NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
78 reportsClear category filter129,000 miles · Mar 3, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension
AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF STEERING. IN ADDITION, AT SPEEDS OF OVER 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS SO MUCH PLAY THAT ROUGH ROADS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND HUGE CORRECTIONS NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM DRIFTING INTO OTHER LANES. BOTH THESE …
Read full complaint
AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF STEERING. IN ADDITION, AT SPEEDS OF OVER 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS SO MUCH PLAY THAT ROUGH ROADS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND HUGE CORRECTIONS NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM DRIFTING INTO OTHER LANES. BOTH THESE ISSUES ARE CONSITENT
NHTSA ODI #11315945
145,000 miles · Jul 15, 2019
Steering
AT 145,000 MILES, A STEERING ISSUE DEVELOPED. 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, AT A 4-WAY STOP, I TURN RIGHT TO GO TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND IS HARD TO TURN BACK TO THE LEFT TO CENTER THE F250 IN MY LANE. 1 MILE LATER, ANOTHER RIGHT TURN, AND THE PROBLEM BECOMES SCARY. THE WHEEL IS STIFF TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN AL…
Read full complaint
AT 145,000 MILES, A STEERING ISSUE DEVELOPED. 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, AT A 4-WAY STOP, I TURN RIGHT TO GO TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND IS HARD TO TURN BACK TO THE LEFT TO CENTER THE F250 IN MY LANE. 1 MILE LATER, ANOTHER RIGHT TURN, AND THE PROBLEM BECOMES SCARY. THE WHEEL IS STIFF TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRUCK ZOOM TO THE LEFT, I STEER RIGHT AND IT IS SLOW AND STIFF AND THEN RESPONDS WITHOUT WARNING ZIPPING ME TO THE RIGHT. I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AT THIS POINT, DOING 35MPH WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM TO CLEAR UP. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM CLEARED UP WITHIN A MILE, BUT TODAY IT TOOK 5 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS THEN GONE FOR THE REST OF MY 30 MILE TRIP TO WORK. SAME THING, SAME PLACE EVERYDAY. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. A MILE AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPACE I HAVE THE FIRST SYMPTOM AND THEN ALL HELL BRAKES LOOSE ON THE NEXT TURN. CRAZY STEERING FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN SMOOTH SAILING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. PLANNING ON REPLACING THE STEERING GEARBOX AND POWER STEERING PUMP THIS WEEKEND.
NHTSA ODI #11232090
61,200 miles · Jun 4, 2019
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other
I HAVE A 2006 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 PICK UP W/ 61.00 MILES , THAT HAS A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 45 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HUBS AND SEALS, SHOCKS, STEERING DAMPER, STABILIZER BAR LINKS AND INNER & OUTER TIE RODS. HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED TWICE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DOES THIS FALL UNDER A RECALL? I HAVE SEEN S…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2006 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 PICK UP W/ 61.00 MILES , THAT HAS A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 45 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HUBS AND SEALS, SHOCKS, STEERING DAMPER, STABILIZER BAR LINKS AND INNER & OUTER TIE RODS. HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED TWICE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DOES THIS FALL UNDER A RECALL? I HAVE SEEN SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS. THEY SEEM TO HAVE REPLACED THE SAME PARTS THAT I DID. IS THERE A FIX, AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS? THIS DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENS EVERY DAY, SMOOTH OR ROUGH ROADS.
NHTSA ODI #11217782
150,000 miles · Apr 25, 2019
SteeringSuspensionWheels
WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 55 AND IT STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING LIKE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO FLIP OR SOMETHING. IVE READ A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11203660
65,000 miles · Feb 6, 2019
SteeringSuspension
WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, TRUCK STARTS VIBRATING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. NEW CORRECT SIZE AND PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES AND SHOCKS INSTALLED 2 MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA ODI #11174773
135,000 miles · Feb 9, 2018
Steering
SHIMMY CREATING EARLY WEAR IN STEERING GEAR AND FRONT END COMPONENTS.
NHTSA ODI #11071877
43,000 miles · Feb 1, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK HAS ENCOUNTERED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I THOUGH I BLEW OUT ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE STEERING SHOCK VIOLENTLY ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH WOBBLE I WA…
Read full complaint
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK HAS ENCOUNTERED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I THOUGH I BLEW OUT ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE STEERING SHOCK VIOLENTLY ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH WOBBLE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN JULY OF 2013 AND ON JANUARY 7TH, 2018.
NHTSA ODI #11066503
120,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT TIE RODS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS R…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT TIE RODS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 04/06/17LJ UPDATED 09/1/2017 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10924202
11,000 miles · Mar 19, 2016
SteeringSuspensionWheels
TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" - DRI\VING ON I 25 AT ABOUT 60 MPH WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT THE TIRES WERE OK. IN FACT, BEFORE OUR TRIP WE HAD OUR TIRES CHECKED AND WERE TOLD THEY WERE FINE. AFTER GOING TO A DEALER I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PRO…
Read full complaint
TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" - DRI\VING ON I 25 AT ABOUT 60 MPH WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT THE TIRES WERE OK. IN FACT, BEFORE OUR TRIP WE HAD OUR TIRES CHECKED AND WERE TOLD THEY WERE FINE. AFTER GOING TO A DEALER I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRES AS FORD WOULD LIKE TO ASSUME. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD IN DEC 2015 ACKNOWLEDGING THE "SEVERE VIBRATION" AND BLAMING IT ON THE TIRES. IT IS NOT THE TIRES IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. WHAT IS BEING DONE REGARDING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENT SHAKING YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TERRIFYING IT IS AND THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ON FORUMS, SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND HAD THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM!!!. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA ODI #10850525
60,000 miles · Mar 14, 2016
SteeringSuspension
PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW WITH A FORD F250 4X4 HAS THIS PROBLEM ON OCCASION. YOUR FAILURE TO MAKE FORD FIX WILL KILL SOMEONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 14, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAR 31, 2009 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08007 COMPONENT(S): SUSP…
Read full complaint
PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW WITH A FORD F250 4X4 HAS THIS PROBLEM ON OCCASION. YOUR FAILURE TO MAKE FORD FIX WILL KILL SOMEONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 14, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAR 31, 2009 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08007 COMPONENT(S): SUSPENSION MY TRUCK HAS 60,000 MILES NOW AND I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES NEARLY 3 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE LAST 15,000 MILES. THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF TIRES LAST 5000 MILES. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, AND CONSTANTLY GET A "RUN-AROUND" THAT IT'S THE TIRES. MY TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. YESTERDAY, I WAS TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE 45 YESTERDAY AT 70 MPH'S AND TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL. I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES AGGRESSIVELY AND WHEN I HIT A CERTAIN SPEED BETWEEN 35MPH AND 60 MPH, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO RANDOMLY BOUNCE AND WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. I COULDN'T EVEN STEER. I NEARLY CRASHED INTO SEVERAL VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. WHILE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS VIOLENTLY BOUNCING (IT BOUNCED SO VIOLENTLY IT BROKE A FOLDING DOWN TV MOUNT / MOUNTED IN THE CEILING OF THE TRUCK), I HUNG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL FOR DEAR LIFE (LIKE HANGING ONTO A BULL 8 SECONDS) AND CONTINUED TO SLOW EVEN FURTHER, AND ULTIMATELY HAD TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE GRASS ELSE I WAS GOING TO CRASH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WENT AWAY WHEN I APPROACHED A COMPLETE STOP < 15MPH. IN THE SAME TRUCK, I HAVE HAD THIS DEATH WOBBLE INCIDENT HAPPEN OVER 200 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE EVEN HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN WHILE HAULING CAR'S ON CAR TRAILERS. IT IS SCARY. AFTER MARKET MFRS MAKE CLAIMS THAT IT'S DUE TO THE TRACK BAR AND BUSHINGS AND THESE KITS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT FORD AND THE TSA DENIES ITS A REAL PROBLEM. BEFORE I PAY OUT THOUSANDS FOR A AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION, I EXPECT FORD TO FIX THIS, THE CORRECT WAY.
NHTSA ODI #10849567
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.
Illustration