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 2010 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 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 42, in the owner's own words
Track bar bracket broke off at 65 mph due to violent steering death wobble. I had no steering when track bar bracket welds broke off axle. No Sterring. Yes, independent. Had to have vehicle toed on flatbed. Yes, Insurance said they will not cover catastrophic failure of the steering or the damage. No warnings other than dramatic front-end vibration that broke off the metal bracket.
Hello, Recently my 2010 Jeep Wrangler has developed the infamous death wobble. It is one of the most terrifying things I've ever experienced. Being on the freeway, doing 75, having my vehicle suddenly start shaking and wobbling like it's coming apart at the seams, and having to come to a complete stop in the middle of rush hour traffic, 3 lanes away from the shoulder has given me extreme anxiety! I have read in depth about this issue, I have read that there have been lawsuits and tech bulletins, but never a recall because "nobody has died from this". Believe me, it's only a matter of time, whether it be a heart attack or an accident, it will happen.
The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while her son was driving 60 MPH, he experienced what was commonly known as the "death wobble"; where the vehicle would shake uncontrollably without warning until the vehicle slowed down and resumed normal operation. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they were initially unable to diagnose the failure. After a technician test drove the vehicle and successfully duplicated the failure, the dealer diagnosed that the steering damper and the driver’s side front wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and denied any knowledge of the "death wobble". The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
RPM FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY, LOSS OF POWER, THEN IT STARTS A DEATH WOBBLE THAT IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE THAT IS SIDE TO SIDE. WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME.
WHEN I REACH ABOUT 45 MPR THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. TOOK IT SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE IT CORRECTED, BUT THE ISSUE ALWAYS CAME BACK. THEY TOLD ME IT JUST NEEDED A BOLT TIGHTENING. I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF THIS MODEL HAVE WHAT THEY CALL "DEATH WOBBLE". MY DAUGHTER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND IT'S BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE EVER SINCE LAST TIME. THE PART IN QUESTION IS IN THE SUSPENSION AND IS CALLED THE STABILIZER OR STEERING DAMPER.
I HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS A COMMON PROBLEM. JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T UNDER RECALL. THE CAR STARTS VIBRATING WHILE IN MOTION STARTING AT 50 MPH. IF IN TRAFFIC I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR IT TO STOP WOBBLING. IT HAPPENS DAILY AND IS DANGEROUS. STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. LAST HAPPENED YESTERDAY. GETTING WORSE.
VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION I.E. DEATH WOBBLE WHEN GOING OVER A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE DEATH WOBBLE CAN LAST FROM 20 YARDS TO 100 YARDS DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AND TERRAIN. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND HAS BEEN MORE FREQUENT RECENTLY OCCURRING ABOUT ONCE PER WEEK. THE DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY START SHAKING IF IT HIT A POT HOLE OR THE ROAD WOULD CURVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, STEERING THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND IT ALSO KILLED THE ENGINE ONCE. THIS HAPPENED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS. TURNED ON THE VEHICLE THE WIPERS ARE GOING NONSTOP WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, THE TURN SIGNALS AND ALL OF THE GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING. THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN THE JEEP IS ON. THIS HAPPENS WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO DRIVING.
I HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS A 'DEATH WOBBLE' AT ANY TIME MY JEEP GOES INTO A SEVERE WOBBLE OF THE FRONT AXLE AND STEERING. I WAS IN 3RD GEAR GOING 30 MPH SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE JEEP WENT INTO THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. IT IS SO SEVERE IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING TO BREAK APART. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME NOT TO EVER PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BECAUSE THAT CAN CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE. MY MECHANIC AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY JEEP DOESN'T WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF SAFETY. JEEP JUST TOLD ME THAT YES THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS COMPLAINT BUT THEY USUALLY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. BUT IT WILL COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AS WHAT IT TRULY IS "A SAFETY ISSUE"
SEE ATTACHED FILE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOTIFIED (CAMACHO AUTO SALES INC, 1358 E PALMDALE BLVD, PALMDALE, CA 93550 (661) 449-8600). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SURRENDERED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WAS INVESTIGATING AND WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
FRONT END WOBBLES WHEN GOING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH WHEN HIT POT HOLE. BETTER KNOW AS THE DEATH WOBBLE.
END WOBBLE OR DEATH WOBBLE.
ON 7/9/16 AND 7/19/16, I WAS DRIVING ON I95 AND MY CAR STARTED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" - UNCONTROLLABLE INTENSE SHAKING THAT I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS, I DISCOVERED RECENTLY, IT IS TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP, WHICH IS PRETTY DIFFICULT ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING REAR ENDED OR INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPARENTLY IS COMMON AMONG JEEPS, ESPECIALLY WRANGLERS, BUT IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY CHRYSLER. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS!!
WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OF 45MPH AND ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHEN THIS STARTED, A MECHANIC SAW NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT FOR A WORN OUT STEERING STABILIZER, SO HE REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, BUT NOW IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN ROAD WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 50MPH. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC AND HE INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET TRACK BAR AND BALANCED THE WHEELS. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE WITH JEEPS, YET THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOCK, EXCEPT FOR THE TRACK BAR, AND CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY WOBBLED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A STEERING DAMPER AND A TRACK BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO WAS TAKEN TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRES ROTATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ UPDATED 11/17/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
PROBLEM LIGHT FOR THE SUSPENSION DISCONNECT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF WATER AND SHORTED OUT. COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION, THE TIPM MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT TIME ALL PROBLEM LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALL THE SHOCKS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALL THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,400.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF A HOUSE . I LEFT THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR THEN SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED THE WHEELS INTO THE CURB TO PREVENT ROLL BACK AND I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT INSIDE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND INTO A HOUSE. WHEN THE POLICE CAME THEY FOUND IT STILL IN GEAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STILL ON . *TR
DRIVING ON ROAD WHEN JEEP VIOLENTLY SHAKES. LOSE CONTROL OVER STEERING AND ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES. THIS IS KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TRY NOT TO CRASH. GOT CONTROL OVER VEHICLE, PICKED UP SPEED AGAIN AND THE VIOLENT SHAKE HAPPENED AGAIN. DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON A BUSY ROAD THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING! *TR
WHEN HITTING BUMPS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES. "DEATH WOBBLE" LOSE CONTROL UNTIL I CAN STOP JEEP. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 JEEP JK UNLIMITED 4X4. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN JULY OF 2013, WITH APPROX. 10K MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 18K MILES, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE COMMON DREADED "DEATH WOBBLE". I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHILE HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN RAPIDLY MOVING BACK AND FORTH AND THE FRONTEND OF THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I QUICKLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED ON MY NOW FRIGHTENED CHILDREN, THEN GO OUT TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS, LIKE TIE RODS OR BALL JOINTS. SO, I SLOWLY DROVE HOME. I WENT OVER THE ENTIRE FRONT END. COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. AFTER READING A LOT OF FORUMS ON THE MATTER, I FOUND I AM ONE OF MANY JEEP OWNERS THAT HAVE/ARE FIGHTING THIS SAME ISSUE. I WENT AHEAD AND PUT ON A NEW STEERING STABILIZER, AND TRACKBARS, AS THESE ARE CLAIMED TO BE THE MOST COMMON ISSUES (EVEN THOUGH MINE LOOKED FINE AND HAD NO PLAY). I CONTINUALLY HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD IT TO SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATIONS, AND CHECKING THE BALANCING ON THE TIRES. THE SHOP SAID TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WERE FINE. WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SOME PLAY IN THE SECTOR SHAFT WHERE THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTS TO THE STEERING GEARBOX. SOME GUYS ARE SAYING THEY HAVE REPLACED THEIRS 3 TIMES IN 30K MILES. I DON'T OFFROAD, MY VEHICLE ISN'T EXPOSED TO HARSH CONDITIONS, WHERE ONE COULD EXPECT MECHANICAL FAILURES. I CURRENTLY HAVE 26K MILES ON MINE, AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE, MEANWHILE THROWING $$ AND PARTS ON IT TO TRY AND FIND THE ISSUE. AFTER RESEARCHING AND SEEING THE LARGE AMOUNT OF OWNERS FIGHTING DEATH WOBBLE AND THE COMPONENT FAILURES WHICH CAUSE IT, I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME LEVEL. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM AND THE LARGE SCALE OF IT, AND OFFERING SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATER OF SPEED (ANYTHING ABOVE 45MPH) AND GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE FRONT END BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AND YOU MUST PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AKA THE DEATH WOBBLE. THERE WAS NOT A POT HOLE, OR ANYTHING IN THE WAY, JUST A REGULAR ROAD. I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ON BUSY HIGHWAYS, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND BEING REAR ENDED SINCE I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKE IT IN A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO SOLUTION IS FOUND, THEY JUST KEEP WANTING TO ROTATE MY TIRES. *TR
WHILE EXITING A 55 MPH SPEED ZONE ONTO A 65MPH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCED EXTREME SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. THE JEEP ACTUALLY HOPPED ON THE ROAD FORCING ME TO PULL OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 1 MONTH. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AT MY DEALER. MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WEEK IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN HAPPENING 3 DAYS AFTER I GOT IT BACK. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER EXPLAINING THE ISSUE AND BEGAN RESEARCHING ON MY OWN. I CAME ACROSS MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME THING- DEATH WOBBLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN MY JEEP HITS 60-70 MPH CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE, USUALLY IN HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE TRAFFIC CAUSING DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. MY JEEP IS STOCK, SO THE EXCUSE ABOUT BEING LIFTED DOES NOT APPLY TO ME. IT SEEMS CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND DOES NOTHING TO RECALL THE VEHICLES. I'M BEING TOLD THE PARTS/REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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