2012 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Revision 6 November 2019 Dealer Service Instructions for: Customer Satisfaction Notification V41Steering Damper 2018 - 2019 (JL) JeepWrangler vehicles front suspension steering damper on about 192,000 of the vehicles may not effectively damp oscillation of the steering system, resulting in a sustained shake or shimmy in the steering wheel. I have a 2012 Wrangler with the same issue - front-end shake/shimmy. My Mechanic said to replace the stabilizer with the next level-up heavier-duty stabilizer from Mopar. Why isn't my Jeep (JK Series) included in this recall? There aren't any of these stabilizers available at Mopar or online due to exceedingly high demand from vehicle owners. This should obviously be a recall.

NHTSA ID

11556826

Incident

Nov 10, 2023

I have experienced on a number of occasions, when traveling on the highway at speeds greater than 60 MPH and the vehicle his a bump in the road (expansion joint, pothole, etc), the vehicle begins to bounce uncontrollably. The steering wheel vibrates uncontrollably and it feels like the front end of the vehicle is bouncing on the highway. Its doesn't stop until you slow the vehicle down below 60 mph or so.

NHTSA ID

11506546

Incident

Jan 10, 2023

The vehicle will die while driving it, it is a automatic so you loose power steering power brakes and the engine is completely shut off you have to safely pull over and not get hit to put vehicle in park sometimes it starts in park, sometime it just turns over and you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes for vehicle to start. Dealer keeps telling me there is no issue with the vehicle, and they cannot replicate issue. I fear for me and my family's life every day in my jeep wrangler.

NHTSA ID

11502083

Incident

Jan 16, 2023

Becoming the new owner in 2021, I was issued a recall for the passenger airbag inflator replacement. After repairing this recall, the vehicle air bag light came on and has not turned off since. I made several attempts with dearlership to access the problem and in May 2022 the dealership diagnosed the problem stating it was the airbag clockspring. This clockspring had a recall on it in June 2016 and was replaced in September 2016. The dealership along with another AMS certified mechanics shop stated the clockspring that was replaced in 2016 is defective. This is causing multiple safety issues with the vehicle. The anti skid system activates, the anti lock braking is activated, the cruise control will not operate, along with the fact the air bags are inoperable or not operating at full capacity as they are required to.

NHTSA ID

11465221

Incident

Jul 21, 2021

Driving vehicle at low speeds (30-40mph), front end of Jeep shakes uncontrollably. Vehicle must be stopped in order for shaking to stop. This shaking is becoming worse and dangerous. Two independent tire shops have reviewed the concerns and are unable to determine source of shaking. This is becoming a daily occurrence.

NHTSA ID

11443364

Incident

Dec 10, 2021

Driving down the road and entire Jeep started shaking. Stopped the vehicle immediately and had it towed home.

NHTSA ID

11433855

Incident

Aug 31, 2021

ABS LIGHT, ANTI-SKID LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON. TOUCHED THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY AND JEEP WENT INTO A SKID. MY STEERING WHEEL WANTS TO LOCK UP, MY BRAKES ARE TRYING TO BRAKE. SEEMS LIKE A FAULTY ABS WHEEL SENSOR AND EVEEYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11407691

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

179,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED (VIN: [XXX]). WITHIN 1 MONTH OF TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. SPECIFICALLY, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING AND BREAKS DEACTIVATE. TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION, PARTICULARLY AS OUR FAMILY HAS THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX. TO DATE, LARRY MILLER JEEP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AS NO ERROR CODES APPEAR. LOOKING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH JEEPS OF MY MODEL YEAR (HTTPS://WWW.WRANGLERFORUM.COM/THREADS/ELECTRICAL-PROBLEM-SHUTS-OFF-WHILE-DRIVING.190041/) SO I AM SURPRISED THAT JEEP HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM GIVEN THE DIRE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS MATTER TO YOUR CUSTOMER CARE GROUP, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FCA HAS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF THIS SITUATION AS WELL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11406714

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

101,000 mi

MY JEEP IS NOW STALLING MID DRIVE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL. 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE TURNING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP AND GO AROUND ME. I'VE HAD 2 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NEITHER OF THEM CAN FIND AN ISSUE. RPMS GO TO ZERO AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE ONLY WAY TO RESET IT IS TO PUT IT IN PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. OUTSIDE OF THOSE 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND TURNING ONTO A STREET OR INTO A PARKING LOT - THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHAT WILL TRIGGER IT. I'VE READ QUITE A FEW FORUMS WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY!! I WENT FROM FEELING CAREFREE IN MY JEEP TO KEEPING BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHILE MAKING ANY TURN AND BEING CONSTANTLY TENSE. PLEASE PLEASE ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX THIS!

NHTSA ID

11395666

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

66,000 mi

CLOCKSPRING GOING OUT , CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL AND HORN NOT WORKING PLUS NO PART AVAILABLE UNDER THE PART # 05156106AC. NOW TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T CLEAR.

NHTSA ID

11363760

Incident

Oct 10, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS 2012 WRANGLER IN 2014 THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THE STEERING HAD PLAY SO I TOOK IT TO THE JEEP DEALER THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I THEN REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR AND ALL THE END LINKS. IT STILL FOLLOWS THE ROAD INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT. DRIVING THIS JEEP OVER 35 MPH IS SCARY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND EVERY TIME I TOLD THE JEEP DEAL THEY TOLD ME I AM WRONG. I HAVE WASTED SO MUCH MONEY TRYING TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS STEERING PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE GONE TO OTHER MECHANICS TO NO AVAIL BECAUSE THERE ARE NO JEEP SPECIALISTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALL PARTS CHANGERS. I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE AT TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS EVERYTHING IS STRAIGHT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG PLEASE DON'T BLOW THIS OFF,THIS IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND OTHERS DRIVING AROUND THE JEEP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323991

Incident

Nov 25, 2014

Mileage

23,000 mi

JEEP STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN A CITY ROAD, TIGHTENED LOSE SWAY BAR, BUT A COUPLE WEEKS LATER NOTICED VIOLENT SHAKING AGAIN WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. WILL NOT DRIVE AS I AM TERRIFIED OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11291880

Incident

Dec 27, 2019

Mileage

77,000 mi

I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHICH THEY PERFORMED AND AS A RESULT OF THAT REPLACEMENT I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK, HORN INCLUDED AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THEY INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AND COVERING THE COSTS. ALL WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL THE AIRBAG RECALL. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A BAY BEING WORKED ON FOR THE RECALL. THE DATE REFLECTS THE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ID

11279560

Incident

Nov 10, 2019

Mileage

198,000 mi

JEEP SAHARA UNLIMITED GOES NEARLY UNSTABLE (AGGRESSIVE FRONT END OSCILLATION) WHEN HITTING POTHOLES/BUMPS AT SPEED (~50-60 MPH), ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO SLOW DOWN TO NEARLY 10-20 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY OR ANY ROAD GOING AT SPEED FOR FEAR OF GETTING HIT IN REAR AS YOU SLOW DOWN. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS (100+) TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, I MINIMIZE THE ISSUE BY AVOIDING KNOWN POTHOLES/BUMPS ON ROADS I USE. THIS IS APPARENTLY KNOWN BY FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES AND THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A FIX (NEW STEERING DAMPER), JUST SEARCH "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE" OR "FCA SAFETY ISSUES" ON GOOGLE, HUNDREDS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, APPARENTLY NOW A LAWSUIT. HAVE BROUGHT CAR IN AND JEEP SERVICE AND THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF IT. SAME WITH FCA / MOPAR SERVICE. THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL JEEPS WITH THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED. JUST WATCH THE VIDEOS ONLINE OF THIS HAPPENING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM.

NHTSA ID

11257477

Incident

Sep 13, 2019

Mileage

10,000 mi

FOR MONTHS ONGOING, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND AGAIN AT 80 MPH MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE VIBRATES. I DO NOT HAVE A LIFT KIT ON MY VEHICLE NOR ANY OTHER SUSPENSION OR STEERING MODIFICATIONS. I HAD A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER INSPECT TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, TRACK BAR, AND STEERING STABILIZER BUT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL PARTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT/REPAIR. MY JEEP HAS 99K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11256869

Incident

May 6, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

STEERING WAS SHAKING AND CAR WAS SHAKING AT A VERY LOW SPEED AFTER DRIVING ON COBBLESTONE STREET.

NHTSA ID

11256230

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi

CLOCKSPRING REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. INTERMITTANT AIRBAG LIGHT, INTERMITTANT FUNCTION FROM CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL. NO PATTERN TO INTERMITTANT FUNCTIONING, I PERSONALLY CLEANED OUT ALL CONTACTS AND HARNESSES BEFORE PAYING DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE CLOCKSPRING.

NHTSA ID

11182706

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A "DEATH WOBBLE". WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE WHEELS LIFTED OFF THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAKELAND CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2875 MALL HILL DR, LAKELAND, FL 33810, (863) 687-2501) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE "DEATH WOBBLE." THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING SEVERAL PARTS, INCLUDING THE AXLE, WHICH ALONE WOULD COST OVER $3,000. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, NEW TIRES, NEW RIMS, NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, NEW AXLES, NEW HUBS, NEW HALF SHAFTS, NEW BALL JOINTS, NEW TIE RODS, ANTI-SWAY BARS, BUSHING SPRINGS, SHOCKS, ALIGNMENT BRACKETS, AND STEERING DAMPENERS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A METRIC BOLT INTO A NINE SIXTEENTHS HOLE FOR THE FRONT ANTI-SWAY "TRACK BAR" AT BOTH ENDS OF THE AXLE AT THE MOUNTING LOCATION BRACKET UPON THE AXLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

11153031

Incident

Aug 22, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEE'S SUMMIT DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (1051 SE OLDHAM PKWY, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64081, (816) 525-9825) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN BODY WIRING HARNESS WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11118228

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

109,000 mi

JOINT BETWEEN PITMAN ARM AND TIE ROD FAILED, LEAVING NO STEERING WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT-AWAY. UNDER MANY CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEADLY CRASH. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING OF PENDING JOINT FAILURE (NO NOISE, VIBRATION, SLOPPY STEERING, ETC). VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PRECEDING 3 MONTHS. NO MECHANICS OBSERVED WEAR OF THIS JOINT. 105K MILES ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11078634

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

2012 JEEP SAHARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TENSIONER ARM AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ITS STEERING. THE TENSIONER ARM SEIZED SHREDDING THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH LODGED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11029771

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/2/2015 INVOLVING 2012 JEEP WRANGLER, MY VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE JEEP WAS JERKED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH ON THE RIGHT, HIT THE FRONT END OF THE DITCH AND WAS LAUNCHED AIRBORNE, THEN CRASHED ON THE CEMENT WALL OF A SECOND DITCH, BOUNCING TWICE BEFORE LANDING IN THE DITCH AND HITTING THE FRONT END OF THAT DITCH. I REPEATEDLY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT BELT TENSIONER DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACKWARDS REPEATEDLY. I SUFFERED A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND HERNIATIONS TO MULTIPLE DISCS IN MY NECK AS WELL AS TRAUMA TO THE FACET JOINTS IN MY NECK, RESULTING IN SEVERE FORAMINAL STENOSIS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS THAT REQUIRES NEUROSURGICAL INTERVENTION. I SLAMMED MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL 4 TIMES, MY CHEST ONCE. THIS ACCIDENT FOREVER CHANGED MY LIFE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CALLED FCA TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT, AM ALWAYS TOLD SOMEONE WILL CALL ME BACK. IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS AND NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD SOMEONE WOULD COME LOOK AT MY VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT, NEVER HAPPENED. AS I FACE URGENT SURGERY TO MY SPINE WITH PAIN TO MY NECK RADIATING DOWN MY RIGHT ARM, ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS CHRYSLER. THEY RECALLED 2016-2017 JEEP WRANGLERS FOR FAULTY WIRING OF THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE, AS WELL AS JEEP PATRIOTS AND COMPASSES MADE THE SAME YEAR AS MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. FCA REFUSES TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE THEY IGNORING? THEY NEED SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T RECALL ALL VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS, KNOWING THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT POSE A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ID

11024190

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

I'VE SPENT $1500 ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE WOBBLING IN MY STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I'VE ALSO SPENT $700 ON A POORLY DESIGNED REAR OIL SEAL. THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH JEEPS.

NHTSA ID

10936203

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY VEHICLE CLOCK SPRING HAS GONE OUT. MY VEHICLE HAS 45000 MILES AND IS A MODEL YEAR 2012. OTHER YEARS, SPECIFICALLY 2008-2011 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME THING. ALSO 2012 RHD MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE VERY THING. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CHIMES AND IS ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHENEVER I TURN LEFT, RIGHT OR STOP OR ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID

10927471

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

Mileage

45,000 mi

TIPM WENT OUT LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH! COULD HAVE BE A DEADLY SITUATION! JEEP NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ASAP....

NHTSA ID

10914169

Incident

Sep 23, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi