This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My Jeep steering wheel is binding up and is a serious safety concern. I almost got into a major accident because of it yesterday in a snowstorm when a guy stopped short in front of me and I could not get the wheel to turn left without jamming my brakes and drastically reducing speed which then free'd the wheel up and let me turn left. It just started happening now in the colder weather and some of the things I have read say it may be related to cold weather. It is near impossible to turn the wheel left at high speeds of 50-60+ mph and the wheel completely locks up when attempting to turn left. This happens at high speeds and is a major concern if I needed to change to left lane quickly or am taking a long left turn on an on/off ramp. This is a serious safety concern considering I would not be able to turn left to avoid an obstacle such as an accident in front of me. Extremely disappointed Jeep has not acknowledged this issue and issued a recall because there are several others describing the exact same issue. Star case S1808000255 symptom / vehicle issue https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-wheel-locking-up.20839/ https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-locked-up-at-70mph.18906/page-4
While driving down the road at any rate of speed my steering wheel locks up on me if turning even slightly. It almost feels as if I am losting power steering. When this happens I have to pull really hard to get the vehicle to turn but then it could let loose at any time so when that happens it almost puts me iij N the ditch because I am already pulling so hard on the wheel. The only time this seems to happen is when it is below about 30F. Which over half the year where I live. It is a daily occurrence in these temps and will happen if I'm going 10mph or 90mph.
At highway speeds the steering wheel of my Jeep locks up and is very difficult to turn. This happens no matter if I am getting off an exit of just changing lanes on the highway. It is extremely dangerous. Seems to be connected to the highway speeds and lower temperatures.
Since I bought my Jeep I've taken it back twice for the death wobble. Less than a year ago was the first time and they replaced the steering damper. It was fine for a few months and started again. Having to work I wasn't able to take it back in. The wobble got so bad I was scared when it would start. It had such a violent shake when I would hit a bump on the freeway I would have to reduce speed on the freeway fast which causes it's own set of issues. I just took it in again and they did the recall on the steering damper again. I told them you did it less than a year ago. I got the Jeep back this week and my first drive on the freeway I can already feel that it is still going to be a issue. What will happen when it's snowing and icy on the freeway and the death wobble happens? fca may really have a death on their hands then. You don't get much for 50,000 anymore. This should be stopped before these Jeep kill people.
Driving on highway @ approximately 65 mph, car lost most steering control and violently swayed from side to side (felt as if a tire had blown or come off); in inside lane of 3 lane road; extremely hard to control vehicle. Put on flashers; other driver's able to see control issue and allowed me to shakily get across other two lanes to side of road.
I was driving on the interstate with the cruise control set at 73. I hit a bump and the steering started shaking rapidly. I was unable to control the vehicle while this was happening. I slowed to a stop and when I started again I was fine. I noted that when I was traveling between the speeds of 70-75 and hit a bump is when the wobble would ensue. I have had the steering damper replaced already due to this same issue. The steering damper had no effect on the problem.
Bought the vehicle May 2018. After driving for a week brought back to dealer in regards to loose steering and a dead spot that I could move the wheel 3 inches before the tires would move. Dealer said it was a Jeep thing. This is my 4th Jeep Wrangler and none of my previous models had the issue. They said it was designed to be that way. After another month I brought it back complaining of the same problem and that I saw forums that stated others were having issues. Once again, told it is the way that Jeep handle. I took the Jeep to a 4 wheel drive place for an alignment. After alignment the vehicle had the same issue. I have since put on leveling kit and 35 inch tires. When I brought it back to Jeep because I heard of a software patch and new steering box that was suppose to fix steering. Dealer said that because I put on 35 inch tires that there is nothing they can do. I now have 27K miserable and dangerous miles on the vehicle. I see that Jeep jl as almost 1K of complaints about the steering. It is a safety issue when you cant keep in your lane!
Rounding a turn and going about 30 mph, the power steering stopped working. For about 2 seconds I had to struggle with the vehicle to prevent from crashing into the center divider.
My 2018 Jeep jl has had non stop issues with the "death wobble" so much that I have had to park this vehicle and not drive it. It has been in three times for repairs, each time promised a fix would occur. Last week I was driving on the interstate between work and home, and I hit a regular uneven pavement one would drive over everyday, and the vehicle resonated so much that it pushed me into the left lane.. luckily no one was there but decided to park the vehicle till the next scheduled fix on 11/18. After receiving the vehicle back the instability is still there and resonates when going over any unevenness in roads. I have created a case with Jeep waive (case number 68188061) and called jim cogdill Dodge dealership in knoxville tn whom has repaired the front end the last three times. I was told on 11/22 that the dealership just got notice by a official Chrysler notification that the recall fix for the death wobble is not fixing the instability in the front end, and in some cases making it worse. They have been told to stop fixing the cars until a new part/fix is released by Chrysler. I now have a car that I cannot drive, purchase new just last year and have lost all trust in the safety of this car. I am looking for help to solution and help others whom are in my same situation. Additionally, my vehicle computer has messed up and is showing almost 1 million miles (999,999). This complaint is also part of my case as I cannot sale my vehicle, or be legal with the odometer in current status.
More than once I have experienced extreme shaking of the steering wheel and vehicle. It happens when I am on the highway and hit a bump. Each time it has happened I tense up for fear of losing control. I have to slow down to about 35mph for it to stop. This is not safe to do on the highway. It is also illegal to do as the minimum speed limit is 45mph. I brought my Jeep into the dealership on 11/11/2019 for an oil change, tire rotation and to have some dampener thing installed due to a recall. The very next day it did the same thing. I have now been trying to avoid going over 45 mph.
Purchased the vehicle about 3 months ago. Has been in and out of dealership because the steering is off. It has alot of play and has a dead spot in the middle which has made it very unsafe to drive. 2 dealership have tried fixing the issue, have thrown parts at it but have stated that the issue is a "characteristic of the vehicle" and so they have washed their hands by saying this. Purchasing dealership has always been unwilling to work with us but have lied to us on multiple occasions. Reached out to Jeep care and had case escalated to a level 2 contact but they have not been of much assistance either as they have just gone with what the dealerships state. We were never offered to have Jeep engineers come out and check the vehicle. We were taken on a test drive with other 2018 models and they drive exactly the same but the second that you ask the dealerships to allow you to drive a 2019 they become extremely hesistant and say that it's a different year so it does not apply. One dealership allowed us to drive a 2019 model of our vehicle and there is not steering issue of any type which only leads us to believe that Jeep rectified the issue with the newer models and are refusing to speak up about the 2018 model, ours.
Steering wheel binds up (it won't turn left) in in cold temperatures. It happened on two separate occasions while driving (in both of these cases speeds were below 45mph). Notified the car dealership and they said they could not do anything without a technical service bulletin (tsb), so I submitted a case number with Fiat Chrysler automotive (fca). Within 12 hours of submitting the case, I was informed they could not duplicate, were not going to do anything further and where closing the case. I believe this is a significant vehicle safety issue that requires a more thorough investigation as binding steering could have severe consequences that can result in death. I am not satisfied the dealership or fca adequately addressed this issue. Lastly, several online Jeep forums have indicated and demonstrated very similar problems on this model and year of the vehicle.
Traveling on an interstate at 65 mph and went across the metal strip just before a bridge. The front wheels started wobbling violently and the steering wheel shook bad as well. This happened two more times this trip at the same type of situation. The second time I tried to slow down to get the Jeep to stop wobbling but an 18 wheeler was directly behind me and almost ran up the rear of my vehicle. I had three mishaps all the same on this trip. I use the Jeep around town, but won't drive it at high speeds. I had the damper replaced in the Jeep three days prior to this trip. This is the part that fca says causes the problem. I have another appointment next week to have the Jeep checked out. The date this happened to me was Nov. 8th, 2019. Being a first time owner of a Jeep, I think I should have been made aware of this problem when I bought the Jeep from the dealer.
This vehicle exhibits a dead spot at 12 oclock/dead center causing oscillations of the steering wheel to stay straight on the road. This issue has been into dealer service no less than 8 times in the first 11 months of ownership. This is still not rectified, however, I am working with the area tech on further fixes/options.
After owning the vehicle, which I bought used with 8113 miles on it, for only four days, I experienced a violent vibration from the steering mechanism, forcing me to slow down and pull to the side of the road. I thought I'd blown a tire, but the monitor showed them to be properly inflated. Once I slowed down, the shaking disappeared and I was able to continue without incident. It has not happened again, but when I researched the phenomenon I discovered that fca had, supposedly, issued a tsb related to the problem, and sent a letter to owners offering to install a heavier duty steering stabilizer. The dealer I took it to this morning was unaware of any such problem or tsb, and, since I can't get a copy of it from your impossible-to-negotiate website, I'm at a loss as to how to proceed.
When traveling on highway at 50-70 mph and hitting a bump, the front of the Jeep begins to shake or wobble very hard back and forth. The only way to stop it is to hit the brakes quickly and hard, making driving very unsafe - especially increasing the danger of getting rear ended. It has been in the shop 3 times to correct this issue to no avail. Engine light also goes on and off repeatedly.
This problem has been previously reported and there have been 3 attempted fixes; 2 steering dampers and a wheel alignment. During a recent 150 mile trip, our Jeep did the death wobble on 5 occasions. 3 at highway speed, approximately 70 mph; twice changing lanes and once on a straight away in right lane. The 5th event was at 55 mph on a straightway. Jeep is in for 5th repair today 11/19/19 for a track bar to fix the death wobble problem. Consumer stated he took the vehicle to the dealership and dealership wanted to charge him for an alignment at consumer's cost, consumer declined. Consumer stated warranty claim for repairs show 9th one.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mansfield, MA, USA