I recently purchased a used 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara and I was super stoked. I still am but Chrysler Jeep SERIOUSLY needs to look into the "Death Wobble" issue with these Jeeps. I certainly hope you're not waiting until someone loses or comes close to losing their life because of this. The first time this happened to me, I was on a very busy highway and had to pull off because I became so afraid. It took me 30 min to gather the courage to get back into the car and crawl home in the slow lane. In another instance, I had children in the car and they began sobbing and wanted to leave the vehicle immediately. After searching online and seeing the countless experiences others have had, I am shocked that there hasn't been a recall. This is an awesome vehicle with a major flaw. Please do something to at least minimize the intensity of the wobble. You literally lose control of the Jeep.

I just bought my 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara two days ago.. I love everything about it but now I'm questioning if its worth it. The death wobble happened to me on my way home from the dealership and then everyday since. At first I wasn't sure if it was the road or the tires, so I googled it. A couple of the times it was bad enough for me to wonder if I should keep driving and I was just driving through town going 30-45mph. I think that a recall needs to be issued whether or not this has caused "enough" accidents for them to think its an issue. It is completely unacceptable that this happens and Jeep is doing nothing about it.

This is, come to find out, a very common problem with wranglers. Why is this not a recall? There are dozens of videos showing how this happens and ways to fix it. FIX IT CHRYSLER! I love my jeep completely and totally devoted to her. I've taken it to the garage I trust several times now and they have replaced U-joints, and tie-rod ends. It hasn't fixed the problem. Whenever the car goes over 50 mph and hits a small bump in the road it begins to shake uncontrollably and you MUST pull over and stop completely before you can gain control again. It is a major event just trying to hold on to the steering wheel. I hate to say that I've gotten used to it, but I have...it happens that often. I'm taking it to the dealership tomorrow. I've explained the problem, told them what I've had done and been clear that this commonly known "death wobble" needs to be addressed.

This is pretty much a warning, but if I have to report back that some dude mansplain I need new tires, or the axles are worn, or anything other than "yes we know and here is how we are going to fix it", well let's just say it will not be a good day for the person on the other side of that conversation.

I do believe the more people report it, and share details the better it will be for all of us. I love my jeep. Don't make me sell her for a BMW because of poor engineering - I beg of you Chrysler.

THIS WOBBLE IS THE SCARIEST THING IN THE WORLD AND IS NEVER ENDING!!!! AFTER TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED WITH THE HORRIBLE DEALER I GOT THE JEEP FROM TO CONTACTING CHRYSLER.

SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:

Original Message Follows:

US Customer Service - Jeep Brand Site Brief Description: NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IS JEEP Comments: THIS JEEP SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AT 55 =65 MPG...IT IS GOING TO ROLL ANY TIME...I UNDERSTAND THIS MAY BE THE DEATH WOBBLE...ITS THE SCARIEST ..THE DEALER IS GONE AND HAS REALLY SOLD ME A PIECE OF CRAP WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT IS PRETTY MUCH BOGUS..THE THERMOSTAT KICKS ON AND OFF AND SPENDING $20 OR SO PER WEEK ON COOLANT..PLEASE HELP...I AM ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND DON'T FEEL THAT THE SHAKE IN THE FRONT IS SAFE OR MY RESPONSIBILITY..THIS IS ALL STOCK...VERY UNSAFE

CHRSYLER'S RESPONSE: Dear Scarlette:

Thank you for contacting the Jeep Customer Assistance Center.

We regret the problem your vehicle has experienced and appreciate the time and effort you took to bring this matter to our attention. Comments like yours are one way we have to learn of problems that may develop and improvements desired by customers.

The vehicles have excellent safety records. All manufacturer vehicles equipped with a solid axle can be susceptible to this condition and, if experienced, it is routinely corrected with a change of tires or installation of a simple steering dampener. In fact, most reported incidents, in all manufacturer vehicles equipped with or without a solid axle, are often linked to poorly installed or maintained after-market equipment, such as lifts, oversized tires, etc, The name given to this condition, "Death Wobble" has no basis in fact.

Unfortunately, given the many variables involved, we are unable to diagnose your vehicle's problem via email. We recommend contacting your authorized dealership to arrange an appointment for proper diagnosis and repair.

Our dealerships have the factory training, equipment and information available to them to diagnose and correct problems with our vehicles. Should your dealer require factory assistance they may contact our Technical Operations Resource Group (STAR) or contact their regional Business Center.

Thanks again for your email.

Sincerely,

Sarah

Customer Service Representative Jeep Customer Assistance Center

For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the following information: REFERENCE NUMBER: 23258975 EMAIL CASE NUMBER: 2811804 *

JUST THIS WEEK I HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST 20 TIMES ON ONE TRIP. THIS SHAKES THE JEEP VIOLENTLY AND THROWS ME ALL OVER INSIDE. I LITERALLY HAVE TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE STEERING AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES SO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!

ONE DAY THIS WILL BE THE CASE I AM GOING TO BE KILLED.

I HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 AND ALMOST GOT CAUSED A PILE UP.

THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE!!!!!!!

Death Wobble - yep, I have it every day on the highway between 45 - 60 MPH when the jeep hits some bumps or expansion joints on the highway. It shakes like hell. I usually do not drive in that speed range. I go faster or slower. I also avoid lanes on the highway with a lot of bumps where the death wobble has occurred in the past. Jeep needs to fix this for free immediately!!! My Jeep is 100% stock. No lift no big tires. They claim it only happens on lifted jeeps. That is BS! I can't believe they are going to make the new JL with the same problem. The government needs to step in and force them to redesign the suspension. Don't buy a wrangler. I'm trading it in for a 2020 Bronco if the jeep can make it to 2020.

Update from Oct 24, 2024: I solved the problem by going to old school tire shop. I bought new goodyear wranlgler tires and had them balanced with old school lead weights that get clipped to the outer edge of the rim. They used a lot of weight to balance the tires. This solved my death wobble issues. I have put over 50,000 miles on the highway with no issues. Do not use tape weights. I had that before and I believe the tires were not properly balanced causing the Death Wobble Issue.

Where do I begin how bad this vehicle has been? This Jeep has not been lifted, altered, or abused in any way. I usually get 300-500k out of my vehicles. The first death wobble happened at 40k, replaced tires and got a super heavy stabilizer. About every 10k the wobble returns and nothing solves the problem completely. I've replaced all recommended parts at least once or twice. It is un-fixable! The most recent death scare was 10/15/16 while towing a 900 pound trailer in the rain. I lost control of the vehicle completely going into a fishtail damaging my trailer. Speaking of rain, the roof has leaked since new. I've had enough of this poorly made piece of crap and I'm getting rid of it. I will not let my family ride in this thing ever again. Not even my dog. Screw Chrysler for not owning up to the myriad dangerous problems with their vehicles. I will never buy any Chrysler product ever again. Ever! I would rather walk, and in fact, I had to walk 16 miles a couple of years ago when the TIPM failed out in the woods. The TIPM has failed twice, the clockspring has failed rendering the airbag system non-operative, the seals have failed on the rear axle the check engine light comes on monthly for SOMETHING.... I'm sick of fixing this junk 85,000 mile POS! Did I mention the oil consumption? 1-2 Quarts every 3000 miles since it was new! No wonder the warranty is only 36k. That's about all the Wrangler can do before dangerous failures! My 1978 VW Bus with over 500,000 miles is a more reliable car! Shame on you Chrysler, I hope you go out of business!

I bought my Jeep almost five years ago. Last year I had the death wobble start, which scared the sh*t out of me, I almost wrecked. I took it back to the dealer and they told me there was nothing they could do that I needed to replace my tires. I knew the tires were getting worn, but not to the point where they needed to be replaced yet, and even so I never would expect that to happen with worn tires. I drove it back home, and it did it again, but worse. The next day I took it back to the dealer and pitch a bitch until they looked at it. I knew that I had the extended warranty and that it should cover it. They replace everything that you can replace to make it go away and I even put new tires on it. 8 months later and it has started up again. I am a single parent and can't afford to put a lot of money in care maintenance, especially when this shouldn't even exist. When is someone going to do something about this, after someone has died due to this death wobble. They call it this for a reason.....

I am fed up with the poor construction of my 2008 Jeep Wrangler. I have experienced several major problems in the 9 years I've had it and the reason I bought it was for the sturdiness and good reputation they have because I live on dirt roads...NOT!!! I don't know if mine is a lemon or what but I'm not a happy camper right now! I am a 60 year old woman who uses it to go back and forth to work and go shopping on the weekends so it's not abused at all. I have it serviced regularly and take good care of it.

Purchased a 2008 Jeep Wrangler in September 2015. Only drove it around town initially. The 2nd time we drove it on the highway, it became to shake so badly I almost wrecked. It was almost impossible for me to maintain my lane with an 18 wheeler approaching in the other lane. I turned on my emergency lights and immediately exited the highway. Took it back to the dealer where I purchased it Southtowne located in Newnan, GA. Paid around $800 twice within 3 weeks to have it repaired and it is still NOT fixed. We've had the PCM replaced, steering column and some other things (I'm not a mechanic). They said "it's good to go, you just need to replace the tires." Mechanic or not, low thread on tires does not lead to the DEATH WOBBLE!!!!!! With two kids in college, we cannot afford to keep paying for repairs. Jeep should be held responsible!!!!!!

Honest to God, I thought all my tires flew off my Jeep, while going 75 mph on the Interstate! It not only did it once, but twice within a few minutes, when the road dropped down a bit from construction they were doing on the roads. The second time I almost flipped and came close to driving off an overpass!

Right away I bought it back to the dealership I bought it from, and it was the stabilizer. Most of it was covered under our extended warranty...

Then a month later, the master cylinder went out...took it in, yet again...got that fixed, and decided I wanted a newer Jeep.

Literally driving on the same Interstate...TODAY...in the same damn spot....

The road dropped down.....DEATH WOBBLE FROM HELL!!! Except this time I had a car load of children with me!!!

Why has Jeep not fixed this issue!!??? Thank God I traded it in tonight (for a 2016 Sahara)....but honestly, this is the scariest sh*t ever!!! This isn't okay...someone is going to get killed!