NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
39 reportsClear category filter19,100 miles · Aug 26, 2019
SteeringSuspensionWheels
2005 FORD F250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,100 MILES. ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES, SUSPENSION- NO MODIFICATIONS. TIRE PRESSURE SET TO FACTORY DOOR LABEL SPECS. ON MONDAY, 8-19-2019 WHILE ON I-95, TRAVEL SPEED AT ABOUT 60 M.P.H., I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT & THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL WAS VIB…
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2005 FORD F250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,100 MILES. ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES, SUSPENSION- NO MODIFICATIONS. TIRE PRESSURE SET TO FACTORY DOOR LABEL SPECS. ON MONDAY, 8-19-2019 WHILE ON I-95, TRAVEL SPEED AT ABOUT 60 M.P.H., I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT & THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING/SHAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IN MY ESTABLISHED LANE AND NEARLY TOOK OUT SEVERAL CARS IN THE ADJACENT LANES NEARLY CAUSING MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION. WENT ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE I JUST EXPERIENCED. LATER FOUND OUT IT IS CALLED HARMONIC RESONANCE A.K.A. THE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST'S AND THEIR PASSENGERS WHOM SHARE THE SAME ROADWAYS.
NHTSA ODI #11246578
109,000 miles · Mar 27, 2019
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
NHTSA ODI #11191787
162,000 miles · May 21, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
NHTSA ODI #11097019
120,000 miles · Oct 4, 2017
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other
AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 45MPH, AND 70 THE TRUCK WILL WOBBLE AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. TRUCK CAN BARELY BE DRIVEN AND IS VERY UNSAFE
NHTSA ODI #11031801
126,000 miles · Mar 5, 2016
Steering
ON MY 2005 FORD DIESEL F250,AFTER 126000 MILES, STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. HAD ENTIRE FRONT END REPLACED INCLUDING GEAR BOX. REBUILDER PURCHASED MOTOCRAFT REBUILT STEERING BOXES FROM FORD. FOUR OF THESE REBUILT BOXES WERE TRIED ON THE TRUCK. NONE WERE ANY GOOD. BUILDER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD GEAR BOXES.…
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ON MY 2005 FORD DIESEL F250,AFTER 126000 MILES, STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. HAD ENTIRE FRONT END REPLACED INCLUDING GEAR BOX. REBUILDER PURCHASED MOTOCRAFT REBUILT STEERING BOXES FROM FORD. FOUR OF THESE REBUILT BOXES WERE TRIED ON THE TRUCK. NONE WERE ANY GOOD. BUILDER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD GEAR BOXES. THEY INDICATED THAT THE GEAR BOX REBUILDERS ONLY REPLACED THE BEARINGS, NOT THE WORN-OUT GEARS WITHIN THE BOX. THE FORTH GEARBOX INSTALLED WAS EVEN WORSE, IT WAS DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUCK WOULD VEER WITHOUT WARNING INTO ANOTHER LANE AND WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT. THE TRUCK IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN. THIS TIME TO BUY AN AFTER MARKET (NON FORD) GEAR BOX. THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT END PROBLEM HAS SO FAR COST ME OVER $4000. IN REPAIRS, BUT , WHAT IS WORSE THESE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENTS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10840049
180,000 miles · Dec 24, 2013
SteeringSuspension
SEVERE STEERING SHAKE AND FRONT SHIMMY AFTER GOING OVER ROUGHNESS IN ROAD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOWED TO ALMOST REST TO STOP SHIMMY. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557180
21,419 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension
THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE WORK DONE ON MY TRUCK. THREE OF THE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN AND SO CALIPERS PADS AND (EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME) ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ABSURD FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. UNDERSTAND THIS IS EXPENSIVE!! HAVE NEVER HAD ANYT…
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THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE WORK DONE ON MY TRUCK. THREE OF THE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN AND SO CALIPERS PADS AND (EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME) ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ABSURD FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. UNDERSTAND THIS IS EXPENSIVE!! HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OFT TALKED ABOUT "DEATH WOBBLE" A FEW TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS REAR BRAKES IN 2010' FRONTS IN 2011' NOW REARS AGAIN IN 2013. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503450
97,000 miles · Jan 31, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH, A POT HOLE WAS HIT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TIE RODS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH, A POT HOLE WAS HIT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TIE RODS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10495353
86,646 miles · Sep 18, 2012
SteeringCrash
I STARTED THIS TRIP AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, I-75 AT EXIT 120. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AN HOUR, HEADING NORTH. THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE LATE AFTERNOON, BETWEEN 5PM AND 6PM, BROAD DAYLIGHT EXCELLENT VISIBILITY, DRY, PARTLY CLOUDY, TRAVELING 65 MPH IN THE CENTER OF THREE LANES. I WAS NOT TIRED NOR DISTRACTED. I WAS NORTHBOUND ON I-7…
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I STARTED THIS TRIP AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, I-75 AT EXIT 120. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AN HOUR, HEADING NORTH. THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE LATE AFTERNOON, BETWEEN 5PM AND 6PM, BROAD DAYLIGHT EXCELLENT VISIBILITY, DRY, PARTLY CLOUDY, TRAVELING 65 MPH IN THE CENTER OF THREE LANES. I WAS NOT TIRED NOR DISTRACTED. I WAS NORTHBOUND ON I-75 IN NORTHERN KY WHEN I WENT OVER A MINOR BUMP, JUST ROUGH PAVEMENT. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THERE WAS NO OBJECT IN THE ROAD. AFTER THE BUMP THE TRUCK BEGAN STEERING ERRATICALLY, WANDERING, MUCH AS IT HAD 4 DAYS EARLIER WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT U-JOINTS. I SLOWED DOWN, GOT THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL, TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE. I HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED SCREECHING METAL NOISE. THEN I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. I WAS ALERT AND VERY AWARE OF ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE TRAFFIC (TWO LANES WERE MERGING FROM THE RIGHT FROM I-275 SO I WAS IN THE CENTER OF FIVE LANES) AND I AM CERTAIN THERE WERE NO OBJECTS IN THE ROAD. THE CONCRETE WAS CLEAR AND SMOOTH. I HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND IT TOOK OFF TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEAR THE TRUCK WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE STEERING WHEEL. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MADE MY BODY RIGID AND PULLED UP ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOR MAXIMUM DOWN FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, I TRAVELED ACROSS BOTH LANES ON MY RIGHT (THE MERGING LANES FROM I-275) AND CAME TO A STOP WITH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ON THE CONCRETE APRON AND ALL OTHER WHEELS IN THE ROCKY SOIL THAT WAS THE SIDE OF A DITCH WITH A MOUNTAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD END HAD SNAPPED. ONE THEORY IS THAT THE TIE ROD END WAS OVER-HARDENED AND BECAME BRITTLE, POSSIBLY CRACKED, THEN THE NEW U-JOINTS CHANGED THE STRESSES ON IT AND IT SNAPPED. INSURANCE REPORT, CRASH SITE AND PARTS PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10475897
36,000 miles · Mar 16, 2012
SteeringSuspensionWheels
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING WHICH TOOK ME OFF THE ROAD INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451931
NHTSA investigations
2EA08007 · 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.
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