2021 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Steering damper and drag link and drag link ends.

NHTSA ID

11772877

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

I was driving on interstate going 75 mph in the passing lane when my steering wheel locked completely up. My car started drifting to the right, but I was unable to turn the steering wheel. I almost hit the guardrail. The car is now being towed to Jeep dealership for fixing of the active recall.

NHTSA ID

11769761

Incident

Oct 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highways speeds, the vehicle vibrated violently, and the steering wheel became firm stiffen and difficult to turn. The vehicle was pulled over and slowed down before the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11769566

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

5,000 mi

My Hydraulic power steering pump system has a leak. My 2021 jeep wrangler only has 42,000 miles on it. It has been diagnosed by a jeep mechanic specialist independently. The problem appeared in May 2026. With the Jeep only having very little miles already with a leak from the hydraulic power steering pump system is a major concern.

NHTSA ID

11768094

Incident

May 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, causing a more difficult steering effort. The vehicle was restarted to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the CAN bus connector, but the failure persisted. While driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle almost crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained body soreness. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the second dealer, Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of East Hanover (175 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07936), who informed the contact that the electric hydraulic power steering pump needed to be replaced; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair and stated that the failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11766917

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

60,000 mi

Death wobble

NHTSA ID

11766214

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

Was driving on the interstate at about 65 mph went over some small bumps in the road and got the jeep death wobble. It happened a total of four times on that trip within an hour. Thought I was going to crash.

NHTSA ID

11760373

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

Our Jeep has a death wobble that has almost caused me to have three wrecks where it is taking me out of my lane of travel and put me in Lanes where other people are had to get to the side of the road and try to get it to stop wobbling it. Every time I hit a pothole or a bump it throws me into a death wobble. I'm worried that this might cause me to get into an accident or cause me to die this happens every time I drive it. I cannot go above 40 mph without causing a death wobble so now I have no use of my Jeep. It just sits

NHTSA ID

11756070

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

I am writing to express my concern regarding the handling of the urgent safety recall affecting my Jeep Wrangler. This recall has been classified as an urgent fire and safety risk, yet no remedy is currently available. The recall notice stated that owners would receive notification regarding the remedy by July 9. As of today, August 4, I have not received any follow-up communication, and the NHTSA website continues to list the recall as unresolved with no available repair. I find it deeply concerning that a recall deemed urgent due to the potential risk of fire has remained without a remedy for approximately two months. Owners are expected to continue operating vehicles that have been identified as posing a serious safety hazard while having no meaningful way to mitigate that risk. This places consumers in an unreasonable position, especially those who rely on their vehicles for work and daily transportation. I respectfully request that NHTSA review whether the manufacturer is complying with its obligations under federal motor vehicle safety recall requirements. Given the severity of the identified risk, I also ask that NHTSA determine whether additional oversight or enforcement is warranted to ensure affected owners receive a timely remedy. Additionally, I ask NHTSA to consider whether the manufacturer should provide interim accommodations, such as loaner vehicles or rental reimbursement, while a permanent remedy remains unavailable. I respectfully request that this matter be escalated and that I receive an explanation for the continued delay, an estimated timeline for when a remedy will be available, and guidance for owners who are left with no practical way to address this known safety hazard. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your response.

NHTSA ID

11754734

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle and while inspecting the vehicle, the contact saw smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact became aware of fire underneath the vehicle. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. There were no injuries sustained. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,890.

NHTSA ID

11752615

Incident

May 20, 2026

Mileage

22,890 mi

Component: I was driving my jeep on XXX and the power steering went out. Because this is electric over hydraulic, I couldn't even muscle the steering wheel. No lights illuminated on the dash and I don't believe the computer stored any codes. The power steering was out for less than 20 seconds. Safety risk: I almost crashed my car due to this issue and that's a safety risk to myself and others. I looked up active recalls and found NHTSA recall 26V-363. I called the dealership Casey's CDJR of [XXX]. They told me over the phone that yes, the power steering issue I experienced could be due to the active recall. The dealership visually inspected the recalled part and said it was fine and my vehicle doesn't qualify to get new parts. They then stated that if I wanted them to look into a power steering issue, it would cost me $149.95 per hour. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11752006

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted several times and informed that the earliest availability for a vehicle inspection was August 4, 2026, and the vehicle could possibly be repaired in September. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was assisting the contact in locating dealers who had earlier availability and parts available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11750597

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

Fire hazard. NHTSA recall 26V363 When is the repair going to be available? Dealer doesn’t seem to know.

NHTSA ID

11747661

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact discovered from a news report that the vehicle might be included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11747138

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

I am reporting a safety concern involving my vehicle’s steering system, front-end condition, and a recall I was not informed about. I brought the vehicle in for a routine tire rotation, at which time I was informed that the front camber was out of specification and that there was uneven wear on the front tires. An alignment was recommended. In addition, the vehicle is experiencing abnormal steering behavior. The steering wheel has a noticeable shake and does not feel normal during operation. This suggests a possible issue with the power steering system or related suspension components. The combination of uneven tire wear, improper camber, and a shaking steering system presents a significant safety risk. These issues may affect vehicle stability, steering control, and tire integrity, increasing the risk of loss of control while driving. I have also recently learned that there is an active recall affecting this vehicle, of which I was not previously notified. The fact that this recall was not communicated raises additional safety concerns, especially given the steering-related symptoms currently present. These conditions were identified during a recent service visit, and the underlying cause has not yet been resolved. I am concerned that this may represent a broader defect involving the steering or suspension system that could impact vehicle safety and that proper recall notification procedures may not have been followed.

NHTSA ID

11746270

Incident

Jun 20, 2026

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a right-hand steering wheel and was used as a mail carrier vehicle. The contact stated that after parking and dropping off mail, the contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was overheating, and the battery warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal popping sound and smoke coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911, and the Fire truck arrived 10 minutes later; however, the fire had already started under the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly from the front-end to the front seats. Additionally, mail inside the vehicle were burned. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There was no injury sustained. A fire report was filed, and additionally, a Police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was towed to Copart's. Upon conducting a VIN search on the NHTSA.gov website, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the recall only applied to electric vehicles. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ID

11745024

Incident

Mar 29, 2025

Mileage

59,000 mi

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (VIN: [XXX]). The most significant issue occurred at approximately 50,000 miles when the vehicle experienced a violent steering and suspension instability event commonly referred to as "death wobble." While traveling at approximately 60 mph on a highway, the vehicle suddenly began shaking violently from side to side. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to control, and I had to fight to maintain control of the vehicle while slowing down in active traffic. The event was severe enough that I genuinely feared the vehicle could roll over or cause a collision. Prior to my experience, my wife experienced a similar incident while driving the same vehicle. The safety risk extends beyond my family to surrounding motorists who could be involved if the driver loses control. Immediately following the incident, I contacted the servicing dealership, Jeep Chrysler of Somerset, Massachusetts. The dealership informed me this was a known issue and instructed me not to drive the vehicle above 55 mph until it could be inspected. After inspection, I was advised that the steering damper was defective and that additional suspension-related components could also be contributing factors. The steering damper was replaced, but I was required to pay for the repair. The dealership further advised that instability could continue and recommended changing to smaller tires to reduce the issue. I also reported concerns through Jeep/Stellantis customer service channels and have documented multiple service visits regarding this and other vehicle issues. Despite repairs, the vehicle has never driven the same. My family avoids highway travel in the vehicle, and we do not feel comfortable transporting our children on long trips due to concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11743030

Incident

May 1, 2024

My vehicle suffers from severe electrical/hydraulic failures matching recall 21D (NHSTSA ID 26V363000) for the electrical hydraulic power steering pump (EHPSP). Despite Stellantis acknowledging a 1.07- million vehicle fire hazard for this 2.0L turbo, my VIN shows "0 unrepaired recalls" due to a database omission. The vehicle is available for inspection. Safety risk: Active Electronic Stability control (ESC) faults and "service start-stop" dashboard warnings are present. This defect causes severe voltage fluctuations and sudden heavy steering loss while driving, creating an immediate crash hazard and spontaneous under hood fire risk while parked. Dealer history & warranty abuse: certified jeep dealerships have repeatedly failed to fix the root cause. Elm Grove Jeep (Wheeling WV) misdiagnosed the system and repeatedly billed my third-party warranty for thousands of dollars to fix cascading mechanical damage instead of the underlying defect. Parts replaced is 4 consecutive sets of rear shocks, front shocks, a steering clock spring and a drag link pitman arm boot. when elm grove failed to resolve it Stellantis corporate instructed me to take it to another dealer for a star case to be opened there. I took it to Steubenville Jeep (Ohio) with an active ASC light and failed rear shocks and was told "couldn't replicate" the issue and dismissed it. A few weeks ago, the service "start-stop" safety light triggered. Stellantis had corporate knowledge of this ongoing defect for months via prior state Attorney General case but refused to cooperate and waited knowing AG wouldn't keep it open past a certain number of days and replied a day outside of the window. They are leaving an active fire hazard on the road, omitting my VIN from the database rollout, and depleting my personal warranty's financial limits. I request a federal audit to force the inclusion of my VIN.

NHTSA ID

11742944

Incident

Apr 2, 2025

Jeep death wobble, terribly! Starting when going over 55mph, now happens often and anytime the road has a bump, uneven, or hole.

NHTSA ID

11742715

Incident

Jan 2, 2026

Death wobble almost caused me to go head on with a semi at 57mph.. it doesn’t matter the speed either . I’ve had it to two different dealerships they replace the steering stabilizer that made it worse . They tell me it doesn’t do it when they have it .It’s been aligned 4 times replaced tires and it’s getting worse. Something needs to be done I know several people with this issue. And I know there was a recall on other years for this problem

NHTSA ID

11739756

Incident

May 22, 2026

The vehicle Wobbles violently above 75 mph, especially crossing over passes.

NHTSA ID

11738965

Incident

Sep 12, 2025

This has happened several times and I have spent so much money trying to fix the issue but i dont seem to be able to do so. Whenever I am driving my Jeep on any road at speeds above 55 miles per hour the front wheels begin to vibrate violently and shake the car. After researching this is called "Death Wobbles." It is very scary when it happens and even more so when I have my children in the car. It feels as if the car is losing control and have been thrown off the road a couple of times due to the loss of control. I am worried and scared to drive my Jeep around due to this oscillating movement in the wheels and I am no longer understanding what could be the issue. My guess is the Jeep was manufactured with an aluminum gear box instead of a steel gear box. I think it is unfair to have to fix issues like these out of pocket, especially since I am still Making payments on this vehicle. This has happened many times but it began in fall of 2024.

NHTSA ID

11729342

Incident

Oct 26, 2024

While driving on roads I would characterize as good, Our 2021 Jeep Wrangle has exhibited what is widely know as the "death wobble". 1st time was when vehicle has approximately 10,000 miles and it was noted as being severe, dangerous and very scary. 2nd and 3rd time time and with the same road conditions, it occurred. Mileage was 20,000 and 21,000. On March 13th, and with 23,702 miles, we serviced the vehicle to address a known issue with water pump coolant leak and I explained the front wheel steering "wobble issue". They reviewed, test drove and found no issues with it. 3 miles after picking up vehicle, and at approximate 50 MPH, the unit went into a major wobble condition. I immediately returned to the dealership. Technician recommended steering stabilizer and I was told 9/10 times this fixes the "shake". Service team also explained this is a fairly widespread concern with Jeep Wrangler. I consider this a major risk to me, my family and other drivers around me/vehicle. Only my wife and I have experienced the condition. Dealer was unable to duplicate. No other warning lights or fail conditions are available. On YouTUBE, search Jeep Death Wobble and you will be able to see and witness the condition. Its spot-on. Links below. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11726190

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump in the road, and the vehicle started to wobble and shake violently. The contact slowed down and stopped the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the steering dampener needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated had experienced the failure several years prior. The vehicle was repaired under warranty; however, the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

NHTSA ID

11721719

Incident

Feb 21, 2026

Mileage

51,000 mi

At any speed above 50 mph the steering violently shakes if I hit bridge seams, cracks, or potholes. At speeds about 60 it's significantly worse and around 40 it still wobbles for ~3/4 of a second

NHTSA ID

11721130

Incident

Jan 15, 2026