Saw this in my Automotive News and thought I'd post.

NHTSA checks Ford models
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Harry Stoffer
Automotive News
November 26, 2007 - 12:01 am ET <TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=9></TD><TD>******** language=javascript>document.write ('<SCRI');document.write ('PT LANGUAGE=\"JavaScript1.1\" SRC="http://oascentral.autonews.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.autonews.com/news//71121019/9191270112@Middle1?');document.write (queryvar);document.write ('"></scri');document.write ('pt>');*********>******** language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://oascentral.autonews.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.autonews.com/news//71121019/9191270112@Middle1?nhtsa,checks,ford,models">***** ****>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>WASHINGTON -- Federal safety officials have opened two defect investigations of Ford Motor Co. vehicles.

One involves 2005-07 F-250 and F-350 pickups. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received at least 78 complaints about steering and suspension oscillations - some of them severe enough to cause loss of control.

NHTSA said it was aware of one injury accident linked to the alleged problem. An estimate of the number of affected vehicles on the road was not immediately available.

NHTSA also is investigating nine complaints of instrument cluster malfunctions on 2005 Ford Five Hundreds and Freestyles. Complaints said instrument panel illumination fluctuated, gauges stopped registering information, and turn signals failed. About 174,000 of the vehicles are on the roads, the agency said.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Proud owner of both these. Both 2007.

350 has about 6000 miles and the Freestyle has about 3000 miles on odometers. Havent been anywhere near the death wobble on the 350 dually yet, but i have felt 'very faint' shimmy at times when going over bumps.

On the freestyle, i had noticed 'fluctuations' in the gauge needles just after startup or just after shutdown. i will have to pay closer attention to the guages now and see what happens.

I am quite happy with both vehicles and expect good service from both.

 

NEWS FLASH!

NHTSA finds crapo-rancho shocks and excessive speed to be at fault.

 

My, my, my. The government again comes thru. This time I already traded by 2005 with Billstein shocks. What the government calls "steering and suspension oscillations" is known in this forum simply as: "DEATH WOBBLE"!
One of the selling points on my 2008 F-350 is the LACK of RANCHO shocks, and the shocks are just painted black.

 

Are the Rancho's really that bad? I got 130K on mine and I guess I just don't know any better

 

Freedom:
Don't know, but I still have five RANCHO's that you can play like an accordian. Pay the freight and I will ship 'em to you. Had 28,000 miles on mine on a F-350 long bed dually. If you want five more you are welcome to have them.