13 complaints reported

2005 Ford F-350 STEERING,SUSPENSION

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
13
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2024

Twice today, traveling at 75mph on highway [XXX] (northbound and then several hours later southbound) just north of Ardmore OK, I experienced a violent shaking of the steering wheel/front wheel shimmy. The vehicle was difficult to control due to the violent shaking that did not stop until the vehicle slowed to approximately 20mph. Once the shaking stopped the vehicle was okay to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2024
Apr 2023

My 2005 F350 Diesel Pick up has suffered from the Ford death wobble on and off for the last 15 years. While navigating a left hand corner at speeds over 40 it begins to shake uncontrollably after hitting a small bump or pot hole until speed is reduced to 30mph or less. I have replaced bearings, uppper & lower ball joints, torque arms and other suspension parts without finding a cure.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2023
Dec 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle started to shimmy. The contact stated that at the time of failure the steering wheel was very difficult to turn. The contact stated that after slowing down the vehicle operated normally. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she received notification in the mail of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E090000 (Steering, Suspension, Equipment) however, her vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact stated that neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2010
May 2022

Multiple times driving the truck at speed limit and hit small bump or a little bumpy part of road triggers the death wobble. Have to almost come to complete stop on highway to stop wobble.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2022
Mar 2020

DEATH WOBBLE. TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN TRAVELING +50 MPH, EMPTY, OR TOWING OR HAULING LOAD IN TRUCK BED. DOWNHILL BRAKING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TURNING WHILE BRAKING IS THE WORST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2019
Sep 2012

THE F350SD HAS A SHIMMY WHEN YOU HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD OR A BUMP. THIS IS VIOLENT ENOUGH FOR CONCERN THAT IT'LL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT DOESN'T GO AWAY ON IT'S OWN YOU HAVE TO COME TO A STOP OR GET TO ABOUT FIVE MILES AN HOUR FOR IT TO RESET. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE LOCAL FRONT END SHOP REPLACE THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS, EVEN THOUGH THE COMPONENTS CAME WITH IN SPEC THAT FORD SAYS IS SAFE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION NEEDS BE TAKEN. THIS HELPED FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS BUT NOW I'M BACK TO THE SAME OLD PROBLEM. FORD SAYS TO TAKE IT TO A FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. I'LL DO IT ONE MORE TIME, THIS IS REPETITIVE, THEY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM IN THEIR PRODUCT SO WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME. EVERYBODY SAYS ITS YOUR TIRE PRESSURE, WRONG, I RUN IT AT MAX AND I'VE EVEN TRIED RUNNING IT FIVE POUNDS HIGHER THAN RECOMMENDED. WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US AND GET THIS FIXED RIGHT. I KNOW FORD WONT EVER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM FOR THE CHANCE OF A LAWSUIT. SO I GUESS IT'S UP TO THE HIGHWAY SAFETY COUNCIL TO HELP. I'LL GIVE ALL OF YOU A RIDE AND SHOW YOU HOW BAD IT IS. AND THEN I CAN GIVE YOU ALL THE DOCUMENTS SHOWING FORD SAYS THE FRONT END ARE WITHIN SPEC. YOU KNOW ITS BAD WHEN IT SHIMMIES YOU OFF THE ROAD, THIS IS AS BEST YOU CAN DO TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008
Dec 2011

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK NORMALLY LIKE ANY OTHER DAY, WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE FRONT END SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY, THAT IT PULLED SO HARD TO WHERE I HAD TO BRAKE VERY QUICKLY AND STOP THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROBLEM THAT EXIST HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. I HAVE IT AT A MECHANIC, I ALSO CAN NOT DRIVE IT, VERY DANGEROUS. I GOT ONLINE AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AND HAVE LABELED IT THE FORD DEATH WOBBLE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC ON 12.14.11 WERE IT IS STILL AT AND ON THAT SAME DAY I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL SOON DUE TO EXCESSIVE SHAKING AND TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. FRONT END ALIGNMENT, TIRE SIZE ETC. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, ON THE INTERNET BACK IN 2007 THEY HAD AT LEAST 61 COMPLAINTS. WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES CONTROL AND SERIOUSLY HURTS SOMEONE OR THEMSELVES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2011
Oct 2011

WHEN I'M DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 TO 70 AND GO OVER A BUMP IN ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE SERVICED AND THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NO PROBLEM, THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FROM A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK." WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP! I HAVE PAPER WORK DOCUMENTING THE TRUCK WENT TO DEALER FOR STEERING OUT OF CONTROL. SINCE THEN THE SHAKING HAS CAUSED ME TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS AND OTHER PARTS TRYING TO STOP THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON NEW VEHICLE, MUCH LESS ONE THAT COSTS $45.000. THIS REALLY MAKES ME MAD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2005
Aug 2011

DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT TIRES SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SHIFT LANES AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE SHAKING WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN. TOOK 2 HAND STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TODAY THE TRUCK IS STILL TOTALLY STOCK WITH 33500 MILES. PLEASE HAVE FORD ISSUE A RECALL! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2007
Aug 2011

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUMPS IN THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSE A VIOLENT SHIMMY. TRUCK HAS STOCK SUSPENSION AND OEM TIRES. TIRE PRESSURE IS PER FORD SPECIFICATION (AS INDICATED ON THE DOOR PILLAR). SEEMS NTSB HAS INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THE ISSUE IS DUE TO SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS OR LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH THIS TRUCK. ALL STOCK AND DEADLY. NTSB NEEDS TO REOPEN THEIR INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2011
Jul 2011

SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN TRUCK WAS NEW. FORD REFUSES TO FIX SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM . CAN NOT DRIVE ON HIGHWAY OVER 45 MPH .THEY NEED VIBRATION DAMPER ON FRONT END. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2006
Nov 2010

I HAVE A 2005 F350 WITH A 4 INCH LIFT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "FORD DEATH WOBBLE" 4 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. 3 TIMES IT WAS @ ~40 MPH AND 1 TIME IT WAS AT 75. SCARED ME TO DEATH. MY BRAKES DON'T WORK WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I HAVE TO COAST TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED (72K ON TRUCK) SO THE 1ST SHOP I WENT TO TOLD ME THAT WOULD FIX IT. NO SUCH LUCK... I PICKED IT UP AND RIGHT AFTER IT DID IT AGAIN. I JUST TOOK IT TO A COMPANY WHO WANTS $700 TO REPLACE THE PITMAN ARM AND GEAR BOX. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. THEN I HAD A LOCAL 4X4 GUY TELL ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK AND PUT A 2ND ONE ON IT. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 ON SHOCKS. THE STABILIZERS WILL BE $150. NO ONE HAS A CLEAR ANSWER OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS BUT THEY WANT ME TO KEEP SPENDING $ ON TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. I TALKED TO FORD AND THEY SEEM TO BE LIKE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS A GUY ONLINE WHO SELLS AN AFTERMARKET STABILIZER SYSTEM FOR ~$900 BUT I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX IT THIS PROBLEM SINCE ITS A DESIGN ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP TROUBLESHOOTING THIS. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT IF YOU GO OUT ON THE WEB, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY TRUCK AND THE YEARS AND MODELS AROUND IT ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THE SHAKING IS EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND I AM LUCKY THAT THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ON A STRAIGHTAWAY WITH NO CARS AROUND ME EACH TIME ITS HAPPENED....OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE FLIPPED IT AND KILLED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU... PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE THE STORIES ON THE WEB ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE INJURED THEMSELVES AND OTHERS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2010
Jun 2008

FORD F350 STEERING SHAKES TO THE POINT OF LOOSING CONTROL AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON ROUGH UNEVEN FREEWAY OR HITTING POT HOLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Ford F-350 has 13 STEERING,SUSPENSION complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.