Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 108 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 108, in the owner's own words
When I go above 45 mph on a bumpy road, the Jeep starts wobble uncontrollably until I almost completely stop the vehicle. Replaced, all tires complete brake system. Still happening!
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!
GAS GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ON ME. ALSO THE JEEP JERKS SO BAD THAT I ALMOST HIT MY HEAD. THE TRANSMISSON WAS CHANGED 30,000 MILES AGAIN AND RUNS LIKE CRAP.
I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP WRANGLER 2008 AND STATED SHAKING SEVERELY WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH JEEP WRANGLERS AND IT'S CALLED DEATH WOBBLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER DROVE AT 50 TO 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT CASE NUMBER [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *DT *TP '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).'
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.
WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS REMAIN ON ALONG WITH A RED LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE LIGHTING BOLT. REPLACED BATTERY. NEW ENGINE. NEW RADIATOR. NEW PIN. EVERYTHING THAT WAS FOUND ON DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REPLACED. STILL PAYING FOR CAR. NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT. HAS A DANGEROUS DEATH WOBBLE. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE MADE. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. CANNOT GET PLATES FOR JEEP THAT EILL NEVER PASS INSPECTION. WHAT CAN I DO .
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!!!
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 38 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE FAILURE WAS CALLED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE', WHICH WAS A KNOWN FAILURE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
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
VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AT 65 MPH, ( DEATH WOBBLE), SCARED THE HELL OUT OF MY WIFE!! REPLACED STEERING DAMPER AND LINK ARM AT REPAIR SHOP- $743.00. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WAS SO BAD I HAD IT TOWED. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS OR SOMEONE WILL DIE!!!
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 HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE NHTSA ONCE BEFORE BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. MY JEEP IS EXPERIENCING A "DEATH WOBBLE" SO BAD THAT I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO JEEP DEALER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IT CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM, AND I HAVE LOOKED THIS CONDITION UP ON THE INTERNET. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" YET CHRYSLER IS NOT FIXING A VERY DANGEROUS, AND LIFE THRETHENING SITUATION.
JEEP DEATH WOBBLE - NOTED ON MANY JEEP FORUMS, WRANGLERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH, ACCELERATING SWIFTLY WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY ON-RAMP, ON SURFACE STREETS WITH POTHOLES AND/OR BUMPY RIDE - THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND LOUDLY. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND AS WELL AS THE WHOLE FRONT DASH - LITERALLY FEELS LIKE YOUR VEHICLE WILL BREAK IN HALF. THE ONLY WAY TO STABILIZE IS TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO 20-30 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARDS ON AT 30 MPH ON THE FREEWAY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, I HIT SOME ROUGH ROAD AND SOME SHALLOW POTHOLES. FOR THE FIRST TIME, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MY JEEP SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I STEPPED ON THE BREAK AND PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THEN I DROVE AGAIN AND THE JEEP WAS JUST FINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE PROBLEM, FROM THEN ON, I TRIED TO AVOID POTHOLES OR ROUGH ROADS AND SLOW DOWN MY SPEED TO 40 MPH ON A FREEWAY TO AVOID THE SO CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE" UNTIL I HAD MONEY TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. THE DEALER CHANGED ALL DEFECTIVE PARTS INCLUDING STRUTS AND STABILIZER AND COSTED ME MORE THAN $700.
I OWN A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' MORE FREQUENTLY. THE CAUSE FOR CONCERN FIRST HAPPENED (2) YEARS AGO AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A LOOSE STEERING STABILIZER BAR. ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AFTER THE REPAIR, MY WRANGLER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' MORE FREQUENTLY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND HIT SOME SIGNIFICANT BUMP OR POTHOLE. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ROUGHLY 40 MPH FOR THE VIOLENT SHAKING TO STOP. THEN, I CAN ACCELERATE BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. IT CAN BE REAL DANGEROUS WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE CLOSE BEHIND ME AND I'M FORCED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO DROP MY SPEED BY ROUGHLY 30 MPH. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP TAKING THE WRANGLER IN FOR MORE REPAIRS, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY. THOUGHTS?
EXPERIENCING WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE." VIOLENT SHAKING AND UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ON HWY. IF YOU HIT A BUMP GOING OVER 55 YOU WILL MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE THIS AND CAN ONLY STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS MAY BE A DEADLY PROBLEM! HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS JEEP IN JULY OF 2015 AND WE'VE ONLY HAD IT 3 MONTHS. NO DEALER SUPPORT OR HELP ON THE PROBLEM AFTER FIRST ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR, BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLABLE WOBBLE. I WAS GOING 55-60 MPH AND HAD TO WRESTLE THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AS IT WAS FIGHTING TO STAY ON ROAD. IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE FALLING OFF. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. IT WAS FINE ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR AND HASN'T HAPPENED IN 2 WEEKS. UPON CHECKING THE INTERNET, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEM. THEY EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT, IT'S CALLED "THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE" AND IT'S COMMON IN JEEPS WRANGLERS OF ALL AGES. AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE IT HAPPEN TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES. LOOK IT UP. I TALKED TO DEALERS AND CHRYSLER CORPORATE AND THEY ALL SAID "WE HAVE HEARD SOME STORIES, BUT DON'T HAVE A REAL FIX FOR IT.". THEY SAID IT COULD BE CAUSED BY "ADDING LIFTERS TO YOUR CAR", WHICH IS A JOKE, BECAUSE EVERYONE THAT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE HAVE STOCK JEEPS AND ARE NOT TAKING THEM OFF-ROAD. IT'S AN ISSUE JEEP IS IGNORING UNTIL THERE IS A DEATH, WHICH IS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
RECENTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN MY JK JEEP WRANGLER (2008) BEGAN ILLUMINATING. I DID SOME INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO SERVICING IT AT THE DEALER AND DETERMINED IT WAS LIKELY THE CLOCKWORK SPRING SINCE THERE WERE SOME MANY REPORTS OF FAILURE. IN ADDITION, MY ELECTRONIC SWAY BAR DISCONNECT SYSTEM WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE AFTER A CAMPING TRIP. I DROVE DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS AND ON A STRETCH OF 75 MPH INTERSTATE WITHOUT A SWAY AND AN AIR BAG WHICH WAS DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET BOTH ISSUES LOOKED AT. JEEP CONFIRMED IT WAS THE CLOCKWORK SPRING CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ($48.00 DIAGNOSIS) AND THAT THE SWAY BAR DISCONNECT MOTOR ($96.00 DIAGNOSIS) HAD FAILED. THEY QUOTED ME FOR $410 TO GET THE CLOCKWORK SPRING FIXED & $1410 TO REPLACE THE SWAY BAR. NO PROMISE WAS MADE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR COST SHOULD THE ISSUES BECOME RECALLS SINCE THEY ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION. I TOOK INITIATIVE TO SELF DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SWAY BAR NOT RECONNECTING SINCE I SUSPECTED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR WAS STILL FUNCTIONING (I COULD HEAR AND FEEL TO MOTOR OPERATING BEFORE & AFTER I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE). AFTER DISASSEMBLING (NEVER BEEN TAMPERED WITH PRIOR), I FOUND WATER AND RUSTY PARTS INSIDE AND COULD SEE THAT THE UNIT AS POORLY DESIGNED JUDGING FROM THE ONE SMALL SPRING THAT IS SUPPOSE TO WORK TO RE-ENGAGE THE SWAY BAR BY PUSHING THE INTERNAL GEARS (NOW RUSTY) BACK TOGETHER. I SIMPLY APPLIED SOME GREASE TO THE PARTS AND REINSTALLED THE UNIT. TO MY DELIGHT THIS ALLOWED THE MOTOR TO RECONNECT THE SWAY BAR. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO PUT MOTORIST IN HARMS WAY WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING AIR BAG SYSTEM AND / OR SWAY BAR DUE TO POORLY VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION AND THEN CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR COSTS. PLEASE ISSUE RECALLS FOR THE CLOCKWORK SPRING AND THE LACK OF WATER PROTECTION FOR THE ELECTRONIC SWAY BAR DISCONNECT SYSTEM BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR TIRES STARTED WOBBLING. THE CONTACT HEARD THE SOUND, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT VISIBLE UNLESS SOMEONE WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE HOUSING AND THE CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AXLE SHAFT BEING BENT. THERE WAS ALSO A PRESENCE OF A LEAK. THE SEAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,350.
WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK A SMALL POT HOLE, THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY, REMOVING DRIVERS GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER REGAINING WHEEL GRIP, DRIVER BEGAN RAPID DECELERATION WHILE STEERING OFF TO THE SHOULDER. SHAKING SUBSIDED AROUND VEHICLE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THEN A COMPLETE STOP WAS ACHIEVED WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO TRAFFIC WAS IMMEDIATELY PRESENT AT THE TIME. NOTHING WAS FOUND DURING INITIAL INSPECTION ON ROADSIDE AND VEHICLE DROVE PROPERLY AFTER RESUMING CAUTIOUSLY. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS THE JEEP "DEATH WOBBLE" WHICH INVOLVES SEVERE SHAKING AND VIOLENT WOBBLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVED AND VEHICLE REPAIRED. NOTHING HAS HELPED. *TR
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.
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