Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 03/01/2013 | 45000 | ||
| While travelling on route 95 at 65mph, i hit a bump and my fornt end began to violently shake requiring me to pull into the breakdown lane and come to a stop. this occurred 2 more times and the vehicle was very difficult to control scaring me beyond belief. the phenomenon is known as death wobble by people that have had it happen. i have maintained my vehicle on a regular basis and the really concerning part is the number of reports on various web forums. there is no way to know it is going to happen and the unsuspecting driver can lose control and crash very easily. if you need any further information, please don't hesitate to call me. thanks | |||
| 03/30/2010 | 25000 | ||
| Death wobble 2008 wrangler 2nd repair, still not fixed. first time i noticed it in 2010, less than 25000 miles. i assumed it was the road condition. when i realized that it would happen under various road conditions, i noted other factors realizing that it seemed to occur at approximately 57 mph. at first the vibration was just annoying and intermittent. then it got worse and i was scared because it shook so violently at 57 mph. i thought the vehicle was going to roll spontaneously. in march 2010, took it to a dealer; they said they couldn't recreate the problem so couldn't fix it. i called another dealer and the service tech (in 2010) mentioned, jeep wobble- i googled it and found very little info- just some jeep owner blogs that described exactly what i felt. the dealer fixed the problem (under warranty) by replacing the steering column shock (or something). since i had it repaired, i still experienced the normal, minor vibration that happens around 55 mph. recently (jan 2013) the death wobble returned with a vengeance. regardless of road conditions, at 57 mph it shakes so badly that it feels like i will loose control. i took it to the dealership and they said that they will replace the shock again and they mentioned that the part has been improved with brackets or some such. of course, at 57000 miles, it is out of warranty and i had to pay the $230 for the repair. the tech told me that this is a common issue and i will probably have to replace it again in another 25000 miles. i call bs! the jeep has never been off-road, never mistreated, always maintained. neither dealer nor manufacturer ever mentioned this tsb during the 2013 repair. when i picked it up, it was not fixed. jeep co. has agreed to reimburse me for all but $100 (deductible) but why do i have to keep paying for repairs on a known issue? vibration is so bad, it could cause me to wreck. | |||
| 02/06/2012 | 40000 | ||
| Death wobble on a 2008 jeep wrangler. vehicle has a predictable vibration between 55-60 mph. on one occasion, the vehicle shook so violently that it took the steering wheel out of my wife's hands. she was going around 55 mph around a curve. on a second occasion, i was slowing down to take an exit ramp. slowing from 75 mph to around 60 mph and entering the exit ramp curve, the steering wheel was almost shaken out of my hands. on a third occasion, at around 60 mph on a straight road with no bumps, the jeep began to shake violently and again pulled the steering wheel out of another drivers hands. the minor vibration happens everyday between 55-60 mph. the dealership says nothing is wrong. i have replaced the steering stabilizer with a rancho heavy duty stabilizer. vibration went away for about 500 miles. i religiously do a 5 tire rotation and balance. no change. i have had a 4 wheel alignment completed. no change. jeep will not drive the vehicle. they say if there is a vibration to have the tires balanced and the front end aligned. when i tell them that has been done, their reply is that it was not completed properly and they would do it for $300. i am getting to the point of selling or trading it in since i cannot fix the issue. i am almost ready to try to replace ball joints, but at 47,700 miles and no suspension or engine modifications. the jeep has never been off-roaded, never been mistreated. what now? jeep also offered to replace the ball joints, pitman arm, tie rod ends, sway bar end links, etc. for a nice sum of the $2500. ouch. | |||
| 12/16/2011 | 21000 | 1 | |
| While driving down a highway at approximately 45-50 mph, drove over a patched area of the roadway while steering left. what ensued was pure [xxx]. the vehicle shook uncontrollably for about 200 feet or so until i could get it back under control and off the road. have talked to several mechanics in the area and have been told the same thing over and over....unless they can get the vehicle to imitate what happened to me while they test drove it nothing could officially be done. after looking up and reading hundreds of reports from other people with the same issues i feel that the jeep corporation needs to do something about this soon before someone dies in an accident. i am the second owner of this vehicle and have not done anything to it mechanically. it is still stock inside and out. vehicle has just over 21,000 miles on it. have had it off road once scouting for hunting areas and nothing more. this is a daily driver to work and back, don't even want to get it out on a highway and get it up to the 75 mph speed limit here in ks. not sure what to do about this. i can actually get underneath the vehicle and roll the linkage bar with the steering stabilizer on it about an inch or so up and down. tie-rod ends have got to be going but 2 mechanics said nothing was wrong. please help!!!! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr | |||
| 12/16/2011 | 21000 | ||
| While driving down a highway at approximately 45-50 mph, drove over a patched area of the roadway while steering left. what insued was pure hell. the vehicle shook uncontrollably for about 200 feet or so until i could get it back under control and off the road. have talked to several mechanics in the area and have been told the same thing over and over....unless they can get the vehicle to imitate what happened to me while they test drove it nothing could officially be done. after looking up and reading hundreds of reports from other people with the same issues i feel that the jeep corporation needs to do something about this soon before someone dies in an accident. i am the second owner of this vehicle and have not done anything to it mechanically. it is still stock inside and out. vehicle has just over 21,000 miles on it. have had it off road once scouting for hunting areas and nothing more. this is a daily driver to work and back, don't even want to get it out on a highway and get it up to the 75 mph speed limit here in ks. not sure what to do about this. i can actually get underneath the vehicle and roll the linkage bar with the steering stabilizer on it about an inch or so up and down. tie-rod ends have got to be going but 2 mechanics said nothing was wrong. please help!!!! | |||
| 11/01/2012 | 67290 | ||
| 2008 jeep jk's need to have a recall on there clock springs! ihave just had to have mine replaced, and have read of many others who have or need to on-line. the warning light started flashing every minute or so with a tone, i feel others and myself sould not have to or had to pay for our safety when it is the manufactors issue. | |||
| 10/29/2012 | 29000 | 1 | |
| 2008 jeep wrangler began to violently shake. automobile is unmodified. very difficult to control under these conditions. *tr | |||
| 10/29/2012 | 29000 | ||
| 2008 jeep wrangler began to violently shake. automobile is unmodified. very difficult to control under these conditions. | |||
| 10/08/2012 | 57989 | 1 | |
| I was driving approx. 55 mph, when my 2008 jeep wrangler began to shake violently. braking, i pulled to the side of the road to check for a blown tire. i walked around the jeep and saw nothing wrong. as luck would have it, i was in front of a jeep dealership. i pulled across the highway and left the jeep for inspection and repairs. the following day i was contacted and told that i had experienced the death wobble. i was told i needed to replace the steering damper shock, lower control arms and damper brackets. then i had to pay for tire rotation and wheel alignment. i have found plenty of complaints on the internet about this problem. after reading some, i am afraid it could still happen again. i am considering selling the jeep. i think that jeep owes the jeep owners a recall. these repairs cost my $650.00. i have owned 5 jeep wranglers, i won't buy another one, unless jeep makes this right!! *tr | |||
| 10/08/2012 | 57989 | ||
| I was driving approx. 55 mph, when my 2008 jeep wrangler began to shake violently. braking, i pulled to the side of the road to check for a blown tire. i walked around the jeep and saw nothing wrong. as luck would have it, i was in front of a jeep dealership. i pulled across the highway and left the jeep for inspection and repairs. the following day i was contacted and told that i had experienced the death wobble. i was told i needed to replace the steering damper shock, lower control arms and damper brackets. then i had to pay for tire rotation and wheel alignment. i have found plenty of complaints on the internet about this problem. after reading some, i am afraid it could still happen again. i am considering selling the jeep. i think that jeep owes the jeep owners a recall. these repairs cost my $650.00. i have owned 5 jeep wranglers, i won't buy another one, unless jeep makes this right!! | |||
| 10/05/2012 | 29000 | 1 | |
| Experienced the notorious death wobble again today. this has happened plenty of times to me, but today it was the most severe and worrisome. the vehicle shakes and rattles so much that i expect pieces to fall off. other cars pull up to me on the highway off ramp (where it often happens on our bumpy massachusetts roads) and ask if everything is okay. i'm not sure if i would buy this jeep again. they really need to fix this. articles online seem to suggest that it is the stock track bar, and if so, why won't chrysler just replace them? *tr | |||
| 10/02/2012 | 48400 | ||
| 2008 jeep wrangler sahara stock. violent wobble. death wobble while taveling at highway speed, 60mph, i crossed over an expansion crack for a bridge. the front end of the jeep began a violent wobble back and forth until slowing down to approximatly 10 mph. this wobble almost contributed to a head on collision with a tractor trailor in the opposing traffic due to an almost complete loss of steering capability. the problem happened again at the same speed after another small bump. this is an extremely dangerous situation. after researching the problem further, there are endless factors that trigger the wobble. each problem may be fixed, but it will only provide a temporary solution. the wobble itself cannot be fixed under most circumstances, you can only fix what sets it off. the problem has been documented multiple times on the internet. it was also displayed publicly on the news, however chrystler has not been held accountable. | |||
| 09/20/2012 | 20000 | 1 | |
| 2008 jeep wrangler with 20000 miles. clock spring failed leaving me with a dinging every time i turn the steering wheel. 2007 wranglers have an extended warranty but 2008s do not. sounds like jeep is admitting something is wrong but limiting their damage monetarily by limiting the affected years. anything that has a chance that of making airbags not deploy, which i'm sure there is a law that says vehicles need airbags, not, have airbags that are made with parts that make the airbag not work after 20000 miles. what next? seatbelts that unhook over a certain speed? *tr | |||
| 09/20/2012 | 20000 | ||
| 2008 jeep wrangler with 20000 miles. clock spring failed leaving me with a dinging every time i turn the steering wheel. 2007 wranglers have an extended warranty but 2008s do not. sounds like jeep is admitting something is wrong but limiting their damage monetarialy by limiting the affected years. anything that has a chance that of making airbags not deploy, which i'm sure there is a law that says vehicles need airbags, not, have airbags that are made with parts that make the airbag not work after 20000 miles. what next? seatbelts that unhook over a certain speed? | |||
| 05/16/2012 | 67600 | ||
| Moving along road at 55 mph. vehicle front end began to shake violently. steering wheel also shook violently. i had to quickly change lanes and slow down to have vehicle stop shaking. this violent shaking almost caused accident. i had vehicle worked on two months ago for shimmy. now it is violently shaking. took vehicle back onto jeep dealer service department and was told it is a tire issue. that the tires have flat spots. i have had the tires checked and balanced and they are good. i bought the tires one year ago new and have not had issues till today. i am a soldier in the army and have served 28 years. i have spent two combat deployments in iraq. this shook me up almost wrecking my vehicle from the violent shaking. please do something about this. | |||
| 03/06/2012 | 50000 | ||
| Clockspring came apart inside steering column. lost ability to steer, air bag shut off, use horn, and cruise control. warranty did not cover. | |||
| 05/20/2011 | 38000 | ||
| Violent, extreme shaking in front end of vehicle (death wobble) at speeds between 55-60mph. has occurred about 6 times, but is random and intermittent, with no known precipitating factors. it has happened several times when vehicle was traveling over minor bumps but has also occurred more frequently on perfectly smooth, straight pavement - with no turning, breaking, acceleration. the shaking seems to be in the front tires/axle and continues for 3-4 seconds as i am trying to reduce speed carefully and maintain control of the vehicle. it feels like the front tires are going to fly off in different directions! after the first occurrance, it did not happen again for months, but recently has happened several times. i was told by one garage that it was due to tire balance (which i knew was not the case), but i had all four tires balanced/rotated (at about 42,500 miles). garage personnel stated this took care of most of the problem but suggested i get new tires. problem occurred 2 more times within a week, before new tires. have had all four tires replaced. death wobble has not recurred, but i am absolutely certain it has nothing to do with the tires/balance and that this will happen again without warning. it is terrifying and extremely dangerous, and someone is going to be hurt or killed. i have an appointment at the dealership next week. when i made the appointment, they claimed they had never heard of this problem, so i will provide them with information i gathered in about 20 minutes off various web sites detailing the aptly-named death wobble. i am well-acquainted with the could-not-duplicate-the-problem garage mantra, so foresee a protracted and frustrating battle before this life-threatening problem is fixed. | |||
| 07/23/2011 | 31000 | ||
| Death wobble - when i reach a speed of over 45 and hit a rough patch, my front two tires start wobbling uncontrollably. it is extremely dangerous and the only way to stop it is to slow down almost to a stop. i have just 31,000 miles on my jeep (no modification and stock tires). this is an extremely dangerous situation...if my wife had this happen, i doubt she would be able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. i took it into the jeep dealership. they put a new steering damper on it and said that would fix the problem. it did not. they recomended that i go to chrysler. | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 22000 | ||
| Severe steering vibration resuts when hitting a bump at highway speeds (60+). problem is worst when also turning (ex: on an overpass). i loss directional control and nearly hit the concrete divider before regaining control as the vehicle slowed down. steering stabilizer/shock was replaced under warranty by dealership. | |||
| 05/07/2011 | 50000 | ||
| At 50,000 miles the vehicle began to have the death wobble. problem was found to be caused by badly worn stock ball joints | |||
| 05/26/2011 | 40000 | ||
| 2008 jeep wrangler jk death wobble- not resolved (for long) by replacement of steeiring stabilizer. believe there is a serious flaw(s) in the overall engineering and design. steering box is exceptionally weak and clunks. jeep is ignoring the problem, despite thousands of complaints from owners online, at dealers, and in jeep forums. someone is going to get killed by this issue. has not been resolved on my jeep yet- haven't even figured out what the root cause is yet, but have spent $1000 so far! thinking about ditching this dangerous vehicle. | |||
| 04/04/2011 | 31451 | ||
| I purchased a new 2008 jeep wrangler sahara edition in april of 2008. since november of 2008 i have had several issues with the jeep which are widely reported on the internet. the first issue was the transmission would pop out of first gear when it was cold or rainy. i immediately took it back to the dealer but they would not fix it because they couldn't get the problem to reoccur. it took chrysler 1 year before they acknowledged the problem. so in the spring of 2010 they installed a gear rebuild kit. meanwhile i was driving an unsafe vehicle for an entire year. the mechanic informed me that this was a temporary fix and that the problem would likely occur again. sure enough just six months ago the transmission started to pop out of first gear. now i am battling to try and get the dealer to fix it again. the second issue which just occurred last week and earlier today is what the internet refers to as the death wobble. once i get above 55mph and i hit a pot hole the jeep wobbles uncontrollably until i completely stop. according to most forums the dealership also gives customers a very hard time about fixing this issue as well. i will attempt to contact the dealer tomorrow about the death wobble. this jeep wrangler 07-10 has some serious issues which need to be address immediately. chrysler needs to issue recalls before someone gets seriously hurt. this is my third jeep wrangler, my first new wrangler, and i am very disappointed in it. | |||
| 03/07/2011 | 24000 | ||
| My son was driving his 2008 jeep wrangler and the brakes failed. this caused him to hit the car in front of him at a slow speed with minor damage and no injuries. tne police officer tested the brakes and said that they were not working the car was towed home.. there was no ticket given. tne vehicle has 24000 miles on it and is in excellent condition. i drove the vehicle the prior day and did not notice anything wrong with the braking system | |||
| 06/05/2010 | 28070 | ||
| When driving over 50mph in my 2008 jeep wrangler if i hit certain potholes or expansion joints on the highway, the whole jeep starts shaking violently to the point where i lose control and drivers around me pull off the road when they see what my jeep is doing. i have to slam on the brakes to get the vehicle to stop shaking and it only does so once i am able to bring it to a complete stop. after researching this issue it seems many jeep wranglers do it. it is called death wobble and jeep/chrysler will not fix it. i feel this vehicle is very unsafe to drive my family in. | |||
| 07/01/2009 | 8000 | 1 | |
| My 2008 jeep wrangler shakes when going over a bump or when i accelerate at 40 mph. it is scary, it feels like driving on black ice. i had the tires checked and they are fine. there must be a problem with the steering component. also, freedom top has leaked and stained my seats. dealership just fixed it a month ago. also, the jeep was leaking oil, dealership just fixed the intake manifold gasket 3 weeks ago. it is scheduled to go back to dealership for this steering issue and it is rusting on both doors. poor, poor quality. i am very unhappy with this vehicle. i have looked up recalls and none are listed for my issues , so i am starting to feel like i own a lemon. i have wrote to jeep and chrysler, waiting on their replies. jeep owner need to be aware of this shaking you off the road, it is like you are swerving out of control, very scary. it is going to cause fatalities. *tr | |||
| 12/12/2008 | 17555 | 1 | |
| My complaint is a future failure. i own a 2007 jeep wrangler. at the time of this complaint, my vehicle has 18,000 miles. the torsion bar on the front end, is worn out. fellow owners complain of this problem. being a steering issue, it could lead to severe injuries in the future. i am the first owner of the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 03/07/2008 | 550 | 5 | 02/15/2008 |
| My brand new 2008 jeep wrangler x 4x4 began the dreaded death wobble (loss of steering control) around 550 miles. thought i was about to die. happened 4 more times until i got it to the dealer. after searching jeep forums and such, i found that 1000s of jeep owners have experienced this problem, with many jeep models. and learned that chrysler does not consider the death wobble an issue. my faith in manufacturers has dropped to the bottom of the pit. this is an exceedingly dangerous problem. i'm going to see what i can do to get this jeep defect on national tv. i am lucky to be alive. *tr | |||