2010 Jeep Wrangler: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Steering · 200,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the tie rod drag link detached, causing the steering wheel to continually spin. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was repaired by a family member at the contact’s residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jan 9, 2023 · Steering, Transmission · 100,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at 5 MPH, the passenger's side steering column detached. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the transmission had a fluid leak. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the drag link, control arm, and adjustment sleeve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jun 29, 2014 · Steering, Transmission · 39,000 miles · FL

While driving down the road at approx 45mph, the jeep began to shake/jump uncontrollably for no apparent reason. We took it into the jeep dealer from whom we bought the vehicle. He tightened the track bar (??) and replaced the steering stabilizer. We explained to him that we were beginning a cross country trip, so he should check everything. A week or so later, we began the trip from florida to california. Two days into the trip (east texas), while traveling at highway speeds, we experienced the shake again. We had to top the vehicle and took it to the nearest jeep dealership, driving on side streets at minimal speeds. The dealership replaced the upper and lower ball joints. There were already two jeeps in the shop with the same problem and while we were there, another person came in with the same issue. We then continued our trip. Two days later, in california, we again experienced the shake while traveling at highway speeds. Again, we took the car to a jeep dealer who said we needed to replace the steering stabilizer. We told him it had already been done. He noted that the stabilizer that comes as standard equipment with the jeep is not robust enough and that most jeeps will experience this problem if not upgraded. We also reported this sequence of events to jeep. We have since researched this issue on the internet and have found the problem is know as "death wobble" and seems to be quite prevalent.

Filed Mar 18, 2014 · Steering · 9,865 miles · IL

I purchased a used 2010 jeep wrangler unlimited on july 11, 2013. It had just under 10k miles on it. Within the first few days of driving it, I hear and feel a thump in the steering, while driving. It is not a normal noise from suspension working. The issue has gone on and on. Later at about 18k miles, I began having death wobble issues. I have had it to 2 shops and inspected things myself. Ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods/ends, steering stabilizer, you name it. I finally after several scary events, and continually having shops tell me there is nothing wrong, have found the issue. With 25k miles, I am having to have the steering gear box replaced. The sector shaft is shot. The steering wheel is all over the place. This is my daily driver, so unfortunately I have no option but to drive it and hope I make it to and from safely, as well as the other drivers on the road. I believe after a lot of research on the jeep forums, that jeep has a problem with the gear box, and that it is one of the common causes of death wobble in the jk models. I am taking mine in tomorrow to have it replaced. I have only 25k miles on it, but it is 4yrs old. So, I am sure I will end up stuck with the bill on this.

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 18,000 miles · IL

I have a 2010 jeep jk unlimited 4x4. I bought the vehicle used from a local dealer in july of 2013, with approx. 10k miles on it. At about 18k miles, I began experiencing the common dreaded "death wobble". I was driving down a country road with my children in the back seats. All of a sudden, while hitting a small bump in the road, the steering wheel began rapidly moving back and forth and the frontend of the vehicle was shaking violently. I quickly stopped the vehicle, checked on my now frightened children, then go out to examine my vehicle. I couldn't find anything obvious, like tie rods or ball joints. So, I slowly drove home. I went over the entire front end. Couldn't find anything. After reading a lot of forums on the matter, I found I am one of many jeep owners that have/are fighting this same issue. I went ahead and put on a new steering stabilizer, and trackbars, as these are claimed to be the most common issues (even though mine looked fine and had no play). I continually have had the problem and have had it to shop for an alignment, tire rotations, and checking the balancing on the tires. The shop said tires and alignment were fine. We found that there was some play in the sector shaft where the pitman arm connects to the steering gearbox. Some guys are saying they have replaced theirs 3 times in 30k miles. I don't offroad, my vehicle isn't exposed to harsh conditions, where one could expect mechanical failures. I currently have 26k miles on mine, and have been trying to find out the cause, meanwhile throwing $$ and parts on it to try and find the issue. After researching and seeing the large amount of owners fighting death wobble and the component failures which cause it, I feel chrysler should be held accountable to some level. I think they should be recognizing the problem and the large scale of it, and offering some type of solution to fix the issue.

Filed Jun 13, 2013 · 16,059 miles · ME

I have only owned my certified pre-owned jeep wrangler since may 7th, 2013. I bought it with 12,xxx miles on it. So I have owned it one month & six days total & is still under warranty. I was driving down a paved road when I applied my brakes to stop at a stop sign & herd a crunch noise & my front left dropped down. I pulled over to the side of the road about 5 feet & could not notice anything. I then called tri-city dodge & they told me to get on the ground & look up under & that's when I noticed my front control arm on the left was hanging down. I was told to have it towed to them by a.c. Provos. The towing company dropped me & jeep off at tri-city dodge. The service man. Then came out to tell me that the part was not warrantied because it had been impacted. I explained that I had not hit anything that I was just driving down the road. He then showed me how it was all rusted but you could not see any impact. I then said that it looks like a bad rusted part & he then explained that could not be possible that it had to be impacted. Now if it was impacted, it would have taken out the tie rode which was still intact with no scratches. There were also no scratches on the bracket or anywhere else under the jeep. I was then told to call the dealership where I got it from & that tri-city dodge believed it to have been impacted before I bought it because the broken bracket was all rusted out & I had not owned it long enough for that kind of rust. Photos were taken by tri-city. I then called up bournival jeep in portsmouth, nh. I explained to the service man. & I was told it was not their problem. I explained how it was all rusted & I have never been in an accident. This should be recalled for rusting out. I have looked up online & have found many complaints about others with same situation & have never been in accident before & jeep was telling them it had to been impacted.

Filed Mar 14, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 13,411 miles · NC

I purchased my new 2010 jeep wrangler sport unlimited on march 02, 2011 with 4,839 miles on it. The vehicles manufacturer warranty became effective on march 02, 2011 and extended to 40,839 miles. I returned the vehicle for service for the same front end problems (vibration, play in front end, etc - though described slightly different on some work orders) eight (8) times from october 13, 2011 through june 13, 2012. During that time there were four (4) service attempts to repair the problem 10/13/11 mileage 13,411 - 6/13/12 mileage 23,352 - services recommended and performed range from tire rotation, tie rods and damper replaced, toe adjustment, and lower shearing shaft replacement. 3/07/13 mileage 34,829 - I brought the vehicle in for routine nc inspection. Inspection passed. 3/09/13 as I traveled out of town with my children we experienced a frightening and stressful time. When driving at highway, or near highway speeds, and going over a bump the front end would begin, at random times, to have so much play and the steering would shake violently making it difficult to control the vehicle. This caused me to have to slow to the side and pull off the road. This repair issue has now escalated to the point that it is a dangerous safety hazard to my children and myself. Since this incident I have discovered this a known problem with the year, make, and model of my vehicle. Below you will find two links to videos demonstrating the violent shaking which occurs due to this problem. One is a perspective from outside the vehicle. The other is from inside the vehicle. Though the gentleman in the video seems to enjoy the violent shaking I assure you it was simply a terrifying experience for a mother traveling out of town alone with her children. Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwiv23dlhmy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gupyhm1pccy.

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 27,443 miles · VA

October 2009 I purchased a 2010 jeep wrangler unlimited from southern hospitality in chesapeake, virginia. This was my dream jeep- lift kit, side bars, supreme stereo system, and the works. This dream jeep has turned into a nightmare with a death wobble that keeps coming back. I share this jeep with my 17 year old daughter who herself has experienced the death wobble, a phone call from the side of the highway that scared me to death. Below is the list of dates and mileage in which I have returned this jeep to the dealership for them to fix, but each time they return it to me the wobble returns. I feel as if I am continually putting myself and my daughter at risk but due to a divorce my finances do not allow me to purchase a new jeep? Even though every payment has been made on this jeep. Datemileagetheir "fix" 12/29/1227,443new steering dampener 1/6/1227,792new steering dampener 1/10/1228,045torqued bolts 1/16/1228,311torqued suspension parts 7/12/1235,767new steering dampener 7/25/1236,887new steering dampener, alignment 9/13/1238,967re-secured front suspension, bolts, rotated tires 9/26/1239,361re-placed drag link-tie rod 1/3/1342,629re-placed drag link-tie rod-gears-power steering bushing 3/13/1344,389new trac bar, new tires this last time I called chrysler and I have a case number, but their response has been to extend the warranty on the jeep and to tell me it is the dealers problem. The dealership put new tires on it and told me it is chrysler's problem. I am sorry but their warranty and tires cannot replace myself or my daughter if because of their negligence and ignorance we are in a car accident.