2008 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

Death wobble

The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on a bridge, the vehicle drove over potholes and the vehicle experienced the death wobble, causing the steering wheel to shake uncontrollably. The contact firmly gripped the steering wheel and decelerated to 30 MPH to prevent the vehicle from shaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that several independent mechanics had previously replaced the tires, control arms, shocks, struts, steering damper, and pitman arm, as well as performed an alignment; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Several times steering has been lost while making a turn. Thusfar accidents have been narrowly avoided. I have worked with the Ford dealer and replaced all major components in 2022. But the problem has started again. Most times the steering wheel is difficult to turn in parking situations; other times the steering wont work at all. I have had to swing wide into the oncoming lane during a turn to make the turn.

Experiencing the ford “death wobble”. Around 50 mph going over small road transition the vehicle start shaking violently and I have no control. The only way to stop it is come close to a dead stop in the middle of a highway.

When decelerating, such as taking an off-ramp, it loses power to the brakes and steering, which makes it unsafe.

Clock spring frayed and uncoiled. Unknown steering issue till clockspring checked. Airbag inflator is unoperational. Current clockspring recall for Ford does not cover this vehicle. Widen your recall. Most owners would believe it to be a power steering issue with pump and fluid, like we did.

I JUST PURCHASED THIS BEAUTIFUL F 250 TRUCK 2008, FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA. I WENT OUT ON THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THE TRUCK HAD A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM. IT IS DESCRIBED AS I CANNOT KEEP IT IN THE LANE I AM TRAVELING IN BECAUSE OF STEERING WOBBLE AND PLAYING THE STEERING AND WANDERS INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. I ALSO CHECKED UP UNDERNEATH AND THERE WERE LOOSE TIE ROD BRACKETS AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I DO NOT KNOW THE NAMES OF. IT'S A REAL SHAME WHEN THE SALESMAN YOU PURCHASED IT FROM WHEN I TEXTED THIS TO HIM WILL NOT CALL OR TEXT BACK, VERY DECEITFUL.

While driving down the interstate our truck started shaking violently and my husband had to stop the truck to get it to stop shaking. This happened twice during our trip.

Bring truck to 60 or above it starts to shake and wobble to the point I can't go highway speeds.. I have only owned this truck for a couple months.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER FORD (543 W MAPLE ST, HARTVILLE, OH 44632) AND INFORMED THAT THE TRACK BAR, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD JOINTS AND POSSIBLE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN FOR THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT AN EXTRA HEAVY DUTY STEERING DAMPER BE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,048.*DT

DRIVING 60 ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS DESCRIBED AS THE DEATH WOBBLE.

THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING REALLY BAD HIT A BUMP IN ROAD GOING ABOVE 50 MPH AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS I SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NEED TO BRAKE HEAVILY TO STOP THE SHAKING. I'VE READ UP ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND APPARENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK, SO I AM KEEPING IT OFF THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND THOSE AROUND ME. THANK YOU. *TR

HAVE A VERY BAD DEATH WOBBLE. SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AND STILL HERE.

WHEN TRAVELING MORE THAN 40MPH AND A WHEEL HITS A GROOVE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND IS HARD TO CONTROL, FORCING THE DRIVER TO QUICKLY DECELERATE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. IT FEELS AS IF THE TIRES ARE BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2009. ALSO WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR VERY BUMPY ROADS, THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES, NORMAL BRAKING RETURNS, BUT THE INITIAL BRAKE FAILURE IS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IS THE UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

IT STARTS SHIMMYING BACK AND FORTH VICIOUSLY AND WILL NOT STEER. I PUT ON NEW STRUTS, STEERING GEAR BOX, SHOCKS, TIRES, AND HAVE SPENT OVER $,3, 000 IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL START AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ MANY LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?

WHILE IN MOTION, AT 30 MPH OR HIGHER, THE TRUCK WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT. IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT TRAVEL...BASICALLY NO CENTERING OF STEERING. UNSAFE AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU ARE DRIVING AS A DRUNK WOULD. ALSO, VIOLENT SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT SPEED.

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK STARTS VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY SHAKING AND DOESN'T CEASE UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN BELOW 20 MPH. THE FRONT END ALSO DOES THIS IF I'M DRIVING MORE THAN 25 MPH AND THE PAVEMENT CHANGES. THE COUNTY REPAVED A PORTION OF MY ROAD. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. EVERYTIME I REACH THE CHANGE IN ASPHALT, I HAVE TO ALMOST STOP TO GET THE SHAKING TO STOP.

STEERING GEAR BOX SEEMS TO HAVE BROKE. LOSE OF ALL STEERING. STEERING WHEEL SPINS AROUND BUT DOES NOT CONTROL ANYTHING NOW

AT 65MPH+- ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL / STEER STRAIGHT.AND MAINTAIN POSITION IN LANE. HAVE SPENT $6,000.00 +- WITH FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE STEERING BOX TWICE, NEW SHOCKS, NEW TIRES, NEW TIE ROD ENDS, ALIGNMENT, TIRE BALANCING AND OTHER NEW PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING...AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND BOUGHT NEW IN 2009.