2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed May 12, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · 45,000 miles · CO

Brake light has been in forever, had checked, not an issue but...began noticing on highway. Not so severe to have to stop to regain control. About a year ago iit happened at lower speeds, as few as 35mph, any uneven surface, bump, texture or level change sets it off. Tapping or use of the brakes. "death wobble" occurs. A slight tremor radiating from steering column then through the entire jeep. So intense that it feels like the tires are turning sideways, maintaining control, steerin and braking extremely difficult. Regular braking does not help. Hars brake only. Haven't come to complete stop. I've always stopped, put back into park and turned it off. Thinking maybe some sort of reset may occur. It helps me to reset my own self anyways! Very scary! Especially if in a vendor curved part of roadway. . Brake light still on even after inspected (?) took into shop. Mechanic said ball joints needed replaced. Death wobble went away for a few weeks and it's back. Prior alignments~ only regular adjustments required. I tried to pay attention after this 'fix' and determined that braking (even just a tap) starts it and any surface change in the road older jeeps had a simply fix, tightened a bolt on steering colum. My son is in training, did a visual inspection of the steering colum. Says seemed to me some extra play, nothing like a bolt loose but dark out, multiple components along column, unsure without a lengthier inspection. Nothing by sight. We stopped driving and took it in for inspection/replacement of front end balljoints. Tires have an unfamiliar pattern of wear. Using factory recommend tires, size and pressure. Very little off road. Mostly driven for in town/ highway driving. I hope this helps. Very very scary when this happens. Oh I've tried to outrun. Doesn't work. Lately I've shifted to 4thbeing and can usually regain control..

Filed Apr 1, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 145,000 miles · MI

The problem started late february 2014. I took my jeep to the dealership and explained my problem in great detail and they were aware of the this problem, the death wobble. So they called me later and said it's fixed. Which it wasn't I pulled out and only a few minutes later it happened so I went back and asked them if they bothered to test drive to see if it was actually fixed and they said no. This blew my mind especially since it's dangerous. So after they put on a new stabilizer bar I took it to a new place since that was the 4th bad experience I've had with that dealership. The back up place started their inspection of problem and noticed the stabilizer was faulty and he started with replacing that again. I got the jeep back to only find it was still not fixed. I've taken the jeep back 5 times to have the following items replaced in this order: stabilizer bar/wheel alignment and tire rotation, stabilizer bar again, all new shocks, steering damper/tie rod ends, and track bar. $2000 worth of work and it is still not fixed. Now I'm at a point where I just don't know what to do. The mechanic is stumped and replaced the entire suspension system. I feel like this vehicle is extremely dangerous to drive so now I'm stuck with a lemon or sell to someone else which is not right either. I'm blown away this is a well documented problem and that the manufacturer has done nothing to remedy issue. This has caused me to almost of been run over by 70mph semis, run two other cars off the road and it's only a matter of time before I get hurt or killed or someone else does.

Filed Oct 9, 2012 · Suspension · 40,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler sahara. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH the vehicle started to shake violently. The contact mentioned that whenever the vehicle drove over a bump it became uncontrollable until it slows down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who repaired both ball joints twice but the vehicle continued to shake violently. The manufacturer was notified who stated a representative would return his call within 24 hours. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 74,000.

Filed Oct 17, 2011 · Fuel system, Steering · 79,000 miles · MO

Steering/suspension. We have had issues with excessive wobbeling and swaying of our jeep. Believe this to be premature failure of the tie rods and stabelizing system. This has been very dangerous. *tr fuel system: gas will shoot out of the tank spilling fuel on the outside of the vehicle when fueling.

Filed Apr 18, 2011 · Suspension · 55,000 miles · LA

While driving down a stretch of us-61 north of gonzales, la. A phenomenon known as "death wobble" occurred on my 2007 jeep wrangler unlimited. After taking it to a local shop that have come to discover that the track bar has come loose and stated that this is a common problem and that jeep refuses to address it. I was told to keep an eye on the front suspension because the violent shaking likely could have messed up ball joints and other equipment.

Filed Feb 28, 2011 · Steering · 12,000 miles · CA

I have a 2007 jeep sahara 4x4, and have had the death wobble over ten times. The dealer said put on after market steering stab, and that did not fix it they put on a new tie rode and that did not fix it, now there saying because I tow my jeep behind my rv that's what's causing the steering stab to go bad. The dealer is lumpe dodge in visalia california.