200 of the
1,812 complaints filed about the Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X4
are about the steering —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
PURCHASED 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AND AT AROUND 3600 MILES NOTICED SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. STEERING WAS WANDERING AND HAS BECOME ERRATIC. EXCESSIVE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, EXCESSIVE JIGGLES ON SMALL BUMPS AT LOWER SPEEDS. DANGEROUS STEERING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY TO THE EXTENT THAT VEHICLE SWERVES INTO NEXT LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 STEERING ISSUES THAT INVOLVESTEERING GEAR BOX, SHAFTS AND BALL JOINTS. SECOND OPINION FROM OUTSIDE AGENCY STATED GEAR BOX IS JUNK, SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING FROM CHRYSLER. MANY MANY JEEP OWNERS ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AND INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS TO DUE TO THE FAULTY STEERING ON THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #11243655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING 40 MPH OR OVER WILL CAUSE CAR TO HARSHLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP SHAKING IS TO COMPLETELY STOP. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHAKING CAUSES OTHER SUSPENSION AND WHEEL PROBLEMS. BOLTS ON SUSPENSION AND WHEEL START TO LOOSEN UP CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2006 TO PRESENT.
NHTSA complaint #11219850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RANDOMLY THE JEEP WILL COMPLETELY GO CRAZY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WITH FLUID RUN, BLINKERS, HORN, AND ----> THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER. I DID SOME RESEARCH IN JEEP FORUMS ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLERS FROM 2007 FORWARD. JEEP HAS A RECALL FOR THE MOST RECENT MODELS, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS TO INCLUDE MINE. I'M REALLY CONFUSED HOW THIS HAPPENS TO SO MANY JEEP WRANGLERS AROUND MY YEAR, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND DEFINITELY FOR OTHER VEHICLES AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #11181529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEVELOPED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. IN RESEARCHING I SEE CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS. IT IS A DESIGNED FLAW ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I HAD LOOK AT IT. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER. I LUCKILY SOMEHOW KEPT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL DESPITE THE STEERING SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY, SO BAD THE VEHICLE LIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #11154904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. APPARENTLY THIS IS REFERRED TO AS A "DEATH WOBBLE" BUT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET. MY BEST GUESS IS, AFTER MULTIPLE PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS MALFUNCTION AND SUE THE CHRYSLER/JEEP CORPORATION, THEN IT A RECALL MIGHT BE ISSUED AND THE PROBLEM FIXED! I AM HIGHLY AGITATED BY THIS ISSUE AND THE REOCCURENCE!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11052766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH. FRONT STEERING STABILIZER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, "DEATH WOBBLE" STILL OCCURS. HAPPENS ON SMOOTH, NON-BUMPY ROADS AS WELL AS BUMPY ONES.
NHTSA complaint #11013527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A MODERATELY HOT DAY (91 DEG AT START OF DRIVE, 80 DEG AT TIME OF INCIDENT ABOUT 55 MINUTES AFTER START), SOME STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC FIRST 40 MINUTES, THEN A STEADY NORMAL CLIMB INTO FOOTHILLS (FROM ABOUT 5400' TO 8200') ON PAVED ROADS, AS VEHICLE WAS TURNING RIGHT AT A Y-INTERSECTION AT TOP OF A HILL, A LARGE BANG WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF GREY SMOKE EMANATING FROM SAME. ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL AT THE TIME (FAN HAD ENGAGED A FEW TIMES ALONG THE WAY TO KEEP WITHIN RANGE) AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE PRESENT BEFORE OR AFTER INCIDENT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND OPENED HOOD. WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE OF STOPPING A SMALL FIRE BROKE OUT ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE MANIFOLD/CAT. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH USING A TOWEL, BUT NOT BEFORE THE FIRE HAD MELTED SOME WIRE BUNDLES. INITIAL INSPECTION INDICATED A POWER STEERING (ATF) FLUID RUPTURE THAT SPRAYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SUBSEQUENTLY FLASHING FROM THE HEAT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FORTUNATELY, SITUATION WAS HANDLED QUICKLY BEFORE THE CAR BECAME ENGULFED (AS I'VE NOW LEARNED HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL). VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO JEEP DEALER TOMORROW FOR REPAIR. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH JEEP REGARDING THIS INCIDENT, BUT FEEL A FAULTY DESIGN HAS PUT MY SAFETY AT RISK. I WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO THIS SUBMISSION ONCE AVAILABLE...
NHTSA complaint #11006282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEATH WOBBLE********************************* (MAIN CONCERN) I HAVE ALMOST DIED A 1000XS DUE TO THIS DEATH WOBBLE. I WENT THROUGH HELL WITH THE PREVIOUS DEALER DEALERSHIP . IT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS BRINGING THE JEEP IN TO GARAGES AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. I HAD TO DELIVER A PART 77 MILES TO AND BACK AND HAD TO STOP OVER A MILLION TIMES WITH MYHEART POUNDING. I AM SICK OF WORRYING ABOUT DYING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SERIOUS ISSUE GOD FORBID PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONTHE FREEWAY AND LOCAL ROADS. VERY CLOSE DEADLY SITUATIONS. I AM TIRED OF NOONE BELIEVING THIS! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH JEEP AND NOONE HEARS IT! HOW ARE THEY NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE ???THIS IS THE WORST-FEELING IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MANY GARAGES AND NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING IS WRONG. THERE IS SERIOUS ISSUES AND I AM GOING TO DIE! PLEASE HELP! PLEASE! THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL...RADIO HASN'T WORKED IN MONTHS ONCE IN A WHILE IT COMES ON INTERMEDIATELY...SEATBELT LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM MANY GARAGES AND THEY ALSO CAN NOT FIND WHERE OR WHY....THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE! THE DEATH WOBBLE IS THE MAIN CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL KILL ME AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. ITS JUST HORRIBLE. THIS VEHICLE TOOK ME OVER A YEAR TO GET INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER ISSUE!
NHTSA complaint #10979892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANYTIME I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES EXTREMELY VIOLENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ONLY FIX IS TO SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 25 MPH IN MY CURRENT LANE. ONCE I GET TO THAT LOW OF A SPEED THE SHAKING STOPS. WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS IT IS SO VIOLENT THAT I CAN'T CHANGE LANES OR GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. THEREFORE, THE ONLY OPTION IS TO SLOW DOWN TO UNDER 25 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY CURRENT LANE WHICH ISN'T SAFE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING IN DECEMBER 2016.
NHTSA complaint #10945047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A CONSTANT SPEED AND HIT A ROUGH AREA ON THE PAVEMENT AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT, BUT HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR THIS VIOLENT ROCKING TO STOP. IT IS NOT A CONSTANT PROBLEM, BUT OCCURS WHEN CERTAIN ROUGH AREAS OF PAVEMENT SET UP THIS VIOLENT VIBRATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. TRIED TO GET IT FIXED, SEEMED TO BE A MYSTERY. LEARNED THAT THIS IS EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS OF JEEPS AND OTHER SELECT VEHICLES. THERE ARE MANY, MANY DESCRIPTIONS AND VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET. I ALSO SEE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON YOUR SITE. WHY DO YOU NOT CARE? WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING YOUR JOB? I DID NOT GET KILLED. IS THIS WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOU TO TAKE NOTICE? I WANT NOTHING, ONLY FOR THIS TO BE REMEDIED. IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN & QUITE FRIGHTENING, ESPECIALLY THEN THIS OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10938810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL....WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 68 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE OVERPASS TODAY, MY JEEP WENT INTO THE DREADED "DEATH WOBBLE". IT WAS HORRIFYING...I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT I WOULD FALL OVER THE OVERPASS. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO BUMPS OR POT HOLES. THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED ON THE ROAD. IT FELT LIKE 4 BLOW-OUTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10935296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON I-81, IN VIRGINIA AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION IN THE FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND FORCED ME TO PULL OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THIS SAME EVENT OCCURRED 3 TIMES DURING THIS TRIP.
NHTSA complaint #10924044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY ISSUE IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO ON THE INTERNET AS THE JEEP "DEATH WOBBLE". AT AROUND 50-60MPH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHEELS AND STEERING BEGIN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND DISCONCERTING WEN THIS HAPPENS IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. HAVE HAD WHEELS BALANCED AND TRACKING DONE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ISSUE STILL OCCURS - STARTING AROUND 3 OR 4 YEAR AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10907420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST AS ALL THE OTHER 2007 JEEP WRANGLERS MY CLOCKSPRING HAS GONE BAD AND MY AIRBAGS AND HORN MALFUNCTION CONSTANTLY. I FILED A REPORTS YEARS AGO BUT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED. I SEE THAT THE 2008 JEEP WRANGLERS HAD THIS RECALLED, BUT 2007 JEEPS WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. GUESS OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES DON'T MEAN SQUAT.
NHTSA complaint #10865780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE, WHEN BRAKING OR HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE WHEELS WOBBLE, STEERING IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE OR STOP COMPLETELY UNTIL THE WOBBLING SUBSIDES. I WAS PASSING A SEMI TRUCK WHEN A SLOWER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF ME, I GENTLY BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE WOBBLING WAS SO BAD I COULD NOT STEER, BRAKE FURTHER OR ACCELERATE TO STOP THE WOBBLING OR MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF CARS BEHIND ME. I ENDED UP IN THE MEDIAN SINCE I COULD NOT FOLLOW THE CURVE OF THE ROAD AND WAS LUCKY TO NOT BE HIT BY OTHER CARS OR THE SEMI-TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10860652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
09 JEEP WRANGLER HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND GOES IN A VIOLENT VIBRATION (WOBBLING TO THE POINT YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. VERY SCARY! I OWN THE CAR SINCE NEW. INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE ON LINE AND AND FOUND OUT NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. SO CALLED DEATH WOBBLE!
NHTSA complaint #10811603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2007 JEEP JKU SAHARA WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE WIPERS AND HORN WILL GO OFF EVEN WHEN IN THE "OFF" POSITION, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE STALLING. MY WHEELS WILL LOCK UP AND I CANNOT GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS. I CAN ONLY BRAKE AND SLIGHTLY TURN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. RECALL FOR TIPM HAS ALREADY BEEN "REPROGRAMMED" AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO POWER MODULES AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IF A CERTAIN CODE DOES NOT POP UP, THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING ON MY OWN. WELL, HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DO THAT WHEN THERE ARE NO POWER MODULES AVAILABLE? THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #10780412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 60MPH OR GREATER, THE FRONT END STEERING BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE BACK AND FORTH. IT WOULD ONLY SUBSIDE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VIBRATION FELT LIKE AN UNSTABLE OSCILLATION THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A SHARP TURN IF THE BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED. THIS SYMPTOM WAS REPEATABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A JEEP DEALER FOR SERVICING. THEY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO "STEERING DAMPER HAD PLAY AND WAS LEAKING". PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE DAMPER AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE (HEX BOLT AND LOCKING HEX NUT).
NHTSA complaint #10759637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.