Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 3, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 170 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed May 3, 2018
1 injury reported
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 ID
11091605
Incident
May 3, 2018
Mileage
181,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 4, 2014
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. *TR
NHTSA ID
10618864
Incident
Aug 17, 2010
Mileage
52,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 9, 2014
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. *TR
NHTSA ID
10609443
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 2012
JEEP FRONT END WOBBLES WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AKA DEATH WOBBLE. MUST SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY, LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA ID
10448748
Incident
Oct 10, 2011
Mileage
160,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 3, 2011
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". *TR
NHTSA ID
10434132
Incident
Nov 2, 2011
Mileage
95,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Sep 16, 2005
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. *JB
NHTSA ID
10136722
Incident
Sep 10, 2005
Mileage
55,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 29, 2004
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 ID
10097975
Incident
Oct 8, 2004
Mileage
52,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2002
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE IN COLUMN , WHEEL WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
8011169
AirbagsSteering
Filed May 29, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
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.*AK
NHTSA ID
762412
Incident
May 20, 2002
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jan 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
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?*AK
NHTSA ID
756660
Incident
Dec 24, 2001
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own