The “death wobble” is an ominous term most closely associated with certain Jeep Wranglers, due to their tendency to produce severe shaking through the suspension and steering wheel. But Ford has found itself in the midst of a similar issue, with an ongoing “death wobble” lawsuit for certain Ford heavy-duty pickups, with plaintiffs complaining about significant shaking and oscillating of the steering wheels, much like the issue seen in the Jeeps. Unfortunately for the 13 plaintiffs, the Ford class action lawsuit has been put on hold until the results of an appeal by the automaker are released. Ford still has a lot to do to fully extricate itself from the lawsuit, though.
What Exactly Causes The Death Wobble?
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According to Car Complaints, the Ford issue is caused by loosening of the track bar bushing, unusual wear of the bushing, and issues with the ball joints, steering dampers, control arms, shock absorbers, and struts. In general, symptoms of a “death wobble” affect vehicles with a solid front axle.
Ford pickups implicated in this lawsuit include 2005-2007 and 2017-2019 F-250 and F-350 models—the smaller F-150 doesn’t have a solid front axle and isn’t affected by the same issue. The lawsuit was initially filed in 2019 and includes at least 13 plaintiffs.
The wobbling issue typically surfaces when the pickup is traveling at over 50 mph. Due to the higher speeds, the sudden onset of the wobble is all the more disconcerting. The wobble generally follows the truck hitting a bump in the road, and drivers are often forced to dramatically reduce speed to eliminate the worrying symptom. The original lawsuit mentioned 12 reports of crashes involving this issue and 1,265 overall complaints.
Related: 2020 Ford Super Duty First Drive Review | Big truck, bigger numbers
Why Is The Lawsuit Being Put On Hold?
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The reason the lawsuit has been put on hold relates to a 2024 decision by the judge to certify the class action for only eight states, including Maine. However, one customer from Maine did not meet the requirements for such a lawsuit, and the plaintiffs requested a replacement customer from South Carolina. Judge Anthony J. Battaglia agreed that a different Main representative could be named, but not one from another state. Ford argued against this logic and the judge agreed.
“Under Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit precedent ‘a class representative must be part of the class,’ for Maine,” said Judge Battaglia.
Other than this specific issue, Ford filed a petition for permission to appeal a ruling regarding common issues for implied warranty claims in Maine and South Carolina. Ford believes the judge was incorrect in the finding that common issues predominated over implied warranty claims for both these states. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Ford’s permission to appeal, and these oral arguments are set to begin this month.
No further actions are permitted until a decision from the appeals court is released.
Related: Jeep ‘Death Wobble’ class action settlement includes warranty extension, reimbursement
Final Thoughts
Considering the number of Ford heavy-duty pickups on the road, a large number of Ford drivers are potentially affected. And, while Ford may have succeeded in delaying the lawsuit with its appeals, it will likely still be challenging for the Blue Oval to find a longer-term solution for all affected customers.
Not only have some crashes been caused by the wobbling pickups, but customer feedback on Car Complaints indicates how frightening the issue has been for many. Hopefully, the weary plaintiffs get a positive outcome soon.
