2007 Jeep Wrangler: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jan 28, 2017 · Suspension · 100,000 miles · NC

While going appx. 55-70mph, on several occasions, go over a bump in road (does not have to be a big bump) veh. Starts shaking, steering wheel has been jerked out of my hands. Have to come to a complete stop and does not matter where. Veh. Pulls extremely hard not wanting to go forward. Many youtube videos have also been documented on this. Maybe if I marked a traffic accident or death caused by this, jeep would do something. I have completed a fix that has been good now for several months. Replaced ball joints, added to steering shocks to keep steering forward, replace both tie rods, front end alignment, new shocks (all 4). Have paid out my part on keeping my jeep serviced. But, jeep still has not answered this complaint now for years. Expand question: when did this happen. It has been an ongoing problem since I bought it new in 2007. Jeep dealership could not find anything wrong.

Filed Dec 22, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 29,985 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler. While driving approximately 50-70 MPH, the vehicle violently shook and experienced a loss of steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering stabilizer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 29,985. Updated 02/10/16*lj the consumer went to another repair shop, where he was informed the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Updated 04/05/16.

Filed Sep 11, 2015 · Suspension · 50,000 miles · NJ

When driving at about 50 MPH right front tire hit a pothole repair/bump. This threw my front end into major osscillation/wobble. I had to slow down to 35 before it would stop. Since that first time it has progressively gotten worse. Now it's happening once a day and it is very dangerous when at highway speeds and in traffic. I have replaced shocks and ball joints which hasnt worked. Actually gotten worse.

Filed Feb 23, 2015 · Suspension · 103,142 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle uncontrollably veered left to right. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the suspension, the bracket damper, the steering damper, the nut hex flank, the bolt hex flank, the bar front, the steering adjuster, and the tie rod drags needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,142.

Filed Jan 9, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 66,000 miles · TX

The front end began to shake violently after hitting an uneven road on a hill/curve. The shaking would not stop until I hit the brakes. This occurred three times in december of 2014. A mechanic said the steering stabilizer and front ball joints needed to be replaced and the problem was common with jeeps, known as the "death wobble".

Filed Jun 27, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 70,800 miles · IN

At 60 MPH my jeep started violently shake. I had to pull off the interstate in the emergency lane. This has happened over 10 times. I took it to the dealer and he said ball joints and steering damper was bad. $1,100.00 to fix it. It is still not steering correctly. There is a popping in the steering wheel and shakes somewhat when I hit a bump in the road. This is very dangerous. I had no idea there was a death wobble in the jeep I loved so much. I will be trading the jeep for a different SUV after I get the wobble fixed again. I am expecting a grand baby in dec and there is no way I will put it in the jeep.

Filed Mar 18, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 68,000 miles · NY

Experience very loud and noisy exhaust manifolds, dealer found both intake manifolds to be defective and leaking , warranty repair and replaced both. #2 leak found in power steering, dealer stated leaks in lines, rack , and pump, warranty on all but the lines,#3 also found catalytic converter leak, recommend replacement (again happens to be under warranty) #4 found small hole in intermediate pipe, recommended replacement . #5 looking further dealership found cylinder head to be leaking!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, covered under warranty. Now I am beginning to wonder about this dealership, as I have never used them before not did I but the jeep from them. .#6 tech stated some wear in all ball joints , recommended replacement . #7 found steering damper to have a leak, recommended replacement, now as anyone can se there seems to be many issues related to my 07 jk.

Filed Nov 2, 2012 · Steering · 64,000 miles · WA

I was traveling on the freeway yesterday afternoon 11/1/12 driving at 60 MPH. While driving out of no where the jeep's front end started shaking out of control. It felt like the front end was about to fall off.. I could not control the jeep at this point so I stepped on my brakes and slowed the vehicle to about 20 MPH before the shaking stopped. Today I took it in to a local alignment shop so they can diagnose it and they told me that the whole front steering assembly is about shot! They specifically said that the most wear was on the tie rods and front track bar in which will cause the geometry of the steering to be thrown off. They called it the "death wobble" and that it was common in these jeeps. I truly think that jeep needs to open a recall for these parts ( front track bar/ tie rod assembly) before some one is killed! I do not want to think about what would of happened if I didn't gain control of the vehicle yesterday. I could of caused a pile up and killed someone if not myself on i5.. Thank god my kids were not with me and no accident occured. Please assist in this complaint as there has been hundreds of complaints about this very same problem all over the web yet nothing has been addressed with chrysler. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed May 28, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 52,000 miles · PA

While driving down the road at about 40-45mph my right front tire hit a bump. When that happened the entire front end began to vibrate violently. The only thing that cured the issue was to brake the vehicle. Once it got down to about 15mph it finally stopped and I was able to continue. This has been an ongoing issue with this jeep. This has happened before and the dealership replaced tie rods and a steering dampener but it's never gone away completely.

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Steering, Wheels · 90,063 miles · AR

When the vehicle reaches approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle begins shake. The dealership replaced the drivers side hub on the front axle which wasn't covered under the warranty. I had it aligned & the wheels balanced, which helped a little, but it was still shaking. Two months later I took it back to the dealership & they're replacing all the ball joints and the passenger side hub on the front axle. I had already replaced the upper ball joints previously.

Filed Dec 9, 2011 · Suspension · 31,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 jeep wrangler. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle began to shake vigorously. The failure recurred constantly when driving between speeds of 50-70 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and the technicians replaced the ball joints, stabilizer bar and the tires. The failure continued after the repairs were performed. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

Filed Nov 21, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 80,000 miles · MI

While driving on a secondary road at 50 MPH, I crossed a bump in the road where a culvert had been replaced. The blacktop was replaced on the road and no visible obstructions were noticed. The jeep started shaking violently. I thought I had blown a tire or a ball joint had failed. I came to a stop at the side of the road with traffic behind me, fearing I'd get rear-ended making a stop so suddenly. I got out of the jeep to check the tires, etc and nothing looked out of place - no flat tires, no sign of joints failing. I got back in the jeep and slowly started driving again. This happened within a 4 week span at least 4 times at the same location. But when I would drive with others in their vehicles, there would be no problems. I ended up taking my jeep to the local garage and they replaced ball joints, u joints and also aligned the front end. I had no problem until november 1, when along another secondary road, another culvert had been replaced; again the jeep started shaking violently. Again on a main highway, a week later, a bump you could not see but feel while driving, violent shaking occurred. I called my garage today and told the attendant what has been happening and they explained to me that this occurs in some chrysler and also ford vehicles. There probably is nothing else wrong, but it's something that just needs to be dealt with in owning one of these vehicles. "dealt with"???? I shouldn't have to deal with this - chrysler should deal with this - helloooo, "recall"...