2018 Jeep Wrangler Steering

While driving at highway speed, my 2018 Jeep wrangler violently shakes in the wheel. It is unpredictable and very concerning. This is very unsafe as you have no control over this violent shaking, and you aren’t sure of what could happen. This appears to be a very common issues in the jeeps as there are various reports of this occurring. There is no warning lamps, messages, etc. when this occurs. This is a very big safety issue that needs to be addressed. After taking it to get looked at, I was made aware this could occur for several reasons in the car. All of these reasons should be addressed and fixed as this is a very known issue.

On multiple, though infrequent occasions, while beginning a turn in our 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, the steering wheel, abruptly and without warning, stops turning. The turn cannot be completed without exerting significant force on the wheel to overcome the resistance. This is very dangerous, especially when moving at highway speeds, as drivers may find themselves unable to stay on the road or worse, to avoid oncoming traffic. When we first reported this problem to a Jeep Dealer in 2018-2019, we were repeatedly told that they were unaware of the problem we described, and since they couldn’t reproduce the malfunction, they could not effect any repair. Over time, the problem worsened, not with more frequency but with more and more force being required to overcome the steering wheel resistance - increasing the likelihood that one might inadvertently oversteer when breaking through that resistance. After a recent incident that could have caused a serious accident, we looked online and found that ours was not an uncommon problem. There are numerous reports describing this very issue on the carcomplaints.com website. And Jeep actually issued a technical service bulletin in 2018 (TSB 08-092-18) that not only describes the problem, but also the fix. So Jeep not only knew about the problem, but they knew how to fix it and did not do so when we were under warranty. Now they are saying the fix will cost us literally thousands of dollars. This issue is dangerous and should have been under a mandatory recall from day one.

At speeds around 50 mph the steering wheel will "lock up" and become extremely difficult to steer if not impossible. Lowering speed to 28 mph will suddenly jolt the steering back to normal causing extremely dangerous steering response with a danger of over correcting once steering assist is regained. Dealer has not been able to replicate the issue and cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. This has happened multiple times nearly resulting in a head on collision 2 separate times

It states that our vehicle is not on the recall list for death wobble, however, when we go over a bump or over 60 mph our Jeep vibrates and shakes (feeling it in the steering). We took to have tires checked, even rebalanced and they checked stems.

The steering gear box on my Jeep Wrangler has an active technical service bulletin regarding the faulty alluminum steering gear box causing wandering in the steering of the vehicle on all 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers. This repair is a known issue by FCA as they have a service bulletin regarding the issue. However they have not recalled the defective parts and refuse to cover replacing the defective parts unless the vehicle is still under warranty, or at a substantial cost to me. When I purchased my Jeep from Westgate Jeep in Raleigh, NC in late September 2024 at 84,000 miles the TSB had not been completed by the original owner. The Jeep is lifted but was sold to the original owner in that manner. It is a Rocky Ridge package that was sold the way it still is to the original owner. My safety and the safety of my family is at risk in the vehicle because it wanders excessively in the road. The incident consisted of passing 18 wheeler driving by in the opposite direction causing the Jeep to wander excessively to the right off of the edge of the road causing near loss of control and potential roll over. The issue has been found by my certified mechanic to be related to excessive movement/flexing in the steering gear box. The mechanic drove the vehicle and also noticed the wandering steering. FCA/Jeep should not be allowed to refuse to repair such a significant known issue with vehicles that they manufactured with defective parts they should be held accountable and made to recall and repair those defective parts. There are no active warning lights on the vehicle and a recent alignment was done by a certified mechanic when the tie rod and tie rod ends, drag link and drag link ends, ball joints and steering dampener where replaced. All tires are balanced and have equal wear the steering gear box is the only component of the steering system that has not been replaced and the issue remains. Please reference Mopar T.S.B. 08-074-20 REV. B regarding the known issue. Thank you.

The Factory Aluminum Steering Box presents a severe safety hazard and should be immediately recalled due to its dangerous failure in cold temperatures. In low temperatures, the steering sticks and does not move freely, making normal driving extremely hazardous for both the driver and others on the road. While straight roads may not reveal the issue, attempting to turn on a curve becomes life-threatening—the wheel sticks, preventing necessary maneuvering. Once it finally releases, it can lead to overcorrection, which is especially perilous on slick, icy, or snow-covered roads. This issue occurs without warning, at any speed, and significantly increases the risk of crashes. FCA is aware of the problem and has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) [XXX] ), but this is not a recall—meaning owners are left at risk. This failure nearly caused me a head-on collision and a run-off-road accident while traveling with my family. The safety implications are undeniable, and action must be taken before lives are lost. This is not just a mechanical flaw—it’s a critical safety failure that demands an urgent recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

After I completed the recall on the clutch, I've noticed an alarming issue: occasionally, multiple warning lights appear on the dashboard, such as the check engine, service transmission, and brake lights. The most pressing safety concern is the complete loss of power steering. Although the car remains drivable, operating it without power steering is exceptionally hazardous. Additionally, since the car features a push-to-start system, when this issue arises, I can’t turn it off in the usual manner; I have to stall the engine to stop it. This situation has occurred multiple times, but fortunately, I’ve been either at a stop or driving at a low speed. After leaving the car off for a while, when I start it again later, the fault disappears and I can't replicate the issue.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the power steering became inoperable for two seconds and then returned to normal independently. The contact stated that during the second failure, an attempt was made to start the vehicle; however, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

The JEEP was taken to the dealership for the steering recall, but upon return, the same issue still exists. Once the JEEP hits EXACTLY 51 MPH (does not happen at 49), the steering wheel starts to heavily vibrate making the JEEP UNDRIVABLE and UNSAFE. Upon contacting the HW HUNTER JEEP DEALER, and explaining that the issue still exists, they provided NO HELP and said that was all they could do. Seems like them letting an UNSAFE vehicle on the road is a liability and lawsuit waiting to happen. For this reason, the JEEP in undriveable as all roads near my home are 55mph and it is unsafe to drive.

Power steering has been locking up at higher speeds above 40 mph. When slowing down to 30 mph the power steering operates again. You can feel the steering tighten up while driving and makes very difficult to change lanes, much less do a full turn. When the power steering kicks back in causes you to overcompensate steering. Almost had a head on collision on street. Also almost drove off of freeway overpass. Dealer has confirmed issue. They have had my automobile for over 3 months with no solution. Numerous posts have been made on Jeep Wrangler forums about same issue. Seems to be exclusive to JL. I only had vehicle for 3 weeks. Issue started in 1st week of ownership. Progressively got worse. Dealer replaced gear box, power steering pump, power steering lines, rebooted software, and replaced center of steering wheel as well. None of these repairs have worked. Concerned Stellantis is not taking this issue seriously and don't want to see anyone hurt. I just want a safe automobile to drive. No warning lights have been gone off.

Check power steering warning light Appeared during driving and steering became difficult Light turned off. After stopping and trying to restart vehicle steering warning light is back on and steering is nearly impossible after 2 weeks in repair shop was told it was fixed Incident has recurred 2 x times. Latest date 11/18/24

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, and driving over a bumpy road surface, the vehicle started wobbling. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the failure was diagnosed with steering damper failure. The contact was informed that the steering damper needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The contact related the failure with Customer Satisfaction Notification Program: V41 Steering Damper. The failure mileage was 66,000.

Customer Satisfaction Notification [XXX] Steering Damper The 2018 Jeep Wrangler is experiencing what many are calling "The Death Wobble" due to the fact that when driving at speeds exceeding 50 MPH or so, the vehicles steering system begins to shake uncontrollably. We purchased the vehicle for my son preowned on May 4, 2023 and at that time it seemed to be working fine. However, a couple of months later when I was teaching my son how to drive the shake started and its gotten progressively worst ever since. At first we thought it needed an alignment but that didn't help much. We then took it in for another alignment at Firestone where they reported the wobble and advised me that many Jeeps of that year were being recalled for the Steering Damper issue. I called the FCA Service number (1-800-853-1403) and opened case number [XXX]. I was told that I must take the vehicle to a Jeep Service Center which I did immediately that same day. The Jeep Dealership confirmed the issue and its severity, advising me to call the recall center again. Today when I called FCA again they refused to let me speak to a manager and told me the case had been closed. They refused to help me with this issue based on a technicality. It seems our Jeep is a JK Unlimited and they recalled the JL of that same year (2018-2019). The death wobble looks and feels terrifying because you can lose control of your vehicle. My son is a new driver so this is even more worrisome to me. I've read that many accidents have already occurred due to this issue. However, no one at the FCA is helping me with this widely known issue and I do not know what to do. We simply can not afford the $4,200 bill to fix it and by driving it I am putting the driver and other innocent bystanders in danger as well. Please advise on what I can do next. Thank you for your time and consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Driving Jeep Wrangler Unlimited at posted speed of 65 mph when I hit a rough spot in the road or a seam in the pavement, or a pothole the front wheels jerk back and forth violently until I slow down to 30 mph or less and then continue driving. This is known as the Jeep "Death Wobble" the dealers know about it, it's on YOUTube many times, it is very dangerous because you have no control of the vehicle. The dealer replaced the steering stabilizer on a recall notice, but my Jeep still has the same problem.

The steering wheel locks while driving. There seem to be no specific circumstances that cause it. There are forums with other Jeep owners having the same issue. It is definitely a safety concern and should be a recall. The recall that was done did not fix the issue. Dealer and Jeep do not care and will not replace the steering components which Jeep has done before. They can’t duplicate it driving it only 42 miles. The problem is you never know when it is going to lock. The last incident happened on 1/16/2024 but it happened 3 other times in the last few months before this last time. It has been at the dealer since 1/16/2024

I was driving my Jeep Rubicon 2 door with manual transmission 32,000 miles out of town which I don’t normally don’t due because the steering is sloppy. I have spoken with Jeep Cares about the issue multiple times it’s been this way since I got it with 14,000 miles. It feels dangerous to bring it up to 65mph. The other day I got a death wobble after hitting a small bump in the road in it. I am a combat veteran with two tours one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Let’s just say I have PTSD from driving this thing. I can’t believe someone hasn’t been killed yet. The NHTSA needs to do more on this issue. The complaints are real and this needs to be addressed. I want to sell it but can’t put this out there to be resold and possibly kill someone. I guess I’m back to Sunday drives in it in and around town. Jeep needs to fix this issue! NHTSA you need to hold them accountable

It's been characterized as the "death wobble." When I approach speeds of 60 mph or more and hit a bump in the road, the steering and front end commences to severely vibrate uncontrollably, lasting up to several seconds. This problem is well documented and pervasive. There needs to be a nationwide recall before there are resulting accidents and fatalities.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at high rates of speed, the contact lost steering control of the vehicle after driving over a bump in the roadway and the front end of the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. The contact stated that the failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the steering damper. Additionally, the contact was informed that the part needed to be replaced every three years. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

I own a 2018 Jeep JL Rubicon Wrangler. My complaint is the steering issue that NHTSA already is aware of and has a TSB issued on this particular malfunction. After spending a substantial amount of money for such vehicle, and there being a major issue with the aluminum steering box, I feel this should be an actual recall Jeep should make right for all of their loyal customers. Every forum I read about this steering issue, it is the same complaints, that Jeep should be responsible for replacing the Aluminum box with the steel steering box they have already upgraded to after 2020, because they knew it was an issue. My steering is very sloppy, I have already had a mechanic try to tighten the steering box and said it cannot be tightened again, and next time it needs to be replaced. I should not have to spend almost $1200 for an issue that is not my fault nor is it normal wear and tear. I feel unsafe in my vehicle no matter what speed I am going. It is all over the road and I am surprised a police officer has not pulled me over thinking I am driving drunk because the steering makes the vehicle sway from one side of the lane to the other and has to be corrected all the time. My fear is, one day I will not be able to control the steering because something will let loose and cause me to vere off the road and hit an obstruction, or worse, hit somebody else. This is not covered under warranty once the vehicle hits a certain number of miles, which I am over and many other people are too. Please take this matter serious and look further into it to see how bad this issue really is. It is not safe for all these Jeep Wranglers to be on the road with faulty steering boxes, which is a major part of the drive system in a vehicle. I don't have any children, but I can imagine the many of people who do drive these vehicles and has children in the cars with them on a daily basis, and has no clue there is a major issue going on with their steering. Thank you

Have multiple experiences of steering wobbling and jeep is not in control causing frightening situation. Few times jeep departed lane and caused stress to both me/my wife and nearby drivers. Is there anything someone can check this issue and make Jeep accountable if they have problem and let us know what to do

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, she became aware that the electric power steering was not functioning properly after the steering wheel locked in position. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway to restart the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the alternator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000. The VIN was not available.

On several occasions, within the past year to year and a half, and when periodically driving my 2018 Jeep Wrangler across any sort of rough patch on the road, I would experience a severe and sudden shaking of the steering wheel along with very strong vibrations coming from the entire front end of the vehicle.......unfortunately however, I do not have any confirmation of such from any independent repair facility, nor has any independent inspection taken place, and without any warning ever from any interior "idiot" light, lamp, and/or the like. The recall notice I received earlier this year indicated that this phenomenon was the result of a failing steering damper. I subsequently submitted a purchase receipt along with a proof of payment for a new damper which I then self-installed. Now the "customer care" people @cac.stellantis.com won't reimburse me for the part because I did not have an independent repair facility install this very simple part to replace. Never did I receive any notification, nor was any information ever made privy to me, that independent installation was an absolute requirement for part reimbursement. Can you please help me reason with these people? Thank you.

Vehicle has been experiencing electrical failure that dealers have been ,so far, unable to diagnose..when the electrical failure occurs we experience a loss of steering.

About a year ago, my vehicle began experiencing the know defect of death wobble - at highway speeds the car begins to shake uncontrollably and feels like it may flip. About a year ago, Lafontaine Jeep in Lansing MI replaced the steering stabilizer as part of the recall. The problem is occurring again. I have had the vehicle back to Lafontaine Jeep in Lansing MI which they said the replacement of the steering stabilizer would be covered under the 2 year part warranty however Lafontaine can't get the part in and has no estimate when the part will be available. I spoke with Myah at FCA Customer Car and she said there are no parts available as well, no eta for when the parts will be available, and that there is no help available. I'm confident that new Jeeps are being manufactured with this part while my family is driving in a car with the death wobble.

2018 Jeep Wrangler. Driving at 30-35 MPH, the ABS warning light, the check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, service, the four-wheel-drive, and other unknown warn lights are illuminated. The odometer became inoperable. The vehicle lost power steering functionality and shifted into Accessory Mode. I was able to veer to the side of the road. . Additionally, the vehicle failed to shut off as needed. The vehicle remained in Accessory Mode for 15 minutes and restarted independently. The failure has been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken several times to the Jeep dealer; the dealer was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired because I can’t get an appointment for over two months. The failure mileage was approximately 45000.