The infamous Ford death wobble has been documented almost everywhere through YouTube videos, news reports, NHTSA complaints, and lawsuits. The list goes on. But the one who has failed to properly address the issue is Ford Motor Company. The lack of communication, recalls, and action from the vehicle company has resulted in dozens of injuries and thousands of Ford owners speaking up about their “terrifying experience.” If you’re a Ford driver, whether you have a Ford XLT, Lariat, Ford F350 Super Duty, 2023 Ford F250, or even a 1987 Ford F250, it’s crucial to stay up to date on all things product defects and death wobble in order to protect yourself and others from a major car accident. Below, we answer all of your death wobble questions, including: is death wobble dangerous? We also discuss what to do if you begin experiencing the Ford death wobble while driving.
If you or someone you love has suffered injury or death due to the Ford death wobble, call Chicago product liability attorneys at 312-321-1111 to schedule a free consultation and learn additional information about your claim.
What is the Ford Death Wobble?
The infamous death wobble that many Ford truck drivers have experienced is a violent shaking of the front end of the truck and the steering wheel. This issue typically occurs at highway speeds or after hitting a bump in the road. But it can also occur under any typical driving conditions. Ford truck drivers who have experienced this violent shaking on the road describe it as a terrifying experience because many struggle to steer and keep control of the vehicle. Naturally, this temporary loss of control and difficulty steering can lead to an increased risk of accident, injury, or death.
Which Ford Trucks Experience the Death Wobble?
According to a recent class-action lawsuit filed in 2019, Ford F250 and F350 super duty trucks from 2005 to 2019 can experience the death wobble.
Has Anyone Died From the Ford Super Duty Death Wobble?
So far, there have been no reports or data of death from Ford super-duty trucks that experience the death wobble. But there have been 12 injuries related to the Ford truck defect, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, more than 1,200 Ford owners have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over the years. At the time of writing, the most recent 2017 Ford F-250 death wobble complaints on the site were created in February 2022.
What Parts of the Ford F-250 and F-350 Cause the Death Wobble?
The 2019 Lessin v. Ford Motor Company lawsuit alleges that the death wobble is caused by a defect linked to suspension and steering systems. According to page 9 of the class action complaint:
“The Class Vehicles suffer from one or more defects in their suspension and steering linkage systems … including but not limited to, abnormal wearing and/or loosening of the track bar bushing (or “pitman arm”), damper bracket, the ball joints, control arms, shock absorbers, and/or struts, resulting in spontaneous and continuous violent shaking of the vehicle when encountering irregularities in the roadway surface at freeway speeds.”
The Purpose of The Suspension and Steering Components
Maybe you don’t know much about cars, and you’re reading that section of the lawsuit and thinking: “What are all those parts supposed to do?”
- Track Bar Bushing: This vehicle part is crucial in preventing the death wobble, especially at high speeds. More specifically, the track bar bushing connects the track bar to the frame and the axle, therefore keeping the axle centered.
- Damper Bracket, also known as a steering stabilizer, is another crucial car part that keeps your steering wheel straight, therefore preventing the death wobble. The damper bracket basically absorbs the shock in the steering system in order to prevent wobbling.
- Ball Joints are important parts of a vehicle because they connect wheel hubs to control arms. With the right Ford F-450 torque specs, this connection generally provides a safe and smooth ride, free of the death wobble.
- Control Arms are critical parts of a vehicle’s suspension system. Basically, the control arms connect the front wheel assemblies to the frame of a vehicle. They allow a Ford truck driver to steer properly.
- Shock Absorbers are another crucial component of a vehicle’s suspension system. Just as the name suggests, they absorb the shock of the springs and suspension in order to prevent too much bouncing. Additionally, the shock absorbers help a vehicle’s tires stay on the road at all times.
- Struts also help control the movement of a vehicle. If your car has bad struts, you’ll likely experience difficulty in driving on bumpy roads, turning, braking, and accelerating.
As you can see, dysfunction in one or all of these parts can certainly lead to the Ford super-duty death wobble.
Has Ford Recalled F-250 or F-350 Trucks Due to the Death Wobble?
Despite the class-action lawsuit filed against Ford Motor Company, it has not issued a recall of its trucks. In fact, the lawsuit alleges that Ford knew about the suspension and steering failures and has still refused to properly address or notify their customers about the problem. But last year in December 2020, Ford offered extended warranties to drivers experiencing the death wobble, according to a news source. These warranties basically covered necessary steering and suspension repair prices. But before Ford offered this extended warranty, the company expected death wobble sufferers to cover the expensive repair costs themselves. For those who spend thousands of dollars on a Ford F350 or F250 transformer price tag, even if they bought it on sale, this is a bold expectation given how dangerous the death wobble can be on the roads.
What Should I Do if My Ford F-250 or F-350 Does the Death Wobble?
Maybe you own a Ford super duty F-250 or F-350, you’re just now hearing of the infamous death wobble, and you’re wondering what you should do if you endure that frightening experience. Unfortunately, there is no Ford death wobble fix kit, so they only thing you can do is react safely in the moment.
Slow Down or Stop Immediately
If you’re losing control and struggling to steer your Ford super-duty vehicle at high speed due to the death wobble, you need to slow down or stop immediately. Based on plaintiff statements in the recent class-action lawsuit, slowing down (preferably with Ford power brakes) is the only way to stop the death wobble and prevent injury to yourself and your interior vehicle occupants.
If You Crash and Injure Yourself, Call 911
If the Ford F350 death wobble causes you to crash and injure yourself, you need to seek immediate medical attention even if you think your injuries are minor. Calling 911 will do two things: make sure you and your occupants are okay and create a record of the event.
File a Complaint
Once you know that you and your occupants are safe, you should file a vehicle complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and maybe even try to sell your vehicle and attempt to exchange it with a safer one. Filing a complaint is a great way to create a clear record of your death wobble event. Additionally, your complaint could deter others from buying a Ford F-250 or F-350 and therefore prevent further injury or wrongful death.
Call a Chicago Product Liability Lawyer
Lastly, call a Chicago product liability lawyer at Curcio & Casciato. We have decades of combined experience in winning compensation for those injured by defective products. In fact, we have won over $2 million in combined product liability settlements for our injured clients.
Because the Ford super duty death wobble is likely caused by suspension and steering system defects, your case would certainly fall into the product liability category. Give us a call today, and we’ll start investigating your case.
Ford Super Duty Death Wobble Compensation
If you win a product liability lawsuit of any kind, you could receive economic damages, non-economic damages, punitive damages, or all of the above.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are basically the monetary losses that you’ve suffered due to the death wobble. Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills associated with death wobble injuries
- Rehabilitation bills associated with death wobble injuries
- Lost wages (if your injuries caused you to miss work)
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage or destruction
Non-Economic Damages
Meanwhile, non-economic damages are the losses you’ve suffered from the death wobble that don’t have a monetary value. Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering as a result of your accident
- Emotional trauma as a result of your accident
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium
To learn more about how to calculate pain and suffering damages in a Ford F250 or F350 death wobble claim, contact a Chicago emotional distress lawyer today.
Punitive Damages
Defective product victims can sometimes win punitive damages as well. These damages exist to further punish the company responsible for the defect. So if you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from crashing your truck due to the death wobble, Ford Motor Company would owe you additional compensation for the sake of punishment.
Call Product Liability Lawyers at Curcio & Casciato Today
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries or death from the Ford super duty death wobble, call Curcio Law product liability lawyers today. Our experienced Chicago car accident injury attorneys fight tooth and nail for our clients in the courtroom every single time. We have won millions of dollars in settlements for our clients and can do the same for you. Call 312-321-1111 today for a free consultation.
