2018 Jeep Wrangler: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Aug 3, 2025 · KS

Front bracket control arm snapped due to bad welding

Filed Jun 8, 2025 · Steering · NC

The steering gear box on my Jeep Wrangler has an active technical service bulletin regarding the faulty alluminum steering gear box causing wandering in the steering of the vehicle on all 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers. This repair is a known issue by FCA as they have a service bulletin regarding the issue. However they have not recalled the defective parts and refuse to cover replacing the defective parts unless the vehicle is still under warranty, or at a substantial cost to me. When I purchased my Jeep from Westgate Jeep in Raleigh, NC in late September 2024 at 84,000 miles the TSB had not been completed by the original owner. The Jeep is lifted but was sold to the original owner in that manner. It is a Rocky Ridge package that was sold the way it still is to the original owner. My safety and the safety of my family is at risk in the vehicle because it wanders excessively in the road. The incident consisted of passing 18 wheeler driving by in the opposite direction causing the Jeep to wander excessively to the right off of the edge of the road causing near loss of control and potential roll over. The issue has been found by my certified mechanic to be related to excessive movement/flexing in the steering gear box. The mechanic drove the vehicle and also noticed the wandering steering. FCA/Jeep should not be allowed to refuse to repair such a significant known issue with vehicles that they manufactured with defective parts they should be held accountable and made to recall and repair those defective parts. There are no active warning lights on the vehicle and a recent alignment was done by a certified mechanic when the tie rod and tie rod ends, drag link and drag link ends, ball joints and steering dampener where replaced. All tires are balanced and have equal wear the steering gear box is the only component of the steering system that has not been replaced and the issue remains. Please reference Mopar T.S.B. 08-074-20 REV. B regarding the known issue. Thank you.

Filed Dec 1, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · SC

= Customer states that when hitting a bump they have the typical jeep death wobble Conditions?= Found the vehicle to have play in all steering joints and the right front axle joint t9 have play. The vehicle has 31,000 miles on it and has never been in an accident. it started the "death wobble" Oct 2024. I traveled to Michigan, not realizing it was this bad, and it became worse over the course of our trip in November 2024. I was traveling at 70-75 mph on why and felt like it was going to fall apart. It took me slowing it down to stop the wobble. I took to a mechanic in Ionia, MI which I had a extended warranty and paid it. I was told it was fixed. They replaced Steering Tie Rod . . . Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable. 68258761AE - SOCKET, Tie Rod 68258762AE - SOCKET, Tie Rod 68522992AA- SOCKET, Drag link inner 68260466AB - ADJUSTER ASSY, Steering Link 68258760AE - SOCKET, Drag link outer Front Axle. Outer Joint on "fixed" Friday, November 29, 2024. I was trying to leave to return to South Carolina on [XXX], and I went onto the interstate. I was not maybe 1/4 mile, and the "death wobble" started again. I had to get off at the next exit and go back to my Nieces house. I have to take it back to the mechanic shop on Monday, December 2, 2024. I am stuck here in Michigan, and I have a son whom I had to fly back to South Carolina to go to school. Who gets to pay for my expenses and my issues? who do I contact for all of this now that this issue is chronic.? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · TN

When going over a bump in the road at speeds above 35 mph the front end shakes the steering wheel and it feels like the front end is jumping up and down and is hard to control. I have spent over 1k in parts and labor including a new stabilizer shock, drag link, tie rod ends and more. It still does it even after these repairs. The front end has been aligned and tires and wheels balanced. The vehicle is dangerous to drive and there does not seem to be a fix for it. FCA said replacing the steering stabilizer would fix it but had no effect. The cause has been labeled unable to determine. I habe had it at two different shops and a lotnof suspension/steering pieces replaced.

Filed May 15, 2023 · Body · MD

There is a missing weld on the lower passenger rear control arm bracket that looks like a manufacture defect. I recently started hearing a clanging noise and brought it to the mechanic. I was not put at risk of safety (for the tie being). The problem has been confirmed and looked at ONLY by a mechanic. There were no warning lights. How do i get the welding fixed? the dealer will not help me repair it.

Filed Mar 10, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · TX

Steering wheel shakes horribly. I feel every bump in the streets. Sometimes it feels as if I am about to lose control of my truck due to the lack of control. I have replaced the suspension, I have replaced the lower control arm, the ball joints twice and the same thing keeps happening.

Filed Dec 22, 2022 · Steering · FL

when going over rough road or bumps, potholes etc there is a loud noise under the front of the Jeep. Steering is effect at times by shaking. Upon inspection by mechanic was told the tie rods were the culprit and would need to be replaced. Was also told that these parts are not lasting long on the newer Jeeps. 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Sport with 36000 miles. Was told by mechanic that it will take 1.5 - 2 months to get parts due to there already being over 2300 orders for the parts.

Filed Feb 21, 2022 · Body · NY

Frame Welds failed, causing the lower control arm to completely detach from vehicle while driving on highway. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. Yes, my safety was put at risk. Dealer refused to acknowledge problem, did not wish to see photos or video. The repair was completed elsewhere. December 29th - While driving on the highway I hear a loud bang and pull over. Turns out my front lower control arm mount COMPLETELY BREAKS OFF my frame (See attached photos). I call my dealership (Zappone CDJR in Clifton Park NY), they can’t get me in for a few weeks due to their availability. I get a major favor and get an extremely reputable, nationally known, off-road manufacture to fix it for me. While I am there, they tell me - take it in to the dealership, a lot of your welds need to be looked at. Apparently someone attempted to touch up some of the welds by hand, but didn’t do a great job. I purchased this JLUR brand new, actually ordered it from factory so no outside work was done on it. Feb 21st - Finally get it in to the dealership, explain to them the situation and without even looking at it, I already get hit with the “well hopefully your lift didn’t cause it” by the service advisor (Jeff Coon). I even reference the TSB out about welds and get told “well TSBs aren’t covered under warranty its an out of pocket expense”. So I call the support center and get told the same thing frame is not covered under my extended warranty, and my standard warranty is out. Ultimately I get told “inspected frame from star cases and damage to frame is not a known issue and is caused by off reading abuse and aftermarket lift kit and would put pressure on welds. Technician found would not be considered factory warranty due to aftermarket lift kit installed.

Filed Feb 25, 2021 · Steering · 26,000 miles · VA

Vehicles has excessive play in the steering wheel which makes staying/driving in the lane difficult on highways and incredibly difficult on side roads. Dealer has replaced the steering gearbox and now says it drives as it sohuld. Taken vehicle to other shops and was told that while moving the steering wheel back and forth the drag link moves immediatly but the tie rod does not which contributes to the excessive play felt in the steering wheel. Also the gearbox moves away from the vehicle frame which exasperates the problem even more.

Filed Jan 6, 2021 · Steering · CO

On hundreds of occasions the last three years of ownership, I have had serious steering problems with death wobble, steering wander, and locked-up steering. Dealers have performed warranty work on the track bar and steering stabilizer in the past. However, these remedies have not corrected my issues. Jeep has announced a service bulletin of the steering box, but has not issued a recall for the part. I'm persuaded that this part is responsible for hundreds of counts of this issue. The part has been silently used in newer production jeeps, but for those of us that have the first model year (and over basic warranty mileage) are left with this burden. I persistently have locked-up steering, more often prone in a colder climate, and have had hundreds of near-death experiences from this issue. The steering wheel is difficult to turn and at highway speeds the vehicle is unable to be turned. With enough force and significant braking I am able to free the steering from center into the direction of travel. Many times the vehicle performs an over correction after becoming unstuck. I personally feel deathly afraid of my jeep and have recently cancelled upcoming trips into colorado's mountains because I have had experiences on the mountain passes this winter that have been too terrifying. I'm ready to sell my jeep, but knowing of its problem, I'd be devastated to find out my vehicle killed the next owner. It's absurd that myself and much of the jeep wrangler community have had to rely solely on the aftermarket industry to replace stock components in order to feel comfortable operating our vehicles - jeep should be fully responsible for their failed engineering. For context, I have upgraded the track bar, drag link, tie rod and others to industry-best components in an attempt to address these issues after jeep's warranty replacements couldn't. Jeep must fix these steering issues!

Filed Oct 14, 2020 · NV

I took my jeep in to have it looked at because it started making a clicking sound. They told me I needed to file an insurance claim to repair the jeep. The actual wording was "upon inspection found impact damage on lower right control arm. Drop down shackle bracket from frame has broken at weld points. Recommend taking to the body shop for repairs." the service man told me I would have noticed when I did this... I have not done any off roading recently and have certainly not done anything to cause this issue. Then I looked at the issue..... I also had a professional welder look at it... The weld was not done correctly. There is no welding marks on the second part of the weld.*dt*jb*dt

Filed Feb 18, 2020 · Suspension · 33,500 miles · MN

Rear lower control arm mount/ track bar mount failed. Appeared to have only half of the mount welded in a manufacturing defect. Quality control issue.*dt consumer heard a clunk/knocking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The right rear lower control arm bracket had separated from the frame. Manufacturer stated that the cause of the separation was that the right rear lower control arm bracket inboard weld was completely off-seam. Manufacturer repaired vehicle on 2/5/2020.