Truck suddenly feels… wobbly?

Hi All,
I have a '24 XLT Hybrid that I bought new in January, and I’ve put just over 11k miles on it. Love the truck, but recently it’s felt “wobbly.” Not like a full-on speed wobble, more like the suspension feels soft side-to-side, giving it a lot of sway. This happened suddenly. Even when I shift in my seat or if a car passes while I’m stopped, I feel the truck rocking more than usual. My wife noticed it right away too. We live in a place with speed bumps, and going over them at an angle really makes it obvious. Could the shocks be breaking in, or is something wrong? Anyone else deal with this? I’ll mention it when I take it in for a recall soon.

Check if any of the shocks are leaking oil.

Vale said:
Check if any of the shocks are leaking oil.

Will do first thing in the morning. That would explain a lot.

North said:

Vale said:
Check if any of the shocks are leaking oil.

Will do first thing in the morning. That would explain a lot.

There was a known issue with CV joints on earlier models. Yours should be updated, but worth checking.

@Bailey
Thanks! I’ll have them look into it.

Is your tire pressure low? Cold weather lowers PSI, and that makes the sidewalls feel softer, which feels wobbly. I’ve had to air up my tires twice this month because of the temp drop.

Tali said:
Is your tire pressure low? Cold weather lowers PSI, and that makes the sidewalls feel softer, which feels wobbly. I’ve had to air up my tires twice this month because of the temp drop.

We’re in a warm climate (it was 72 today), but I’ll check PSI in the morning. Haven’t seen any alerts on the dash, though.

When I go over bumps or potholes, my rear feels and sounds loose. Sometimes it feels like the tires struggle to roll over even small bumps. Figured it was just part of the design.

Shan said:
When I go over bumps or potholes, my rear feels and sounds loose. Sometimes it feels like the tires struggle to roll over even small bumps. Figured it was just part of the design.

That’s exactly what it feels like now, but it wasn’t always like this, which is weird.

@North
Mine’s hit or miss and seems to depend on the day. Same with the switch between electric and gas. I’m at 23k miles in four months and still trust it for long drives.

Front CV axles are known to wear out fast on these trucks…

Zara said:
Front CV axles are known to wear out fast on these trucks…

I’ll mention it at the dealership during the recall check.

Definitely sounds like CV joints, especially if it’s worse around 50 mph and when accelerating.

I’d check tire pressure first. I keep mine around 35-37 psi (Tremor model here). Could also be that the “new car feel” is wearing off, so you’re noticing things more. But yeah, getting shocks checked for peace of mind is a good call.

Had similar issues with my '22 Ecoboost FWD—it felt unstable, especially in crosswinds or going downhill on the highway. I think the design is partly to blame since there’s so little weight in the rear, and it sits up high because it’s technically a ‘truck.’ My advice: go with AWD or throw some weight in the bed for stability. Otherwise, it feels like a cross between a truck and a small SUV.

@Koa
Yeah, it does drive better with about 300-500 pounds in the back. I often have kegs back there, and it makes a noticeable difference.

North said:
@Koa
Yeah, it does drive better with about 300-500 pounds in the back. I often have kegs back there, and it makes a noticeable difference.

Solution to every problem: keep a few kegs in the back!