10 of the
235 complaints about the 2001 Jeep Wrangler are about the
steering — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
55,000 miles.
DEFINITELY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEATH WOBBLE IN MY JEEP ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I FEEL THE PAIN IN BACK AND NECK. WILL HAVE TO GO TO DOCTORS TO GET THAT CHECKED. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 83 WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD NEAR CONSTRUCTION AREA WHEN JEEP BEGAN TO WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL. LUCKILY ANOTHER JEEP ON THE ROAD SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND MADE SPACE FOR ME TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. *DSY
NHTSA complaint #11091605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesSnohomish, WA
STEERING
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY ENTIRE JEEP STARTED TO SHAKE SO BADLY THAT I COULD BARELY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE BLOWN A FRONT TIRE BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN MY SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH IT JUST STOPPED. IT DID THAT ONE OTHER TIME APPROXIMATELY 1 YR LATER AND IT'S NEVER DONE IT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10618864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesKansas City, KS
STEERING
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. ABOUT 2005 IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN TOWN IT WAS NOT NOTICED VERY MUCH. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE IT STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND THEN IT WILL STOP WHEN SLOWED DOWN TO AROUND 40 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DEALERS, A MECHANIC AND A TIRE STORE. SINCE STARTING TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED, THE BALANCE WAS CHECKED, THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON, SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, TORSION BAR CLIPS WERE REPLACED, AND I DO NOT REMEMBER THE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE LAST DEALER THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT HE COULD FEEL THE SHAKE BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR HOW TO FIX IT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A FRAME SHOP. SINCE THEN I FOUND OUT THAT OTHER WRANGLERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT EVEN HAS A NAME. THEY CALL IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE." WHEN THIS STARTS THE VEHICLE SHAKES ALL OVER THE AND THERE IS LITTLE CONTROL UNTIL YOU GET THE VEHICLE UNDER 40.
NHTSA complaint #10609443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesNovato, CA
STEERING
JEEP FRONT END WOBBLES WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AKA DEATH WOBBLE. MUST SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY, LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10448748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesGalloway, OH
STEERING
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A TERRIBLE WOBBLE IN MY FRONT TIRE THAT MAKES MY VEHICLE HARD TO MAINTAIN TO EVEN KEEP ON THE ROAD IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I COULD NOT EVEN STEER. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS ALLOWED ON THE ROAD WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT. I HOPE SOMETHING GETS WORKED OUT WITH THE "DEATH WOBBLE".
NHTSA complaint #10434132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesBroomfield, CO
STEERING:COLUMN
1. I WAS MAKING A SHARP TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK, THEN WITH A LITTLE FORCE APPLIED THERE WAS A SNAP AND THE CLOCK SPRING BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG CEASING TO WORK. 3. I HAVE THIS SCHEDULED TO BE FIXED BY THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10136722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesAustin, TX
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
2001 JEEP WRANGLER 52,000 MILES 3YEARS AND 6 MONTH OLD. CYLINDER LOCK-IGNITION LOCK STUCK, STEERING WHEEL LOCK, UNABLE TO TURN ENGINE ON OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP REPLACE LOCK CYLINDER AND ALSO REPLACE RECALL IGNITION SWITCH
NHTSA complaint #10097975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seabrook, TX
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE IN COLUMN , WHEEL WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8011169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kearney, MOCrash1 injured
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
HEADON CRASH AT 30PLUS MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SECOND TIME A MAJOR COMPONENT IN FRONT END HAS HAD A PROMBLEM. STEERING LOCKED SO COULDNT TURN EITHER DIRECTION. INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS IN THE PAST. FRIEND AT JEEP DEALER WHERE TOWED SAYS LOOKS LIKE MAJOR COVERUP ON CHRYSLERS PART BECAUSE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT, BUT HE WILL REMAIN NAMELESS UNLESS OTHERWISE NEEDED. HIS OPINION ONLY.
NHTSA complaint #762412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Branch, MICrash1 injured
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY WIFE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 - 25 MPH. SHE WENT INTO A RESIDENT YARD WHERE SHE HIT A 8 TO 10" DIA. TREE AND WENT OVER IT. SHE THEN CONTINUED ACROSS SIDE STREET AND INTO ANOTHER YARD WHERE SHE CAME TO A STOP AGAINST ANOTHER TREE APPROX- 6 TO 8" DIA. THE SEAT BELT APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED AS EXPECTED BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE HIT HER LIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND REQUIRED MANY STITCHES TO REPAIR IT. SHE ALSO HAD LARGE CONTUSIONS ON BOTH OF HER SHINS. THE BUMPER WAS PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR. THE GRILL WAS PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR. BOTH FRONT FENDERS WERE BUCKLED AS WAS THE HOOD. WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAG DEPLOY?
NHTSA complaint #756660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.