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

DEATH SHIMMY. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN A BUMP OR DISCONTINUITY IN THE ROAD IS ENCOUNTERED. YOU CANNOT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL DURING THIS EVENT. CURE IS TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED BELOW 15 MPH. THIS IS HAZARDOUS IF TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED OR PULLING A TRAILER. AS YOU CANNOT HOLD THE WHEEL DURING THIS EVENT, THE VEHICLE WILL CHANGE LANES AND PRESENTS A FATAL HAZARD AS YOU ATTEMPT TO REDUCE SPEED FROM 65 MPH TO BELOW 15 MPH WITHOUT STEERING CONTROL. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM IN LETTER 09L02 SENT IN 2009 AND AGAIN IN 2015. THEIR SOLUTION TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE TIRES IS FALSE AS TIRE PRESSURE HAS NO EFFECT ON OCCURANCE OR SEVERITY. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND RUN UP THE PRESSURE IN 5 LB INCREMENTS FROM 55 TO 80 PSI. NO EFFECT IN THE FREQUENCY OR SEVERITY OF THE VIBRATION. ## VIN PASSED ## FORD F350 SUPER DUTY 2006 ##

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.

THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE TRUCK IS TRAVELING ALONG A ROAD OR HIGHWAY. YOUR DRIVE TURNS INTO A DEATH WOBBLE. THE TRUCK IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND JUMPS LANES AND IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. THIS IS A DANGER THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO FORD BY MANY AND IT IS JUST BEING IGNORED. THIS IS A TRUE DANGER AND MAY NOT ONLY KILL THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BUT ANYONE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS IS BEING SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, JUST AS THE PINTO WAS, WITH MANY DEATHS. YOU AS THE SAFETY BOARD NEED TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING SO CONSUMERS CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLES THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED, FOR MANY OVER $55,000. *TR

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.

2006 FORD F350 SD 4X4 FRONT END ALIGNED LESS THAN 1 MONTH PRIOR WITH ALL TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AND CORRECTED. DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS APPROACHING AN OVERPASS ON A CURVE, FRONT OF OVERPASS BRIDGE SURFACE IS BUMPY AND ROUGH, SPEED 45-50 MPH. HIT ROUGH SURFACE AND FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY!!!! HAD TO HIT BRAKES AND SWEAR TO SHOULDER TO KEEP FROM GOING OFF OVERPASS! *LN

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP WHEN THE CONTACT LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. HE HAD TO DECREASE THE VEHICLES' SPEED TO 30 MPH TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING BUSHING, SHOCKS, LOWER CONTROL, AND IDLER ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT LOCATED AN INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: PE07057- SUSPENSION:FRONT) WHICH DESCRIBED FAILURE AND INQUIRED WITH THE DEALER. THE DEALER SET THE TIRE PRESSURE TO THE CORRECT MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,444.

I OWN A 2006 FORD F-350 4X4 SHORT BED CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE EVER BEEN MADE. I HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD MECHANICAL SHAPE, KEPT THE TIRES INFLATED TO RECOMMENDED LEVELS, AND KEPT THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING OSCILLATION WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 50 MPH AND HITS A SMALL BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE OSCILLATION IS MOST SEVERE IF THE BUMP IS HIT WHILE IN A LEFT TURN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I BREAK UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED TO ABOUT 30 MPH TO 40 MPH AND THE OSCILLATION STOPS. WHEN THIS OSCILLATION OCCURS, THE VEHICLE HAS LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. IT GENERALLY TRAVELS IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION BUT DOES NOT RESPOND WELL TO STEERING WHEEL INPUT UNTIL THE OSCILLATION IS DAMPENED. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT AND IN SOME CASES IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. THIS OSCILLATION HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. IN THE CASE TODAY, THIS OSCILLATION WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE. I NEARLY HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION, THE OPPOSING VEHICLE MOVED OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO ALLOW ME TO PASS. THESE OSCILLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL CONTINENTAL LT275/70R18 TIRES AND ALSO THE REPLACEMENT MICHELIN LT275/70R18 TIRES. TIRES PRESSURES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT 65 PSI FRONT AND 75 PSI REAR AS RECOMMENDED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *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

I OWN AN 06' FORD F350 SD. I FIRST NOTICED AN EXTREME TIRE SHIMMY/BOUNCE AT AROUND 15,000 MI, WHEN A POT HOLE, BRIDGE EXPANSION OR ROUGH ROAD IS ENCOUNTERED. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 105,000 MI. AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME SOME EXTREME THAT I BELIEVE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS REMEDIED. THE BOUNCING IS SO EXTREME THAT CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IS NEARLY LOST. FORD HAS SENT ME A LETTER CLAIMING IMPROPER TIRE PRESSURE IS THE PROBLEM, I HAVE ADJUSTED BUT TO NO HELP. THE TRUCK SHIMMYS/ SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, AT EVERY BUMP ENCOUNTERED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH IS WIDE SPREAD AMONG SD OWNERS ACCORDING TO POSTINGS ON THE WEB. PLEASE HELP! *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.