Vehicle wanders. Dead spot in steering. Significant input required to keep vehicle under control at highway speeds.

- Morris, IL, USA

THE JEEP WANDERS AND DRIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS...STEERING IS BAD!!! I GET THE WANDERING AND THE DEAD SPOT AND FLOATING FEEL WHEN ON LONG STRAIGHT AWAYS DOING 50+ MPH. IT'S A CAUSE AND EFFECT BECAUSE OF THE UNRESPONSIVENESS OF THE STEERING, SO YOU OVERCORRECT CAUSING YOU TO GO SIDE TO SIDE IN THE LANE. THUS MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT AND REQUIRING YOU TO DRIVE WITH TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL. MY TIRES WERE AT 44 PSI. AIRED THEM DOWN TO 38 PSI. DID NOT HELP BECAUSE THE STEERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IS JUST SLOPPY AND UNRESPONSIVE WITH A GOOD 1 INCH PLUS OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL. I ALSO TRIED THE ROUGH COUNTRY STEERING STABILIZER. IT DID NOTHING TO HELP THE WANDERING. IT WAS ACTUALLY WORSE THEN STOCK. IN FACT I GOT A LOT MORE BOUNCE ON THE TIRES WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD, SO I PUT THE STOCK STEERING STABILIZER BACK ON. IT SEEMS THAT IT TAKES THE COMPUTER A FEW SECONDS TOO LONG TO RECEIVE THE INPUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M NO ENGINEER OR MECHANIC AND I'M NOT TOO SMART (LOL) BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SOFTWARE AND STEERING BOX (GEAR). LIKE I SAID, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS JEEPS AND TRUCKS AND I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO HAVE A TON OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS STEERING ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS, WHERE YOU FEEL IT AND DEAL WITH IT MOST. JEEP AND FCA NEED TO GET THERE [XXX] IN GEAR AND FIX THIS ISSUE ASAP BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Maple Shade, NJ, USA

Steering gear box locks up occasionally while trying to turn, inhibiting a turn from being made while moving. Seems to only happen when it is hot.

- Corona, CA, USA

When this dangerous incident occurred, I had my daughter and two grandchildren in the vehicle with me and we were traveling on a four-lane, divided highway. I was preparing to move from the inside to the outside lane of travel in anticipation of making a right-hand turn. When I began to turn the steering wheel to the right, it felt like the steering was locked and it was only with a good deal of force that I was able to complete my lane change. It was very difficult to apply enough force to turn the steering wheel while simultaneously not applying too much so as to cause myself to oversteer and potential leave the roadway. When I got to the intersection where I needed to make my right-hand turn, I again had to apply a good deal of force to turn the steering wheel and complete my turn. This condition continued until I arrived home some five to ten miles away. I would like to note that it was very hot that afternoon (approximately 95F). I have read that Jeep is aware of this issue and that the prime suspect in the cause of this safety issue is the new aluminum steering gear box they introduced on this model. The fact that aluminum has a greater thermal expansion rate than the previously used steel steering gearboxes certainly warrants this suspicion. I have also read that the manufacturer has had several "confirmed repairs" of this "steering lockup" issue by replacing the steering gearbox with a rumored new, modified one. With these considerations in mind, I believe the high temperatures of that day contributed to the expansion of my Jeep's aluminum gearbox causing it to bind up and lock the steering. A further indication that this might be the case is the fact that hours later after both the vehicle and the ambient temperate had cooled, the steering returned to normal.

- Milnesville, PA, USA

The 2018 Jeep jl have electronic steering control and past 60mpg, it makes it difficult to steer to the right. The steering sticks and I have to muscle it to get it to steer to the right which has made me almost get into several accidents.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

The steering is extremely loose and vague on center. There is no movement with the wheels in relation to steering input for 1.5 inches on either side of center. This results in constant correction and over-correction cycles to try to maintain lane position. The problem is noticeable at 45mph, and is significantly worse at highway and interstate speeds (70mph). Bumpy or windy conditions make the control problems worse. The problem becomes more unsafe on curvy roads with heavy traffic where I am unable to maintain speed with other vehicles and it's very difficult to remain within lane markings.

- Prole, IA, USA

Steering has big deadspot in middle where you turn the wheel and it doesn't actually turn the tires/vehicle. It's more noticeable above 60mph. It causes the vehicle to be all over the lane and can be scary at times as it will sometimes cause me to get too close to other vehicles in next lane over. This is not for a single date. It happens all the time.

- Roswell, GA, USA

The steering at speeds over 50 mph has 2-3" of play with the steering wheel going straight. So I am continually fighting to keep it straight. This has been going on since I purchased it.

- Berwick, ME, USA

Hello, I have about 1,700 miles on my jlur and the steering issue is so frustrating.this past week I took a road trip and found myself making corrections constantly.... on going since purchase. The issue seems to be a dead spot/play at center where it takes constant back and forth..not as bad under 50 mph..on a side street..gets worse above 50 mph on a freeway. Steering has never been right. My wife will not drive it. I took to my dealership and they were no help they just indicated that's how they drive.....not true. I would like to take it to another local dealership to have it resolved.I am hoping this is possibly a steering box issue- replacement or adjustment.there are reports of this resolving the issue. I really need your help on this issue. We love everything else on the Jeep. Just want it to steer correctly. Thank you for any assistance you can provide to expedite this issue, note: It has had an alignment and tire pressure is correct as well.

- Fresno, CA, USA

There is an issue with the steering control system on 2018 Jeep Wrangler from the factory. The issue requires constant steering effort to keep the vehicle in lane at highway speeds. The vehicle wanders around all over the lane above 65 miles per hour. There should be a recall for this vehicle, because it is unsafe to drive on the highway. The following video illustrates the problem: Https://drive.google.com/file/D/1V75cd60U9my1quwad3xscwy-prpucltx/view link to other owners, who have encountered the same issue: Https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-feels-like-it-has-play-and-drifts.3691/

- San Francisco, CA, USA

The steering gets stuck at various times when turning to the left. My family was exiting a highway on our right, taking the off ramp to another highway on our left. The vehicle did not want to turn to the left in the curve of the off ramp. It took significant force to keep it from hitting the side of the on ramp (which was on an elevated highway) then over corrected from this significant force and put us into the next lane barely missing other cars. On another occasion we were not able to turn to the left when merging lanes almost causing another accident.

- Cankton, LA, USA

There is excessive play in the steering wheel, causing constant corrections for straight highway driving, and the vehicle wanders all over the lane. Constant attention is needed to go strait. If looking away for a second, I have found myself drifting into an entirely different lane.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Steering has a substantial dead-zone in the middle where turning the wheel does nothing. On top of that, at highway speeds its difficult to keep the vehicle in a straight line, you constantly have to correct to keep it driving straight. Driving the vehicle on highway speeds seem downright dangerous.

- Seattle, WA, USA

Steering wheel requires constant adjustment to keep the vehicle in a straight line even on a flat road

- Verona, NJ, USA

At highway speeds of 50 or more the steering has 3"S of play in it turning the steering wheel without making the vehicle actually move in that direction. This makes it hard to stay in my lane and it is tiring making corrections every second. My Jeep dealer looked at it and said everything is tight and gave it back to me as could not find anything wrong. Really?

- Archer, FL, USA

There is too much play in the steering wheel (need to move steering wheel too far before vehicle reacts). Also, the vehicle tends to "wander" and does not track in a straight line (especially at highway speeds). I have to make constant steering corrections to stay in my lane. The problem is especially noticeable when traveling along curves as the vehicle starts to sway erratically back and forth with these adjustments. Driving the vehicle takes too much work and seems unsafe. I have taken it to the dealership twice for this issue. The first time, I was told that nothing was found and that other similar models drove the same. The second time, some adjustments were made, but it was still found to be "in spec." This is my 5th Jeep Wrangler - none of the others felt this unsafe to drive. I suspect there may be a problem with the 2018 jl redesign.

- Omaha, NE, USA

I had just purchased the vehicle and was driving it home on the freeway, when I noticed the vehicle wandering all over the road. There was at least one inch of free play/dead space in the middle of the steering travel where steering input did not result in corresponding turning effect. This caused continual correction and over-correction. It was a frightening experience to say the least. It was especially bad in windy conditions or when passing large trucks.

- Tehachapi, CA, USA

I have posted in another thread about the steering issue, but I wanted to update you all as well. I picked up my new jlu rubicon over a month ago and after limited driving (200 miles), it sits in the driveway. The dealer tightened up the steering box, but that was not the fix. It is simply dangerous to drive at speed on the highway. What exactly happens is when you try to make a small steering input, nothing happens. So you add a little more input and it over corrects leading you to try to correct in the other direction which makes it overcorrect in the other direction. Now you have to fight it to keep it in its lane, its like driving on a snow covered road. So yesterday I asked the service manager to call his Jeep rep and this is his reply: "yes it is steering gear, steering chuck. There is no sense replacing with the same one they have that they are using on the assembly line. They need to have a updated one first, or we are not accomplishing anything at all. I am on it with the T/a for Chrysler.......waiting on his response. Chrysler is very aware of the concern now." So Jeep is aware and swapping out the steering box seems like it's not the fix. I'm not real happy that they are not publicizing this to new jlu owner. I don't know what a steering chuck is, but evidently it needs to be updated. This is an ongoing problem which started right when I took delivery and continues to today. I have since dropped the Jeep of at the dealer and will not pick it back up until the problem is solved.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Vehicle has an unusually large "dead" spot when the steering wheel is on center. Vehicle requires constant small corrections to remain in the center of a lane when driving at highway speeds, and road irregularities or wind gusts can cause abrupt (but small) changes in direction requiring a quick response from the driver to maintain the desired direction. Off-center the steering control appears fine, particularly at lower speeds.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

New jl sahara has serious play in the steering wheel making it a constant battle to get the car to track straight. You have to constantly make adjustments to keep the vehicle in your lane. I was pulled over for 'erratic driving' on a 45mph city road on the first day of ownership. I have not been pulled over in 10 years prior to this. There is a full 1" of loose play in the wheel when driving at any speed. The track will not adjust in that 1" range so you get a 'shakey' effect trying to steer accurately. This is my 3rd Wrangler model and something is obviously wrong. It is not a "Jeep thing" as my tj and jk models did not have this type of play in the steering. Fca is aware of this issue and need to stop sales and issue an immediate recall before someone dies.

- Apex, NC, USA