3.0
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 47,694 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
After researching the internet I cam across the acronym of the issue. What happened is exactly described in this article as the "death wobble." abc7news.com/archive/8547340/ this has happened multiple times while I'm driving at an average speed or high speed. If I hit a dip or turn at a average to high speed my Jeep shakes uncontrollably. Today I was driving to work on the 60 eastbound in the high speed lane going the speed limit (cruise control). My Jeep hit a dip and shook so uncontrollably I almost had to do a complete stop on the freeway. I tried the best I could to merge to the slow speed lane to possibly exit the freeway. A few vehicles were behind me when this happened and it almost caused a severe accident. It literally feels like the axel is going to snap in half or the vehicle may even flip if the shaking were to continue. When the vehicle is shaking like this the only way I've experienced for it to stop is quickly slowing down almost to a complete stop. If I slow down slowly it still shakes uncontrollably so much so that it puts me in the other lane. This issue needs to be fixed and can most definitely kill someone. This happened today at least 3 times. I then finally put my vehicle in four wheel drive at 2H while driving fearing if it happens again, my axel may break; or worse my life taken. Before this incident I'd say it's happened every now and then. Approx. Once every 3-6 months since I got the vehicle. I also have my tires rotated every time I get my oil changed at 3,000 miles. This should not be happening
- Menifee, CA, USA
See attached file
- Cutler Bay, FL, USA
On 7/9/16 and 7/19/16, I was driving on I95 and my car started the "death wobble" - uncontrollable intense shaking that I almost got into an accident. The only thing that stops, I discovered recently, it is to slow down to a stop, which is pretty difficult on a highway without getting rear ended or into an accident. This apparently is common among Jeep, especially Wrangler, but it should be fixed by Chrysler. This is really dangerous!!
- Salisbury, MA, USA
Yesterday while traveling with my 2 young grandchildren, I experienced something known as "death wobble", a violent vibration in the front end. It happened 3 times yesterday and twice today. All times I was traveling on a freeway at around 55 mph. It began to wobble as I entered a curve in the road. I was lucky enough to be able to slow and pull to the shoulder each time. The only way to make it stop is to stop the vehicle. I'm especially concerned because this also happened to my 2007 Wrangler. Why has Jeep not fixed this problem? it's both terrifying and expensive to fix. I will never purchase another Jeep.
- Chanhassen, MN, USA
I have a 2010 Jeep Wrangler sahara unlimited with 62K on it. I first noticed a jar and shaking after hitting a bump a few months ago and didn't think anything of this, until tonight!Y Jeep is completely stock. I was coming home from work and hit a bump on the highway and my whole entire front end completely shook where I could barely control the vehicle. I had to slow down but was scared to death because there was a semi behind me, when I slowed down it didn't do it anymore! this is so dangerous I go on multiple trips with my two sons and can't imagine to safety that is at risk with this type of malfunction in a Jeep.
- Montgomery, IN, USA
Driving on road when Jeep violently shakes. Lose control over steering and entire front end shakes. This is known as the death wobble. Had to immediately pull over and try not to crash. Got control over vehicle, picked up speed again and the violent shake happened again. Driving with children in the car on a busy road this is very frightening!
- Havelock, NC, USA
When hitting bumps the front end of the vehicle shakes. "death wobble" lose control until I can stop Jeep.
- Charleston, WV, USA
This has happened multiple times, while driving at a higher rater of speed (anything above 45mph) and going around a curve, the front end begins to violently shake to the point that it is difficult/impossible to control and you must pull off to the side of the road. Aka the death wobble. There was not a pot hole, or anything in the way, just a regular road. I have had to do this on several occasions and on busy highways, nearly causing an accident and being rear ended since I had to stop suddenly and pull off the road. I have take it in a number of times with this problem and no solution is found, they just keep wanting to rotate my tires.
- Ronks , PA, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the rear passenger's side tire blew and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The tire was replaced. The front driver's side tire also blew on a later date. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, who stated that the valve stem nuts were fractured and caused the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
- Novelty, OH, USA
When you hit speeds of 55 mph or above and hit a small bump, my Jeep starts to shake. Took it in to Jeep and they stated that is is called the "death wobble." Correct term in the winter, in snow and in a Jeep. Third time in the Jeep dealership and the only change has been the steering stabilizer without success.
- Endicott, NY, USA
While driving at 65 mph, my Jeep started shaking uncontrollably and violently. I had no control in the car, the only thing I could do was push the brakes. I pulled my 6 speed Jeep into neutral and started slowing down and letting it glide to the side of the road. Still shaking as I am slowing down, the Jeep feels like the whole front end is going to shake apart. All cars behind me slammed on their brakes because they saw I had no control of my Jeep. A state police trooper followed me to the dealership. There is no broken axles, loose tires, tire pressure is good. They said they could not find anything in the "express service center". this is a 2010 Wrangler with 75,000 miles that is driven on the highway daily for educational purposes. There must be something done about this "death wobble".
- Salem, VA, USA
Main issue - driving down the road hit a bump/uneven patch of road and the car shimmers/jerks/wobbles back and forth providing a feeling of losing control of the vehicle. Honestly, I have noticed the shimmering/wobbling/jerking since the first bump I went over with the Jeep Wrangler. I thought this was normal for Jeep as this is my first Jeep Wrangler I have owned. I even went as far as to remove the original tires (more off road) and get all around tires recommended by the Jeep dealer per my private car maintenance specialist. This still did not help. I have this uneasiness when driving the Jeep. I have learned to brace myself when I notice rough/uneven road ahead. While traveling northern Michigan (I-75) I hit a bump in the road (the road was partially covered with snow), the Jeep jerked/shimmered - I spun out of control said a few prayers and was able to bring the Jeep back under control without flipping. I sat on the side of the freeway for almost a half hour before I had the courage to continue my journey. My younger adult children and husband do not like to drive my Jeep because of this wobble/jerky experience after a bump/even road. They don't feel safe. Something needs to be done to correct this problem, before someone is injured or killed.
- Brighton, MI, USA
While driving down the highway I hit a bump and experienced the "death wobble" where your car shakes out of control and you have to come to a complete stop to make the front end stop shaking. I have taken my Jeep into have this fixed more than once. They claim they had to call the cooperate office because they didn't know anything about the "death wobble" they said they fixed it and then about a month later did the same thing. I'm not the only person complaining of this problem. I've read online plenty of accidents where people have almost flipped their Jeep because of this problem.
- Sherman, TX, USA
The first incident, which occurred in March 2011, two (2) valve stems developed air leaks due to rust. They were replaced by the dealership under warranty. The second incident happened on March 21, 2011, one (1) valve stem developed an air leak caused by a crack in the valve stem. The stem was replaced by a Jeep dealership again under warranty. The new valve stem has a black rubber coating where as the other 4 stems do not.. the vehicle has only 17200 miles and my fear is that my wife or myself maybe driving on the highway and another valve stem fails causing a blowout and then a serious accident maybe causing serious injury or death. I have spoken to the dealership and to Jeep customer service at an 800 number but they say nothing will be done to replace the 4 valve stems that do not have a rubber coating. It is obvious to me that there have been issues in the past, that the valve stems are being made differently now. Please investigate before there is a serious injury or death.
- Tobyhanna, PA, USA
2010 Jeep Wrangler rubicon unlimited: I recently took my Jeep to the dealership to attend to another recall and check out some problems - overflowing gas tank, squealing brakes, rough idle in traffic, increasingly rough and loud ride. I purchased my Jeep new 18 months ago and it now has approximately 22K miles. They replaced the gas tank which I now understand is a common issue on the 2010 rubicons. They told me I needed to replace both rotors which are no longer covered under warranty due to debris getting caught between the brake pad and rotor on both rear brakes. And, they explained the loud/rough ride was from the uneven wear on my front tires. The tread on my front tires showed severe cupping. The tech said it was from not rotating my tires often enough and this is a common problem on Jeep since the front has more "play" and the rear is more "solid". he said there was nothing wrong with my Jeep. I questioned whether the significant uneven wear was acceptable after only 22K miles. He offered no other solution other than rotating the damaged tires to the back and wait for them to wear evenly. My concern was rotating the tires would just create issue with my other two tires as well. He said it's just normal and I'd need to replace all of my tires soon anyway. With the age of the vehicle being only 18 months with 22K miles, I question if this issue is not related to my suspension.
- Austin, TX, USA
The VIN provided above is the last 8 digits. This was a rental car from national rental car. The Jeep Wrangler we rented had a Contitrac at tire in the left rear position; all other tires, including spare on back were Goodyear Wrangler tires. The Contitrac at tire suffered an explosive blowout, causing the vehicle to spin out of control. The entire tread blew off the tire carcass, and the explosive force caused the left rear fender to blow off the car. There was tire shrapnel all over the road (highway 17 southbound in Arizona, near jerome state park), causing considerable danger to all vehicles on the road. We were able to gain control of the out-of-control vehicle and pull to the side of the road. We changed the tire and continued with our trip. National rental car is aware of this situation, which caused $1,783.55 of damage to their vehicle. We were obviously held not liable, and are lucky to be alive.
- Westport, CT, USA
- Bedford, NH, USA