2008 Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4x4: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Steering · 3,600 miles · NV

Purchased 2008 jeep wrangler and at around 3600 miles noticed severe steering issues. Steering was wandering and has become erratic. Excessive side to side movement, excessive jiggles on small bumps at lower speeds. Dangerous steering at 65mph on highway to the extent that vehicle swerves into next lane unexpectedly. Jeep refuses to acknowledge dangerous issue with 2008 and 2009 steering issues that involvesteering gear box, shafts and ball joints. Second opinion from outside agency stated gear box is junk, shafts need replacement due to faulty engineering from chrysler. Many many jeep owners are having these issues and involved in accidents to due to the faulty steering on these vehicles.

Filed Aug 8, 2016 · Fuel system, Suspension · 150,000 miles · VA

Driving vehicle over 60mph resulted in multiple episodes of the death wobble within a 3 week period of time. Vehicle was purchased at used car dealership and state inspection was performed on the day of purchase. Within 24 hours of having the vehicle, I experienced the first encounter. I was driving down a hill at approximately 60mph and the steering felt shakey and the wheel began to wobble. It subsided as I slowed down. The next day, this occured on a major interstate at 65mph and car was towed to a jeep dealership. I was informed the ball joints should never have passed inspection along with the fuel system. I took the car back to the dealer and he claimed to have fixed the problem. Within 3 days of getting the jeep back, once again the wobble occurred at a speed of 65mph and I almost lost control of vehicle. This vehicle should not be on the road. The dealer returned a portion of my purchase price and I returned the jeep. The jeep is now back on the lot for sale.

Filed Sep 21, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 90,000 miles · PA

Search internet for jk death wobble. Chrysler llc has a huge problem with jk wrangler than need recall before some one dies due to losing control to the front end of their vehicle. Our 2008 jeep wrangler has been plagued with suspension and front axle steering issues for its entire existence including a stabilizer replacement at approx 20,000 miles 6 years ago. Most recently we have had catastrophic death wobble that has resulted in attempts by dealer to fix under warranty and service contract with no success. The front axle housing, and the trac bar, and the ball joints and the steering stabilizer geometry on the jk wrangler is all wrong. See this a/m bolt kit http://northridge4x4.com/shop/nr4x4-jeep-jk-hardware-kit see this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=diydwqhc7qq and this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9uqwlmlhif4 I have all of these problems with the VIN for this complaint and some one needs to force a recall on these vehicles. My vehicle needs new lower control arms, new track bar, new frame mount for track bar, new front axle housing, new steering gear, new knuckles, and new tie rods. And it needs the a/m correct bolt kit listed above used to install all of the above components. My vehicle shakes violently at times nearly causing accidents. I can't drive my vehicle with my wife and children because it is too dangerous. Please address immediately. There are 100,000 or more vehicles on the road with this se problem.

Filed May 19, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 30,227 miles · CO

It was a dry sunny late morning when I was driving on a colorado interstate at approx. 65mph. I went over a rough patch of road and the steering wheel started to shake from side to side. I thought it was just the rough road but it did not subside after passing back onto smooth road, in fact it got worse. The shaking did not stop until I slowed down under 10mph. This happened four more times on this trip, always after hitting a bump at 50mph or faster. After a little research I determined the symptoms were consistent with a well know problem, "death wobble". My 2008 jeep wrangler unlimited x is 4 years old, has 30k miles on it and is completely stock and well maintained. It has the stock 32" goodyear sra tires on 17" rims, filled to 35 psi. I checked the torque on the track bar and the bolts were to spec at 125 lb/ft. I took the jeep to a local shop where they determined the ball joints were bad as well as the steering stabilizer. Those have been replaced with aftermarket components and so far there have been no further occurrences. That was about 3k miles ago and I have tested the jeep at highway speeds with a severe bump which did not induce death wobble. My first experience with death wobble was in the left lane on a crowded highway; it is amazing that I was able to maintain control and did not cause a major accident just by having to slow down to such a slow speed in the left lane. I have seen chrysler's comments on the non-existence of death wobble due to inferior engineering/design of the steering components and can tell you they are wrong when they say it happens only on lifted vehicles. This is highly irresponsible of them to not take this seriously when it is so easy to find so many people with this problem.

Filed Jan 26, 2010 · Steering · 37,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 jeep wrangler. While driving 65 MPH the vehicle started to shake violently. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road to see if he had a flat tire. Nothing was physically wrong with the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer who stated that the tie rods were damaged and the steering damper needed to be replaced. The vehicle is currently at the dealer being repaired. The contact stated that the "death wobble" could have caused a crashed. The failure mileage was 37,000.