IllustrationMY TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT ANY TIME BETWEEN 30 AN 70 MPH I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE IT STOP WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AN HIGHWAY
2005 Ford F-250
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford F-250 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 119.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-250 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
2325–50K
2350–75K
1175–100K
30100–150K
13150K+
122 reports with mileage · 22 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.
- Steering. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
144 reportsTHE FORD 250 INITIATES A 'DEATH WOBBLE' OR INTENSE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH ANYTIME ANY SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON ROAD. THIS INSTANCE INITIATED 5 TIMES IN A 500 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AT SUCH AN INTENSE RATE THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SIGNIFICANT STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO…
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THE FORD 250 INITIATES A 'DEATH WOBBLE' OR INTENSE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH ANYTIME ANY SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON ROAD. THIS INSTANCE INITIATED 5 TIMES IN A 500 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AT SUCH AN INTENSE RATE THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SIGNIFICANT STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO NEARLY 20 MPH FOR IT TO STOP. INITIAL SPEED WAS CLOSE TO 63 MPH. THE SHIMMY INITIATED WHEN A SMALL BUMP IS PASSED OVER AND ON THREE OF THESE INSTANCES IT INITIATED WITH THE CROSSING OF A EXPANSION GAP OR TRANSITION FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A BRIDGE OR BRIDGELIKE STRUCTURE. THE WOBBLE SHOOK TRUCK SO MUCH THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. APPROACHING (TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR) HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THEY WAY TO AVOID A REAR COLLISION. IF DECELERATION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPOSED THE VEHICLE MAINTAINS THE SHIMMY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. IN TWO INSTANCES ON THIS TRIP I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE WOBBLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER TO THEN BRAKE TILL CONTROL COULD BE RETRIEVED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHEN ACCESS TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IMPEDED SUCH AS WHEN PASSING IN LEFT LANE. THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY TRIP TO ANOTHER STATE 6 MONTHS BEFORE.
VEHICLE RANDOMLY DIES WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD DOES NOT MATTER SPEED OR WHAT ROAD YOU ARE ON HAPPENS TO THE POINT WE ALMOST EXPECT IT NOW EVERYTIME WE DRIVE. IT WILL ACT FINE NO WARNING THEN IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT JUST SHUTS OFF VERY DANGEROUS. IT ALSO, WILL RANDOMLY LOSS POWER NOT ALL THE TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY IF GOING OVER 45M…
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VEHICLE RANDOMLY DIES WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD DOES NOT MATTER SPEED OR WHAT ROAD YOU ARE ON HAPPENS TO THE POINT WE ALMOST EXPECT IT NOW EVERYTIME WE DRIVE. IT WILL ACT FINE NO WARNING THEN IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT JUST SHUTS OFF VERY DANGEROUS. IT ALSO, WILL RANDOMLY LOSS POWER NOT ALL THE TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY IF GOING OVER 45MPH, THE A/C WORKS UNTIL YOU DRIVE OVER 45MPH THEN JUST STOPS UNTIL YOU GET TO A STOP SIGN. TAKE OFF AGAIN ITS FINE TIL THAT 45MPH MARK THEN BLOWS HOT. HAD TRUCK SINCE SEPT. 2018 & HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST 1 OUT OF 4X DRIVING THIS WILL ALL HAPPEN. TRUCK ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH FUELING UP THE TANK IT SHUTS THE PUMP OFF CONSTANTLY. MAIN PROBLEM & MOST WORRISOME IS THE SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.
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.
MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK EXHIBITS A CONDITION REFERRED TO IN FORUMS AS 'DEATH WOBBLE', IN WHICH THE TRUCK'S FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS CONDITION IS GENERALLY BROUGHT ON BY EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEELS HITTING ANY DEVIATION IN THE ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS, PO…
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MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK EXHIBITS A CONDITION REFERRED TO IN FORUMS AS 'DEATH WOBBLE', IN WHICH THE TRUCK'S FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS CONDITION IS GENERALLY BROUGHT ON BY EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEELS HITTING ANY DEVIATION IN THE ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS, POTHOLES, ETC. THE CONDITION IS SO BAD THAT IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED, GENERALLY TO 25 MPH. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, MOST RECENTLY ON JULY 12TH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE 57 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT 65 MPH. I WAS TRAVELLING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE (IN MODERATE TRAFFIC) WHEN I ROLLED OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND CAUSING ME TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY MY BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE SEVERITY SEEMS TO BE GREATLY REDUCED WHEN HAULING A SUBSTANTIAL LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED, BUT I DID EXPERIENCE THIS TWICE WHILE HAULING A 20' CARGO TRAILER ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST FORD IN JUNE/2019 AND THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TRUCK OWNERS FILING COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS CONDITION. I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT GONE TO FORD REGARDING THIS AS IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME. THE COMPONENTS THEY REPLACE DO NOT CURE THE PROBLEM, AS MANY TRUCK OWNERS WILL ATTEST. IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND A COMPANY IN UTAH THAT PROVIDES AN AFTERMARKET KIT THAT APPEARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER 6000 MILE JOURNEY WITH MY WIFE AND FAMILY, I INTEND TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THIS KIT ON MY VEHICLE. IF I FIND UPON RETURNING THAT THIS KIT HAS ALLEVIATED MY TRUCK'S ISSUE, I WILL RE-CONTACT NHTSA WITH MY RESULTS.
ON DECELERATION THE ENGINE STALLS AFTER DRIVEN FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I DON'T NOTICE THE STALL UNTIL I APPLY THE GAS PEDAL. A COUPLE OF TIMES I WAS TURNING, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN SEVERELY TO GIVE ME MORE TIME TO TURN( NO POWER STEERING). I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THE CODE WAS A THROTTLE BO…
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ON DECELERATION THE ENGINE STALLS AFTER DRIVEN FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I DON'T NOTICE THE STALL UNTIL I APPLY THE GAS PEDAL. A COUPLE OF TIMES I WAS TURNING, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN SEVERELY TO GIVE ME MORE TIME TO TURN( NO POWER STEERING). I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THE CODE WAS A THROTTLE BODY CODE P2104.I REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE STALLING OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS. AT THIS TIME THE STALLING HASN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN BUT THE CODE IS STILL THERE, NOW I HAVE TO SMOG THIS VEHICLE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS CONDITION.
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.
WHEN TRYING TO PUMP FUEL AT A GAS STATION GAS WILL SPIT BACK OUT, ALOT. TAKES 15 MINS TO PUMP 2 GALLONS. TRUCK IS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING.
ENGINE WOULD PUT OUT WHITE SMOKE THEN WOULD START TO OVER HEAT.
THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE 6.0 LITRE ENGINE (2005 ) IS NORTORIOUS FOR THE OIL COOLER TO BLOW UP LEAVING YOU STRANDED WHEREVER. WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME I WAS PULLING A 33FT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER AND ALMOST WRECKED. FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS FAULTY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT YET DOESN'T RECALL IT AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR…
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THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE 6.0 LITRE ENGINE (2005 ) IS NORTORIOUS FOR THE OIL COOLER TO BLOW UP LEAVING YOU STRANDED WHEREVER. WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME I WAS PULLING A 33FT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER AND ALMOST WRECKED. FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS FAULTY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT YET DOESN'T RECALL IT AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPLACING IT. IT COST ME $6000 TO GET MY TRUCK FIXED. THE FAULTY PIECE WAS INSTALLED BY FORD AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BY FORD FOR REPAIR COSTS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
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.