ROADS. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AT ABOUT 55 MPH. DRIVING IN TOWN IT DOESN'T DO IT AT LOWER SPEEDS (40-45) UNLESS YOU HIT A VERY BIG BUMP/POT HOLE/ROUGH PATCH.

Mileage: 26,000

TRUCK STEERING OSCILLATES ALL THE TIME. TURNS INTO A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING ON ROADS ABOVE 55 MPH THAT ARE ROUGH.

Mileage: 4,100

SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING WITH THE STEERING. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 AND 70MPH. I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES TO THE POINT I AM AFRAID SOMEONE WILL HIT ME FROM THE BACK. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD LESS THAN 15,000. THESE OCCURRENCES ARE FREQUENT NOW AND AS A RESULT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT

Mileage: 14,000

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLES FRONT TWO WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL WILL WOBBLE OR OSCILLATE RAPIDLY AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE OR EXPANSION JOINT. THE WOBBLING JARS THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. BREAKS MUST BE APPLIED AND SPEED REDUCED BY 5 TO 20 MPH TO STOP THE WOBBLE.

Mileage: 37,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENSIVE "DEATH WOBBLE", WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 70 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (SIOUX FALLS FORD, 4901 W 26TH ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57106, (605) 361-0361) STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000