Vehicle makers work to ensure their cars and trucks are safe before they hit the road. Yet, some problems do not become evident until the vehicles are on the road and used by customers. That’s the case with the Ford F-250 and the claims of a death wobble.
Is there a Ford F-250 death wobble recall?
As of September of 2020, there is no recall on the suspension system or steering related to a recall, but there are customer complaints about it. Other recalls you should know about:
- Fire after seat belt pretensioner deployment
- Tailgate may open unexpectedly
- Daytime running lights may not dim
In this piece, we will cover these recalls while also discussing some Ford F-250 owners’ death wobble claims. Having as much information as you can about a vehicle, especially if you plan to buy one, is important.
Customer Complaints Regarding Death Wobble
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Ford for claims around the F-250 and F-350 trucks related to a death wobble. According to the claim, these vehicles have latent defects within the steering linkage system and/or the suspension system.
According to the claim, the defects cause the vehicle to shake violently when the car reaches speeds of 50 mph or higher.
This shaking is being called a death wobble. This claim, which does not have a recall or investigation in place, notes that the death wobble can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle. Drivers cannot steer properly during it. This can lead to a loss of control and an increased risk of accidents.
According to the claim, the problem is in the early and abnormal wear or the loosening of the track bar bushing, ball joints, damper bracket, shocks, structs, or the control arms. This creates a significant and ongoing shake when an uneven surface area is encountered at highway speeds.
As noted, there is no recall at this time, though numerous consumer complaints exist. At this time, the class action lawsuit impacts F-250 and F-350 owners for models between 2005 and 2019.
Fire After Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V880000
In December of 2019, Ford recalled the 2017 through 2019 F-Super Duty F-250, as well as the F-350, F-450, and the F-550 Super Crew Cab vehicles that had carpeting on the flooring.
There is a risk of a fire occurring in these vehicles due to the front seat belt pretensions deploying after a crash. When this happens, it can cause sparks to occur.
Those sparks can ignite materials, including the carpeting inside the vehicle. It can also ignite the insulation located inside the B-pillar area.
Ford alerted owners to this problem. They had dealerships apply a heat resistant tape to the carpeting and the insulation to prevent it from occurring. They also modified the B-pillar insulation to minimize risks.
Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V864000
Ford Issued a recall on the 2017 through 2019 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks for a problem with the latches and locks. In the affected vehicles, an electric tailgate latch release switch is positioned over the tailgate handle. In these cars, water or moisture can get into the electrical wiring in this area. This can cause the electrical circuit to short.
When water gets into the electrical wiring system, this can lead to the short circuit activating the switch. This can release the tailgate latches allowing the tailgate to open unexpectedly. Any type of cargo within the vehicle, then, could fall out of the truck bed. This creates a road hazard and increases the risk of a crash occurring.
Ford had dealerships modify the tailgate and frame wiring harness in these vehicles. They added jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits. They also put in new tailgate handle release switches to prevent this problem.
Daytime Running Lights May Not Dim
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V808000
In November of 2019, Ford issued a recall on the 2018 and 2019 F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty trucks over a problem with the exterior lighting. In these vehicles, the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) do not dim as they should when the headlight switch is moved to the “On” position.
Because of this problem, the vehicle fails to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108 called, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” If the DRLs do not dim as they are supposed to, this can cause a visibility issue for other drivers. That makes it an increased risk of causing an accident.
Ford alerted owners to this concern. They then had dealerships reprogram the Body Control Module software to fix the problem. This was done at no cost to the owner.
How Do You Handle an Open Recall on the Ford F250 Vehicle?
The death wobble claim on the Ford F-250 vehicle has not led to a recall yet, but it could in the future. That is why owners and those thinking of buying this truck should keep an eye on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. This is where you can find information about new recalls.
At the website, owners of the F-250 can enter the truck’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the system. This will produce a list of all applicable recalls (it also lists investigations and manufacturer recommended repairs). The list includes information about pending recalls that still need to be serviced.
Without the VIN, it is possible to look up some information using the make, model, and year of the truck. This leads to a list of recalls the vehicle has faced.
In situations where owners see a recall that is pending or has been serviced, it’s important to call Ford’s customer service number at 1-866-436-7332 to request more information. They will tell you where to go to get the repairs on the vehicle.
