2006 Ford F-350 Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the front of the vehicle started to wobble. While driving over a pothole, the vehicle wobbled violently. The contact was unable to control the vehicle while driving over 35 MPH. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact detected smoke coming from the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 99,856.

Vehicle has experienced "death wobble," a common and well documented occurrence in Ford F250 and F350 model trucks. This has occurred on multiple occasions since 2006, and most recently on 4/26/2022. The incident occurred while traveling approximately 45 MPH, and hitting a small bump in the road. When the "death wobble" occurs, the vehicle shakes violently and is difficult to control. This creates a hazardous situation for the occupants of the vehicle and other vehicles/pedestrians in the vicinity of the vehicle. Prior and current attempts to contact Ford service departments, typically involves Ford stating there is not a recall and any repair outside of warranty are the responsibility of owner. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There is no warning prior to the "death wobble," and occurs when the vehicle is travelling at speed more than 45 MPH.

8 years ago was crossing RR tracks and vehicle started violently shaking had to slow to 10mph for it to stop. Checked found nothing wrong finished drive home. Took to Ford dealership and they said some tricks shake when tire pressure is wrong and didn't find anything wrong with vehicle. Truck did this once more and after that when I approach RR tracks I slow to 5- 10 mph to keep it from happening. Took it back to Ford 1 time and again they spoke about tire pressure but tire pressure was fine. In the last 2 weeks anytime I hit a bump the truck violently shakes I took to a mechanic shop and they said something was wrong with front end but not sure what. I called Ford and they said to bring it in. We will see what happens because this truck has done this off and on for the last 8 years, but now it does it all the time. It has been shaking so violently I wouldn't be surprised if other damages have happened from it.

ON 2/28/21 AND 3/6/21 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE VIOLENT SHAKING EVENTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING. BOTH EVENTS OCCURED AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH UPON CROSSING PAVEMENT JOINTS. THE SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE A WRECK. THE SHAKING WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, WHICH IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A PASSENGER IN MY TRUCK DURING FIRST INCIDENT SAID HE THOUGHT I HAD HIT A LOAD OF PIPES IN THE ROAD. DURING THE SECOND EVENT, NEARBY MOTORISTS LOOKED AT ME LIKE MY TRUCK WAS FALLING APART. I AM VERY UPSET THAT FORD AND NHTSA HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. FIRST DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. A SECOND DEALER TIGHTENED VARIOUS FASTENERS ON FRONT SUSPENSION AND MADE STEERING BOX VERY TIGHT. I WAS ALSO GIVEN NEW ALIGNMENT SPECS (WHICH I GAVE TO TIRE INSTALLER), AND ADVISED INFLATING TIRES TO MUCH HIGHER PRESSURE THAN TRUCK WAS DELIVERED NEW WITH. IT IS UNWORKABLE BECAUSE IT RESULTS IN BRUTAL RIDE IF TRUCK IS OPERATED WITHOUT PAYLOAD. I BELIEVE THESE EVENTS ARE CAUSED BY UNDAMPED RESONANCE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY POUNDING UP AND DOWN, LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATES SO HARD YOU CAN'T HOLD ON.

TRUCK VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING BUMPS OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I REPLACE THE BRAKES THREE TIMES AND THAT DIDN'T FIX IT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE IT HIT ABOUT 60K MILES. IT NOW HAS 108K I CAN NOT TRUST THIS TRUCK ANYMORE.

THE FRONT SUSPENSION WOBBLES VERY BAD WHEN GOING 40-60 MILES OVER A SMALL UNEVEN PAVEMENT. JUST REPLACED THE TIRES AND GOT AN ALIGNMENT. STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK CAUSE IT WOBBLES SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO COMPLETELY STOP FOR THE WOBBLING TO STOP. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK NEW AND NOW HAS 92K AND HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR AFTER MARKET TIRES OR PARTS. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT IT WITH GENUINE PARTS DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM AND NEED HELP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT, CASE SHIFTER, TRANSMISSION, LIFT PUMP, TRANSFER CASE, LEFT CALIBER, FUEL LINE AND REAR SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 10/14/2015*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER ROAD BUMPS AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. TIRE PRESSURE ON EACH TIRE WAS CHECKED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY ROAD BUMP. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE FAILURE COULD LIKELY BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER TIRE INFLATION AND THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD INSPECT THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. PROBLEMS HAPPENS REGULARLY. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE FREQUENT AND SEVER WHEN PULLING A TRAILER. UPDATED 1/20/2012 *BF UPDATED 01/27/12

1. TRAVELING AT 65 MPH HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD 2. FRONT AXLE BEGINS OSCILLATING WITH SUCH VIOLENCE THAT CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IS DIFFICULT UNTIL SLOWED DOWN, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES TO THE POINT YOU FEEL IT WILL COME APART. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I EXPERIENCED THIS. I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M TERRIFIED WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN ON A ICY ROAD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. 3. NOTHING. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO FIX AS IT IS UNKNOWN. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. VEHICLE INFORMATION: ? 2006 ? FORD ? F350 ?? ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENT ? VIN - [XXX] ? TIRES BFG ALL TERRAIN 325/65 R18. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PURCHASED NEW A 2006 F350 4X4 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS (SO THERE ARE MANY DATES THIS HAS OCCURRED) LEFT FRONT END DEATH WOBBLES WHEN TAKING A SWEEPING TURN TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON A FREEWAY WITH SOME BUMPS UNDER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THIS WOBBLE IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST 30 MPH ON THE FREEWAY FOR IT TO GO AWAY. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS WOBBLE TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ROTATED TIRES AND MADE SURE THE TIRES ARE INFLATED PROPERLY BY THE DEALER. TIRE INFLATION DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AFTER PROPER INFLATION BY THE DEALER AND CHECKED BY ME, I STILL GET THE "DEATH WOBBLE". RECENTLY, I RECEIVED A GENERIC LETTER FROM FORD ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNCOMMON AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE SURE MY TIRES ARE INFLATED PROPERLY. I HAVE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOW SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON. I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO ME AND MY FAMILY. *TR

I OWN A 2006 F350 4X4 XLT AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP AT OVER 55MPH THE FRONT SHAKES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING OFF. I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NUMEROUS SUPER DUTY OWNERS HAVE. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND KNOW THAT THIS HAS CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AND I AM SURE DEATH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP AND DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A TSB REGARDING THE "SHIMMY" OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A FORD DEALER FOR SUSPENSION REPAIR. FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE AS A SAFETY ISSUE; THEREFORE, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

I AM HAVING A VIOLENT SHAKING (STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION) IN MY 2006 FORD F-350 AMARILLO WITH ONLY 7K MILES. THIS SHAKING HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERE INJURY AND OR DEATH AT SPEEDS OF 35-60 MPH. THE INCIDENT OCCURS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH JUST NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD NEAR THE TRUCK AS IT SHAKES UNTIL IS COMPLETELY STOPPED WHEREVER IT OCCURS. PLEASE HELP BEFORE OTHERS ARE INJURED OR KILLED! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND SHIMMIED SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER ACROSS THE ROAD WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CHECK THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/20/09.*JB

SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY A BRIDGE DECK OR POT HOLE WILL CAUSE MY 06 F-350 TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP SHAKING. FORD SAYS THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

I HAVE HAD TWO (2) F350 2006 SUPER DUTY FORD TRUCKS THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE COMPLETELY GONE AT 54,000 MILES AND AT 58,000 MILES. COSTING AT TOTAL OF $2,200.00. *TR

THE FRONT END OF MY 2006 F-350 WILL SHAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP AT SPEEDS OF +65 MPH. IT IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD AND THEY SAY THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG, THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS WEB-SITES AND THERE ARE AT LEAST 500 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT. IT IS A DANGER TO ME AND ALL THE OTHER MOTORISTS AROUND ME. *JB