2005 Ford F-250 Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the front suspension started to bounce and vibrate, causing the vehicle to shift independently to the right lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed the vehicle and the failure stopped. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The steering is extremely lose and has a shimmy or “death wobble” when going over any type of bumps or other issues and at speed on the highway. Similar to recall 09L02

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.

HIT A BUMP GOING ACROSS A BRIDGE ON I-74. THE ENTIRE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EVIDENTLY WHAT FORD IS CALLING A " SHIMMY" . I HAD ALMOST NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. IF THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WAS ANY NARROWER I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A TRUCK THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS "SHIMMY " IS GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. *TR

I NOTICED THAT WHEN I HIT A BUMP THE BED OF MY TRUCK BOUNCES ABOUT TWO INCHES, WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK I NOTICED ALL THE SUPPORTS UNDER THE BED WERE COMPLETELY ROTTED. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. IN LESS THAN 90,000 MILES I'VE REPLACED THREE BRAKE CALIPERS, TWO ROTORS, TWO SETS OF BRAKES, AND THE LAST TIME I HAD IT SERVICED THE BACKING PLATES WERE SO ROTTED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK AND COULDN'T BE REPLACED WITHOUT ALSO REPLACING THE BACKING PLATES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS MUCH ROT. I FEEL THAT THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN THIS SOON, AND FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST TO REPAIR IT. *TR

WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE DOING 50MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STARTS TO SHAKE ON UNCONTROLLABLY PRESSURE IS OK. BRAKES ARE NEW,WHAT SHOULD I DO TO REPAIR THIS ? *TR

MY FORD F250 HAS A VERY DANGEROUS WOBBLE WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND ALL FOUR TIRES ARE FINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAD FOUND THAT THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD SD TRUCKS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED DUE TO A BAD ACCIDENT. EVERY DEALER THAT I TALK TO HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT YET I SEE IT POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM VERY UPSET AND I AM GOING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION. *KB

2005 FORD F-250 SUPER CAB SUPER DUTY WOBBLE DANGEROUSLY WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST RIPPLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD OVER 50 MPH. EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL AND HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT TIRES ARE SO OUT OF CONTROL AND WOBBLING. THE WHOLE TRUCK IS LIKE IT IS IN AN EARTHQUAK, WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND CUP HOLDERS FELL OUT. **TT

2005 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY, 69,000 MILES. TRAVELING APPROX 65 MPH, HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I VERY NEARLY LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE LUG NUTS WERE TORQUED TO FORD SPECS. REPLACED FRONT STEERING DAMPER, DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TALKED TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW HOURS RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND FREQUENT WITH THE FORD SUPER DUTY LINE FROM 05"-08". IT SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES APPEAR THAT FORD HAS OFFERED ANY REMEDIES. THE NHTSA ALSO KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. I VIEWED FOUR NHTSA VIDEOS THAT DEMONSTRATED THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY TRUCK. I HAVE FOUND NO ACTION ON THE PART OF THE NHTSA. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH OVER A SLIGHT BUMP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. THE CONTACT APPLIED HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE SHAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED; THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 39,600.

I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS OF WHAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" IN MY 2005 F-250 4 DOOR CREW CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP TRUCK WHERE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT BOUNCING AND SHUDDERING AFTER PASSING OVER A BRIDGE JOINT OR SIMILAR UNEVEN SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO APPROX. 35MPH. THIS CAUSED A NEAR COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE ALONGSIDE ME AS WELL AS A NEAR REAR ENDING FROM THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS I HAD TO SLOW TO 35MPH IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED I HAD MY 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACK BAR BEING AT AN IMPROPER ANGLE TO THE DRAG LINK? I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH MANY YEAR MODEL FORDS AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR AN AFTERMARKET FIX AS I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *TR

ON MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPERDUTY TRUCK WITH ONLY 31000 MILES, THE FOUR CAB ENERGY SUSPENSION MOUNTS ARE DETERIORATING. ONE LOWER PART OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE MOUNT IS GONE CAUSING THE CAB TO BOUNCE. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A FORD 2005 F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, I HIT AN UNEVEN SPOT ON THE ROAD THAT CAUSED THE FRONT END TO WOBBLE VIOLENTLY. I FELT I COULD NOT CONTROL THE TRUCK AND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEARBY. WHEN THE TRUCK REACHED APPROXIMATELY 30 - 35 MPH, THE WOBBLE CEASED. ON MY WAY BACK HOME, THE WOBBLE OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 - 65 MPH AND HIT ANOTHER ROUGH SPOT ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A WHILE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES FROM OTHER F250 AND F350 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND BLAMES THE WOBBLE ON UNDERFLATED TIRES. THE WOBBLE OCCURS ON PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES ALSO AS DETAILED BY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS. BUT EVEN IF THE TRUCK'S TIRES ARE UNDER INFLATED, A VIOLENT WOBBLE SHOULD NOT OCCUR. MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE IN USE WITH UNDER INFLATED TIRES, YOU DON'T HEAR OF A VIOLENT WOBBLE AFTER ENCOUNTERING A POT HOLE OR AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. *TR

2005 FORD F 250 CREWCAB 4X4 FRONT END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BOUNCES AROUND TO WHERE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAY HAVE TO SWERVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH. I JUST RECENTLY HAD THE STEERING STABILIZER, DRAG LINK BAR AND SHOCKS ON THE TRUCK REPLACED ALONG WITH TIGHTENING THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING. *TR

FRONT SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT TIMES ON MY 2005 FORD F-250. FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS SHAKING APART. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO STOP IT IS TO DRASTICALLY SLOW DOWN MY TRUCK, WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO SLOW FROM 55 MPH TO 35 MPH. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB *TR

EXTREME FRONT END WOBBLE ON MY 2005 FORD F-250. FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING TO TEAR ITSELF APART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH OVER A BUMP OR CRACK IN THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 04/07/11

2005 FORD F-250 CREW CAB 4X4, V-10, 56000 MILES. FRONT SUSPENSION WOBBLES AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN HITTING POTHOLES OR ANY SORT OF GOOD BUMP AT SPEEDS 30 MPH AND ABOVE. NEW LARGER TIRES, 265/75/17 ONLY AMPLIFIES THIS PROBLEM TO AN UNCONTROLLABLE STATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65+. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING DOWN A WASHBOARD DIRT ROAD AT HIGH SPEED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERING UNCONTROLLABLY. I NEED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN TO 50 OR SO JUST TO GET CONTROL BACK. TIRE PRESSURES ARE AT RECOMMENDED SPECS. WHEN DRIVING UNDER CONTROL AND STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOT OF SLOP LEFT TO RIGHT. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN FEB 05 AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

I HAVE A FORD F250 SD DIESEL 2WD TRUCK I HAVE REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING 4 TIME IN 137,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS WATER AND DIRT INTRUSION. IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCEDENTS YET BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. *CN

2005 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4. VIOLENT SHAKING AFTER HITTING A SMALL DEFORMED PART OF THE ROAD, SLOW VEHICLE TO 10 MPH TO STOP THE SHAKING. HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR