2007 Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4x4: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jan 25, 2013 · Brakes, Locks · 55,000 miles · AZ

I bought a used 2007 jeep wrangler 4-door sahara in march of 2012. About 30 days after the purchase (which is when dealer warranty expired) the vehicle's brakes starting squeaking. I took it to the dealership and they said it was because the brakes were dirty. They "cleaned" the brakes and sent me on my way. The next day the brakes started squeaking again every time I brake. I took it back and they said there was nothing they could do because the brakes were brand new. At this time, the front passenger door also stopped locking correctly. The warranty I had purchased for $2,000 did not cover electronics! A couple months go by and I experienced the popular death wobble after getting an oil change and tire rotation. It turns out the rear trackbar bracket was cracked and eventually completely broke in half. I bought a heavy duty adjustable rear trackbar and had a new bracket welded on which seemed to fix the problem for a few days. Then the death wobble started again. I then took the jeep to get the tires rotated and balanced and the death wobble started at just 30mph as we were leaving the shop. I took it back and they were dumbfounded as to what the problem was. So they placed the tires back where they were when I took it in and it stopped for a couple more days. Since then I have replaced the front trackbar, steering stabilizer, and shocks, which all seemed to have put it at bay. However, now I have $340-a-piece tires that have been worn out and I have been told I cannot get the alignment fixed until I replace the front ball joints! I paid about $30,000 for this vehicle out of the dealership and have had to put in around $2500 in repairs and upgrades due to poor craftsmanship of this vehicle. On top of that I cannot even drive it with my family for fear of our safety. I have seen many online forums with people having the same exact problem. The dealership won't help me. The manufacturer won't help. Something must be done before a serious injury or death occurs.

Filed Apr 23, 2012 · Suspension · 90,102 miles · VA

At certain speeds, my front end shimmies on the road. I took the jeep into a dealership in early april to address the vibration and they changed out the ball joints. They said they could find no evidence of the vibration. I picked the jeep up and it was still there. I scheduled a follow up appointment with them but, on the 9th of april, I was driving on I 495 in washington dc and the vehicle began shaking so bad that I had to pull over and get off the road. I thought I was going to be flung into a guardrail or another vehicle, it was shaking so bad. I called jeep and they opined that I had screwed something up with an aftermarket install for a suspension. However, my jeep is completely stock. I have not altered anything on it and certainly hadn't added a suspension. I have checked around and apparently, this problem is pretty rampant. The violence of the shaking is extreme and I am surprised somebody hasn't lost control and died over this already. I am a large man and it took all my strength to get the thing under control and into a safe area where I could decrease speed. I sincerely hope you will look into this matter before someone gets hurt., thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 18, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated. No warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for diagnosis. The dealer stated that the front suspension and tie rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacture had not been notified. The failure mileages was 50,000 and the current mileages was 110,000.

Filed Jan 2, 2012 · Steering · 74,000 miles · MO

We purchased this jeep in september 2011 for our granddaughter and within one month after purchasing it she was driving on the highway about 60 MPH when the front end began shaking violently and she was barely able to slow down, at which time the shaking quit. This same incident has been occurring sporadically ever since so we took it to a tire shop/mechanic and they replaced the shimmy shock and checked the tires at a cost of $201.22 on 6 october. The vehicle continued to shake on occasion so we took it back to the repair shop on 17 october and they suggested changing out the outer tie rod ends to see if that works at a cost of $184.46, but would not guarantee that it would solve the problem. I have since "googled" the words "death wobble" on the internet and have found that this is a common problem with the jeeps but apparently chrysler is not acknowledging that is a problem and most people are spending around $1000 in hopes of fixing the problem although it sounds like the only solution is to trade it in and let someone else deal with the problem. We went to visit family over the weekend in arkansas and the shaking was fairly frequent and now the granddaughter is afraid to even drive the vehicle. I would like to know why this vehicle is allowed to stay on the road since it is a hazard to not only the vehicle driver and passengers but to other vehicles on the road since the only way to stop the shaking is to stop rapidly on the road totally disregarding cars in front or behind you. I would also like to see some stats on vehicle accidents, specifically rear end collisions involving jeeps.

Filed Oct 6, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 90,000 miles · TX

My 2007 jeep wrangler unlimited x 4x4, which is all stock and was purchased new, has developed the appropriately named "death wobble" which consists of violent shaking of the front end and steering wheel when hitting even a minor bump or depression in the road at speeds in excess of 45 MPH. The shaking is so severe that one believes you feel as though you are about to die due to loss of control of the vehicle. The only way to stop the shaking is to come to an abrupt stop. Inattentive drivers may not be aware of what is happening and this may cause an accident as the jeep driver is forced to brake. My warranty has expired and when I contacted the jeep dealership, they acted as though they had never heard of this. I took it to an independent mechanic who stated this was a rather common occurrence and that it would cost about $1700 to fix with replacing u-joints, and adding a stabilizer bar. From on-line testimonials, I am learning that this is simply a bandaid fix and that the ball joints and steering dampener need to be replaced for a true fix. I cannot believe that with as many problems as have been reported that chrysler-jeep has not issued a recall. I have parked my jeep for now while deciding what to do. My conscious will not allow me to trade it or sell it with the defect that I am aware of. I guess chrysler-jeep does not share my values. Why hasn't there been any litigation over this issue? Where are all the lawyers when you need them??

Filed Sep 6, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 45,000 miles · WI

While driving thru construction at approximately 45 MPH my 2007 jeep wrangler sahara unlimited started shaking and wobbling violently. It was so terrifying and we had no idea what was happening. My daughter and I were taking my grandson to children's hospital and had another 70 miles to travel ahead of us and were scared to continue in this vehicle. We had to slow to almost a stop to get it to stop wobbling. We got off the hwy and found a jeep dealer who rented us a car to finish our trip as they tried to repair my jeep. I had only bought it 34 days before this happened but have owned jeeps for the last 18 years. When we retrieved the jeep, they replaced the steering dampener shock and said I should consider upper and lower ball joints. We made it home slowly afraid it may happen again. My fiance and I took it to the dealer we got it from the next morning and left it there for them to examine, they said the ball joints look fine and could not find anything wrong. We did some research and found that we are not alone it is called "death wobble" and with good reason, it feels like you are going to die. The next day we had a meeting with the salesman and his manager, they said we need to put in a complaint with chrysler and the would speak to their chrysler rep. As they have never heard of it. That day it happened again when my fiance was driving it as he was getting on an off ramp at 50 mpr. This is a very dangerous defect that could kill someone. I know if I trade it in some other family will get it and I don't want anyone else to go thru this. Please please help us.

Filed Jul 29, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 37,000 miles · NM

At hwy speeds when a bump is hit the front end and entire vehicle shakes violently like the front tires are going to fall off. This occurs just about every time a bump is hit. Onlyway to stop it is to slow to 15 to 20 MPH creating a traffic hazard. Ball joints, steering damper, front end parts, new tires to no avail.

Filed Jun 22, 2011 · Suspension · 29,221 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler 4dr 4x4. While driving approximately 55 MPH over a bump, the vehicle began to shake uncontrollably. The contact was able to drive onto the emergency lane, and was unable to detect a problem. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated the front lower control arm, tie rod ends, steering damper and ball joints would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and stated they would be responsible for the cost of the parts which does not include labor. The contact scheduled an appointment for the vehicle to be repaired. The failure mileage was 29,221. Updated 07/26/11 *bf updated 3/05/2012

Filed Jun 5, 2011 · Steering · 50,000 miles · PA

2007 wrangler sahara unlimited experiences violent shaking of the front end and transmission gear shifter when traveling between 35 and 50 MPH on bad roads, this takes place when encountering a bump or pot hole. Garage suggested and installed a heavy duty steering stabilizer. Did not help. Then they told me the right front ball joint had some play and needed replacement. I am currently waiting to get this done but upon reading up on this "death wobble" I am not convinced it will be fixed without considerable expense on my part. This surely is a mfg defect and needs to be resolved. I have 51,000 miles on this rattle trap. The only solution I have as others is to come to a complete stop. This has not yet caused an accident but it is only a matter of time. I either don't drive it or get rid of it and a probably large loss of value to me.

Filed Feb 26, 2011 · Steering · 55,505 miles · IA · 1 injury

The steering is defective it allows the vehicle to violently shake and you lose control. I almost ran into a concrete wall along the interstate. I was accelerating up an entrance ramp and the vehicle began shaking so violently the hood was separating from the body I estimate at least 6" off side to side shake. I could not steer, just try to hold the steering wheel straight and allow the vehicle to slow down. The ball joints, tie rod joints, and track bar must be replaced.

Filed Oct 21, 2010 · Steering · 37,000 miles · NC

As I was traveling on 95 towards baltimore I hit a bumpy patch in the road, my 2007 jeep wrangler4 door started shaking violently and became uncontrollable. It felt as though all four tires were about to fall off. It was quite difficult to control the jeep and I barley made it to the shoulder with out hitting another car. The next day it happened again traveling about 45 MPH. I then took it to the dealership and they replaced the tie rod and the steering chassie with "reengineered parts" this violent shaking is commonly known as "death wobble" and there are countless documented instances of this in testimonial and video form on the internet. The jeep dealership said "oh you have the death wobble" but after contacting chrysler they knew nothing of this problem and will refused to pay for the repairs the jeep was just barley out of warranty. This is an extremely dangerous defect with this vehicle. The jeep is out of control until it comes to a stop.

Filed Sep 23, 2010 · Suspension · 45,000 miles · CA

I own a 2007 jeep wrangler and I have now gone thru 4 sets of ball joints and the jeep currently has less than 45k miles. This is a major safety issue that I know many other jeep owners are having the same issue.