2006 Ford F-250 Steering

In two separate instances, traveling on the highway, after going over a bridge transition, the steering wheel and front end began to shake violently. This shaking reverberated throughout the truck causing me to have to slow down immediately and exit the freeway. This was the only thing that stopped the shaking. This is commonly referred to as the “Death Wobble”.

Not quite sure what component or system is failing/malfunctioning. Best way to describe what is happening, "Death Wobble". No other simpler way to put it. No auto store/dealer has any solid answer. Simply put, almost killed my entire family on the highway and not to mention other drivers on the highway. Driving fine then any bumps/grooves in the road instantly sends the entire vehicle into this VIOLENT shaking mess. To stop the shaking, we have to TRY (because once it starts shaking, it's almost like the steering is freezing up) to stop the vehicle completely. Once stopped, we take off like nothing ever happened until the next set of bumps/grooves. We have taken the truck to auto mechanics, we explain what is going on and INSTANTLY they inform us that we are not alone in this and there's really nothing you can do without constantly changing parts, etc. but there is "no" fix. No warnings, messages, nothing. Basically have to hold on for dear life and ride in the far right lanes so you have a better chance of pulling off on the side of the road without being smashed to death. We literally fear for our families lives in this truck but what can you do when it's pretty much all you got.

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.

SHIMMY CREATING EARLY WEAR IN STEERING GEAR AND FRONT END COMPONENTS.

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

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND MADE A LEFT TURN. HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING(SHIMMING) TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS BASICALLY NOT DRIVE ABLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT GOING FAST AT THE TIME SO I COULD SLOW DOWN QUICKLY AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED IT WAS QUICK, FROM NOTHING TO THE TRUCK SHAKING VIOLENT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE STEERING GEAR AND U JOINTS REPLACED.

2006 FORD F250 MOVING, 2 LANE ROAD, IN MOUNTAINS ,SUDDENLY STARTED TO STEER ERRATICALLY - MANAGED TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE OPPOSITE LANE MORE BY GOOD FORTUNE THAN ANYTHING. POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEGUN TO FAIL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND HAD TO USE FORCE IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO BE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE STEERING FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHILE TRAVELING THRU ATLANTA TRAFFIC THE F 250 HAD A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT TIRES. IT REQUIRED BRAKING OUT OF TRAFFIC TO CONTROL THE STEERING. TWO PRIOR INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED BUT WITH LESS INTENSITY IN THE PRIOR MONTHS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65 MPH AND HIT A SERIES OF BUMPS/ ROUGH PAVEMENT AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHACK. IT SHOCK SO BAD THAT I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 30 MPH IN THE FAST LANE WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC TO EVEN TRY TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOBODY NEXT TO ME OR IT WOULD HAVE ENDED IN A BAD WRECK. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND DON'T SEE ANY DEFECTIVE PARTS AND FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ITS HARD TO DETERMINE THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT I AM SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO EXHIBIT A VIOLENT VIBRATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE WITHOUT WARNING THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500. UPDATED 10/17/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROAD OR SPEED BUMP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE VIBRATION, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ALTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. KMJ

TRUCK BEGAN TO HAVE A STEERING WOBBLE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE BECAUSE WHEELS WERE JUMPING ON THE PAVEMENT. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. CURRENTLY AT 70K MILES DRIVING SPEED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 70 MPH, WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP, HIT A SMALL POT HOLE OR EVEN THE SMALLEST DIP ON THE ROAD SURFACE THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, BEST WAY TO STOP IT IS TO APPLY BRAKES HARD UNTIL TRUCK REACHES A MUCH LOWER SPEED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING BEHIND OTHER TRUCKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING IT AND CAN SEE THE FRONT WHEELS SHAKING HARD AND QUICK, LEFT, RIGHT, UP AND DOWN ( VIBRATING) ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F250. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TIE ROD SLEEVE ASSEMBLY TREAD HAD DETACHED. HE THE TIE ROD AND SLEEVE WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/2012 *CN

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2006 FORD F 250 TRUCK WHEN THE STEERING LINKAGE BROKE AND HE LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER HIS TRUCK. HE CRASHED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. *TR

THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES WHEN I HIT ANY SIZE BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS VERY VIOLENT AND HAS CAUSED ME TO MOVE ACROSS LINES IN THE ROAD. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH IN CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AS OF YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

THE TIE ROD BROKE AND I LOST ALL STEERING. I ARRIVED AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE STREET I WAS ON IS REQUIRED TO STOP. I WAS TURNING TO THE LEFT SO AS I WAS ACCELERATING THROUGH THE TURN AND THE INTERSECTION ALL STEERING DISAPPEARED AND I FOUND MYSELF IN THE DITCH AND FRONT YARD OF A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ROLLING OVER HIS GAS MAIN. THIS OF COURSE CREATED ADVERSE SECONDARY EFFECTS, BUT WHAT IF THE TIE ROD HAD BROKEN WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. I WAS NOT HURT NOR WAS ANYONE ELSE, BUT A TIE ROD IS DESIGNED TO OUT LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A FLAW IN THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 F-250 SUPER DUTY WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES, FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP NEW AT THE DEALER I NOTICE THAT EVERY TIME I HIT A RUT OR BUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS HUGE VIBRATIONS IN THE REAR END AND VERY NEAR LOSING CONTROL. RECENTLY I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT END FELT LIKE BOTH WHEELS WERE COMING OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY I NEARLY LOST CONTROL. I WAS BESIDE AN 18 WHEELER AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE MY LAST DAY BUT SOMEHOW I GOT IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. CAN'T TELL YOU HOW NERVOUS I WAS BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE. I CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER TODAY AND HE SAID SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS WRONG, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS. EVERYTHING I'VE READ ON THIS SAYS FORD DOESN'T THINK THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, FROM THE STORIES OUT THERE I DISAGREE. *TR

2006 FORD F250 HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS TOWING A CAMPER. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THEY HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE GAS AND MERGED INTO THE SLOW LANE. A BOLT, BRACKET AND E-DAMPER ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT SOME F-250 TRUCKS DID HAVE A VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE STEERING. *JB *JB

THE SHIMMY ISSUE ON MY 2006 FORD 250 PICK UP HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. I SPENT APPROX 6 MONTHS WORKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE . THEY EVENTUALLY TOLD ME THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT FORD TOLD THEM TO DO . THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO TIRE PRESSURE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NONSENSE. AFTER THE SECOND SET OF FRONT TIRES BEFORE 10000 MILES THEY STARTED TO CUP SEVERELY AFTER 1000 MILES. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY PUT NEW TIRES ON ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND THEN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. THE SHIMMY IS SO SEVERE AT TIMES IT WILL ACTUALLY SHIMMY ACROSS THE CENTER LINE. *TR

WAS DRIVING NORTH ON I-95 ON 31 OCT 2009 WITH A 12' TRAILER FULL OF POTTERY IN TOW SPEED BETWEEN 75 AND 80. JUST COMPLETED TRANSITION FROM BRIDGE BACK TO HIGHWAY WHEN TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. INITIAL REACTION WAS A BLOWOUT BUT QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM MY DAUGHTER INCURRED A WEEK EARLIER. SLOWED TRUCK DOWN AND WORKED WAY ACROSS HIGHWAY TO SHOULDER OF ROAD TO CHECK OUT THE SITUATION. AFTER VERIFYING NO TIRES WERE FLAT AND STEERING WAS ALL IN TACT RESUMED TRIP (VERY CAUTIOUSLY) TO NC. *TR