IllustrationWHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE-CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHUTTER AS IF A TIRE HAD BLOWN , AND WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE UNTIL AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS. AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. *AK
2005 Ford F-250 Sd
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most F-250 Sd years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford F-250 Sd are substantially higher than the model-year median of 89.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-250 Sd years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
770–25K
7825–50K
5150–75K
2575–100K
28100–150K
10150K+
269 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
295 reportsTHE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING POTHOLES OR BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS AT HIGH SPEEDS - MUST STOP OR SLOW WAY DOWN TO CORRECT. FORD HAS CHECKED THE FIRST TIME STEERING DAMPER . SECOND TIME CHANGED TIRE PRESSURE. THIRD TIME REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND REPLACED TIRES. *AK
2005 FORD F-250 FRONT END SHAKES AND CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL ON HIGHWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEATS FROM AN ONLINE DISTRIBUTOR THAT ARE CURRENTLY SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. HE HAS MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DISTRIBUTOR. THEY INITIALLY AGREED TO ACCEPT THE SEATS, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIB…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEATS FROM AN ONLINE DISTRIBUTOR THAT ARE CURRENTLY SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. HE HAS MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DISTRIBUTOR. THEY INITIALLY AGREED TO ACCEPT THE SEATS, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COSTS. HE HAS PHOTOS AND INVOICES AVAILABLE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000.
VIOLENT SHAKING IN FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL UNTIL SLOWING UNDER 45MPH. *TR
2005 FORD F250 4X4 CREW CAB SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN HITTING POTHOLE AT BETWEEN 45-50 MPH UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN. LOOKING INTO THIS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2005 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PICKUP I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, WHEN TRAVELING OVER 55 MPH, AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MENTIONED THIS EPISODE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE AN ANOMALY, MAYBE THE ROAD CONDITION…
Read full complaint
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2005 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PICKUP I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, WHEN TRAVELING OVER 55 MPH, AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MENTIONED THIS EPISODE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE AN ANOMALY, MAYBE THE ROAD CONDITIONS OR SOMETHING ELSE. THIS DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THE TRUTH, SINCE IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON AMONGST THESES LARGE PICKUP TRUCKS, AND JUST TAP THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VIBRATIONS SUBSIDE, IT SHOULDN'T LAST LONG. YESTERDAY I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I WENT OVER A SEWER GRATE IN THE LEFT LANE. THE VIBRATION BECAME SO VIOLENT THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING AT ALL. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH A FUEL TRUCK AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS ON MY WAY OFF THE ROAD AND INTO WOODS CAUSING MULTIPLE TIRE DAMAGE, AND SUFFERING DENTS AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, INCLUDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AWAY AFTER CHANGING THE TIRES AND CLEANING UP THE MESS FROM MY PERSONAL PROPERTY BEING TOSSED AROUND THE CABIN. NOT ONLY DID I LOOSE STEERING BUT, I WAS SURPRISED THAT SUCH A VIOLENT EPISODE DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. I RETURNED TODAY TO THE DEALER WITH MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD BEEN REPLACED,WITH A NEW ONE. WHEN I INFORMED HIM OF THE SITUATION HE CHECKED THE COMPUTER FOR MY RECORDS AND MAGICALLY HE WAS ABLE TO FIND EVERY OTHER RECORD OF SERVICE AND REPAIRS, EXCEPT THE STEERING COMPLAINTS. TOMORROW, THE 26TH, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WHERE I HOPE TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED. ALTHOUGH THIS SERVICE MANAGER SAYS HE HASN'T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRUCKS. I WAS SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT SITES, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT MADE REFERENCE TO YOUR SITE. THROUGH INSURANCE, I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF LIABILITY TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB
FRONT END WOBBLES SHAKES AND SLIDES ESPECIALLY IN A ROUGH CURVE AND DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NAME IS BORDELON FORD IN OPELOUSAS, LA. AND ADVISED COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE JOINT OR POT HOLE, THE BOUNCE OFTEN CAUSES THE FRONT END TO GO INTO A VIOLENT HARMONIC STEERING OSCILLATION THAT ONLY STOPS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN. YOU HAVE SEVERAL SECONDS TO SLOW DOWN BELOW 35 MPH BEFORE THE OSCILLATION CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE JOINT OR POT HOLE, THE BOUNCE OFTEN CAUSES THE FRONT END TO GO INTO A VIOLENT HARMONIC STEERING OSCILLATION THAT ONLY STOPS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN. YOU HAVE SEVERAL SECONDS TO SLOW DOWN BELOW 35 MPH BEFORE THE OSCILLATION CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING OSCILLATION IS VIOLENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE TO HAVE A STEERING ALIGNMENT AFTER EACH EPISODE. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) THE RECOMMENDS: FRONT END ALIGNMENT, REPLACE STEERING STABILIZER, CHECK TIRE PRESSURE, CHECK FRONT END FOR LOOSE COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD THIS SERVICE AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. *JB
THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2007 THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WERE NOT CHARGING. THE DEALER TESTED THE SYSTEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD OVERCHARGED THE SYSTEM AND BURNT THE MAIN HARNESS COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE DEALER SAID THE ENTIRE HARNESS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR WHICH WAS PUTTING OUT 17 AMPS…
Read full complaint
THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2007 THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WERE NOT CHARGING. THE DEALER TESTED THE SYSTEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD OVERCHARGED THE SYSTEM AND BURNT THE MAIN HARNESS COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE DEALER SAID THE ENTIRE HARNESS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR WHICH WAS PUTTING OUT 17 AMPS. *JB
Official recalls
311V352000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Jul 13, 2011
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
05V270000 · Electrical System:wiring
Jun 10, 2005
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE (FICM) WIRE HARNESS OR REPLACED, AND/OR HAVE A NEW INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE (ICP)) SENSOR CONNECTOR INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
05V266000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 9, 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND CHASSIS CAB VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L GASOLINE ENGINES, THE FUEL JUMPER LINE MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT END FORM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FUEL LINE MAY SEPARATE AT THE CONNECTION TO THE MAIN FUEL BUNDLE. IF THE FUEL LINE SEPARATES, AN OPERATOR MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR AND/OR FUEL ON THE GROUND, LOSS OF POWER, AND THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY STALL. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXTERNAL RETENTION CLIP AT THE FUEL JUMPER LINE TO THE MAIN FUEL BUNDLE CONNECTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA08007 · Violent Front End Oscillation
Opened Mar 14, 2008 · Closed Mar 31, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Suspension:front
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURREDAT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR.AT THE TIME THESE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED, ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE TSB 07-10-10 AND EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS THAT DISCUSSED THE SHIMMY CONDITION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS CONFIRMED, BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, WARRANTY DATA, TESTING CONDUCTED BY VRTC, AND ODI INSPECTION OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES, THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING SHIMMY EVENTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT OWNERS TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY FORD ON THE TIRE LABEL.FURTHER, ODI HAS FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR SHIMMY TO OCCUR, TIRE PRESSURES MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW (AT LEAST 20%) THOSE SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE TIRE LABEL.ODI CONSIDERS THESE UNSAFE TIRE CONDITIONS TO BE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THREE TYPICAL SITUATIONS.THE TIRES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE OWNERS ARE INTENTIONALLY SETTING THE TIRE PRESSURES LOW TO ENHANCE RIDE QUALITY, OR AFTERMARKET TIRES (NOT DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE) ARE INSTALLED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OR FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AS HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND AS SUCH REQUIRE THAT THE TIRES BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE LOADS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED.IN ORDER FOR THE TIRES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE LOADS, THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED.IN LIGHT OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND FORD'S AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS (NOW AND EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE VEHICLES REACH TEN YEARS FROM THEIR PRODUCTION DATE) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURES ON THEIR VEHICLES, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE07057 · Violent Front End Oscillation
Opened Nov 15, 2007 · Closed Mar 14, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front
ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.
Suspension:front
ODI HAS RECEIVED 78 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND OSCILLATIONS COMMENCING AFTER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR GREATER.THIRTEEN OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED DRIVING LANES UNCONTROLLABLY.FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATIONS.IN ONE CASE THE CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE, IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA.ADDITIONALFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPENING OF THIS EA WERE EARLY WARNING FIELD REPORTS,SUBMITTED BY FORD, DESCRIBING SUSPENSION SHIMMY / OSCILLATIONSAND A FORD TSB (07-10-10) DESCRIBING THE SUSPENSION SHIMMY ISSUE AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.FORD HAS DESCRIBED SHIMMY AS SELF-EXCITED OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEELS WITH ACCOMPANYING WHEEL TRAMP.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIMMY CONDITION THAT OCCURS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR STARTLES THE DRIVER, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.