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 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 156 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 156, in the owner's own words
The RHD Jeep Wranglers had a recall on all the clock springs. I had mine fixed, it lasted a year and then broke again. Every mail carrier I know has the same issue. I believe the recall needs to become a lifetime recall, not a singular recall. They are all failing again causing postal employees to be at risk for fatality with the airbag failing to deploy.
My 2008 jeep has the death wobble ,how to get fixed07
While driving at 65mph my vehicle began to violently shake, and I had to come to a complete stop. This violent shaking happened four times in a 25 mile stretch of bumpy highway, all four times I had to come to a complete stop in fast moving traffic, that traffic was going at speeds of 65 to 70mph.
Steering wheel shaking at about 50 mph. Then warning lights on dash came on ABS- ESP and BAS. I slowed down drove home and parked it. Can’t get into shop until next week. Jeep has less than 48,000 miles.Not safe to drive!
ALRIGHT I HAVE A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA JK. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2DOOR SOFT TOP. AND I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THERE IS WET CONDITIONS ON ANY CURVY ROAD THAT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE A CURVE TO THE RIGHT WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ON THE TRANSMISSION WILL DOWN SHIFT AND CAUSE THE BACK TIRES TO SPIN AND LOSE TRACTION WHICH INTURN SENDS THE [XXX] END SIDEWAYS. AND IT DOES IT BOTH UP AND DOWN HILL AND PRETTY MUCH ONLY ON RIGHT TURNS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH PUTS THE DRIVER SIDE REAR END INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE A LITTLE. AND I TRULY BELIEVE IF IT WAS A YOUNG DRIVER OR ANYONE THAT HASN'T DROVE ANYTHING WILDLY BEFORE IN THERE LIFE IT COULD CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. BUT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF IT DON'T DO IT IS BAD IF AT ALL. WHICH MAKES ME THINK IT'S WIRING OR THE COMPUTER AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN ON BACK ROADS AND MT ROADS EVEN TURN ON THE INTERSTATE RAMP. ANY ROAD WHERE YOU REMAIN IN MOTION WITH A DECENT CURVE TO THE RIGHT. ALOT ON THIS WINDING MT ROAD OVER THE RIDGE TO THE NEXT TOWN. IT'S CALLED JOPPA MOUNTAIN. AND IT SIDESTEPS WITH YOU THERE LIKE IT HAS ME QUITE A FEW TIMES, AND YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR GAME IT COULD GET REAL BAD REAL FAST BECAUSE THAT ROAD WINDS BACK AND FORTH ALL THE WAY UP AND BACK DOWN WITH STRAP DROP OFFS THAT YOU WOULD BE PRAYING FOR A TREE TO STOP YOU. ALWAYS WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND SLOWING DOWN WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ON. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE JEEP STARTED TO DEATH WOBBLE UNTIL I SLOWED TO A STOP THAN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN
I'VE EXPERIENCED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AROUND SEVEN TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, MAINLY ON SECONDARY ROADS. I TOOK IT TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS WHO FOUND NO ISSUES. IT HAD YET TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS ON INTERSTATE 81 (WHICH I DRIVE DAILY-SPEED LIMIT 70) AND HIT THE BEGINNING OF A BRIDGE AND THE JEEP SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT I HAD TO PULL INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT THIS POINT. I FEAR NOT ONLY MY SAFETY, BUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS COMMON AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MANUFACTURING FAULT AND THAT RECALLS WERE BEING ISSUED, BUT WHEN I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER, NO RECALLS WERE FOUND.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE FRONTEND STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DID $1400.00 IN REPAIRS. IT SEEMED TO HELP BUT THEN 6 MONTHS LATTER IT STARTED AGAIN.I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE FIRST REPAIRS AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME.
I EXPERIENCE THE "DEATH WOBBLE" DAILY. IT STARTS AROUND 45 MPH AND CONTINUES UNTIL I STOP. IT MAKES THE JEEP SHAKE AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE SHAKING IS SO BAD, IT WILL CAUSE DRINKS TO GET THROWN FROM THE CUPHOLDER. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO.
DEATH WOBBLE- HIT BUMP AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY ! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS-$1600 AND IT HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO ONCE IT STARTS-ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A SEMI. IT HAPPENS TO ALLOT OF PEOPLE. CHECK THE INTERNET.
WHEN GOING OVER 35 THE WHEEL STARTS TO WOBBLE LIKE THE DEALTH WOBBLE. HAS A LOT OF LACK IN STEERING WHEEL.. WHEN CONTROL CONTROL IS ON IT GOING TO 5 RPM AND SHIFTING FUNNY..
STEERING WHEEL IS LOST GOES ALL OVER THE ROAD SHIFTS BAD RPM GOES UP TO 5 HOT OIL LIGHTS COMES ON
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN YOU SLOW TO TURN A SLIGHT CURVE AND PRESS BRAKES THE JEEP GOES INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE IN THE ENTIRE FRONT END. YOU CAN NOT STOP IT BY APPLYING BRAKES BECAUSE IT MAKES IT WORSE. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE SHAKE AND IT EVEN SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHOLE FRONT END OF THE JEEP. EVENTUALLY IT PULLS OUT OF IT AFTER SEVERAL FEET BUT YOU FEEL THE WHOLE FRONT END IS GONG TO COME OFF THE SHAKE IS THAT VIOLENT. I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY VEHICLE TRYING TO HOLD IT ON THE ROAD WHILE TURNING AND HAD OTHER CARS ALMOST PLOW ME FROM THE BACK. IT IS VERY SCAREY AND YOU HAVE NO WARNING WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED AWHILE BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY BACK HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POMOCO CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM OF NEWPORT NEWS (LOCATED AT 12629 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23602, (757) 369-3565), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,460.
THE DEATH WOBBLE!!!! WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE . I FEEL MY JEEP IS LITERALLY COMING APART. MY JEEP IS 2008 AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SKNCE WE BOUGHT IT ANOUT 5 YEARS AGAO. I ONLY DRIVE WHEN ITS EMERGENCY. I WILL NOT TAKE HIGHWAYS. ITS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. WHY IS THERE NO RECALLS FOR DEATH WOBBLE ON THE JEEP 2008. THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM ON NEWER MODLES. I WANT IT FIXED FOR FREE. I CANT EVEN SELL IT. BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH JEEPS KNOW ABOUT IT!!!
BALL JOINT ON THE TIE ROD FELL OFF OF THE PITMAN ARM OF THE STEERING BOX BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, LEAVING NO STEERING CONTROL. LOW SPEED AT TIME OF INCIDENT (UNDER 5KM/H) LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF SPOT TO THE RIGHT AND A CLUNK WAS HEARD AND FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS. JEEP WRANGLER 4DOOR 4X4 SAHARA UNLIMITED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT FRED MARTIN SUPERSTORE (3195 BARBER RD, BARBERTON, OH 44203, (330) 753-4444) TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, STEERING DAMPER, AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING I HIT A BUMP AND THE FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND I CANNOT CONTROL OR STOP IT. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO MAKE IT QUIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SEMI TRUCKS BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THIS IS A VIOLENT AND UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND HITS A BUMP LIKE A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT OR EDGE OF OVERPASS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE RELATED TO THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A JEEP DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY AND ERRONEOUSLY TURNED TO THE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT LEG, AND INJURIES TO THE RIBS, HEAD, AND RIGHT HIP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MURFREESBORO HYUNDAI, 2203 NW BROAD STREET, MURFREESBORO, TN 37129) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 60 MPH I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD...CAR STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY..STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING ..HAD TO SLOW IMMEDIATELY...WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON HIGHWAY...LUCKILY THE PERSON BEHIND ME WASN'T TOO CLOSE AND ABLE TO SLOW TO A STOP...THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND JEEP IS CLAIMING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG...MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS TOTALLY STOCK...I READ THAT ITS DESCRIBED AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". IS JEEP WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM?
THE FRONT END DEVELOPED A BAD SHAKING. IF YOU ARE RIDDING AT 60 TO 65 MPH AND HIT A VERY SLIGHT BUMP THE FRONT END DEVELOPS A SHAKE THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE CONTROL AND HAVE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP EVEN IS YOU ARE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. JEEP CALLED IT A DEATH WOBBLE BUT THEY SAID ITS NOT A RECALL ! ARE THEY CRAZY ? MY WIFE ALMOST GOT KILLED. SHE HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP ON ROUT 18 IN NEW JERSEY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND A TRUCK WAS BARRELING DOWN ON HER. THANK GOD THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. IT HAPPENED TO THE SAME CAR 4 TIMES SINCE I OWN IT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY 50,000 MILES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 19 YEAR OLD SONS JEEP WRANGLER AND EXPERIENCED THE SO CALLED DEATH WOBBLE, IT WAS SO BAD OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY WERE HONKING THEIR HORNS AT ME. MY SON WAS WITH ME AND SAID THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HIM WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-70MPH. THE STEERING VIOLENTLY SHAKES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT WILL ONLY STOP IF I SLOW DOWN TO SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. I KNOW LONGER ALLOW MY SON TO DRIVE THE JEEP WRANGLER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT LET HIM TAKE IT TO COLLEGE WHEN HE STARTS BACK IN THE FALL. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT HIM IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE JEEP IS STOCK; NO LIFTS, AFTERMARKET WHEELS, ETC. I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, LOOSING CONTOL OF YOUR STEERING AT 50+ MPH CANNOT BE SAFE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING DAMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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