Channel 9 Investigates the so-called Ford “Death Wobble” | WSOC-TV

Ford is sending many customers a letter which says if your truck has “sustained steering wheel oscillation after hitting rough pavement or an expansion joint at speeds typically above 45 mph,” bring it to the dealer and it will replace the steering linkage damper for free.
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[@FlexSZN23]

It smooths out at 115 MPH

[@nicknicolosi1]

lmao

[@mattlaskey782]

Haha

[@chatochafa130]

Delete this lmao someone might die

[@wesleyhorton4330]

Jeep guys dealing with death wobble for the past 3 decades, “brah this death wobble is some getting pretty bad” as they crash and roll. Ford guys with a small touch of death wobble on their overpriced excuse of a truck, “time to file a class action lawsuit and recoup some of the money I’m losing on my terrible investment of a ford.”

[@mattlaskey782]

Wesley Horton haters keep hating.

[@Racingboom]

“Investigates” *literally only points out that the truck does it and provides no solution or reason for the occurrence*

[@Welner]

They said he spent a whole year investigating

[@martiokrzesik5015]

He's a reporter it's amazing his lips were off the closest socialist politicians sexual organ located in the lower abdominal area long enough to put a story together

[@dickfitswell3437]

@Marcus Williams and earth is flat too huh

[@calebsmith95]

You don’t need info to report. Just a good hook in the headlines. Educate yourself lol

[@badatcreatingrochellecryst6719]

@@martiokrzesik5015 I almost choked on my food reading that

[@goodmaninabadtime117]

It’s on the spin cycle. Distribute passengers evenly it will spin smoothly.

[@2010ngojo]

When you "distribute passengers evenly" by crashing. Smooth.

[@654Crossman]

@@2010ngojo that's just the "tumble/dry" feature....

[@nationalcitysycho]

LOLOLOL

[@nationalcitysycho]

@Iron *Fe* FOOL..YOU'RE NOT FUNNY...UR JOKE SUX...TRYING TO BE FUNNY LKKE THIS DUDE

[@EM-fi2qg]

Should be top comment.

[@kennethbarber8696]

Ford mechanic's road test said the Ford truck is fine and that EVERY road in the world is to bumpy. So I bought a Chevrolet Silverado and EVERY road in the world smoothed out.

[@nidiagarza2161]

Omg best one 🤣

[@yoshipapi7880]

😂

[@Nasher98]

I did the polar opposite lol

[@Unit_450]

and soon down the road EVERY afm lifter will be ticking

[@yunghernando3946]

Cause the Chevy hd’s have IFS

[@johncosico9720]

Only 1200 complaints? That’s a compliment for ford😂 Jeep Wrangler: hold my beer

[@Gariel2007]

When you sell millions upon millions 1.2k is not even a foot note.

[@ivanpekic3544]

@@Gariel2007 true

[@Blue-moon12]

@@Gariel2007 that is 1.2k that have complained offically through legal matters. I am sure there are a lot more and from Canada too as the figures I believe are only in the U.S. some of these trucks are north of $70k easily and it shouldn't be happening at all.

[@cjcooper5646]

Jeep cherokee has entered the chat

[@davidlasanen7690]

WHOOOOOO THAT WAS BRUTAL BRUTAL, MMMM BUT OH SO TRUE

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

1200 complaints in 14 years? Lmfao. Buddy, you ever driven a jeep? Every jeep since the 80s shakes itself into pieces 😂

[@marcaliventialiventi765]

Lol, my wife's Wrangler did that the day after the warranty expired

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

@@profribasmat217 yeah, just wait lol. Pretty well know issue with jeeps bud.

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

@@profribasmat217 you're the coolest guy behind a keyboard on the internet.

[@garylehrjr1616]

Yep

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

@@profribasmat217 my wife has aids. Enjoy.

[@Censortubes]

New reporter " now just because its called a death wobble dont mean anything, its been causing accidents when it happens".. Uhhhhh someone needs to explain to her, what can happen during an accident and WHY THE TERM CAME TO BE?

[@Beefyjingles23]

Jeeps have had this problem for the past 30 years

[@sarajump6784]

Ikr, i was like hey! Copy cats! Lol. I have had 9 Jeep Cherokees all lifted and only one didnt get the wobble. Thats only due to preventive measures. Was almost plowed down by a semi in the highway when my daily driver Cherokee started wobble at about 70mph out of nowhere while I was in fast lane if course. I have experienced this many times and know what to do (usually). This time however i could do NOTHING! not only was wheel shaking so violently i struggled with every bit of my strength to keep my hand on in a futile attempt o stay in my lane of heavy mornin commuter traffic. Out of any whatsoever control i lacked in the universe my jeep steadily and (thankfully just quick enough)directly pulled me into the slow lane and on to the shoulder where it finally had decelerted enough to engage the brakes literally a millisecond before an 18wheeler, with no signs of slowing down whizzed by my possessed Jeep so fast i felt the slam of wind in mybody and ears sending me into to violent tears at the true near death I could have had. Appropriately name Death wobble is something Jeep peeps almost speak of as just a laughable quirk you will eventually experience. Why is this? I too, b4 this, had a "it's a Jeep thing, yoy wouldnt understand" shrug your shoulder no biggy attitude about it. But wow. Why do we not demand the manufacturers do something to atleast reduce the wear on the track bar, idk beef up materials out of the factory, or something. I know puttin a lift on increases this and wheelin yeah yeah blah blah blah blah, but these fords i doubt are due to upgrades like that and seem to be just to common for hwy only drivers. Not only could this be life threatening to the driver of a death wobbler but to the drivers around you. Has no one died or had a pretty near fatal accident because of this? Maybe we won't know because they arent alive to tell of it. And my second question is, is the ford wobble possibly due to track bar or what?

[@DurzoBlunts]

Amen!!! 97 wrangler and mine wobbled till it got larger tires. I figured it was angry and wanted to be bigger.

[@tennesseecurtiss5741]

My 2016 and 2005 don’t wobble. 2016 JKU on 37s and 2005 TJ on one tons and 42s. SAS dana60hp cateye duramax doesn’t either.

[@tennesseecurtiss5741]

All three of them are constantly maintained though.

[@sarajump6784]

@@tennesseecurtiss5741 im wondering if its a Cherokee thing now??? Longer wheel base? Mines pretty much been factory all of them with 3" lift, BFG Mud Terrs except the one i almost died in had all terrs. A few had Dana upgrades. All were wheeled/abused however u look at it except the highway near-death daily driver ('96) and my current baby. I cant speak for wranglers or pavement onlys. Wish i still had a picture of the u shaped track bar on my 4th one after a weekend at off road park lol. Slid a steel tube over that sob while it was still hot and drove her home. I keep 4getting this was about fords lol.

[@krasnaludek298]

Solid axle vehicles - heavy duty trucks & Jeep Wranglers. This is nothing new; loose suspension and/or steering components.

[@nationalcitysycho]

YEAH...ALL IT IS YOU NEW TO ETHER INSTALL 2 SHOCK STABILIZERS OR BRAND NEW ONES IF YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED THEM IN 5 TO 6 TO 8 YEARS..SMH

[@Titoo.1]

@@nationalcitysycho summer Some of these are brand new trucks

[@kylecee919]

250 and 350 trucks have been doing this for decades

[@JeepCherokeeful]

And Jeep Cherokee!

[@JeepCherokeeful]

@@kylecee919 actually Mopar is way more famous for this

[@25BEDFORD]

Dealer Service Manager: Unfortunately, our ASE certified technician was unable to replicate the issue. Other customer behind you: See you have the same issue!!

[@McCallieOrchestra]

"Death wobble" has plagued solid axle vehicles for decades. While it affects the steering, the most likely source is axle alignment. Increasing the amount of positive caster on the front axle will help the tires maintain a given trajectory. This is exactly like a shopping cart that has a wheel that shakes instead of tracking smoothly in the same direction as the cart. Instead of being perfectly straight up and down with zero caster, or worse-negative caster, the wheels need to travel at an angle pointing downward at the rear of the axle. Dealerships likely aren't double checking the alignment of each vehicle before they leave the lot. The mechanics at the dealerships have to set every Super Duty according to the service manual, which is probably at just a couple degrees positive caster but likely has a range of plus or minus around one degree, which is enough of a tolerance that some vehicles will not track properly once pushed to a given limit. Even if test driven the combination of just the right impact, speed, drag, and other conditions may not be able to exhibit a possible future death wobble event. Death wobble occurs because of conditions causing it so if it happens, change the way you were driving when it started. If it only happens when you go over 60 mph slow down. If it happens after making a quick steering correction steer more gently. It can be a scary experience but you can often drive out of it in that moment and make it to a safe place to pull over or a shop that can fix the problem. The more you drive with the problem the worse it will get because the vibration will be increasing the rate of wear. A steering stabilizer with more resistance will help but it is only masking the problem. The alignment needs to be changed. Super Duty suspension uses a non-adjustable radius rod but the fix has been around since leaf springs were still used in front suspensions. A degree shim will change the angle at which the pinion points just like changing the pinion angle of a rear leaf pack after raising or lowering the suspension to correct the driveshaft angle. Any vehicle with modified suspension will need to have its steering geometry adjusted. Simply changing tire size from say a 31" diameter to a 37" diameter will usually need closer to five degrees of positive caster to make up for the change. If the suspension is lifted the angles become more drastic, requiring even closer tolerances to avoid affectations. The next likely cause is usually for lifted vehicles where the Panhard Rod is no longer cycling at the same angle as the drag link. If the two are at differing angles by enough of a factor vertical suspension cycling, like driving over a bump, will induce the entire axle shifting to one side, which can also result in death wobble, especially if other geometry is not properly aligned. Toe that is set too far in or out can also contribute but usually doesn't cause death wobble. If the toe is too far out the steering will tend to wander. Too far in and the you get what is called oversteer, where it becomes hard to control the vehicle because it steers too quickly. Camber is more likely to have similar issues to toe than caster and likely won't be related to a death wobble issue but will be evident in tire wear when the inner or outer tread of a tire is wearing more significantly than the other. Similarly, a tire or wheel that is out of round, cracked, has belt separation or is even a little out of balance can also make any vehicle shake even just in the front end. The difference with death wobble is that the steering wheel will be rapidly turning right to left, not just vibrating. A road force balancer like a Hunter GSP9700 is an excellent tool for tracking down whether an issue is in a tire or a wheel. Some vehicles ride better with a dynamic balance, others static. Vibration in the front end that occurs only during braking is likely brake related. Wear on steering and suspension parts can also result in death wobble. If a 2011 truck is being "investigated" in 2020 for a condition that only recently started, any half decent mechanic is going to check for worn parts. Tie rod ends, wheel bearings, steering stabilizers, shock absorbers, tires, and bushings all wear with use. It doesn't mean a vehicle is no longer any good, it just needs to be maintained. Yes, Jeeps, Dodge Rams, older Chevy and other front end solid axle vehicles can experience this problem regardless of the type of suspension used because it is a geometry issue more than a design issue. It is usually only the ones that experience extreme wear without maintenance or the ones that don't get properly aligned that have this particular death wobble problem. And all steering and suspension components on IFS vehicles wear too but because a solid axle provides a solid connection from the driver's side tire to the passenger side tire when one is affected so is the other, resulting in a tug-o-war like wobble between the two front tires. Unless your vehicle has rear steer you won't have this problem on a rear axle because the axle is fixed, it doesn't steer. Solid axles have advantages including strength and being able to support heavier loads and they have fewer parts at constantly changing angles which usually means comparatively reduced wear. IFS tends to wear tires more irregularly since the opposing tire travels independently. Another advantage to a solid axle is usually better traction on and off road since one side rising creates more downward force on the opposite side, resulting in more traction to the tire receiving the additional weight. Combined with an anti-sway bar this generally results in greater lateral stability of the vehicle. The increased stability can result in rougher ride as the suspension adjusts for side to side swaying. Overall, the bigger and tougher a vehicle needs to be, the more likely it is to have a solid axle not just in the rear but in the front as well. Unfortunately, most modern mechanics only know what a shop manual or a computer scan via OBDII is telling them so the knowledge of how to diagnose and fix these issues can be harder to find. If your F-350, Jeep Unlimited, or Ram 2500 has death wobble find a decent alignment shop and discuss how much positive caster you may need to fix the problem. Make sure they check not just steering components, but the suspension as well since changing alignment in the suspension as it cycles while driving is the most likely source.

[@redbone7040]

Worn out parts

[@collisiontech_nick399]

Dude the alignment guys are all too!!

[@fallenseraph5V]

Boy am I sorry I expanded this comment.

[@dr7477]

You win the internet

[@P71ScrewHead]

@@fallenseraph5V i feel you bro, i too said, "dayum!!" i read half of it but didnt finish reading it, it was too dang long, n i dont have a death wobble..lol

[@michaels1432]

I work EMS and I had one of our F-350s do this on the interstate. Thank god we had no patients on board and were able to get the truck pulled over safely. I had no idea this was a thing until after the incident. I swore we blew a tire or something.

[@Unit_450]

its the track bar joints for the front differential, as well as the steering stabilizer

[@jaredallen8054]

Ford tech here... we have this all the time Ford says “the extreme steering oscillation starting from a bump in the road” (which the death wobble starts) “ is caused by the steering dampening shock being faulty or worn out”. Tsb (tech service bulletin) says to replace said dampener with an upgraded one (dampener also has extended warranty). Folks that is not the only issue the track bars ball joint can also cause this. To replace the ball joint you need to replace the whole bare it’s all one piece. Ford says up to 2mm of play is normal in that ball joint. I like NO PLAY in ball joints. If you have had the dampener replaced and it still does it replace that track bar as well. If it still does it after that you need more positive caster angle. If you do all three that truck will not ever death wobble until parts are worn out again

[@foxystang347]

Yes sir thats right i am a automotive technician 10 yrs now and we see this on on ford and dodge chevy trucks with heavyduty suspension worn track bar and suspension components

[@Amanda-dv5nh]

Death wobble isn't really a manufacturer specific problem in my opinion, and I wish people would do better research before creating panic like this. Anyone can have it, my little rav4 had a wobble issue cuz of a lift, it's generally an easy fix after diagnosis! Can we get a report on the Jeeps that are slamming themselves into park while driving 80+ mph down the road and actually killing people please? Don't be hatin on my Ford's. F150 is the best truck I ever owned. Appreciate your helpful comment, hopefully people who come across this article will read it if it gets enough responses and likes

[@jaredallen8054]

@@Amanda-dv5nh I don’t hat on ford. there’s somethings that can be fixed. I love ford that’s why I became a ford tech. It puts people at ease with high values fords like the raptor, focus rs, high end mustangs they’re happy that someone that loves their car as much as they do work on it.

[@Amanda-dv5nh]

@@jaredallen8054 Sorry if I was unclear, I know you weren't hating on ford I meant the article was, I love Ford and I appreciated your original comment :)

[@timcheek5134]

Too much positive caster is the issue

[@Sg-bg7xp]

Found the problem. Its circled on the front grill.

[@pillcosby3949]

Lmao

[@SASCOI]

LMFAO!!!

[@Doom6.0]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKOximaKepJsl5o kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYTNg4iNedp9d9E Dodge has the same issue with their trucks.....

[@Sg-bg7xp]

@@Doom6.0 yeah. Pretty much all 3/4 ton trucks are susceptible to it. Big suspensions amplify small issues. My Ford had it bad just because the tire was balanced wrong. My ram had it for the same reason. But it took my ball joints out quick. My gmc had it because tie rods being off just a bit. With this much weight on so many moving parts, they all have issues. But I will still make jokes about all of them.

[@andybub45]

@@Doom6.0 But Chevy doesnt

[@IMMADAAAWWGGGUUUHH]

I had the same issue on my 06 f250. I fixed it by buying a gmc. Problem never came back😆

[@mikereyes2488]

GMC is practically A Chevy 😉👍

[@IMMADAAAWWGGGUUUHH]

Mike Reyes gm gang

[@allenpesak6456]

Could have saved 10s of thousands of dollars by just fixing the part instead of buying a different truck well i mean the same truck but with a different logo.

[@IMMADAAAWWGGGUUUHH]

Allen Pesak driving it to the junkyard was worth all the money lost

[@unpopularopinion149]

Mike Reyes practically a Gay Mans Chevy otherwise knows as GMC

[@dodgeguyz]

So much for the guys that say “I’m never buying a Jeep again because of the death wobble!” LOL

[@squishytacticalnuke6991]

I get it lmao

[@carlspackler91]

Too bad "death wobble" isn't only a Ford problem. It's a common problem with a lot of solid front axle trucks.

[@maxsanchez2339]

Carl Spackler no it isnt 😂

[@carlspackler91]

@@maxsanchez2339 You know you're allowed to use teh intrawebz for more than just KZbin right?? Try doing some research before sticking your foot in your mouth again.

[@AirsoftGunsAndBbGuns]

yeah these pussies aint seen my 2nd gen dodge yet😂😂

[@maxsanchez2339]

Carl Spackler you said it was a common problem dipshit. Look up the definition of common then try again.

[@alexs3187]

Carl Spackler exactly! I have had it happen on a Dodge. Fortunately I didn’t own it. Looks like you hurt Max’s feelings with facts. Probably a Democrat lol.

[@HSSANITO]

This happened to me when I was passing someone and the dude just kept looking at my truck like wtf 😂

[@craignelson1127]

Needs more positive caster, 3 to 5 degrees. matched side to side within 1/4 degree.

[@D.E94]

Fixed my problem last year I bought a TOYOTA TUNDRA.

[@ellkir1521]

Fine if you want a Toy for a truck. Some men actually use their trucks.

[@D.E94]

@@ellkir1521 I use my truck for just about anything, Ford is not the only brand out there .

[@allenpesak6456]

@@D.E94 he's just mad because your truck actually works unlike his. I have a Toyota as well no problems.

[@picozyosso_-6703]

Man my uncle cant even pull the family boat without his tundra struggling and burning tire 2018 btw

[@tomfoolery5033]

I drive a 19 F350.... Toyota Tundra is a great truck.

[@thckitchen434]

They just passed the recall after finding out the real problem... get rid of your ford get a 2020 duramax

[@andybub45]

Yep the Duramax may be ugly but its a better truck!

[@calebniederhofer6529]

@@andybub45 Not at all , Ford is better quality all day.

[@Utahtruckguy]

Andrew M agreed Dodge Ram and new the chevs/gmc are ugly. Newer fords by far are the looking

[@Bearclaw_Jake]

Hell yeah, isuzu.

[@Brian-cr6rb]

This happened to me in my 2016 250 short cab long bed. Set up as a plow truck, the front end takes a beating. Having the crappie tires it came with at 8000 miles the toe adjust was out and the outer edges of the tread were very worn.between 70 and 80 I was passing a vehicle around a corner on a very skinny road, but a very bumpy one. It freaked me out tremendously! I treated my sudden panicked situation as a front tire blowout, but when I stopped to investigate, nothing seemed amiss. I recreated the condition several times to proof to myself I wasn't crazy. So instead of suing, I put new tires on the truck, which it was really ready for despite the mileage. To me it's my you need tires reminder at this point. I can't speak for everyone on this, only my experience. You buy an 80000 dollar king ranch, shitty tires or not, hitting the right bump at the right speed shouldn't turn a 8400 pound vehicle into a tooth breaker.

[@justnsaliga8518]

looking at the Date on the video and the model year of trucks actually looked at they're almost all 2nd gen 6.7s and a couple 3rd gen 6.7s the 2011-2016 body style. seems to me these guys have worn out front suspension parts and their truck ran out of warranty a while ago and they're chasing free repair or free money to fix it. and most of the "death wobble" is caused from either A. Lifting the truck. B. wearing out the front suspenion working the truck too hard and lack of maintence i.e plow truck and you dont grease any of the bajillion grease serts on the underside. or C. truck runs out of Factory warrenty and joe smoe though't it'd be cool not maintaining it beyond that until issues pop up then blame the maker. my first truck is a 2005 F250 harley davidson Edition owned it for about 2 years stock ride height no death wobble at 208,000 miles. newest one yet. 2019 F250 platinum recently got it 60k miles. and its got a small lift slightly larger tires. i grease the serts bout every 6 months. people are just chasing free money for free repairs because the engineers aren't good enough to build something that can last forever and never need oil changes or grease or lube changed on anything. or tires that last forever.

[@tonyr4545]

The old video game from the 80's called Out Run had the same feature.

[@derrickhines9056]

Ha damn

[@wileymonair]

I've seen over the years many people dumping hundreds plus into brand new to 25 year old Ford trucks with the death wobble only to end up abandoning it due to it being such a bad issue. I experienced the death wobble in a brand new 2016 F150 and a 1997 F350 with 580k miles on it. My 95 F150 was just tie rods, however the 2016 F150 had to be sent back to engineering at Ford. I always wondered how this problem can be so hard to diagnose and sometimes such a simple fix.

[@rsk8310]

Hi William, I have a 95 F150 and my front passenger side starts to shake or more like a bounce. I don't drive it often , I replaced all the tires and it seemed to stop but just started again, I can hardly go over 30mph and barely made it home , same thing it did before the new Michelin's. the right side front hub gets real hot too. Are these the same symptoms you had? I am going to look at the linkages next. Ill check the tie rods as you did and see. I know parking for long lengths of time can cause tires to go bad but I don't think its the tires, i drive the truck every couple months. I have about 200 miles on these tires. When it happens it starts out slow and then within a few miles I can hardly control the truck over 25 MPH.

[@robertwilson1664]

Solid front axle death wobble. Been around forever with Jeep and any other truck with a solid front axle. This is why I will take IFS all day over SA... I don’t need 18 inches of articulation lol

[@greggc8088]

Yep. Straight axles drive like crap on the highway. Can't believe Jeep used them as long as they did, even on 2WD's. Reckon it's strong though. Filing a law suit for wobble on a straight axle all terrain vehicle is kind of like filing a law suit for preparation H for leaving an aftertaste.

[@cathnu2]

My buddy has a 2019 250 and had this happen. Took it to the dealer and apparently they had a fix for this. The dealer would only fix it if you experienced it. I have a 2018 250 and never had a problem but took it in for an oil change and said I worried about having the problem and they went ahead and fixed it no charge. Thanks guys for that!

[@robertnewman4105]

Do you know what their fix is for this for your vehicle?

[@Unit_450]

@@robertnewman4105 its an issue with the track bar, drag link, and tie bar. They all wear prematurely

[@breakwindfarms5583]

I know quite a few roads that can make the steering wheel do that.

[@LegUpGaming]

It's like riding a skateboard when your trucks aren't tight enough. Someone could definitely get hurt very easily. Honestly if someone panics I feel they could definitely flip the vehicle.

[@user-lp9ye1po3w]

Surprised to see my local news come up when I just saw this happen and wanted to see if videos online were as bad as what I saw. I was on 77N and a maybe late 40s lady was merging from 85 in a pristine looking Wrangler. A death wobble started as she was coming up the merge ramp and it was INSANE. The wheels were going lock to lock multiple times a second and she slowed down in the space between the ramp and the highway to recover. I am so disappointed I don't have a dashcam setup in the vehicle I am in because I've not been able to find many videos that compare to just how violent those 33's looked going back and forth. I know of this phenomenon because I have a Dodge truck and the same thing (not nearly as bad though) happens when I cross a certain set of railroad tracks on my commute. If my wife had a Wrangler we'd be at the dealership right now getting a new car, no way I'd ever let her drive a Jeep again after seeing what that looks like from the outside. I know this video is about a Ford but Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep has been putting out garbage that does this for DECADES and blaming it on tires, modifications, or the roads. It's criminal that this stuff is still going on in the 2020s. I hope they get sued into oblivion one day over this.

[@THETOPGLOCK]

Just a side note...Ford isn’t the only one doing it.

[@mattlaskey782]

THETOPGLOCK you are correct, they’ve all had issues at some point with the wobble / shake

[@ncpowdercoatingllc2819]

I agree but this problem DEATH WOBBLE goes back as far as 1973 I belonged to a Vol fire department with a 1973 international rescue truck that at speeds over 40mph the death wobble began but if you slowed down it stopped. It's was the front traction bar on our unit the bushings were of poor grade. Dodge and GM trucks have the same issues

[@BassSniper209]

Awe yea thats the solid axle life gotta start replacing stuff

[@sly9263]

Had an Isuzu NPR cabover that did this, never could get it fixed right after countless dealer BS fix attempts. I know GM had this problem on their pickups for a while with imbalanced driveshafts

[@followtheciaence]

I used to drive a bucket truck that would do this at 35-40mph every time, felt like the wheels were hopping off the ground

[@ScottRothsroth0616]

I saw a comment of similar wording “Ford can’t blame Firestone.”

[@TraceRg406]

Of all the Fords owned in my life, I’ve never ever had this happen. I don’t run my truck very hard, but it is a work truck. I drive in dirt roads with wash boards all over and never have an issue. I believe this issue is a motor or power steering issue.

[@ladamyre1]

It's a front suspension issue without a doubt. I've worked on cars all my life. I'm a retired ASE Master Tech with factory training in P/steering and advanced engine, transmission and powertrain management systems as well as brake and suspension systems and this is obviously a sympathetic vibration situation: parts tuned to magnify the smallest input until it cascades into this kind of vibration. I'm not a Ford critic, when I retired I bought a Mercury Marauder and today drive a 2009 Grand Marquis and I just had the transmission overhauled: It has 177 thousand miles on it and it's a keeper in my opinion because I know how it's built. But that suspension was done on the cheap and any knowledgeable technician can see it. The old F150 drag-link on I-beam style front suspension from the 1960's was as solid as the rock of Gibraltar: nothing could hurt it. And if the parts got worn out, the design was such that until something broke off, it was stable at any speed. There was only one problem, and you would know if you've been a Ford Truck man as long as you say. When the front suspension bounced up and down it would change the geometry of the front tires such that you'd have to correct it at the steering wheel. This suspension is different. When it's new and all the joints are tight there's no problem. But let a few of the joints get some wear and loosen up a bit, a sympathetic vibration starts that might not be too noticeable at first, but causes the wear to increase until it gets like this "death wobble". This Ford isn't the only one to do it. There have been several trucks and even a few cars that have had this happen, and it ALWAYS boils down to the design of the suspension. It's an engineering mistake that I, and many others have attributed to cost cutting on the part of the manufacturer in the design phase that escaped detection in early testing. Once into full manufacturing, the cost of fixing this can be in the hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars. So the car company does what it does best: It hides under legal procedures.

[@81recinos]

Ford needs to be held accountable for this ..this trucks are too expensive and they take no responsibility but yet they are so ready to sell you one

[@davidmowat4056]

This can be fixed 99% of the time by an alignment adjustment. Assuming all components are in good condition simply adjust toe out until it goes away. This is not just a Ford problem.

[@benzbabecki6309]

I have to wonder what suspension options these trucks were equipped with. I've seen GM and Dodge vehicles do it also. There are quite a few options to go with and I suspect that some of them (plow, special trailer and camper preps) won't do well with out the extra weight they were intended to carry. Just curious if that has anything to do with it.

[@nicks2433]

That can happen on any vehicle with a solid front axle. Had it in a newer ram work truck and it’s common on jeeps

[@bobstewart9365]

U are correct Nick !! Try to drive an old solid Axle truck from the 70s and take stabilizer off an the same death wobble will happen !!

[@kylebrenay174]

Yep!

[@christravis481]

True

[@khaledmaher6602]

@@bobstewart9365 but that f150 is brand new

[@bobstewart9365]

@@khaledmaher6602 f -150 s don't have this problem just solid Axle trucks and yes new ones do it because of where ford has the steering stabilizer placed if they put it on the Axle tube would not have this issue !

[@Charlie-fc7se]

I’ve been a technician for 49 years , and have an advanced certification in Hunter’s Alignment machine, the fix for this issue is to lower the caster specs on the front end. Take veh to the alignment machine and modified the caster ( lower the caster 1 degree of factory spec) and problem solved.

[@bobborkowski1231]

I agree with Charlie. I took my 2016 F350 to the Ford dealer for the “death wobble”. They installed after market caster/camber alignment kits. This allowed them to make changes in caster and eliminated the wobble. What was upsetting was they would not fix the problem under warranty. I had to pay for the kits, installation, and alignment.

[@abelramos9443]

Fixed my problem too, bought a Dodge Ram.

[@theshield1613]

Owned by Fiat ,no thank 3

[@dylanphillips4149]

Time to have multiple more problems.. Them fiats aren't worth a damn

[@oobiegoobie940]

Ram have the death wobble as well. Any truck with a straight front axle has it, including Jeeps.

[@Chris-pm9mt]

exactly i hope my trx will be good to me lol

[@ivanpekic3544]

@@Chris-pm9mt trx-es have it, anyway u don't have the truck

[@mikegreer9041]

If there's no bad wheel, and steering components are new it's usually a simple toe adjustment. Anything with a solid axle and, or tie rod link can do it under the right situation.

[@bb_9653]

I have the same problem i just pump the air up in the front tires and its gone

[@josephstalin6913]

“Hey my trucks wobbling, let me just drive it at highway speeds and record it instead of stoping”

[@97336cf]

Really, what the hell do you expect them to do? Pull over, cry, and call a tow truck every single time it starts shaking? No, you continue driving. Secondly, sometimes it only happens on certain roads and bumps and the dealer tells you it can't be replicated, so you have to document it. Overall a pretty dim witted comment.

[@tylerhunt7552]

Wtf is "stoping"? Let me write a retarded comment and not know how to spell stopping...

[@stargazer4683]

Hello comrade

[@frankenelimtangco2400]

🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mattieice4689]

Its a way to document the issue. Cmon man.

[@BackyardFamilyBuilds]

This been going on for years now

[@agapr0]

It happened to me today! Everyone saying its tires but they not so bad. When i drive over 57mph it goes crazy, everything shaking. So what needs to be repair?

[@atlanticapplsvc]

I have a 2000 ford excursion that does the same thing. What is the fix for this?

[@67mlb67]

Those were pretty controllable. I’ve had my f350 shake so hard I couldn’t see because it was shaking so bad.

[@navim2126]

The death wobble is from experiences in motorcycles. Those that have experienced it, know it's difficult to maintain its balance when the motorcycle is freaking jumping on you and you go into the air. And some ppl are unlikely to survive that, sadly. I experienced it once and luckily I'm still here. Scared the shit out of me though. For that truck that seems like a simple fix my gfs car had the same issue and we fixed it in one day. :)

[@nicknicolosi1]

Same here, I ran a 2x4 on the highway at 100MPH, bent and popped my wheels, I didn't go down, and managed to stop safely, but I shit my pants for sure, not a fun experience. I think the stabilizer saved me, was a 2005 ninja 636

[@HRCfan17]

I had a similar issue on my 04 ram 2500. Happened at highway speeds after hitting a bump it would shake violently and applying the brakes made it stop. Found out the shop put on tires with wrong load range. I got tires with the proper load range and it never happened again.

[@jms08905]

We had a newer kia Optima that had a similar issue. After numerous suspension checks, tires etc... it turned out to be a steering wheel coupler. Idk if ford uses this same piece but when its worn out it will drive horribly.

[@KawaRider88]

Grew up in a Ford family. We all drive GMs now.

[@dylanphillips4149]

I'm sorry for your misplaced fortune with gm

[@andybub45]

@@dylanphillips4149 seems like his misplaced fortune was with Ford.

[@5610winston]

I drove a '76 F-100 company truck with non-power steering and a 302 three-on-the-tree running gear in 1984. The thing went into death wobble, but would smooth out with a light touch to the brakes. After a couple of such incidents on one errand, I turned in a maintenance card and asked for another vehicle.

[@ellkir1521]

I've logged millions of miles. Not the same thing. It's a engineering fix for Resonance Vibration after a strong jolt like a bump action. The engineers know about it, but don't know how to fix. It's hush hush at Ford. You won't find anybody willing to talk about it.

[@bobstewart9365]

@@ellkir1521 it is same thing !! Ford is putting the stabilizer in the wrong place it would be the same is not using one !! Problem would be solved if they would just put on Axle tube !!

[@michaelc7283]

I have a 2006 ford f250 xlt 5.4L extended cab. Everything is stock with no lift kit. It did the same thing. I called Ford company and ask about this issue. I gave them my vin number and they told me there was no recall on my vin or model. Then i received a letter 2 weeks later stating the death wobble issue on certain models. The letter states might be a tire inflation issue. Make sure you have correct air pressure on all four tire. If you continue having this issue go to your local dealer. Took it to the dealer and they took it for a test drive and couldn't get that same reaction. I decided to change the shocks. It help a little but when i hit a bump on the road it goes out of control and then vibrates. The weird part about my truck it happen at certain times. I hope ford can find a solution to this issue.

[@shawnbeck2303]

This just happened to my 2005 Taurus SE. I was driving 75 mph. Trying to get home from work. So my wife could have the car. When out of know where. The steering started jumping side ways over a inch and a half. With both hands on the wheel. I tried to slow down to get over from the fast lane. Almost wrecked and took out three other cars and a truck. One guy pulled over and told me. He never seen a front end just give way like that. He offered to follow me home. To make sure I made it safely home. Got off at the next exit. Had a mechanic look at it. Ball joints just went. All in one shot . Had to replace both joints. $550. I asked the mechanic. What's it called when that happens. "The Death Wobble " People get your car or truck looked at. It starts with a very small shimmy. Then Boom! Your in deep shit! Shawn

[@cjr4497]

I have witnessed this on F250's with less than 5,000 miles on them.

[@Scottstunts]

Straight axle Dodges do it too. When I doubt throttle out. The wobble goes away after 100.

[@STREETRACEN4U]

A few days ago One on the highway did this next to us after going over a bridge, they breifly lost control and came into our lane. scary stuff!!

[@rob5585]

This happened to me yesterday . 2019 f250 35k . Going 70km front driver tire went over a small bumb in road and truck started to shake exactly violently like this video . Wobble went away after slowing down to 5kmh . Purchasing a dash cam before it happens again and i get blamed .

[@ShersGarage]

Ford has a recall on these trucks. Updated steering dampener fixes the issue. Mostly those issues come from worn out front end parts.

[@Utahtruckguy]

Sher's Cars exactly

[@93chevy93]

Worn out on a 2019 or 2020? Yes just what I want to buy

[@KDBHonda256]

Thats not true at all. These trucks do it with 0 miles on them

[@ShersGarage]

@@93chevy93 there is a recall on those. I'm talking about the older trucks. People don't maintain their trucks. Solid axle is more durable than IFS, though has its downsides.

[@daveanderson2316]

My 80K F350 King Ranch did it at 22k miles. Not cool.

[@vloxdedtv8381]

My father had the *DEATH WOBBLE* before And all hé did was just put it on that WOBBLE BABY song Best Day of 2020

[@stevobarrnone8405]

I witnessed this on the freeway truck next to me it looked like the front wheels were gonna fall off it was like the whole front suspension was shaking violently

[@georgecurtis6463]

Well, my 96 jeep cherokee never had that. Never, even with three differant tire sets. It was never modified. Is this happening on stock trucks ?

[@TheNewenglandboys]

You could always trade it in for the "Chevy Shake" Make sure you get the 8 speed auto for best results!

[@dylanphillips4149]

Shit I have 3 Chevy 6speeds with a bad torque converter shake sub 100k lol

[@rjbrosky]

This just happened to me. I have a 2015 F250 with 90,000 miles. I was pulling my trailer in heavy traffic and went over a bridge that had a couple bumps in a row. I agree, it felt like an earthquake. Very scary. I slowed it down and gained controll.

[@romadonezero]

Did you sue ford?

[@NickMcRyan]

I had a 1996 Jeep Cherokee that had the death wobble. It did it like 3 times, and I thought it was going to shake to pieces. I was going 65 MPH one time with kids in the vehicle.

[@arielperez5951]

hello gentlemen this just happened to me in tennessee, when i hit some potholes in the road at 65 miles per hour it's awful what happened, i have a 2009 duty f350, you know what i should do?

[@cegan5]

Ford has a TSB to correct this. They adjust alignment and replace steering stabilizer

[@4dirt2racer0]

n can u imagine how hard it is on everything while its doin that, older jeeps grand cherokees at least had that problem n it was so bad it would lift the wheel off the ground, i cant believe thiss still a problem... i guess they justified it by it bein cheaper doin it the easy way n dealin with the backlash than doin it right the first time since i switched to gm iv been absolutely amazed, even when i do have to fix somethin its almost always so much cheaper n easier but to b honest the dam things like a tank iv put a 6.5 n now a duramax thru absolute hell n they wake up every day beggin for more its amazing n the only thing iv done was a little better turbo n tune thats it the turbos not even needed tho especially if u get the right year variable geometry and the drivetrain itself especially if u have the allison, unlike me unfortunately but still u can drag a heavy trailer every single day n it wont even care jus maintenance the thing thats the key sry got a little carried away i jus love gm i use to b a ford fan but gm impressed me so much they converted me

[@allenpesak6456]

It has been a problem since the wheel was invented. There is a fix mostly do to alignment or warn part or parts. Next time you go to a grocery store an see a shopping cart acting funny its the same ai the death wobble in vehicles. It could be one part causing the problem in this car but also a different part causing the prob in that car. The wobble is a harmonic resonance resulting from a loose or worn part in the steering or suspension, such as a tie rod end, and usually set off by hitting a bump at a certain speed. It often goes away after the vehicle stops, but can return under similar circumstances

[@misterenergy959]

When I was in college, the 1976 Econoline van did something similar. New tires and alignment fixed it

[@yenxiong6225]

my 14 chevy silverado dually duramax has this problem and I dont know whats wrong with it. new tires, new brakes, and rotor plus alignment done as well. still shakes and vibrates around 50 to 60 mph..

[@nenepinolero5427]

Y'all wanted electric assisted steering wheel, now get used to the PS4 vibration mode.

[@kaydub007]

😆 🤣 😂

[@jamesgavriel]

From what I know Jeeps also do this ford is not the only one and some manufacturers do its a common problem for a manufacturers to not change something for years i hope this time Ford will learn

[@srshouse3606]

It can be a problem on any vehicle with a solid front axle. Only reason Chevy 2500s/3500s don't have it is because they don't have a solid front axle - which means they also can't pull as much.

[@bradmyntti1065]

Gets worse with a lift and bigger tires we almost went off the highway at 80 we hit a bump making a slight left turn and the truck just went straight. Can fix the issue by installing a better (daul) steering dampener setup

[@joshuasmith6155]

My 2006 F350 just did the death wobble on 38's. She waited 17 years to wobble LOL.

[@HyperInflation2020]

This just happened to me. I lost total control on interstate 95, south FL a d here I am.

[@Ch33ch007]

Same, i95 Florida near daytona, road construction about 80 mph

[@aaronhuff4484]

Plague of solid front axles with coil springs

[@harveyschindler9554]

I had a seventies something fore f150 with twin I beam front. It too had the shakes. The fix was some sort of shock absorber mounted onto the steering system.

[@justinmebes476]

My 2019 f250 does this too. When I hit any pot holes in town. I thought maybe because it was lifted with big tires?

[@ricci169]

Suspension issue it's your lack bn of fixing a loose part or bad alignment

[@nationalcitysycho]

NO NOT ALIGNMENT ..YOU NEED 2 BRAND NEW SHOCK STABILIZERS!. IT FIXED MY FORD EXCURSION 2000 4X4 & IT FIXED MY 06 DODGE RAM MEGA CAB 4X4.

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Started when they went to coil springs. Mine is leaf spring front end. Never had this problem

[@bobstewart9365]

No problem is placement of the stabilizer. Older ones were on the Axle tube newer ones are right off frame box it definitely not were it needs to be put back on the tube

[@ukraineme96]

Ford: *has something called a death wobble* Motorcyclists: “that’s cute”

[@CoD_Maj3st1k]

yep this is happening to me on my 2019 F250 power stroke. I keep thinking it was a flat tire. 60-70 mph and always after hitting a major pothole. it goes away once I pull over to a complete stop. scary stuff. you loose 90% of your handling and it's really tough to hold on to the steering wheel when it happens.

[@iaminyouout1813]

Wow glad I saw these was interested in a new Ford whoah going to GMC or Ram now thanks for showing us this

[@bobstewart9365]

Well ram has wobble too !! And GMC has a 2 piece frame so they all have issues !! Ford has the cheapest fix buy dual stabilizer and put on Axle tube problem solved !! GMC cant fix a seamed frame and can't spell Dodge without D O G !!

[@clayzr4716]

@@bobstewart9365 you shouldn't have to fix a factory fault on an $80,000 truck

[@bobstewart9365]

@@clayzr4716 u are right but Fords steering stabilizer fix is cheaper than putting a full frame under a gm !!

[@nickspaulding1511]

My ram does it to. Bought a ford and googled just to see if it would have same problem and they do. Great

[@jessethrasher4807]

“Ford death wobble” as if it doesn’t happen with other manufacturers

[@samduran5180]

Old dodges used to have it but they Ram has installed larger stabilizer shocks to fix the problem, Wranglers still have death wabble and of course IFS doesn't have death wabble. Ford could easily fix the issue but refuses to make them slightly better due to the bean counters.

[@AL-nb9bf]

@@samduran5180 death wobble isnt fixed by adding a bigger stabilizer. Many things can contribute to the reason why. Bent wheel, out of round tires, bad wheel bearings, bent or loose steering components. Most people think right from the factory that the alignment is spot on well I can tell you it's not, I've taken trucks with 50 miles on the odometer and they are out of alignment. I've seen new trucks tied down incorrectly and have had stuff bent that caused this problem. Not just a ford problem it's a straight axle problem dodge, ford and jeep.

[@domesticatedwolverine4152]

No worries it's just "breaking" in it will go away after a hundred thousand or so miles

[@Satans_lil_helper]

I put it my resignation because they refused to fix the death wobble. I love my job, but I'm not willing to die for it. 🤣

[@enricopolazzo33]

Incomplete reporting. no doubt your google search include other makes and models, going years back. This is nothing new for straight front axle trucks / jeeps.

[@dubb9020]

it happens on jeeps ALOT

[@50chevtrk1]

Back in the early 80's When you did lift kits and bigger tires. I had chevys if you didn't have dampening shocks you would get the death wobble.

[@bobstewart9365]

@@50chevtrk1 damn Skippy !! New Fords problem is damper is in wrong place

[@andybub45]

Seems that it doesnt happen on Chevys

[@bradgt5130]

Andrew M that’s because Chevy doesn’t offer a vehicle with a solid front axle anymore.

[@hairpunut]

People act like this is something new. Jeep has been having the death wobble since the early 90s and such. Some some crap suspension designs. Especially on the grand cherokees from 99-2004. They got it real bad, one main issue with the rear control arm causing dog tracking in the rear. And the dampeners went bad all the time.

[@indycrownroyal]

Hit a bump on I-65 south of Louisville and almost crashed my truck. I have a 2008 F-350 Single wheel crew cab. It was violent!!! I thought I was going to crash the truck. It took everything I had to get it pulled over to the side of the road. It blew the seal out of my steering damper.

[@SWog617]

I had that about 10 years ago with my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Was doing about 65 MPH when I hit a seam on the highway. Scared the sh*t out of me. That was my last Jeep.

[@DavidLee-wj9sp]

Wait til earth death wobbles

[@MDF4072]

It gets fixed when you go 150MPH , permanent fix 👌

[@jaked964]

That underpowered turf can’t even hit 150 😂

[@MDF4072]

@@jaked964 that is the point , you will be dead before 150 lol.

[@onedaysomeday5408]

And here all this time I thought it was spelled "WABBLE" so I hit Google up and she said I was right, it's spelled wAbble..🤣🤣

[@mrpep1976]

Had that happen whenever I hit a bump on the highway and I slowed down and it went away. As soon as I hit around 70 and I any bump it would start again. This was on a 03 Yukon. It turned out to be front shocks

[@salcardenas2891]

My 2007 ram 3500 still has the death wobble I like it it keeps me from speeding and getting tickets and my sons tundra ain’t pulling heavy shit so I’m keeping my death wobble truck Plus that 6.7 is awesome

[@jamesmichael7922]

Ford actually came out with an updated steering damper to replace the original. If its under warranty, have it replaced for free.

[@DavidPruitt]

Steering damper doesn't fix the problem it just hides it a bit by dampening the vibrations. Its still broken and it'll kill the damper in short order. The front end is a bad design, the only fix is to rip it out and replace it with a different one.

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix]

@@DavidPruitt you're right, you'd think they'd have redesigned the suspension when they came put with the new 17 model but from what I can see, they didn't change the design at all.

[@80spyder1]

Between my business and personal use I’ve had 4 F250 trucks in this year range and an Excursion which is basically an F250 regarding the steering. All vehicles have had components replaced when worn out, proper alignments, and good tires an not one wobble. If you let anything go long enough it will be a problem.

[@jimsix9929]

hello I am the owner of Jims power steering in Akron Ohio, other that rebuilding thousand of rack and pinions and steering shafts, we have also solved a lot of death wobble problems it is not that hard, yes you should replace any loose parts but the reason it happens more on f 250s and other bigger trucks is to make them steer easy at low speed the factory alignment has very little positive caster, as parts and bushings wear it can even go negative, if you can get 3 degrees of positive caster the death wobble is gone, if your truck is not adjustable then find a way to do it anyhow, a good alignment guy will come up with a way, caster gives a car directional stability (makes it want to go straight), but does make steering effort a bit harder, hope this helps

[@crsed]

Fix Or Repair Daily Ford Edit note: I'm joking... Partly, still never buying a Ford but I do recognize people like them.

[@Mike-uo2gg]

Found On Road Dead

[@markwa9310]

I've got a 2017 F250 that does this as well and I've noticed it does more often when I'm accelerating up a hill or if I'm going down hill on a freeway going 60 to 70 mph. Dealer tries to tell me I must be hitting lots of bumps.

[@allenpesak6456]

You made that up trying to give them a bad rep an to feel apart of the conversation. Quit your lying. You know the dealer didn't say that to you.

[@markwa9310]

@@allenpesak6456 Taking this comment a little personal aren't you. You must be a Ford salesman or a rep. of some sort. Maybe just someone that starts his Sunday morning off with a low self-esteem, little drinking, wife beating and comment bashing. But really, if you must know it's fixed. They had to put a new Dampers Kit and Drag Links on it and came with a cost of about $750. And actually on my computer invoice for reason the truck was in the shop said. "Customer states trucks front end shakes when hitting bumps on the road". Which I never told him that. Get some help for that low self-esteem buddy and good luck to you.

[@ellkir1521]

With you Mark. Ford knows about it and tries to squelch it since the engineers have no fix. I have a 2010 with the same issue. It's called Resonance Vibration (kinda like Galloping Gertie) after hitting a bump at between 70 and 80 just right, it causes the axle to pivot left and right up and down like mad till the Rosonance Vibration works it's way out. Going below 60 will keep it from happening. The only fix I've found is to add a secondary OIL (oil has more resistance then gas) shock absorber or convert to air shocks to help cancel fast up and down motion.

[@ellkir1521]

@@allenpesak6456 MyMy like being a TROLL or Ford STOOGE?. Uncalled for response and what Mark is saying is true.

[@allenpesak6456]

@@ellkir1521 your an idiot. "The death wobble" has been around since trucks suvs cars motorcycles skateboards shopping carts and basically anything with wheels have existed. Name any motor company that hasn't had that problem...... Ill wait for you answer.

[@peterlowrie7332]

It's the steering stabilizer shock in front.had that problem to.

[@jpc0509]

Only happens if I hit a bump or dip while Steering wheel isn’t dead center at 70mph plus. As long as you just hold the steering wheel loosely when you know a bumps coming up like that won’t happen. Haven’t had it happen in 2 years. And if it does happen and your quick enough you can jerk the steering wheel either way and back real quickly to fix it as it’s starting