Excessive play in the steering also wanders all over the road. This has been happening since I took delivery of vehicle and the dealer says there is nothing wrong.
2018 Jeep Wrangler steering complaints
Page 18 of 38: complaints 491 to 520 of 1,117, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Steering has play in steering wheel - you can move the steering wheel from left to right about 1 inch and it does not turn the wheels. This problem was about 2 inches when I bought the vehicle but a replacement trackbar installed under warranty has reduced the play but it still has about 1" where is is not affecting steering. This leads to driver fatigue in an attempt to keep the vehicle in the lane as it requires a constant back/and forth turn on the steering wheel to stay in lane. I've had it into the dealer 6 times for them to fix the problem and while it is better than it was originally it is still not fixed and dangerous. I'm told by my dealer that it is "normal" that would indicate that "normal" is the for the vehicle to have dangerous steering and likely the worst steering out of any vehicle built in the past 20 years. -- very hard to keep in the lane at 55 MPH.
There has been an ongoing problem with loose and wandering steering mostly noticed at highway speeds over 45 MPH. The vehicle feels like there is too much play in the steering wheel when trying to keep a straight line or in the center of the lane. I have had the vehicle in the dealership service center three times to resolve the problem. On the last visit, the dealership replaced the track bar which only slightly improved the problem. When I recently drove the vehicle on the freeway at 65mph in windy conditions, it was extremely exhausting to keep in the same lane and felt very dangerous. I should note that at lower speeds below 45mph the loose steering is not as noticeable. When I have made follow up calls to the dealership service center (most recent 9/23/19), I was told by the service advisor that this steering feel was normal for the jeep.
I have had nothing but issues with this vehicle. From incorrect welds (which the dealership deemed as okay until I had a third-party look at them) to steering issues (wobble, drift, etc.), it's been a complete nightmare. I'm stuck paying for a vehicle that will not hold its value over time and am so afraid to drive it that I've only put 1,600 miles on the vehicle since I purchased it in august of 2018. If I could have one wish, it would be to pull this vehicle from the market and request that fca does a full buyback for vehicles with recalled issues. They are lying to the federal safety agency, their customers, and shareholders. I don't know what to do.
Excessively loose steering/excessive play in steering/dead spot in steering. 1.5 to 2 inches from center in either direction in which steering wheel does not engage tires. Steering jerks and hyper corrects when it does engage. Becomes worse at highway speed. Dangerous at highway speed. Excessive wandering, does not track straight, at slow speed steering pulls in either direction as though it needs alignment. Bad welds, various locations. Purchased vehicle in april 2019. Issue has been present since purchase. Have had it at dealership 5 times. We have a 2019 jl rubicon that does not do it. I have also driven other 2 door 2018's that do not have the issue and other 2018's that do have the issue. Chrysler currently involved. I have video and dealership/chrysler records.
This 2018 wrangler jl wanders all over the road. Alignment is good and all parts seem tight. Just won't travel in a straight line all stock. I had a 2012 of the same model and it did not do this. Mostly above 30 MPH the trouble begins.
The steering on the jeep jl wonders all over the road forcing constant counter movements while you drive. At the same time, there is also excessive play in the steering wheel and that compounds the steering challenges.
Too much play in the steering wheel. Requires a lot of work to keep the vehicle straight. Its dangerous in congested areas or narrow roads. I would describe as a dead spot in the center. This happens 100% of time but is really bad over about 35 MPH. Jeep tried a new damper and new steering box. Neither helped at all.
Death wobble, has been at the dealership 4 times and was just picked up for the 5th time. Today they are replacing recalled parts this happens at ant speed at this point in time. And began in january 2019. I have only had the vehicle since july 2018. In february the steering damper was replace, at this time we also had an issue with the steering column locking up while driving nothing was fixed on that issue only the steering damper, about 3000 miles later, the wobble began again, in july 2019 the vehicle went back in for the replacement of the steering damper, in august it went back in for what they stated was the recalled part a new steering damper was replaced, that night I drove the jeep home and still had the wobble, they picked it up last week to replace the steering damper and nothing was done, the picked it up today to do a new task bar and an alignment. This vehicle is unsafe. I have already lost one child due to an automobile accident. This does not make me feel safe driving this vehicle
Multiple sub frame welds are incomplete or not done properly. See photos.
2018 jeep wrangler sahara unlimited. 15,000 miles. No modifications. Dreaded 'death wobble' occurred 3 times in three days after purchasing car used. Scared the hell out of me and the passengers, jeep needs to fix this now!,
Jeep wrangler jlu rubicon with ongoing steering issues. At freeway speeds, at or above 60 MPH, the jeep wanders and there is 1.5 to 2 inches of play in the steering. Constant correction and steering input is warranted to maintain lane limits. The jeep has been to the dealer 3-4 times without resolution. Dealer stated the play was normal. The steering damper was replaced under recall without resolution. I paid out of pocket for a new front tack bar and steering gear without resolution. On evaluation from a jeep independent alignment facility, it was identified the tie rod connected to the pitman arm had excessive play. At 13500 miles, the steering has costed me $1500 and it is still not fixed. Dealer recognizes the issue. Serial calls to the fca customer service line has LED to 'complaint numbers' but no resolution. My steering issues are reported by others on jeep jl forums and youtube.
My 2018 jl wrangler has a significant "dead band" in the center of the steering. The steering wheel can be turned side to side with no change in wheel direction both while stationary and moving. This necessitates exagurated inputs to keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane and makes maintaining a straight line difficult. It requires white knuckled driving while driving next to a semi on the freeway. It already has the updated damper and trackbar installed by the dealer. The dealer currently claims "it's a jeep thing" and there is no issue. There is a 4000 post thread on the jl forum that disagrees.
Occasionally when I turn, the car will swerve. There was a steering recall in june. When I went to the dealership, they disagreed my issue. I do not feel safe in the car.
At highway speeds, suspension and/or steering mechanism wobbles and vibrates violently (this is felt in the steering wheel) when encountering bumps and holes in highway surface. The violent steering vibration continues until reducing speed by approximately 20 MPH by braking. This condition was unmanageable at 6000 miles and fca replaced the steering stabilizer. Condition became unmanageable again at 15000 miles and fca replaced steering stabilizer again (v41recall).
Have continued to experience occasional "death wobble" along with consistent shimmying of the vehicle when speeds reach 65mph+. This echoes what many others have posted as well. I have owned 7 jk wranglers previously and know this is not how steering should feel. March 16, 2019 I was proactive in asking the dealership to replace the steering damper, which they did (parts 68251580ad, 6104242aa, 6510774aa, 6512425aa, 6104718aa). This helped a little, but the problem continued. On september 7, 2019, after the official recall #v41, I went in and the dealership again replaced the steering damper (parts ccukv411aa & ccukv413aa). The past 2 weeks the problem still exists. Yes, at the moment it's simply an annoyance and no deaths or accidents have been reported, but I fear something could happen. And on top of that, a $40k+ vehicle should not have steering related issues such as this.
Wobbly steering and requires lots of correction on highway. Dealer denies there is an issue
Jeep has a extremely bad wobble/shake when you hit bridge joyce's at highway speeds. Replaced steering damper a week ago the shake/wobble is worse now that it pulled me in the other lane. Dealer cant get it to duplicate problem for them. 100% stock jeep
While exiting a drive thru, I needed to make a left hand turn. As I was in motion to make that left hand turn, the steering locked up & it sent me crashing straight into a metal pole, which just happened to be for the pedestrian crossing. Thankfully there were no pedestrians around that were put in harms way. However, my 2018 jeep wrangler jl was not so lucky. Currently we are being estimated around $8,000 - $15,000 in damage but that is not final yet.
On september 10, 2019 I took my jeep wrangler in for a steering damper customer satisfaction notification (recall). On september 20th, 2019 I was driving 65mph down the highway when the jeep began to violently shake, not stopping until I activated my brakes and began to pull off to the shoulder. I exited the highway to make sure my tires were fine and I could not see anything out of the ordinary. The jeep ran normal after this occurrence, but the shake was intense, and scary while going 65mph on the highway. The steering damper being replaced does not seem to have rectified the situation.
I have had my jeep since last one year. I have had steering issue form the begining every time I went to the dealer they told me that is how a jeep drove. While on high way it is hard to keep my jeep in lane it wobbles and constantly loses its path. Its hard to drive but dealer service will always say that is how it drives. It is very risky driving the jeep.
Lot of play in the steering, the steering needs to past center then back to get it straight then repeated to maintain in the lane requiring constant corrections. A gust of wind has caused the car to change direction with no feedback in the steering wheel. The problem is less noticeable at low speed, but changes the longer it is driven.
I have had the vehicle in 5 times for the loose steering and wobble along with bump steer, even went so far as to file a lemon law with them and they refused to purchase the vehicle back. Their newest fix is a different steering stabilizer that did nothing to fix the problem. Vehicle is impossible to keep going a straight line without constant input and will jerk the steering wheel right out of your hands when hitting tiny bumps at freeway speeds, not safe at all but I have no choice but to drive it.
When driving on the highway on an overpass or any bump my jeep shakes uncontrollably and feels as though all four wheels are going to fall off, have to put hazards on and reduce speed quickly, has been at dealership multiple times for steering damper which has not fixed the problem, very unsafe to drive
Play in steering.. Difficult to maintain a straight line. Especially dangerous at highway speeds.
Steering is loose, way to much play around center - about 4 inch - without response, car drifts
At highway speeds you can not keep the vehicle in a straight line. Excessive steering wander. Jeep currently has 4400 miles
I am experiencing the wrangler death wobble. Going over 60 hitting uneven pavement and front end shakes. I first reported issue to dealer as loose steering around 5000 miles. Now at 18000 full blown wobble. They performed the steering dampner recall which only made it worse. Went back to dealer said they re adjusted dampner. Driving home same issue again back to dealer. Said they are having one of the jeep representatives coming to look at it. I have been through this before with my 2010 wrangle but that had over 85k miles. Having to abruptly slow down when you are in highway traffic to 40 or less from 70 -75 is a safety hazard.
The car shakes uncontrollably when driving on the highway and after hitting a bump or imperfection in the road. I have had the problem fixed once before a few months ago. Last wee when driving back from dropping my son off at college the car shook uncontrollably at least a dozen times. The car seemed to shake at higher speeds and I would have to pull the car off the road to almost a complete stop to make the shaking stop.I also had the car repaired for the same issues at scap jeep in fairfield ct a few months ago. They said it was the steering damper. The car was fine for a few months but the problem came back again. The incident happened on 8/25. We fear taking the car on the highway.
The vehicle is difficult to steer, especially at speeds 45 miles per hour and up. The vehicle has play in the steering wheel and tends to wander on the road and is very difficult to control when driving on a straightaway. Problem is worse at freeway speeds. It has always been like this. Fca has been no help.
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