2007 Ford F-250 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a front-end shake, shimmy, or wobble at highway speeds, especially after hitting bumps, potholes, or bridge seams. Some reports describe steering that becomes hard to control or stops responding, and surging, hesitation, or delayed throttle response appear in fewer reports. Many say the shaking stopped only after slowing down, and many shaking complaints fall between about 22,000 and 55,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy and shaking over bumps at speed

   • 35 complaints (65%)
   • median 32,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2016

   Owners describe the front end or the whole truck shaking violently, often with a steering wheel shimmy, after hitting potholes, bridge seams, or uneven pavement at highway speeds, commonly between about 55 and 70 mph. Many say the shaking stopped only after slowing down a lot, and some describe bouncing, vibration, or a temporary loss of control before the truck settled. Dealers and Ford reportedly attributed the problem to tire pressure, tire size, or normal vehicle behavior or found nothing wrong during inspection, and some owners say steering stabilizers, alignments, and new tires did not resolve it. Reported across a very wide mileage range, from about 65 miles to about 122,500 miles, with many cases between about 22,000 and 55,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the Ford service campaign for steering wheel and front wheel vibration after bumps has been performed, and have the tie rods, track bar, ball joints, and steering stabilizer checked for wear. On a test drive, cross some bumps or dips at highway speed and note whether the front end shakes or the steering wheel vibrates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Picked up my f250 super duty from the service at the Ford dealer, driving it on the freeway overpass, hit a bump on the over pass and my front end started shaking violently. I had no control, I had to stop on the freeway to make it stop shaking, almost caused a pile up. Called the dealer and they said they've heard of the problem but nothing they can do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10439970, filed 2011-12, 60,400 miles

   “I have a Ford f250sd, when I am doing 70mph plus and hit a pot hole or a good size bump the front end of the truck shakes vigorously. I would have to slow down to nearly to 40mph just to get it to stop. I spoke with about 200+ other Ford f250sd owners on different forums and they all state they are having the same problem. The years range from '06 to '08.”

   NHTSA complaint #10353977, filed 2010-09, 79,236 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering becomes hard to control or stops responding

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2016

   Owners describe steering that becomes very hard to control or stops responding, with some reports describing a truck that veered across lanes. A report of steering box and steering pump failures describes the wheel not turning in one direction after an earlier steering box replacement. Other complaints describe difficulty steering while the front end shakes, along with an ABS warning light that stayed on. Mileage ranges from about 400 miles to about 100,000 miles, and reported speeds run from about 30 to 75 mph, including while towing.

   What to check: Ask whether the steering box, steering pump, and stabilizer parts have been replaced and whether repair records exist for the steering system. On a test drive, turn the wheel at low and moderate speed in both directions and confirm that steering effort and response feel even.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was towing a car hauler at approximately 65 MPH on I-94 outside of chicago, il when my vehicle began to veer slightly to the right and cross into the other lane. I tried to correct steer to the left and my vehicle did not respond. I began to cross into the next lane of traffic and I began to spin the steering wheel even harder to the left with no change in direction. I realized that I had a loss of steering and began to apply the brakes to avoid hitting the barrier on the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10538371, filed 2013-09, 99,744 miles

   “Ford super duty deathwobble. Problem has persisted since new. Failure occurs at speeds between 30 and 75mph. Failure manifests as uncontrollable steering and whole vehicle oscillation. Has LED to loss of control of vehicle more times than I can remember. Uneven road surface instigates said loss of control. Have changed shocks and springs,added dual steering stabilizer in addition to changing stabilizer in stock location, ball joint caster cams added, new tires added (twice) multiple alignments. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10376922, filed 2011-01, 54,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Surging, hesitation, or delayed throttle response

   Mentioned in 4 of 53 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a truck that surged forward from a stop with the accelerator going to the floor without warning, a throttle that took several seconds to return to idle, and hesitation or lack of acceleration from a stop or when merging into traffic. Some describe bucking, jerking, or hopping when towing a load, most commonly in third gear on hills and entrance ramps, and Ford reportedly described the action as normal. The throttle delay was reported to persist after repeated dealer visits. Mileage given ranges from about 10 miles to about 28,000 miles, with the problems described when starting from a stop, towing, or merging.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any stored engine codes have been checked and whether the lack-of-power or surge service bulletins listed for this model year were performed. On a test drive, check for smooth throttle response from a stop and when merging, and confirm that the engine returns to idle promptly after the pedal is released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ever since we purchased our 2007 Ford f250, (which was delivered new in sept. 2006), the throttle has failed to return properly. There are intermittent delays of up to 10 seconds before the engine will return to idle after releasing the throttle pedal when driving the vehicle. We have taken the truck back to the dealer or called the dealer eight or more times complaining about the problem since delivery. To date, the problem is not fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10192061, filed 2007-05, 10 miles

   “After about 28,000-30,000 the truck would severely buck/jerk/hop when towing a load. The problem occurs in third gear most commonly. Upon acceleration up a hill, the truck has an extreme buck. The rpms raise and lower up to 400 RPM. Ford has determined this action to be normal. The only way I have fond to stop this, is to let all the way off the accelerator, and then try again. The truck will then start this again, in which I have to let off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10224227, filed 2008-04, 28,000 miles

Buying note. Owners considering this model year may want to ask whether the steering vibration service campaign and any front-end or steering repairs have been documented, and to test drive over bumps at highway speed before buying. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the steering, suspension, and tires can help set expectations about the truck's condition.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.