10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 250 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.
I have been experiencing the "death wobble" front end issues. It prevents me from highway driving. First experience almost caused an accident. Dealer said it requires a new steering damper but have been terrible with information on if and when part was shipped and when I can expect the issue to be resolved.
- Bethlehem, PA, USA
At about 44,000 miles driving over 60-65, going over a bump, or going around a curve at.a slower speed the jeep would violently shake, where you almost lose control. I took to the shop they replaced tie rod ends, drag link, track bar and that didn-??t solve the issue they now replaced the something with steering and it-??s better but still shakes a little when changing lanes. It is honestly the scariest thing ever. Something isn-??t right and should be looked into, I am Not the only one with this issue and soon as my lease is up I am getting rid of it. Keep in mind I live in MN and have done NO off-roading. Someone is going to crash of these issues do not get fixed
- Maple Grove, MN, USA
The car and steering column start vibrating very aggressively and it is difficult to control the vehicle. It has happened 4-5 times since purchasing the vehicle in September. Sometimes it occurs after hitting a bump or pothole, but not always. Something is very wrong and it seems dangerous.
- Village Of Loch Lloyd, MO, USA
- The front suspension, steering and tires are available for inspection. - A safety risk occurred immediately as I crossed an uneven transition from asphalt to concrete at the beginning of a bridge. The steering wheel/front end/vehicle began to shake violently at highway speed and maintaining control became difficult. I was unable to keep the vehicle in my lane. I immediately decelerated and with a semi on my rear, was eventually able to slow enough to use one hand to engage emergency flashers. The shaking stopped at about 35 mph. I've since learned this is referred to as a 'death wobble'. - Appointment made for dealership inspection on June 6, 2023. - There were no messages, symptoms or warnings.
- Frederick , MD, USA
Driving over 60 mph if I hit I bump the vehicle starts to violently shake. I then have to slow down for it to stop
- Ambler, PA, USA
Driving own I95, heading south in Maryland, hit a bump and vehicle started shaking/wobbling, almost lost control and had to slow down until vehicle stopped wobbling. This happen 6-9 times that day. Also has occurred several times in NJ on the turnpike and 280. Contracted Jeep HQ, told to contact a dealer.
- West Orange, NJ, USA
Hit a small bump in the road and the steering wheel and tires began shaking violently. I tried slowing down and the vibration continued until I was below 20mph on highway. Not the first time I have experienced this. I had tires balanced, rotated and pressure checked.
- Tunkhannock, PA, USA
On the interstate, my Jeep developed the "death wobble" causing us to have to greatly decrease speed among other drivers. This issue continued after each small bump in the road that we hit at interstate speeds, causing the vehicle to shake violently and requiring me to decrease speed repeatedly among other fast-moving traffic. It eventually required me to have to move over to the slow lane for easy road departure if needed. After an attempted repair with a steering damper at the dealer, the issue returned 1.5 weeks later, and after 2 weeks, my vehicle remains at the dealer while they try to figure out how to correct this dangerous issue.
- Canal Wincheter, OH, USA
In late October I started experiencing a total vehicle body "shudder" when driving on the freeway and hitting uneven paving. This condition started getting worse and worse. The car was unmanagable when travelling at a speed over 58 and hitting uneven paving - the shudder took over the entire car and steering. There was no recourse but to try to safely pull over and stop the car. Upon research I found this is a now COMMON OCCURENCE called the DEATH WOBBLE. Generally it happens in modified Jeeps however my car is les than two years old with less than 16,000 miles on it. When I could finally get time at the dealership I was met with, oh yes we had five new jeeps in here just last week with this condition we are seeing it all the time. The part that is supposed to provide remedy is back ordered by at least three weeks - is this as there as so many incidents?. The dealership told me to take my car home until they had a part. The car is NOT SAFE to drive at any accelerated speed with this condition. There was no prior warning of this condition and nor would I expect it in a new vehicle but upon research I am learning how many people are experiencing this and questioning why there has not yet been a recall. The part offered as remedy by the dealership - the steering damper - has been identified as a "band aid" - and that it is likely the condition will re-occur. This is not acceptable or safe for any new Jeep owner (or any Jeep owner) I urge, no I BEG you, to investigate this "death wobble" condition and strongly consider a recall for the manufacturer before there are serious injuries and deaths caused by this. Having personally experienced this it is a terrifying experience - the entire car feels like it is out of control and everything is going to fall off including the tires and that the axle will break - it makes me never want to drive that car again with any degree of confidence and feeling of safety. I urge you to just google DEATH WOBBLE. Please help
- West Barnstable, MA, USA
This Jeep is unsafe. The jeep has a problem when you are driving 70 miles per hour on the highway. If you go over a bridge with road bumps or hit a pothole, the Jeep goes into an uncontrollable wobble. I have to slow down to about 40 miles per hour to get the Jeep to stabilize. Suddenly needing to slow down because the jeep feels like it will shake itself apart is incredibly dangerous. We tried to have it fixed at a dealer in Vermont and they said it was fixed but it isn't. I took it to the dealer in Albany NY today where we bought the Jeep and it happened again on the way. They tell me that it might take up to 2 months to get a part - a steering dampener - to fix the problem. This car is unsafe. How can there not be a recall on this issue?
- Valatie, NY, USA
I am now trying, for the third time, to have Jeep dealership resolve a classic symptom of "The Death Wobble" that has manifested for the last year with our under 20,000 mile vehicle. Two hours ago, I encounter a sever episode of a recurring issue with my 2021 Jeep. At speeds above 50mph, the Jeep's front-end will begin to shake violently after crossing the leading edge of a a bridge on the Florida Turnpike. The oscillations which rotate the steering wheel can become violent and will not smooth out for up to a quarter mile. Two dealers have replace steering dampeners and more recently front shocks. The replaced shocks seemed to work but now, less than three two months late, the Death Wobble is back and worse. At the moment of wobbling, the Jeep is not safe. It would be even more dangerous for folks who may be on snow and ice. I have been driving for over 50 years and am also a very good mechanic. My 2021 is the first year of the Hybrid and perhaps the front-end geometry is at issue.
- Coral Gables, FL, USA
I almost had a car accident because my car shacked uncontrollably which is dangerous!!! I had my children in the car, the shaking started last year, my car is still new and shouldn-??t be having these problems!!!!
- Mcdonough , GA, USA
Within a few days of purchasing the vehicle, I noticed that the vehicle moved dramatically to the right and to the left, and the steering mechanism of the vehicle was extremely loose. At 150 miles, I brought it in...the adjusted the steering and aligned the tires. I went on a three hour trip on the highway on April 18th, 2021, Sunday. I nearly crashed into a huge tractor trailer truck because the vehicle swung rapidly to the right and the steering mechanism was so loose, it would not respond sufficiently in time. In addition, the vehicle swings wildly with even mild wind. I managed within inches to swing the car away. I have now brought the vehicle back two more times to the dealership, and they deny any issue. I have provided videos with my spouse driving. My son also drove and found the same issue. The issue occurs both at speeds above 50...and at a speed of 15 miles. This steering column of this vehicle is defective and a true danger on the highway. The manufacturer refuses to take any responsibility in spite of ample knowledge and notice by consumers. Complaints about this issue are all over the internet. We have videos of the defect, which have been provided. I have tried to return the vehicle but they refuse. It has been in the shop 5 of 7 weeks of ownership. The dealership states the vehicle is to manufacturer specifications...this is a serious defect.
- Palmetto Bay, Fl. 33189, FL, USA
Our 2021 Jeep started smoking in the engine and within 10 minutes burst into flames. The entire front end was damaged beyond repair / burned and fire stations had to put out the fire. My daughter, dogs and I were able to make it out of the car but very scary.
- Rumson, NJ, USA
I purchased this 2021 Jeep Wrangler unlimited on September 9, 2020. It is a totally stock vehicle with no modifications of any sort. It has not been driven off road at all, and only on city streets, highways, and interstates, no accidents. While driving on a nearby interstate in January of 2021, at about 77 mph, a minor seam in the road sent my vehicle into what is commonly known as 'death wobble' mode. Had about 4,000 miles on the odometer. On a five hour road trip, it happened over a dozen times on that trip alone.I videoed the car in violent wobble at highway speed and returned the car for another day of service. The local Jeep service center ordered a 'steering damper' assembly as a fix for the problem, even though the 2021 Wrangler come with that steering damper as standard equipment starting this year. Unfortunately, the part is on an extended back-order, I am told, and won't be available for some time. In the meantime, they did a 'road-force' wheel and tire balance as an interim fix. One tire was at 24 lbs, one was at 17 lbs, and the other two were at 10 lbs and 1 lbs. Since then the car has had fewer, momentary, wobbles of much shorter duration, and has recovered quickly more it does wobble briefly at slower speeds now as well. While driving, I can feel the suppressed wobbles in the steering wheel and gas pedal and am concerned for safety and continued wear and damage to front suspension and tires, and the frequency of having to do costly road force balancing on the tires. I love the Jeep but I've lost confidence in the car at this point. I have attempted to upload some video of one of my cars death wobbles, showing its intensity, and refusal to subside until decelerated to about 55 mph. The video exceeds the space allowed for this document, so you'd have to contact me to arrange another way to view it if necessary.
- Rockford, IL, USA
- Boca Raton, FL, USA