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Dems To Chrysler: Talk To Owners About Jeep Wrangler 'Death Wobble'

By Richard Read
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2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

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Two Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have asked Chrysler to address an issue that hundreds of Jeep Wrangler owners have complained about.

The problem is known colloquially as the "Jeep Death Wobble", and according to a report in Detroit News, it's been associated with Wrangler vehicles from the 2005-2010 model years. It tends to appear at speeds above 45 miles per hour, often after the Wrangler has hit some kind of obstruction, like a pothole or bump in the road, which causes the Wrangler to "shimmy". Chrysler has confirmed that at least one death has been linked to the problem.


But while National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 402 complaints about the issue -- including two crashes possibly related to it -- the agency has refused to launch a formal investigation. NHTSA's David Strickland insists that the agency is monitoring the situation, but he also says that the "death wobble" doesn't cause a loss of control for drivers.

Chrysler rep Michael Palese admits that there could be a "wobbling" problem with the Wrangler, but points out that all vehicles with solid axles can experience the same issue. He blames the wobble on improperly installed tires and aftermarket equipment.

Now, two elected officials have formally asked Chrysler to talk to Jeep Owners about fixing it. Anna Eshoo and Henry Waxman -- both Democrats from California -- sent a letter to Chrysler's Sergio Marchionne earlier this week, encouraging the CEO to launch an outreach campaign. Both complain that Chrysler has failed to give owners consistent guidance about fixing the problem.

So far, Marchionne has not formally responded to the Representatives' letter.

Do you drive a Jeep Wrangler? If so, have you experienced the "Death Wobble"? Has it gotten worse over time (as many complaints allege)? And what, if anything, have you done to fix it? Share your tips with us via email or in the comments below.


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Comments (21)

  1. fb_1510606196 avatar Carl Thelin Posted: 7/6/2012 11:00am PDT

    He is right. I had plenty of these cases. Old tires and loose tie rod ends can be part of the steering resonance problem. Unfortunately, new young engineers don't have the experience to anticipate that solid-axle phenomenom.

    Chrysler rep Michael Palese admits that there could be a "wobbling" problem with the Wrangler, but points out that all vehicles with solid axles can experience the same issue. He blames the wobble on improperly installed tires and aftermarket equipment.[replacement tires and/or tie rod ends.]
     
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  2. KPM171 avatar KPM171 Posted: 7/6/2012 11:40am PDT

    I have a Wrangler, I've had death wobble before. I installed a heavy duty steering stabilizer and it's never happened again since. Not really a big deal and I have no clue why the house of representatives is sticking their nose into this.
     
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  3. fb_720828107 avatar Tim Mitchell Posted: 7/6/2012 11:48am PDT

    97 TJ at 55. Either have to drop it into 4th and get up to 60+ or come to a complete stop. Such a hassle..
     
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  4. fb_565592599 avatar Aldo Martin Posted: 7/6/2012 12:08pm PDT

    Leave to the politicians to ruin it for everyone. The "Death Wobble" is well documented in Wrangler owner circles and it is pretty well understood to be caused in most cases by owner modifications --e.g., wheel spacers improperly torqued, extreme suspension lifts, improperly mounted oversize tires, etc.

    Part of the success of the Jeep Wrangler over the years is how easily it can be modified. Now we have politicians trying to regulate this too. If they succeed, another icon will bite the dust
     
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  5. fb_100001562077659 avatar Kevin Sullivan Posted: 7/6/2012 3:50pm PDT

    Well documented. Not just Wranglers. I had it on a Cherokee XJ. Replacing the track bar solved it. It's a solid axle thing. Politicians don't understand it. Butt out.
     
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  6. james myers avatar james myers Posted: 7/6/2012 4:12pm PDT

    The Democraps should stick to what they know best, destroying the Country and killing unborn babies!
     
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  7. biochfan avatar biochfan Posted: 7/9/2012 6:20am PDT

    And the republicans should do what? The GOP is controlled by the right wingers and Tea Partiers (The right wingers want to legislate morality so they can tell those of us who disagee with them how we should live and the Tea Partiers have a "My way or else mentality and refuse to compromise). All the problems facing this country aren't/isn't the fault of the democrats as the GOP has had a hand (many hands) in helping the U.S. get in the mess it's currently in. Plenty of blame to go around!
     
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  8. fb_1250722617 avatar Michael Gibson Posted: 7/9/2012 1:16pm PDT

    I see that intelligent thoughtful commenting is not required at TCC. Your narrow minded and hateful comment gives us all a glimpse into your character. That has always been the problem with these types of open systems trolls and other persons of low integrity can spew ignorant hate at will.
     
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  9. richard avatar Richard Read Posted: 7/6/2012 5:24pm PDT

    Just to clarify, folks: the pols weren't asking the *NHTSA* to launch an investigation of the matter. They were asking *Chrysler* to educate owners about the problem and suggest possible remedies. Some of you already know about the issue and how to fix it, but many drivers don't.
     
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  10. fb_1779529571 avatar Bill Burke Posted: 7/7/2012 7:13am PDT

    Jeeps take tremendous abuse and are often modified by owners. I doubt under normal and even extreme normal conditions Jeeps would exhibit a death wobble. Wish these representatives would worry more about out of control taxes and spending and less about out of control claims by a handfull of people. BOGUS!!
     
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  11. richard avatar Richard Read Posted: 7/7/2012 9:40am PDT

    All due respect, Bill, NHTSA has received at least 402 complaints about this. So at least a few hundred Wranglers are exhibiting the "death wobble".
     
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  12. fb_726390366 avatar Jeremy Way Posted: 7/8/2012 3:39am PDT

    2007 JK Unlimited here....no death wobble until I jack it up and put 37in tires on it. quickly and cheaply resolved by dual stearing stablizers. not sure if you can install without a lift kit due to clearence of the stablizer....if it happens before any mods then Jeep should say soemthing...its on the Modified jeep community to call this one out in my opinion.
     
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  13. fb_100001329924181 avatar John Robinson Posted: 7/8/2012 7:59pm PDT

    Well, I have an '09 Rubicon. No "death wobble" yet....
     
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  14. tache avatar tache Posted: 7/9/2012 2:24am PDT

    What about the cracked windshield?
    I've seen so many last generation Wrangles with a cracked windshield that I start to wonder if it is not caused by the vehicle torsion movement and may be a safety issue.
    Isn't this related?
     
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  15. MOPARMAN31 avatar MOPARMAN31 Posted: 7/9/2012 5:26pm PDT

    I am a Chrysler parts professional. The death wobble issue was resolved by Chrysler nearly 3 years ago. Because of the solid axle and lifts and big tires all this telegraphs directly from the ground to the steering wheel. TSB# 002-003-10 Rev A dated October 2010 corrects the problem. It involves replacing the steering dampner and dampner bracket with new hardware. I am in Colorado and of the hundreds of repairs that we did NONE have returned with the same problem. Come to the source instead of forums and get real engineered fixes. For those idiots who condemn the Dem politicans they are doing what the republiCONs dont work for the people. They are the ones that saved Chrysler and GM.
     
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  16. Dan1234 avatar Dan1234 Posted: 8/14/2012 3:37pm PDT

    Not likly mine was fixed in La and had to get it fixed a second time
     
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  17. jh3jh3 avatar jh3jh3 Posted: 7/12/2012 7:40pm PDT

    I have a 2008 Wrangler with no modifications or change of tires and I have experienced the wobbling many times going over a bump and it is easy to lose control which is frighting.
     
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  18. iroll20s avatar Matthew M Posted: 7/16/2012 8:17am PDT

    We have a 1996 and a 1998 Grand Cherokee and both of them have had the "death wobble". In both vehicles the STEERING DAMPENER just needed to be replaced. They seem to go after about 60K miles.

    It is a simple $60-90 replacement job including parts and labor. If you bring it to the dealer they will claim that it's because you didn't use OEM tires or some other BS. Trust me it is just the steering dampener.
     
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  19. ptahoe avatar ptahoe Posted: 7/17/2012 9:40pm PDT

    I have an 04 Wrangler X that I bought in 06 from a Jeep Dealership. Ive had the problems since I bought this vehicle. In the past 6 years, Ive replaced 2 track bars, steering stabilizer, countless alignements, countless wheel balancings, new shocks, and 3 brand new sets of tires. I am exhausted at trying to find the problem to this very dangerous and violent shaking of my jeep. SOMEONE HELP! WHY wont Chrysler help????
     
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  20. Dan1234 avatar Dan1234 Posted: 8/14/2012 3:34pm PDT

    I am sorry but I bought a brand new 2007 Jeep Wrangler X Unlimited in 2007, 2 wheel drive, no mods on it, and a week later going down the road at 70mph I hit a bump and it wobbled until I stoped. I took the jeep to a dealer they said nothing could be done to fix it. After taking it back a bunch of times they replace the stablizer on it which was installed upsidedown from the factory. That was what I was told about it anyway. Will I buy another one yes now that I know what it was. I have had to replace the stablizer again this year due to it leaking. But the first time it did it I had to go change my shorts........
     
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  21. deberb avatar Deb Erb Posted: 11/26/2012 5:44am PST

    I own a jeep wrangler 2009 that has a death wobble. it began when the vehichle was fairly new about 50,000 miles. The dealership and head mechanic have not thoroughly investigated or offered a solution, they tend to ignore my complaints. At one point a bushing was replaced which helped for approximately 3 months. I am so frustrated with this and would just like to be able to drive a safe car.
     
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