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2006 Ford F-250 Sd

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most F-250 Sd years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford F-250 Sd are substantially higher than the model-year median of 89.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

244 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

274 reports
42,430 miles · Oct 1, 2009
Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY APPROX. 55MPH I HIT A BUMPY PART OF THE ROAD WHICH PUT THE VEHICLE IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED WITHOUT DAMAGE BUT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND COULD ONLY BRAKE. HAD I BEEN IN A CORNER I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY WAY I COULD HAVE STAYED ON THE RO…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY APPROX. 55MPH I HIT A BUMPY PART OF THE ROAD WHICH PUT THE VEHICLE IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED WITHOUT DAMAGE BUT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND COULD ONLY BRAKE. HAD I BEEN IN A CORNER I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY WAY I COULD HAVE STAYED ON THE ROAD. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER IN DAVENPORT IOWA AND WAS TOLD IT IS CALLED THE DEATH SHAKE AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR IT. I WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER BUT HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THEM FIXING ANYTHING. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING LOW TIRE PRESSURE COULD CAUSE THIS BUT MY TIRES WERE FINE. THERE WAS ALSO A PASSENGER WITH ME WHO HAS VERY SCARED WE WERE GOING TO WRECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286002

20,000 miles · Oct 1, 2009
Suspension

WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY 2006 F250 4X4 STARTS SHAKING LIKE A TIRE IS FALLING OFF. I REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND SHOCKS WHICH FIXED IT FOR 20, 000 MILES BUT NOW IT IS BACK TO SHAKING. IT IS TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO BORROW MY DADS TRUCK IF I NEED ONE TO HAUL BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT MY TRUCK IS GOING TO GO OFF …

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WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY 2006 F250 4X4 STARTS SHAKING LIKE A TIRE IS FALLING OFF. I REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND SHOCKS WHICH FIXED IT FOR 20, 000 MILES BUT NOW IT IS BACK TO SHAKING. IT IS TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO BORROW MY DADS TRUCK IF I NEED ONE TO HAUL BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT MY TRUCK IS GOING TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR IN ANOTHER LANE. IT JUST SITS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL IT LIKE IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285983

34,000 miles · Sep 28, 2009
Steering

FRONT-END SHIMMY AFTER CROSSING UNEVEN OR SLIGHT ROUGH PAVEMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PURCHASED TRUCK WITH 6500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT THIS TIME, SHIMMY SEEMED TO BE INDUCED BY ROUGH PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS FROM 62 TO 75 MPH. RECEIVED A "RECALL" THAT STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH TIRE PRESSURE. I CHECKED MY TIRES AND FOUND MY PRES…

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FRONT-END SHIMMY AFTER CROSSING UNEVEN OR SLIGHT ROUGH PAVEMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PURCHASED TRUCK WITH 6500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT THIS TIME, SHIMMY SEEMED TO BE INDUCED BY ROUGH PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS FROM 62 TO 75 MPH. RECEIVED A "RECALL" THAT STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH TIRE PRESSURE. I CHECKED MY TIRES AND FOUND MY PRESSURE TO BE 65 PSI. AS TRUCK MILEAGE HAS INCREASED, THE SHIMMY NOW STARTS AT 50 MPH ON ROUGHER PAVEMENT. THE FRONT TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON THE OUTSIDE EDGES BUT NOT THE INSIDE EDGES INDICATING THIS IS NOT A PRESSURE PROBLEM. THE SIPES ON THE SIDE OF THE PIRELLI SCORPIONS IS ALMOST GONE INDICATING OVER A QUARTER INCHED DIFFERENCE IN THE INSIDE VERSUS THE OUTSIDE EDGES. THE SHIMMY CAN BE SO BAD THAT MY ARMS HURT AFTER IT OCCURS. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE MY TRUCK AND HAVE LIMITED MY DRIVING TO DECREASE RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285580

16,000 miles · Sep 25, 2009
SteeringSuspension

LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO FRONT-END SHIMMY. VIOLENT SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL AND SHAKING OF TRUCK. OCCURS AT 49MPH EVERYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285188

16,000 miles · Sep 24, 2009
Steering

LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO FRONTEND SHIMMY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285187

42,395 miles · Sep 18, 2009
SteeringSuspension

HIGH SPEED WOBBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284573

23,000 miles · Sep 4, 2009
Suspension

HELLO; I HAVE A 2006 FORD SUPER DUTY 4X4 DIESEL. I HAVE LOW MILES 23,000 AND NO MODIFICATIONS TO TRUCK. I HAVE HAD A FEW TIMES WHERE THE FRONT END WILL SHAKE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE OR BRIDGE BUMP. IT NOW DID THIS AGAIN ON 9/2/2009 AND WAS VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS, ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET THIS MORNI…

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HELLO; I HAVE A 2006 FORD SUPER DUTY 4X4 DIESEL. I HAVE LOW MILES 23,000 AND NO MODIFICATIONS TO TRUCK. I HAVE HAD A FEW TIMES WHERE THE FRONT END WILL SHAKE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE OR BRIDGE BUMP. IT NOW DID THIS AGAIN ON 9/2/2009 AND WAS VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS, ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET THIS MORNING AND ITS CALLED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND SEEMS ALOT OF FORD SUPER DUTY'S ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT STEPS TO TAKE AS I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282830

35,986 miles · Aug 3, 2009
Suspension

WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT, MY 2006 F-250 SD DIESEL TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A FRIGHTENING BOUNCING IN THE FRONT END. ONCE IT HAPPENED GOING 65 MPH WHEN I HIT A FREEWAY POT HOLE. THE FRONT TIRE BOUNCED UP AND DOWN SO SEVERELY, THAT I PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD COME UNBOLTED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BO…

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WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT, MY 2006 F-250 SD DIESEL TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A FRIGHTENING BOUNCING IN THE FRONT END. ONCE IT HAPPENED GOING 65 MPH WHEN I HIT A FREEWAY POT HOLE. THE FRONT TIRE BOUNCED UP AND DOWN SO SEVERELY, THAT I PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD COME UNBOLTED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BOUNCING AT 40 AND 50 MPH FROM HITTING POT HOLES. FORD EVEN SENT ME AN ADVISORY ON THIS PROBLEM, CLAIMING THAT IT WAS RELATED TO INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE. I HAVE BEEN FANATIC ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE, SO THAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK AND CLAIMED THAT A $375 STEERING STABILIZER KIT WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR CORRECTING FORD'S DESIGN PROBLEMS? I AM JUST CONCERNED THAT THE BOUNCING COULD CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279266

37,920 miles · Aug 3, 2009
SuspensionInjury

ON 8/3/2009 AT 1730 AND 2045 HOURS I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 F250 SUPERDUTY 4X4 ON I-10 EASTBOUND AND DROVE OVER A BRIDGE/CULVERT SEAM IN THE ROADWAY. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP SHAKING UNTIL MY SPEED SLOWED FROM 70 TO 25 MPH. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE.…

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ON 8/3/2009 AT 1730 AND 2045 HOURS I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 F250 SUPERDUTY 4X4 ON I-10 EASTBOUND AND DROVE OVER A BRIDGE/CULVERT SEAM IN THE ROADWAY. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP SHAKING UNTIL MY SPEED SLOWED FROM 70 TO 25 MPH. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE. I HAD TO FEATHER THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND SAW NOTHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE RAIN IN THE DARK AT 70 MPH. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS SCARED TO DEATH. BOTH INCIDENTS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS WITH VEHICLES BEHIND US. I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER ON THE FIRST ONE THAT'S WHY MY WIFE DROVE BACK. I RETURNED HOME AT 65-70 MPH AND HAD NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE 31 INCH BFG'S AND IT WAS ACCURATE AND WITHIN THEIR SPECS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279225

23,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Steering

I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD F250, 4X4, CREW CAB DIESEL TRUCK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I REACHED ABOUT 23K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I WENT OVER SOME SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. WH…

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I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD F250, 4X4, CREW CAB DIESEL TRUCK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I REACHED ABOUT 23K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I WENT OVER SOME SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP OFF THE ROAD, I LOOKED FOR OBVIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS BUT FOUND NONE. I DID SOME INTERNET SEARCHING AND FOUND THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT IS COMMON WITH THIS TRUCK. I SAW THE B.S. ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE BUT THAT WASN'T IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A FRONT END SPECIALIST IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE STEERING DAMPENER AND HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL ON THE FORDS. HE REPLACED MINE AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD NOT EVEN DRIVE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE SPECIALIST FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SCARED ME SO BAD. OTHER THAN THAT, I LIKE THE TRUCK. HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277968

Official recalls

1

11V352000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Jul 13, 2011

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA08007 · Violent Front End Oscillation

Opened Mar 14, 2008 · Closed Mar 31, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Suspension:front

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE07057 · Violent Front End Oscillation

Opened Nov 15, 2007 · Closed Mar 14, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front

ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.

Suspension:front

ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.