16 complaints reported

2008 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
16
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2023

Death wobble. First experience was September 2019

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2023
Nov 2020

DEATH WOBBLE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF BUMPS OCCUR CONSECUTIVELY CLOSE TOGETHER,THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WOBBLE IF YOU ABRUPTLY STOP,IT'S WORSE IF YOUR ON A TRANSITION RAMP TO ON COMING TRAFFIC.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2020
Sep 2020

I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-350 THAT I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT, SHUDDERING, VIBRATION AT APPROXIMATELY 75 M.P.H. ON INTERSTATE-75 YESTERDAY, 09/19/2020, THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME, DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THE AFFECTED F-250 AND F-350 VEHICLES AND FORD SHOULD REPAIRS THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ANYONE IS INJURED OR KILLED, IF THERE HASN'T BEEN SUCH A TRAJEDY OR TRAGEDIES ALREADY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2020
Jul 2018

THE 2008, AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS OF THE FORD F-350 ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A FRONT-END SHIMMY OR "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK DONE TO MY F-350 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE DEATH WOBBLE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WORK FOR A TIME AND THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNS. THE FACT THAT THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, AT HIGH SPEEDS, BY DRIVING OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MAKES THIS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I CAN ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE EXTREME NATURE OF THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE FRONT-END OF THE TRUCK IS BOUNCING LEFT AND RIGHT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS TWISTING AND ROLLING, THE STEERING WHEEL IS BARELY CONTROLLABLE, ANYTHING LOOSE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT GOES FLYING AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. REDUCING SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE ONLY RECOURSE AND THIS POSES A DANGER PARTICULARLY WHEN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. EVEN AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON COMPLETE FRONT-END REBUILDS, AND IMPECCABLE MAINTENANCE, THE PROBLEM WILL SUDDENLY REOCCUR. THE DESIGN OF THIS FRONT-END IS FAULTY AND VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND BEING EXPOSED TO GREAT RISK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
May 2018

AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS IS BRING THE VEHICLE SPEED DOWN TO UNDER 20 MPH. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING SPORADICALLY ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO AND HAS GOTTEN CONSISTENTLY WORSE. IT IS SO SEVER THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE OUT OF A CONCERN FOR SAFETY. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MONTHS AGO AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. TODAY, I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A NOTICE MARKED "SPECIAL FIELD ACTION 09L02" THAT SAYS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO TIRE INFLATION. I HAVE THE PROPER SIZE TIRES AND I KEEP THEM PROPERLY INFLATED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM DATES BACK TO 2005 AND FORD HAS SENT THIS SAME NOTICE OUT MANY TIMES. IT IS NOT A TIRE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A KNOWN SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND IT IS DANGEROUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A MANDATORY RECALL AND IT NEEDS TO BE PAID FOR BY FORD. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE LINE TODAY AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WASN'T PART OF ANY NOTICE OR RECALL. THE PAPER I GOT TODAY SAYS "THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE" AND GOES ON TO GIVE MY VIN #. IT IS A BIG PROBLEM AND NOW IT HAS A BIG COVER-UP TO GO WITH IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2018
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RANDOM DEATH WOBBLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. A DEALER PERFORMED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, BUT THE CONDITION CONTINUED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN DUE TO A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO BE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2016
May 2014

I HAVE A 2008 F350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL!!!! DEATH WOBBLE WITH MY FRIENDS BOSTON WHALER GOING DOWN 495 TO THE CAPE!!!! HAD THE TRUCK FOR FOUR YEARS!!! REPLACED 2 STEERING SHOCKS,TIEROD ENDS!! TIRES!! 2 FRONT ALIGNMENTS!!! TRUCK IS A PIECE OF [XXX]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD A 1978 F150,1979 F250,1988 F150,1995 F150,1996 F250,1999 F350 AND LOVED ALL OF THEM AND GOT THIS 2008 F350 AND NEVER HAD A WORSE CONTROLLING TRUCK IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE BEAN A MECHANIC FOR 30!!!! I REPEAT 30 YEARS AND WHAT A [XXX] BOX FRONT END WOW!!!! FORD PLEASE HAVE A RECALL BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEBODY IN THE TRUCK OR HITTING SOME ONE!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 11/18/2014 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2012
Apr 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
May 2013

REPEATED "DEATH WOBBLE". MANY TIMES, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND LOOSE STEERING CONTROL. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN DURING CURVES IN THE ROAD. I HAVE SHOT SIDEWAYS ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION VERY NARROWLY AVOIDING A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. HAPPENS BOTH WHILE PULLING A LOAD OR NOT. DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO HELP. VERY SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM GOING ON AND I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD IS UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS BEFORE THEY WILL ACT. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE LONG BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FROM THIS LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2011
Apr 2012

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, MY TRUCK HIT A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT AND I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS. AS A RESULT, I SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS, IF THE TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAVIER (THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE PENTAGON, JUST OFF OF 395 N) I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2012
Feb 2011

VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. ONLY WAY TO GET UNDER CONTROL IS TO STOP COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE READ ON FORUMS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2011
Sep 2010

I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-350 4X4 THAT IS EXPERIENCING A BAD WOBBLE WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR TURNING IN A CURVE WITH UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AROUND 45 OR 50 MPH THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC AND I SEE ALOT OF FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, BUT FORD WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO. THESE TRUCKS ARE EXPENSIVE AND I EXPECT TO GET WHAT I PAID FOR NOT THIS. HELP ME OUT!!!!! PLEASE! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2010
Aug 2010

2008 F350 SUPER DUTY ----VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MET 10 TIMES. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ANY SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO70 MPH AND I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND DROP THE SPEED FAST TO AROUND 35MPH TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK . IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DEAL WITH . I GOT RID OF MY 2005 F350 BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2010
May 2010 Crash

2008 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW *TGW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS WERE TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK AND FOR THE TYPE OF LOAD IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END WAS RATED TO CARRY 5200LBS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY, THERE WAS ALREADY 4800LBS ON THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SUPER DUTY TRUCK, BUT APPARENTLY IT CAN'T CARRY ANYTHING EXCEPT A PASSENGER OR TWO BEFORE THE FRONT END IS OVERLOADED. THE STEERING BOX BROKE SUDDENLY FOR THE TIME AT 26,050 MILES. WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, BUT THE NEW ONE FAILED AT 29, 581 MILES. THE CURRENT STEERING BOX IS FEELING LOOSE AND THE TRUCK WANDERS. THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED AT 38,587 MILES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP, IF FELT AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED FOR A FEW SECONDS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 1901
Jul 2009

I HAVE TWO 2008 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY 4X4 TRUCKS. ONE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES AND THE OTHER 61000 MILES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AFTER HITTING UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OR BUMPS, THEY BEGIN TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO GET IT TO QUIT I HAVE HAD THE TRUCKS IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO FIX BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS. I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD THAT LOW TIRE PRESSURE CAUSES THIS BUT I MAINTAIN CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE IN BOTH OF MY TRUCKS SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE AND THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED WCMOTORSPORTS THAT CLAIMS TO KNOW WHY THESE TRUCKS ARE DOING THIS AND THE SOLUTION. THEIR WEBSITE IS WWW.SUPERDUTYWOBBLE.COM. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS (508) 668-8638. THEY SEEM VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THE REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX THIS IS $825. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT MODIFIED THESE TRUCKS IN ANYWAY AND I FEEL THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS CAUSES A FATALITY IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2009
Apr 2009

OUR BUSINESS OWNS 4 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS (2-2006 AND 2-2008). ALL OF THEM HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHIMMY THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENT. WE TOW LARGE TRAILERS (20'), LOADED WITH LARGE SPOOLS OF COAXIAL CABLE. THESE REELS AND THE TRAILER HAVE A COMBINED WAIT IN EXCESS OF 3000-4000 LBS., AND THE TRUCKS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 LBS. WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THIS MUCH WEIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. ALL FOUR TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CLAIMS THAT IF YOU SLOW DOWN, IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT OFTEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IN AND OF ITSELF, AND OFTEN YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH WITH A 4,000LB IN TOW. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF FORCING CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF THEIR INEPT MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 FORD F-350 SD, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2009

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2008 Ford F-350 has 16 STEERING,SUSPENSION complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.