Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler 2-Dr 4X4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEVERAL ISSUES PRESENTED WITHOUT WARNING: SUDDENLY THE WIPERS STARTED GOING, WINDSHIELD FLUID SPRAYING, HORN BLARING AND LIGHTS FLASHING. ENGINE THEN CUT OUT WHILE UNDERWAY ON A CITY STREET RENDERING POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL INOPERABLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THIS AS A BAD TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM)
THE DEATH WOBBLE IS A NIGHTMARE. IT'S TERRIFYING, NOT OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP. IT HAPPENED ON BUSY HIGHWAY (NJ TURNPIKE) AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP THE JEEP WITH PEOPLE TRAVELLING AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH AND GREATER. I'VE CALLED DEALERSHIPS, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY FOR ME TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. WHY HAS THE JEEP WRANGLER NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON? IT'S OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THESE CARS COST.
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN SPEED REACHED 55 -60 MPH, THE STEERING HAD A SMALL SHAKING TO IT. AS TIME AND MORE MILES WENT BY, IT TURNED INTO UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING. I HAD TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND COAST TO A SLOWER SPEED. EVENTUALLY I COULD NOT DRIVE THE JEEP UNTIL I CHANGED THE TORSION BAR, TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING STABILIZER, (TWICE, THE LAST TIME WITH A HEAVY DUTY ONE) AND THEN WHAT FIXED IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. BUT ONCE I CHANGED IT, THE WOBBLE OR UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING STOPPED SO I GOT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND HAD TO CHANGE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE WOBBLE CAUSED. THAT HAS BEEN ABOUT 10 MONTHS AND THE SMALL SHAKING HAS STARTED UP AGAIN. GETTING WORSE TO WORSE AS TIME AND MILEAGE GOES BY.
ON THE 2008 JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES ON EVERY OTHER MINUTE WITH A CHIME, AN INDICATION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONING OR INTERFERING WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS.THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE AND CONCERN FOR MANY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) OWNERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND HAS BEEN SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL. THIS FAULTY CLOCKSPRING IS THE CULPRIT FOR POTENTIAL AIRBAG FAILURE IN THE 2008 JEEP WRANGLER (LHD) DURING AN ACCIDENT OR PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT WHEN SIMPLY DRIVING AROUND. DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERN OF THEIR FAULTY CLOCKSPRING THAT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 2-DR 4X4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT TIRES VIBRATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT A USED JEEP FROM NEWARK JEEP EAGLE IN DELAWARE WHICH HAD A 30 DAY WARRANTY. THE SAME NIGHT THAT I DROVE IT HOME ON THE HIGHWAY, I HIT UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE JEEP STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. TOOK THE JEEP BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER, TRACK BAR, AND SWITCHED MY TIRES AND THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AFTER EVERY REPAIR. SINCE I ONLY HAD A 30 DAY WARRANTY I COULD NOT CONTINUE TO TAKE IT BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIR DUE TO COSTS, HOWEVER NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK AND NOW THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND VERY OFTEN. THIS WOBBLE HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE JEEP AND IT IS UNSAFE. I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS WOBBLE ON SEVERAL FORUMS AND ON JEEPS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ALTERED LIKE MINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL AS PEOPLE WHO SPEND $25,000 FOR A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO BROKE TO FIX AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER ERROR. I CANNOT DRIVE ME VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR FEAR OF MY SAFETY AS WELL AS HAVING TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ACROSS THE ENTIRE HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH, MY AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THEN IT STOPPED. IT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND RINGING. AFTER I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE, IT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. THERE IS A 2007 RECALL AND A 2008 RECALL FOR RIGHT SIDE DRIVING VEHICLES. BUT NOTHING FOR 2008 JEEP WRANGLER LEFT SIDE DRIVING VEHICLES. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO THEM NOT FIXING THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE REPAIR IS $500+. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AIR BAG ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SO CALLED DEATH WOBBLE. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70MPH, WHEN I HIT AN IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD, MY STEERING VIOLENTLY SHAKES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AT THIS POINT, IT WILL ONLY STOP IF I SLOW DOWN TO SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH. THIS HAS PUT ME IN SEVERAL DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, AS I SUDDENLY NEED TO STOP MY JEEP, REGARDLESS OF WHAT LANE I AM IN. THE STEERING STABILIZER HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND HAS NOT CHANGED THE PROBLEM. MY JEEP IS STOCK; NO LIFTS, AFTERMARKET WHEELS, ETC. I AM GETTING THIS WOBBLE ONCE EVERY FEW TRIPS ON A HIGHWAY. *JS
THE CLOCKSPRING ON MY 2008 LEFT HAND DRIVE JEEP HAS BROKEN CAUSING MY AIRBAGS TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. I HAVE A VALID CHRYSLER WARRANTY UNTIL 85,000 MILES. MY JEEP IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE BROKEN CLOCKSPRING WHICH WILL COST $563. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY CHRYSLER WARRANTY WHICH MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. MY WARRANTY COVERS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BUT THE CLOCK SPRING FALLS UNDER "SAFETY" COMPONENTS WHICH ARE NOT COVERED. HOW SAFETY COMPONENTS ARE NOT COVERED IS WAY BEYOND ME! THERE WAS A RECALL IN THE 2007 JEEP WRANGLER CLOCKSPRING AND THE ISSUES OBVIOUSLY SPREAD TO 2008 AS WELL. I CANNOT AFFORD THE $563 SO I AM PUTTING IT ON MY CREDIT CARD SO I CAN DRIVE A SAFE JEEP. THE FACT THAT JEEP IS MAKING CONSUMERS PAY (SUBSTANTIALLY) FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR AND THUS THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, WITH AUDIO INDICATOR. NOTICED WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL HARD RIGHT OR LEFT, THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. WHEN RETURNED TO NEAR STRAIGHT, THE LIGHT AND CHIME WOULD COME ON, INDICATING AIRBAG PROBLEMS. AFTER CONDUCTING A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT A FAULT CLOCKSPRING WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SAFETY ISSUE ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH ALL YEARS INVOLVED, INCLUDING 2014. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR JEEP VEHICLES WITH A RIGHT HAND DRIVE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSES GREAT CONCERN THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN REQUIRED, OR IT MAY DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERN OF THEIR FAULTY CLOCKSPRING THAT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING. *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY, I HEARD A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED. *TR
ON 5/15/13 I PURCHASED A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER X FROM WALSER SUBARU IN BURNSVILLE MN. AT APPROXIMATELY 8:50PM I WAS HEADING HOME FROM COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION WITH THE DEALER. I WAS ON I-35W NORTH GOING AROUND A LONG EASY LEFT CORNER IN THE ROAD WHEN I HIT A ROUGH AREA IN THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING HARD LEFT AND RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE WHEEL AS FIRMLY AS POSSIBLE AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES AN HOUR BEFORE THE SHAKING STOPPED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND WHEELS THINKING I HAD A FLAT OR A LOOSE WHEEL. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO OTHER OCCURRENCE OF THE INCIDENT. THIS MORNING 5/16/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:40AM I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HAD JUST MERGED OFF OF I-35W SOUTH TO 280 SOUTH. I AGAIN WAS IN A SLIGHT BEND IN THE ROAD THIS TIME TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A ROUGH AREA OF ROADWAY. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN AGAIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND I HAD TO GRASP THE WHEEL FIRMLY AND SLOW UNTIL THE SHAKING SUBSIDED. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN FOR INSPECTION AT WALSER CHRYSLER JEEP IN HOPKINS MN AT 1:45PM 5/16/13. I ALSO DID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ONLINE TODAY AFTER THE SECOND EVENT AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 2007-2013 JEEP WRANGLER JK MODELS. IT IS MOST COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "DEATH WOBBLE" THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD AND VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE JEEP JK DESIGN AND ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED FOR SAFETY OF ALL THOSE ON THE PUBLIC ROADWAYS.
DEATH WOBBLE. RIGHT FRONT WOBBLES 1 GOING AT ANY SPEED WHEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD. BRAKING MAKES IT WORSE. YOU CAN ONLY TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN & PULL OFF TO SHOULDER WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 95 AT 65MPH, I HIT A BUMP AND MY FRONT END BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE REQUIRING ME TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND COME TO A STOP. THIS OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SCARING ME BEYOND BELIEF. THE PHENOMENON IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE" BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE REALLY CONCERNING PART IS THE NUMBER OF REPORTS ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THE UNSUSPECTING DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH VERY EASILY. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME. THANKS *TR
DEATH WOBBLE 2008 WRANGLER 2ND REPAIR, STILL NOT FIXED. FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT IN 2010, LESS THAN 25000 MILES. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE ROAD CONDITION. WHEN I REALIZED THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS, I NOTED OTHER FACTORS REALIZING THAT IT SEEMED TO OCCUR AT APPROXIMATELY 57 MPH. AT FIRST THE VIBRATION WAS JUST ANNOYING AND INTERMITTENT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS SCARED BECAUSE IT SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY AT 57 MPH. I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO ROLL SPONTANEOUSLY. IN MARCH 2010, TOOK IT TO A DEALER; THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO COULDN'T FIX IT. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND THE SERVICE TECH (IN 2010) MENTIONED, "JEEP WOBBLE"- I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND VERY LITTLE INFO- JUST SOME JEEP OWNER BLOGS THAT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT I FELT. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM (UNDER WARRANTY) BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOCK (OR SOMETHING). SINCE I HAD IT REPAIRED, I STILL EXPERIENCED THE NORMAL, MINOR VIBRATION THAT HAPPENS AROUND 55 MPH. RECENTLY (JAN 2013) THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE. REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS, AT 57 MPH IT SHAKES SO BADLY THAT IT FEELS LIKE I WILL LOOSE CONTROL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHOCK AGAIN AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THE PART HAS BEEN IMPROVED WITH BRACKETS OR SOME SUCH. OF COURSE, AT 57000 MILES, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY THE $230 FOR THE REPAIR. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN IN ANOTHER 25000 MILES. I CALL BS! THE JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD, NEVER MISTREATED, ALWAYS MAINTAINED. NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER EVER MENTIONED THIS TSB DURING THE 2013 REPAIR. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, IT WAS NOT FIXED. JEEP CO. HAS AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL BUT $100 (DEDUCTIBLE) BUT WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR REPAIRS ON A KNOWN ISSUE? VIBRATION IS SO BAD, IT COULD CAUSE ME TO WRECK. *TR
DEATH WOBBLE ON A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. VEHICLE HAS A PREDICTABLE VIBRATION BETWEEN 55-60 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT TOOK THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF MY WIFE'S HANDS. SHE WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH AROUND A CURVE. ON A SECOND OCCASION, I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. SLOWING FROM 75 MPH TO AROUND 60 MPH AND ENTERING THE EXIT RAMP CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST SHAKEN OUT OF MY HANDS. ON A THIRD OCCASION, AT AROUND 60 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH NO BUMPS, THE JEEP BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND AGAIN PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF ANOTHER DRIVERS HANDS. THE MINOR VIBRATION HAPPENS EVERYDAY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER WITH A RANCHO HEAVY DUTY STABILIZER. VIBRATION WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 500 MILES. I RELIGIOUSLY DO A 5 TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE. NO CHANGE. I HAVE HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED. NO CHANGE. JEEP WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THEY SAY IF THERE IS A VIBRATION TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. WHEN I TELL THEM THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THEIR REPLY IS THAT IT WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY AND THEY WOULD DO IT FOR $300. I AM GETTING TO THE POINT OF SELLING OR TRADING IT IN SINCE I CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE. I AM ALMOST READY TO TRY TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS, BUT AT 47,700 MILES AND NO SUSPENSION OR ENGINE MODIFICATIONS. THE JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROADED, NEVER BEEN MISTREATED. WHAT NOW? JEEP ALSO OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS, PITMAN ARM, TIE ROD ENDS, SWAY BAR END LINKS, ETC. FOR A NICE SUM OF THE $2500. OUCH. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, DROVE OVER A PATCHED AREA OF THE ROADWAY WHILE STEERING LEFT. WHAT ENSUED WAS PURE [XXX]. THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY FOR ABOUT 200 FEET OR SO UNTIL I COULD GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD. HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS IN THE AREA AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER....UNLESS THEY CAN GET THE VEHICLE TO IMITATE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE THEY TEST DROVE IT NOTHING COULD OFFICIALLY BE DONE. AFTER LOOKING UP AND READING HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUES" I FEEL THAT THE JEEP CORPORATION NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SOON BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IT MECHANICALLY. IT IS STILL STOCK INSIDE AND OUT. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 21,000 MILES ON IT. HAVE HAD IT OFF ROAD ONCE SCOUTING FOR HUNTING AREAS AND NOTHING MORE. THIS IS A DAILY DRIVER TO WORK AND BACK, DON'T EVEN WANT TO GET IT OUT ON A HIGHWAY AND GET IT UP TO THE 75 MPH SPEED LIMIT HERE IN KS. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. I CAN ACTUALLY GET UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND ROLL THE LINKAGE BAR WITH THE STEERING STABILIZER ON IT ABOUT AN INCH OR SO UP AND DOWN. TIE-ROD ENDS HAVE GOT TO BE GOING BUT 2 MECHANICS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. PLEASE HELP!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2008 JEEP WRANGLER BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. AUTOMOBILE IS UNMODIFIED. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 45 MPH THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE SHAKING BECOMES WORSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACK ARM BROKE FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN HE TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT BRACKETS AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL BRACKETS TO RE-ENFORCE THE AXLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEATH WOBBLE BECAME SO SEVERE, IT ACTUALLY BLEW OFF THE AXLE BRACKETS THAT HELD THE TRACK ARM. UPDATED 12/03/12
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 55 MPH, WHEN MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. BRAKING, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK FOR A BLOWN TIRE. I WALKED AROUND THE JEEP AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS IN FRONT OF A JEEP DEALERSHIP. I PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND LEFT THE JEEP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING DAMPER SHOCK, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND DAMPER BRACKETS. THEN I HAD TO PAY FOR TIRE ROTATION AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING SOME, I AM AFRAID IT COULD STILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING THE JEEP. I THINK THAT JEEP OWES THE JEEP OWNERS A RECALL. THESE REPAIRS COST MY $650.00. I HAVE OWNED 5 JEEP WRANGLERS, I WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE, UNLESS JEEP MAKES THIS RIGHT!! *TR
EXPERIENCED THE NOTORIOUS "DEATH WOBBLE" AGAIN TODAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED PLENTY OF TIMES TO ME, BUT TODAY IT WAS THE MOST SEVERE AND WORRISOME. THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND RATTLES SO MUCH THAT I EXPECT PIECES TO FALL OFF. OTHER CARS PULL UP TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY OFF RAMP (WHERE IT OFTEN HAPPENS ON OUR BUMPY MASSACHUSETTS ROADS) AND ASK IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY. I'M NOT SURE IF I WOULD BUY THIS JEEP AGAIN. THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS. ARTICLES ONLINE SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS THE STOCK TRACK BAR, AND IF SO, WHY WON'T CHRYSLER JUST REPLACE THEM? *TR
2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA STOCK. VIOLENT WOBBLE. "DEATH WOBBLE" WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 60MPH, I CROSSED OVER AN EXPANSION CRACK FOR A BRIDGE. THE FRONT END OF THE JEEP BEGAN A VIOLENT WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH UNTIL SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THIS WOBBLE ALMOST CONTRIBUTED TO A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER IN THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC DUE TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE SAME SPEED AFTER ANOTHER SMALL BUMP. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM FURTHER, THERE ARE ENDLESS FACTORS THAT TRIGGER THE WOBBLE. EACH PROBLEM MAY BE FIXED, BUT IT WILL ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. THE WOBBLE ITSELF CANNOT BE FIXED UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU CAN ONLY FIX WHAT SETS IT OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE INTERNET. IT WAS ALSO DISPLAYED PUBLICLY ON THE NEWS, HOWEVER CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
2008 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 20000 MILES. CLOCK SPRING FAILED LEAVING ME WITH A DINGING EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. 2007 WRANGLERS HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT 2008S DO NOT. SOUNDS LIKE JEEP IS ADMITTING SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT LIMITING THEIR DAMAGE MONETARILY BY LIMITING THE AFFECTED YEARS. ANYTHING THAT HAS A CHANCE THAT OF MAKING AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY, WHICH I'M SURE THERE IS A LAW THAT SAYS VEHICLES NEED AIRBAGS, NOT, HAVE AIRBAGS THAT ARE MADE WITH PARTS THAT MAKE THE AIRBAG NOT WORK AFTER 20000 MILES. WHAT NEXT? SEATBELTS THAT UNHOOK OVER A CERTAIN SPEED? *TR
MOVING ALONG ROAD AT 55 MPH. VEHICLE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES AND SLOW DOWN TO HAVE VEHICLE STOP SHAKING. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. I HAD VEHICLE WORKED ON TWO MONTHS AGO FOR SHIMMY. NOW IT IS VIOLENTLY SHAKING. TOOK VEHICLE BACK ONTO JEEP DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT IS A TIRE ISSUE. THAT THE TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND BALANCED AND THEY ARE GOOD. I BOUGHT THE TIRES ONE YEAR AGO NEW AND HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES TILL TODAY. I AM A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY AND HAVE SERVED 28 YEARS. I HAVE SPENT TWO COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS IN IRAQ. THIS SHOOK ME UP ALMOST WRECKING MY VEHICLE FROM THE VIOLENT SHAKING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
CLOCKSPRING CAME APART INSIDE STEERING COLUMN. LOST ABILITY TO STEER, AIR BAG SHUT OFF, USE HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER. *JS
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