2021 Jeep Wrangler: steering wheel locks up

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Steering · VA

I was driving on interstate going 75 mph in the passing lane when my steering wheel locked completely up. My car started drifting to the right, but I was unable to turn the steering wheel. I almost hit the guardrail. The car is now being towed to Jeep dealership for fixing of the active recall.

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Steering · 60,000 miles · NJ · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, causing a more difficult steering effort. The vehicle was restarted to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the CAN bus connector, but the failure persisted. While driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle almost crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained body soreness. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the second dealer, Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of East Hanover (175 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07936), who informed the contact that the electric hydraulic power steering pump needed to be replaced; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair and stated that the failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Filed Dec 11, 2025 · Engine · 52,000 miles · MA · fire

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway for 45 minutes, there was an abnormal odor of chimney fire, which continued while at the stop sign. The front passenger occupant noticed there was smoke from underneath the hood. While pulling over, the steering wheel locked up, and the occupants exited the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The damper had previously been replaced, but the vehicle was well-maintained. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or crash. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The police were called to the scene, but there was no police report. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Oct 28, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · FL

While driving the 'service shifter' warning will flash and once this happens the steering locks up and the car shuts down. This primarily happens when hitting a bump, pot hole, railroad tracks, etc. After the warning flashes and the steering locks up, every light on the dash comes on as the car is shutting down. The vehicle is in the shop for the 3rd time within 9 months for the same issue. The dealership replaced the star link connector saying that was the issue but it is still occurring. The vehicle is currently in the shop with this issue and they are saying there is nothing wrong and 'no codes being thrown.' We have had this happen at least a dozen times on us while driving. A handful without hitting a bump or one of the specified causes. Once this happens, the car become immobile and has to be towed. The first time this occurred was within 10 days of purchasing the vehicle; it started happening in January and is still occurring. After the dealership 'fixes' it, the issue will not occur for a couple of months then it will happen again.

Filed Sep 24, 2023 · Steering · CT

Driving on I-91 at 60-65 mph and steering wheel locked up making vehicle control impossible. I could have collided with multiple vehicles, was lucky enough that vehicle swerved off exit ramp and jumped a curb into a nearby gas station. Cautiously drove vehicle to nearby dealership and currently onsite under evaluation by Chrysler corporate. There was an intermittent warning light to service the " gear shifter" a few months before but dealer could not find code when vehicle examined so dismissed until happening again. This incident affected me emotionally and I'm now hesitant to drive this vehicle post repair on the highway.

Filed Feb 21, 2021 · Steering · 4,232 miles · CA

A bunch of codes flashed on my dash screen and then steering wheel locked up when I was driving on a city street I had just turned and was going straight at about 30 MPH. I had to use excessive force to pull the car over and turned car off and on and then I regained steering. Although the steering was back, the check engine light turned on. I was out of town so I took it to a dealer to see if it was safe to drive 2hrs back home. They checked it said a bunch of codes came up but they cleared them and didn't find anything wrong. They test drove it and couldn't duplicate the problem so they summed it up as a computer glitch, and said it would most likely not happen again and should be fine driving back home. It was fine the rest of that day. The next day as I'm driving it happens again and does another 4 times that day. 3 driving thru crowded city streets once I was driving straight at about 15 MPH, next I was at a stop sign and then I was slowing down to pull into a parking spot. The 4th time that day I was on the freeway heading back home. I was in heavy traffic going about 40 MPH. Same as the first incident I had to pull over and turn the car off and on again to regain control of steering. And the check engine light stayed on.