NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
144 reports21,419 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
196,210 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Engine
I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND BLOWING BLACK/BLUE SMOKE WHEN UNDER LOAD. TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED INJ. FUEL PUMP AND LINE, STOPPED FOR A FEW MONTHS AT THE COST OF $3200 THEN TWO MONTHS LATER COMING UP RT 81. KEPT RUNNING VERY ROUGH, SHAKING STALLING, PULLED OVER AND HAD AAA TAKE IT TO DEALER, TH…
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I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND BLOWING BLACK/BLUE SMOKE WHEN UNDER LOAD. TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED INJ. FUEL PUMP AND LINE, STOPPED FOR A FEW MONTHS AT THE COST OF $3200 THEN TWO MONTHS LATER COMING UP RT 81. KEPT RUNNING VERY ROUGH, SHAKING STALLING, PULLED OVER AND HAD AAA TAKE IT TO DEALER, THEY SENT IT OUT AND WAS CALLED BEING TOLD CYLINDER IS BAD DUE TO BAD INJ. THEY STARTED THE TRUCK TO MOVE IT OUT OF GARAGE AND A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD THEN THE ENGINE DIED..I STILL OWE $15,000 ON THIS TRUCK AND CANT AFFORD $8,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE HAD FORDS IN THE PAST AND HAD ONLY RUST PROBLEMS WITH THEM BUT I WILL DON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE AFTER THIS ... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10494988
88,094 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
REGULAR DRIVING ON OPEN ROAD , NO HARSH CONDITIONS - POWER LOSS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING - NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNNGS - SUDDEN DECELLERATION , JERKY RESPONSE MORE DECELLERATION - LIMP OFF RAMP , LIMP HOME. TURBO SOUNDING WHINY AND DIFFERENT , NO RESPONSE TO ADDED PRESSING ON GAS , NOR STOP , RESTART. HAS BEEN EVALUATED AT DEALE…
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REGULAR DRIVING ON OPEN ROAD , NO HARSH CONDITIONS - POWER LOSS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING - NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNNGS - SUDDEN DECELLERATION , JERKY RESPONSE MORE DECELLERATION - LIMP OFF RAMP , LIMP HOME. TURBO SOUNDING WHINY AND DIFFERENT , NO RESPONSE TO ADDED PRESSING ON GAS , NOR STOP , RESTART. HAS BEEN EVALUATED AT DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND MANY PROBLEMS CORRECTED, PAID FOR YET NOTHING WORKS - REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS PREFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE , MUCH CARE IS TAKEN BY OWNER. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A WRECK , CAN NO LONGER ENDANGER LIVES, WE DO EVERYTHING THE DEALERS ASK AND CONDITION RETURNS. MUST EVALUATE AT NEW DEALERSHIP AND WHETHER OR NOT CAN KEEP. I AM GETTING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS FROM THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S LACK OF UNRELIABLE TRANSPORT . I FEAR GETTING INTO THE CAR FOR ANY DISTANCE - IF I HAVE TO RETURN TO THE BANK , I MUST ADVISE THEM NOT TO RE-SELL LIABILITY REASONS AND INFORM THEM OF CHRONIC LEMON PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL F250 6.0 FORD TRUCK . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10494921
30,070 miles · Oct 25, 2012
EnginePower Train
WHILE AT A DEAD STOP, PLACED TRUCK IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL POWER LUNGING THE VEHICLE FORWARD 10' WHILE I SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE FOR MAXIMUM STOPPING POWER. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCA…
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WHILE AT A DEAD STOP, PLACED TRUCK IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL POWER LUNGING THE VEHICLE FORWARD 10' WHILE I SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE FOR MAXIMUM STOPPING POWER. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. RESEARCHED THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND LOTS OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS HUMAN ERROR, FLOOR MAT, OR SIMILAR PROBLEM... BUT THIS LAST TIME, I WAS PREPARED BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AND MAY EVEN RESULT IN DEATH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482166
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
80,000 miles · Jun 4, 2012
Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED CRACKS ON BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED CRACKS ON BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10460533
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
30,000 miles · Feb 27, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND SENT A LETTER ADVISING TO CHECK THE TIRE INFL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND SENT A LETTER ADVISING TO CHECK THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #10449499
60,000 miles · Feb 27, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10449450
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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