Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF TWIN FALLS LOCATED AT 1310 POLE LINE RD E, TWIN FALLS, ID 83301, (208) 293-8571 HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,002.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER OF 2019, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" FOUR SEPARATE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STEADY AND BRAKE SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED WHEN IT SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. MOSS BROS. CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (27810 EUCALYPTUS AVE, MORENO VALLEY, CA 92555, (855) 999-8991) STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
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.
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.
DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS SOME BUMPS OR UNEVEN SURFACE CAUSE CAR TO LURCH. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN TO NO THROTTLE; THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING FOR DRIVER. HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES A MONTH ON SUCH ROADS. I SUSPECT THE SKID CONTROL. WHEN THAT IS TURNED OFF IT DOES NOT DO IT. JEEP NEEDS TO FIX THIS. CAR RECOVERS AFTER 2-3 SECONDS BUT IN MEANTIME THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE CAR BEHIND TO HIT YOU. SO FAR HAVE BEEN LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT TRACK BAR BRACKET TO THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION BECAUSE THE AXLE WELDS SEPARATED AND BECAME UNDONE. IN ADDITION THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE ABS. THE FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,107. UPDATED 04/28/17*LJ *CN
ELECTRONIC SWAY BAR CONTROL MODULE SHORT CIRCUITED DUE MOISTURE INVASION. POOR WATER RESISTANCE IN HOUSING QUOTE REPLACE $2100 WITHOUT LABOR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY UNIT SHORT CIRCUITED.
THE DEATH WOBBLE IS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT OCCURS FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO FAR, THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED AT 40-50 MPH ON A TWO WAY ROAD. DURING THE SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT HAS OCCURRED, I THOUGHT THAT A CRASH WOULD BE INEVITABLE IF I DIDN'T STOP THE CAR RIGHT AWAY. THE STEERING IS BARELY CONTROLLABLE AND IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU THINK THAT THE CAR WILL SWERVE OFF THE ROAD OR LIKELY FLIP. I AM NOT ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN SAFETY, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF OTHER ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME. I AM VERY HESITANT TO LET ANYONE DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT, THE WOBBLE IS TRULY TERRIFYING. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY HAS SUCH POOR DESIGN QUALITY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COMPANY AND A FIX SHOULD BE PROVIDED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, THE ISSUE HAS RESURFACED AND NOW IT IS EVEN WORSE. IT TRULY IS A SAFETY CONCERN AT THIS POINT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND VIBRATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DRY SHAFT, THE TIRES WERE BALANCED, AND A LARGER U JOINT ON THE DRY SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE: I CANNOT DRIVE OVER 55 MPH WITHOUT THE WOBBLE OCCURRING. NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE HUNDREDS OF REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM ON LINE. WHEN WILL JEEP OFFER A SOLUTION?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, RATTLED, AND WOBBLED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SPECIALIZED MECHANIC, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE IN MY JEEP PRIOR TO TODAY'S DATE, I HAD EVERYTHING UNDER THE FRONT END TIGHTENED AND THE FRONT TRACK BAR REPLACED, COST, APPROXIMATELY 700 DOLLARS. THE TRACK BAR WAS REPLACED APRIL 30 2015, TODAY MAY 1 2015 I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY RAMP AS SOON. AS I HIT 65 AND A BUMP THE JEEP BEGAN TO GO INTO A VIOLENT SHAKING. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL I HAD TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL VERY TIGHT, WHITE KNUCKLE, AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE WOBBLE STOPPED. I BRIGHT TO JEEP AND THE SAID PROBABLY THE STEERING. THE CALLED ME LATER AND SAID IT WAS THE UPPER LOWER BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, ALIGNMENT, AND STEERING. 2200 BUCKS. FOR A CAR THAT'S ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD NO REASON SOMETHING LIKE THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE THAT WORN OR THAT I SHOULD EXPERIENCE A DEATH WOBBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DON'T OFF ROAD, MY CAR IS NOT LIFTED. JEEP IS NOT WILLING TO PAY ANY OF THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGHT THE CAR IS LIKE BRAND NEW. *TR
THIS JEEP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SINCE FIRST MONTH PURCHASED. BEEN IN SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, NOT A FEW, NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. RECENTLY IT BECOME TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE AND COULD NOT HANDLE IT AT ALL. "DEATH WOBBLE" DEALER IN WHICH I PURCHASED REFUSES TO BACK UP THE ISSUE & LEFT ME ON MY OWN TO FIX. WHEN YOU GOOGLE "DEATH WOBBLE" WHICH IS THE TERM I WAS GIVEN BY DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD OF, YOU WILL FIND WHAT MY JEEP HAD BEEN DOING ALL ALONG. *TR
TRAVELING AT APPROX. 30MPH ON CITY STREET. STRUCK ROUGH AREA OF ROAD WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND EXTREME SHAKING OF FRONT END. UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OVER 10MPH OR TURN. INSPECTION BY SERVICE PROVIDER REVEALED SHEARING OF FACTORY WELDS ON RIGHT FRONT STABILIZER BAR. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AXLE, STEERING DAMPER AND RIGHT STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE IS USED FOR PASSENGER TRAVEL ONLY ON STREETS/HIGHWAYS, NO OFF ROAD USE. NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS. *TR
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND HIT A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD. THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STEERING WHEEL WENT SIDE TO SIDE. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING OUT OF CONTROL AND I FEARED I MIGHT END UP IN A COLLISION. I SLOWED THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS OCCURRED OFTEN AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. TO DATE, I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND CHECKED ALL OTHER COMPONENTS FOR WEAR. TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND ROTATED. THIS ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE COME BACK. ACCORDING TO MY DAUGHTERS, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FRONT END SHAKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE AT SCHOOL IN ALBUQUERQUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND MY VEHICLE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN TERMED "DEATH WOBBLE" BY OTHER JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BUT CHRYSLER JEEP HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IF I CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN I WILL BE GETTING RID OF MY VEHICLE FOR A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AS THE ENGINE SLIGHTLY STALLED. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY FRONT WHEEL HUB AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER MW3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE FELT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE FRONT AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 328 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,400.
MY 2012 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 2-DOOR WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) VALVE TRAIN TICKING NOISE. THIS DEVELOPED AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT NOVEMBER 2011) 2) SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. IT DOES IMPROVE AS VEHICLE IS WARMED UP AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 5-10 MINUTES, AND BY THEN THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO OPERATE NORMAL. 3) I SOMETIMES FEEL A THUD OR VIBRATION COMING UP FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IT ALMOST FEELS AS SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE FRONT-END. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. THIS STARTED HAPPENING JUST RECENTLY. I AM GOING TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES WITH THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHEN I TAKE IT FOR THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. *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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