2007 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Vehicle Information: Make: Jeep Model: Wrangler Model Year: 2007 VIN: [XXX] Safety Recall Information: NHTSA Campaign ID: 16V-290 Manufacturer Recall Number: S33 Component: Airbag / Clock Spring This recall was previously performed by a dealership in February 2021; however, the vehicle is now experiencing the same symptoms the recall was intended to address, indicating the safety defect has reoccurred or was not permanently remedied. The vehicle is currently experiencing: Illuminated airbag (SRS) warning light Horn failure Traction control / electronic stability program warning light Erratic or abnormal A/C behavior that coincides with the SRS/steering wheel electrical faults These failures are consistent with a defective clock spring and directly impact the Supplemental Restraint System and other active safety systems. I contacted an authorized Jeep dealership to request inspection and repair of this recurring safety defect. The dealership confirmed the recall had been previously completed but refused to diagnose or repair the vehicle, stating in writing: “Due to company policy, we are unable to perform diagnostic or repair services on vehicles that are more than 10 years old.” They further stated that because the recall was marked as completed in 2021, they would not assist further and recommended I seek an independent repair facility. I believe this refusal violates the intent and requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. §§ 30118–30120), which requires manufacturers to remedy safety defects and does not allow age-based or policy-based refusal when a safety defect exists or reoccurs. This defect involves the airbag system and active safety features and presents an ongoing risk to vehicle occupants. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in reviewing this matter and ensuring that the manufacturer and/or authorized dealer fulfills their obligation to properly remedy this safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5

NHTSA ID

11708920

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

when i drive the vehicle, i goes into this shaky mode where i have to completely stop the car and restart it. this happens if i hit any kind of bump. I brake every bump that i see hoping it will stop but today is got so bad i could not move. Also the braking for driving down a curvy mountain. I almost got in multiple accidents this week

NHTSA ID

11617995

Incident

Oct 3, 2024

Vehicle engine light came on after driving from carlot- after 50 miles. Meineke- diagnosed report stated, -O2 sensors & catalytic converter needed replacement. Two of tires had a patched over hole. The other two tires had inner bar wears &vehicle needed a steering box.

NHTSA ID

11433535

Incident

Sep 15, 2021

Bought my jeep in July. On 6 different occasions now it starts vibrating really bad. I can't get it to stop, can't steer it. I've heard of the death wobble and I'm pretty sure this is what's happening. I have an appointment Tuesday August 24 to put a new stabilizer on it. Has there been a recall on my jeep that wasn't fixed properly. It's a dangerous situation when it happens because I have no control over my vehicle at all. I've been lucky so far that it's happened in places that there were no other vehicles in front of me. There's no way I could stop if there was. I have no way of knowing if the stabilizer will fix the problem.

NHTSA ID

11429995

Incident

Jul 27, 2021

JEEP STEERING WONDERS TO THE SIDES WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11407332

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

MY 2007 JEEP WRANGLER HAS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH WOBBLE! I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL IT DID IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SMOOTH SUBURB STREET AND I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR HELP. THE JEEP OWNERS COMMUNITY NAMED IT THE DEATH WOBBLE BECAUSE IT LITERALLY WOBBLES AND SHAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, WITHOUT ANYTHING TRIGGERING IT, ON EVERY TYPE OF ROAD, AND AT EVERY SPEED. AFTER IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY SON IN THE CAR WITH ME, I NO LONGER ALLOWED MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THE JEEP AT ALL. WE ALMOST DIED THAT DAY AS IT SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY ALMOST PUTTING US IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE! WE MISSED GETTING T-BONED BY AN 18 WHEELER BY JUST A HAIR. IT WAS SO FRIGHTENING! THE JEEP DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT SAID THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON. HOW IS SUCH A DANGER COMMON??? HOW CAN THESE VEHICLES BE LEGALLY SOLD?? THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ALONE AND I ENDED UP IN A DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OUT OF THE DITCH AND WENT TO NEARBY AUTO SHOP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE "SLING A ROD" THEY SAID. FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, I HAVE BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS ON A JEEP SITTING DEAD IN AN AUTO SHOP. AS A SINGLE MOM I CAN'T AFFORD SUCH A HUGE REPAIR AND ROUTE 66 WARRANTY COMPANY DECIDED TO CANCEL MY ALREADY PAID FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I FILED THE CLAIM ON IT. THEY DENIED IT AND SAID THEY'RE CANCELING ME. THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. PLEASE HELP!!

NHTSA ID

11309766

Incident

Nov 19, 2019

Mileage

183,361 mi

DEATH WOBBLE, UNCONTROLABLE, VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT END OF VEHICLE. VERY LITTLE STREAING AND BREAKING ABILITY TO MOVE OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. OCCURES FREQUENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE, THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK; TRAVELING BETWEEN 40 AND 55 MPH. I DON'T DARE DRIVE FASTER. JEEP IS NOT LIFTED OR MODIFIED.

NHTSA ID

11302100

Incident

Jan 18, 2020

Mileage

39,400 mi

THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY MY CAR DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD RAN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS ON. I FILLED UP WITH THE GAS CAN AND THE JEEP DID NOT START. I TRIED TO JUMP IT USING CABLES AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I WENT TO AUTOZONE AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY, THE JEEP STARTED AFTER THAT. YESTERDAY I GOT AN OIL CHANGE, THEY CHECKED MY BATTERY AND SHOWED ME THE OIL AFTER THE CHANGE, SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOLDEN. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN MY BATTERY LIGHT POPPED ON AGAIN, I KIND OF SHOOK IT OFF CONSIDERING I JUST REPLACED IT. WELL MY CAR JERKED ME FORWARD, EVERY SINGLE LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGH WAY AS MUCH AS I COULD AND MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I GOT IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE ISSUE WAS MY "TIPM" AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. AS I GOOGLED WHAT THAT WAS REGARDING MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO FOR MY JEEP SPECIFICALLY.

NHTSA ID

11241950

Incident

Aug 5, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

SUSPENSION FAILURE: I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH MY STEERING COLUMN SINCE HAVING BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY GEAR BOX FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHAKING VIOLENTLY SINCE HAVING IT REPAIRED. THIS SHAKING WAS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR ME ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11191977

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP TIM SHORT ACURA SO. CHARLESTON WV TOOK IT BACK 2 DAYS LATER 150 MILES OVER IT SHAKING REAL BAD DRIVING IT. THEY TOLD ME THEY WAS ORDERING PARTS TO FIX IT BUT NOW WANTS 2000.00 TO REPAIR IT REFUSING TO FIX IT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WAS INSPECTED AT STATE OF WV INSPECTION STATION 300 MILES BEFORE I PURCHASED IT WHAT DO I DO ON THE SAFETY AND INSPECTION PART OF HAVING MY VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11166413

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MERGE LANE COMING OFF OF NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 65 IN SPRINGFIELD MISSOURI ENTERING ONTO JAMES RIVER FREEWAY ON 2/19/2018 WHEN MY JEEP STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THEN DROVE VERY SLOWLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO PARK AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. I HAD TO TOW JEEP. I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT SEEMS TO BE A NOT SO UNCOMMON ISSUE WITH JEEPS. I HAVE HIGH MILEAGE, BUT REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO ANOTHER JEEP ISSUE, SO APPROXIMATELY 70000 MILES ON NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11152436

Incident

Feb 19, 2018

Mileage

221,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE CONDITION KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DECELERATE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10992676

Incident

May 31, 2017

Mileage

16,000 mi

AT ABOUT 32000 MY JEEP WRANGLER STARTING EXPERIENCING THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEELS WERE BALANCED AND THIS SEEMED TO CORRECT FOR A WHILE. AT ABOUT 35000 MILES THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE WOBBLE SEEMS TO START AT ABOUT 55 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10956164

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, TRAC BAR BRACKET BROKE OFF FRONT AXLE & VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED OR CONTROLLED. APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER, REAR TRAC BRACKET BROKE OFF REAR AXLE & VEHICLE WAS SWAYING, BUT COULD BE CONTROLLED. THE PRIOR INCIDENTS MENTIONED ABOVE HAPPENED IN 07/12 & 08/12. JEEP DEALER MADE REPAIRS BY RE-WELDING BRACKETS. ON 11/10/2016 MY WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK & HEARD A LOUD BANG AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & IT WAS BOUNCING VIOLENTLY & COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE & ALMOST CRASHED VEHICLE. TRAC BAR BRACKET ON FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN OFF AGAIN AFTER BEING REPAIRED BY JEEP DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10925977

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 TO 55 MPH THE JEEP WILL GO INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE WOBBLE WHICH YOU HAVE TO BRING THE JEEP TO ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL .HAVE HAD IT TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE IN JUNE 2016 3 TIMES. THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED IT BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING.LAST FIX THEY TURNED BRAKE ROTORS AND RESET TIRE PRESSURE. NO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917682

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, IF THE VEHICLE HITS A SMALL BUMP, THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I AM ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AS THE "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE". WE'VE SPENT $900 TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT GARAGES TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THE MECHANICS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING MORE THAT IS WRONG AND CLAIM IT'S A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10883675

Incident

Jul 8, 2016

Mileage

111,543 mi

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN FORBES ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2007 JEEP WRANGLER RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". *JB

NHTSA ID

10871003

Incident

May 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,985. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10811753

Incident

Jun 22, 2015

Mileage

29,985 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" AS OF YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015, A WHITE TAPE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO BACK OFF WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ODD BUT, IT WENT BACK OUT SO I WASN'T CONCERNED AND IT NEVER STAYED ON FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. THEN YESTERDAY I GET IN MY JEEP TO GO TO WORK AND AS I TURN THE WHEEL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I COULD HEAR THIS NOISE LIKE SOMEONE WAS WRINKLING UP PAPER. IT IS ONLY EIGHT MILES FROM MY HOME TO WORK SO, I KEPT LISTENING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK, THERE WAS A WHITE TAPE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER WORK, I TOOK IT AND HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "CLOCK SPRING" IS UNRAVELING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. USUALLY THIS IS ONLY SEEN WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO, IT SHOULD NOT BE UNRAVELING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS ALSO TOLD, I SHOULDN'T DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY. I GOT IT HOME AND NOW IT IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

10810195

Incident

Dec 14, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN AS THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. ON A 25 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD BETWEEN SONOITA, AZ AND TUCSON, ARIZONA I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD 5 TIMES IN ONE TRIP TO STOP DANGEROUS AND ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE FRONT-END STEERING VIBRATIONS. JEEP AS FAR AS I KNOW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, BUT FROM READING AUTOMOTIVE LITERATURE I UNDERSTAND THAT HAVE ISSUED 4 OR 5 MODIFICATION KITS NONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE JEEP STEERS NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED OR ON STRAIGHT GLASS SMOOTH HIGHWAYS. HOWEVER ABOVE 40 MPH WITH ANY RHYTHMIC RIPPLE OR INDIVIDUAL POTHOLE A FRONT END HOPPING VIBRATION STARTS THAT CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND THEN PULLING BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A NON-DEALER GARAGE FIX IT ONCE AND JEEP REIMBURSED ME (BUT NO FORMAL RECALL). THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED IN SIX MONTHS AND I PRESSURED THE GARAGE INTO FIXING IT AGAIN. SOME TIME AFTER THAT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. ACCORDING TO AUTOMOTIVE LITERATURE JEEP AS ISSUED 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT ENGINEERING CHANGES FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NONE HAVE PRODUCED A PERMANENT FIX. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE" IS LESS IF A WEAR ISSUE, BUT RATHER AN ENGINEERING FAILURE. ONCE THE FRONT END STARTS TO BOUNCE THE TIRE IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WILL STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEN THE TIRE ON THE OTHER SIDE COMES DOWN AND STEERS THE OTHER DIRECTION AND THE FRONT END BOUNCES SIDED-TO-SIDE WITH INCREASING VIOLENCE.

NHTSA ID

10779964

Incident

Oct 5, 2015

Mileage

109,877 mi

HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE JEEP SUDDENLY STARTED SHACKING VIOLENTLY. THIS IS ALSO COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO SWERVE OVER AND STOP, CAUSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO REACT SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ID

10761962

Incident

Sep 10, 2012

Mileage

67,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HIT A SMALL BUMP ON MY REAR WHEEL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WHOLE VEHICLE HAD STARED TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL I HAD TO MOVE OF THE ROAD AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER FOR THE WHEEL TO STOP SHAKING

NHTSA ID

10761378

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

35,000 mi

THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE SO BAD, I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS TRYING TO GET OUT OF PEOPLES WAY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, HEAVEN FORBID MY WIFE EVER DRIVES IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS CALLED THE JEEP DEATH SHAKE, AND IT HAPPENS TO ALOT OF JEEP OWNERS, WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO FIX IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DIES, I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

NHTSA ID

10747303

Incident

Aug 9, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50 MPH AND HIT A BUMP, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING IS TO SLOW DOWN WHICH MADE IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10744872

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SHAKING WAS STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10725307

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

3,000 mi