IllustrationWHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, TRUCK STARTS VIBRATING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. NEW CORRECT SIZE AND PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES AND SHOCKS INSTALLED 2 MONTHS AGO.
2006 Ford F-250
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford F-250 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 119.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-250 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
460–25K
3225–50K
3750–75K
2075–100K
36100–150K
20150K+
191 reports with mileage · 30 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 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports5 fire reports6 injury reports
Suspension complaints
85 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED SPECIAL FIELD ACTION NUMBER: 09L02, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED SPECIAL FIELD ACTION NUMBER: 09L02, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK HAS ENCOUNTERED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I THOUGH I BLEW OUT ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE STEERING SHOCK VIOLENTLY ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH WOBBLE I WA…
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AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK HAS ENCOUNTERED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I THOUGH I BLEW OUT ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE STEERING SHOCK VIOLENTLY ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH WOBBLE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN JULY OF 2013 AND ON JANUARY 7TH, 2018.
TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" - DRI\VING ON I 25 AT ABOUT 60 MPH WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT THE TIRES WERE OK. IN FACT, BEFORE OUR TRIP WE HAD OUR TIRES CHECKED AND WERE TOLD THEY WERE FINE. AFTER GOING TO A DEALER I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PRO…
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TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" - DRI\VING ON I 25 AT ABOUT 60 MPH WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT THE TIRES WERE OK. IN FACT, BEFORE OUR TRIP WE HAD OUR TIRES CHECKED AND WERE TOLD THEY WERE FINE. AFTER GOING TO A DEALER I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRES AS FORD WOULD LIKE TO ASSUME. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD IN DEC 2015 ACKNOWLEDGING THE "SEVERE VIBRATION" AND BLAMING IT ON THE TIRES. IT IS NOT THE TIRES IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. WHAT IS BEING DONE REGARDING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENT SHAKING YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TERRIFYING IT IS AND THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ON FORUMS, SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND HAD THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM!!!. PLEASE HELP.
PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW WITH A FORD F250 4X4 HAS THIS PROBLEM ON OCCASION. YOUR FAILURE TO MAKE FORD FIX WILL KILL SOMEONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 14, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAR 31, 2009 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08007 COMPONENT(S): SUSP…
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PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW WITH A FORD F250 4X4 HAS THIS PROBLEM ON OCCASION. YOUR FAILURE TO MAKE FORD FIX WILL KILL SOMEONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 14, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAR 31, 2009 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08007 COMPONENT(S): SUSPENSION MY TRUCK HAS 60,000 MILES NOW AND I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES NEARLY 3 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE LAST 15,000 MILES. THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF TIRES LAST 5000 MILES. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, AND CONSTANTLY GET A "RUN-AROUND" THAT IT'S THE TIRES. MY TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. YESTERDAY, I WAS TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE 45 YESTERDAY AT 70 MPH'S AND TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL. I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES AGGRESSIVELY AND WHEN I HIT A CERTAIN SPEED BETWEEN 35MPH AND 60 MPH, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO RANDOMLY BOUNCE AND WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. I COULDN'T EVEN STEER. I NEARLY CRASHED INTO SEVERAL VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. WHILE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS VIOLENTLY BOUNCING (IT BOUNCED SO VIOLENTLY IT BROKE A FOLDING DOWN TV MOUNT / MOUNTED IN THE CEILING OF THE TRUCK), I HUNG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL FOR DEAR LIFE (LIKE HANGING ONTO A BULL 8 SECONDS) AND CONTINUED TO SLOW EVEN FURTHER, AND ULTIMATELY HAD TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE GRASS ELSE I WAS GOING TO CRASH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WENT AWAY WHEN I APPROACHED A COMPLETE STOP < 15MPH. IN THE SAME TRUCK, I HAVE HAD THIS DEATH WOBBLE INCIDENT HAPPEN OVER 200 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE EVEN HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN WHILE HAULING CAR'S ON CAR TRAILERS. IT IS SCARY. AFTER MARKET MFRS MAKE CLAIMS THAT IT'S DUE TO THE TRACK BAR AND BUSHINGS AND THESE KITS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT FORD AND THE TSA DENIES ITS A REAL PROBLEM. BEFORE I PAY OUT THOUSANDS FOR A AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION, I EXPECT FORD TO FIX THIS, THE CORRECT WAY.
TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKES AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD AND DOESN'T STOP UNTIL I SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY OFFER IS TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE WHICH I DID AND OF COURSE DID NOTHING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAG LANE BAR AND STEERING LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAG LANE BAR AND STEERING LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
GOING 55MPH THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING AND SHIMMING. ALL LIGHTS GO IN AND OUT AND BLOWS WHENEVER ANYTHING IS HOOKED UP. *TR
THE DEATH WOBBLES OR SHIMMY BEEN.GOING ON SINCE 2010. THE WHOLE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AND SHAKE HARD. UNTIL I SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH. THEN FORD SENT ME A LITTER (09L02) SAYING IT'S CALLED THE SHIMMY AND ITS MY TIRE PRESSURE. I CHECKED TIRE STILL KEPT HAPPENING. YESTERDAY 6/23/2014 MY WIFE AN TWO SONS WHERE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT HAPPE…
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THE DEATH WOBBLES OR SHIMMY BEEN.GOING ON SINCE 2010. THE WHOLE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AND SHAKE HARD. UNTIL I SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH. THEN FORD SENT ME A LITTER (09L02) SAYING IT'S CALLED THE SHIMMY AND ITS MY TIRE PRESSURE. I CHECKED TIRE STILL KEPT HAPPENING. YESTERDAY 6/23/2014 MY WIFE AN TWO SONS WHERE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT HAPPEN AND THE STEERING DAMPER BROKE OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX, DRAG LINK BAR, TIE ROD END, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND SUSPENSION DRIVE LINK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX, DRAG LINK BAR, TIE ROD END, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND SUSPENSION DRIVE LINK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Official recalls
108V344000 · Trailer Hitches
Jul 28, 2008
KNAPHEIDE IS RECALLING 108 MY 2006-2008 PRO SERIES TRUCK BEDS EQUIPPED WITH AN ICC BUMPER WHICH INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR A BALL HITCH. THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT WELD ATTACHING THE HITCH CHANNEL TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BENDING OF THE HITCH CHANNEL OR THE HITCH COULD BE PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: KNAPHEIDE WILL OFFER TWO REMEDIES TO ITS CUSTOMERS: (1) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT USE THE HITCH, THE HITCH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK BED AND REPLACED WITH AN ICC BUMPER; OR (2) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO NEED A HITCH, A RECEIVER HITCH ASSEMBLY WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING HITCH ASSEMBLY AND ALL SUSPECT WELD JOINTS WILL BE RE WELDED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KNAPHEIDE AT 1-877-473-5763.
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.