2008 JEEP WRANGLER 2-DR 4X4 Suspension Problems

THERE IS A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN PHOENIX ARIZONA CALLED PRIME AUTO, PHONE 602-737-3275. I AM WORKING WITH THE ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND HAVE (WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS) COLLECTED STORIES FROM 3 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES, BEING SOLD A USED CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE ON THE ROADWAYS - MY SITUATION WAS A DEATH WOBBLE IN A JEEP WRANGLER, BLINKERS MALFUNCTIONING, WIPER BLADES NOT WORKING PROPERLY - TWO OF THOSE ARE A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEALERSHIP (SELLER) TO ENSURE IN WORKING CONDITION AND THEY FAILED. THEY ALSO ATTEMPTED TO FRAUDULENTLY REPRESENT MY CARS TRADE IN VALUE BY SHOWING ME A KBB.COM PRICE THAT IS ONLY FOR CARS TRADED IN REQUIRING REPAIRS, I TRADED IN A NEAR NEW JEEP. IF THE AG'S OFFICE DOES NOT ACT ON THIS CLAIM I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR OFFICE WOULD, OR AT LEAST WORK TOGETHER IN BRINGING CHARGES TO STOP PRIME AUTO FROM SELLING CARS UNTIL A FULL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE AND ALL PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS CONTACTED AND MADE AVAILABLE THEIR LEGAL REMEDIES FOR THE DEALERSHIPS ACTIONS IN SELLING UNSAFE VEHICLES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM MULTIPLE, VICTIMS, NOT JUST THE BUYER. THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE HAS MORE COMPLAINTS SIMILAR IN NATURE TO MINE, HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PG/PRIME-AUTO-SALES-133282653449388 SO DOES YELP. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE A LEGAL INJUNCTION TO PREVENT THEIR SALES UNTIL A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES CONDUCTED OTHERWISE WITH NOTIFICATION, FAILURE TO DO SO WOULD MORALLY AND ETHICALLY BE WRONG AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS OFFICE AS WELL AS THE ARIZONA AG! THANKS FOR HEARING THIS COMPLAINT AND TAKING ACTION WHERE LEGALLY AND RESPONSIBLY NEEDED. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 1

TAKATA RECALL: WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 50MPH OR HIGHER, IF THE JEEP HITS A SMALL BUMP, THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, ONLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE MAKES IT COME TO A STOP. THIS EXTREME WOBBLE MAKES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN ANY TYPE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.THIS HAS REQUIRED ME TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH IN ITSELF IS ALSO A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE 2 TIMES WITH IN THE FIRST 6 WEEK OF PURCHASE AND THEN THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE SENT IT TO THE LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP WHICH IT HAS BEEN THERE 3 TIME IN A 2 MONTH PERIOD IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED MY STEERING DAMPENER,SWAY BAR LINK, TRACK BAR, BUSHING, BALANCED MY TIRES, AND REPLACED ANY IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH HAS NOT TO THIS POINT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM- CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL!

Mileage: 28,800

THE DEATH WOBBLE IS A NIGHTMARE. IT'S TERRIFYING, NOT OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP. IT HAPPENED ON BUSY HIGHWAY (NJ TURNPIKE) AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP THE JEEP WITH PEOPLE TRAVELLING AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH AND GREATER. I'VE CALLED DEALERSHIPS, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY FOR ME TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. WHY HAS THE JEEP WRANGLER NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON? IT'S OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THESE CARS COST.

Mileage: 39,200

DEATH WOBBLE, 50+ MPH, MINOR BUMP VIOLENT FRONT END SHAKING, UNABLE TO STEER OR BRAKE. COAST UNTIL NEAR STOP AND THEN CONTINUE AS IF NOTHING HAPPEN. TO BE ON SAFE SIDE REPLACED ENTIRE FRONT END WITH QUALITY PARTS AS NO PART TESTED BAD BUT REPLACEMENT PARTS USA MADE WERE BETTER QUALITY THAN ORIGINAL. STOCK 45K VEHICLE. COMBINATION OF POOR DESIGN WITH SLIGHT WEAR. ANY COMBINATION SOONER OR LATER IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS HAPPENS OFTEN WITH NO ACTUAL RECOURSE, IT WAS EXPENSIVE BUT SAFEST RECOURSE. NOT SURE WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESS BY MANUFACTURE AS ONLINE VIDEO'S ARE ACCURATE. TRUST ME, SIX FLAGS HAS NOTHING THAT WILL RATTLE YOU MORE.

Mileage: 44,800

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN SPEED REACHED 55 -60 MPH, THE STEERING HAD A SMALL SHAKING TO IT. AS TIME AND MORE MILES WENT BY, IT TURNED INTO UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING. I HAD TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND COAST TO A SLOWER SPEED. EVENTUALLY I COULD NOT DRIVE THE JEEP UNTIL I CHANGED THE TORSION BAR, TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING STABILIZER, (TWICE, THE LAST TIME WITH A HEAVY DUTY ONE) AND THEN WHAT FIXED IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. BUT ONCE I CHANGED IT, THE WOBBLE OR UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING STOPPED SO I GOT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND HAD TO CHANGE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE WOBBLE CAUSED. THAT HAS BEEN ABOUT 10 MONTHS AND THE SMALL SHAKING HAS STARTED UP AGAIN. GETTING WORSE TO WORSE AS TIME AND MILEAGE GOES BY.

Mileage: 80,000

LEAVING WORK, ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY ON A FLAT STRAIGHT ROAD DOING ABOUT 45-50 MPH THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND AROUND 45 MPH I COULD FEEL IT START AGAIN, LET MY FOOT OF THE GAS AND AS IT SLOWED DOWN IT STOPPED. COULD NOT DO MORE THAN 40 MPH FOR THE RIDE HOME FROM WORK. CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IT ON 5/5/14.

Mileage: 108,452

ON 5/15/13 I PURCHASED A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER X FROM WALSER SUBARU IN BURNSVILLE MN. AT APPROXIMATELY 8:50PM I WAS HEADING HOME FROM COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION WITH THE DEALER. I WAS ON I-35W NORTH GOING AROUND A LONG EASY LEFT CORNER IN THE ROAD WHEN I HIT A ROUGH AREA IN THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING HARD LEFT AND RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE WHEEL AS FIRMLY AS POSSIBLE AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES AN HOUR BEFORE THE SHAKING STOPPED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND WHEELS THINKING I HAD A FLAT OR A LOOSE WHEEL. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO OTHER OCCURRENCE OF THE INCIDENT. THIS MORNING 5/16/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:40AM I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HAD JUST MERGED OFF OF I-35W SOUTH TO 280 SOUTH. I AGAIN WAS IN A SLIGHT BEND IN THE ROAD THIS TIME TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A ROUGH AREA OF ROADWAY. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN AGAIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND I HAD TO GRASP THE WHEEL FIRMLY AND SLOW UNTIL THE SHAKING SUBSIDED. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN FOR INSPECTION AT WALSER CHRYSLER JEEP IN HOPKINS MN AT 1:45PM 5/16/13. I ALSO DID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ONLINE TODAY AFTER THE SECOND EVENT AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 2007-2013 JEEP WRANGLER JK MODELS. IT IS MOST COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "DEATH WOBBLE" THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD AND VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE JEEP JK DESIGN AND ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED FOR SAFETY OF ALL THOSE ON THE PUBLIC ROADWAYS.

Mileage: 74,375

DEATH WOBBLE. RIGHT FRONT WOBBLES 1 GOING AT ANY SPEED WHEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD. BRAKING MAKES IT WORSE. YOU CAN ONLY TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN & PULL OFF TO SHOULDER WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 23,000

WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 95 AT 65MPH, I HIT A BUMP AND MY FRONT END BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE REQUIRING ME TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND COME TO A STOP. THIS OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SCARING ME BEYOND BELIEF. THE PHENOMENON IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE" BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE REALLY CONCERNING PART IS THE NUMBER OF REPORTS ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THE UNSUSPECTING DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH VERY EASILY. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 45,000

DEATH WOBBLE 2008 WRANGLER 2ND REPAIR, STILL NOT FIXED. FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT IN 2010, LESS THAN 25000 MILES. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE ROAD CONDITION. WHEN I REALIZED THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS, I NOTED OTHER FACTORS REALIZING THAT IT SEEMED TO OCCUR AT APPROXIMATELY 57 MPH. AT FIRST THE VIBRATION WAS JUST ANNOYING AND INTERMITTENT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS SCARED BECAUSE IT SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY AT 57 MPH. I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO ROLL SPONTANEOUSLY. IN MARCH 2010, TOOK IT TO A DEALER; THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO COULDN'T FIX IT. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND THE SERVICE TECH (IN 2010) MENTIONED, "JEEP WOBBLE"- I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND VERY LITTLE INFO- JUST SOME JEEP OWNER BLOGS THAT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT I FELT. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM (UNDER WARRANTY) BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOCK (OR SOMETHING). SINCE I HAD IT REPAIRED, I STILL EXPERIENCED THE NORMAL, MINOR VIBRATION THAT HAPPENS AROUND 55 MPH. RECENTLY (JAN 2013) THE DEATH WOBBLE RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE. REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS, AT 57 MPH IT SHAKES SO BADLY THAT IT FEELS LIKE I WILL LOOSE CONTROL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHOCK AGAIN AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THE PART HAS BEEN IMPROVED WITH BRACKETS OR SOME SUCH. OF COURSE, AT 57000 MILES, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY THE $230 FOR THE REPAIR. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN IN ANOTHER 25000 MILES. I CALL BS! THE JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD, NEVER MISTREATED, ALWAYS MAINTAINED. NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER EVER MENTIONED THIS TSB DURING THE 2013 REPAIR. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, IT WAS NOT FIXED. JEEP CO. HAS AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL BUT $100 (DEDUCTIBLE) BUT WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR REPAIRS ON A KNOWN ISSUE? VIBRATION IS SO BAD, IT COULD CAUSE ME TO WRECK. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

DEATH WOBBLE ON A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER. VEHICLE HAS A PREDICTABLE VIBRATION BETWEEN 55-60 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT TOOK THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF MY WIFE'S HANDS. SHE WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH AROUND A CURVE. ON A SECOND OCCASION, I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. SLOWING FROM 75 MPH TO AROUND 60 MPH AND ENTERING THE EXIT RAMP CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST SHAKEN OUT OF MY HANDS. ON A THIRD OCCASION, AT AROUND 60 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH NO BUMPS, THE JEEP BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND AGAIN PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF ANOTHER DRIVERS HANDS. THE MINOR VIBRATION HAPPENS EVERYDAY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER WITH A RANCHO HEAVY DUTY STABILIZER. VIBRATION WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 500 MILES. I RELIGIOUSLY DO A 5 TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE. NO CHANGE. I HAVE HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED. NO CHANGE. JEEP WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THEY SAY IF THERE IS A VIBRATION TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. WHEN I TELL THEM THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THEIR REPLY IS THAT IT WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY AND THEY WOULD DO IT FOR $300. I AM GETTING TO THE POINT OF SELLING OR TRADING IT IN SINCE I CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE. I AM ALMOST READY TO TRY TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS, BUT AT 47,700 MILES AND NO SUSPENSION OR ENGINE MODIFICATIONS. THE JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROADED, NEVER BEEN MISTREATED. WHAT NOW? JEEP ALSO OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS, PITMAN ARM, TIE ROD ENDS, SWAY BAR END LINKS, ETC. FOR A NICE SUM OF THE $2500. OUCH. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2008 JEEP WRANGLER BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. AUTOMOBILE IS UNMODIFIED. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 45 MPH THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE SHAKING BECOMES WORSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACK ARM BROKE FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN HE TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT BRACKETS AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL BRACKETS TO RE-ENFORCE THE AXLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEATH WOBBLE BECAME SO SEVERE, IT ACTUALLY BLEW OFF THE AXLE BRACKETS THAT HELD THE TRACK ARM. UPDATED 12/03/12

Mileage: 40,000

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 55 MPH, WHEN MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. BRAKING, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK FOR A BLOWN TIRE. I WALKED AROUND THE JEEP AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS IN FRONT OF A JEEP DEALERSHIP. I PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND LEFT THE JEEP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING DAMPER SHOCK, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND DAMPER BRACKETS. THEN I HAD TO PAY FOR TIRE ROTATION AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING SOME, I AM AFRAID IT COULD STILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING THE JEEP. I THINK THAT JEEP OWES THE JEEP OWNERS A RECALL. THESE REPAIRS COST MY $650.00. I HAVE OWNED 5 JEEP WRANGLERS, I WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE, UNLESS JEEP MAKES THIS RIGHT!! *TR

Mileage: 57,989

EXPERIENCED THE NOTORIOUS "DEATH WOBBLE" AGAIN TODAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED PLENTY OF TIMES TO ME, BUT TODAY IT WAS THE MOST SEVERE AND WORRISOME. THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND RATTLES SO MUCH THAT I EXPECT PIECES TO FALL OFF. OTHER CARS PULL UP TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY OFF RAMP (WHERE IT OFTEN HAPPENS ON OUR BUMPY MASSACHUSETTS ROADS) AND ASK IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY. I'M NOT SURE IF I WOULD BUY THIS JEEP AGAIN. THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS. ARTICLES ONLINE SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS THE STOCK TRACK BAR, AND IF SO, WHY WON'T CHRYSLER JUST REPLACE THEM? *TR

Mileage: 29,000

2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA STOCK. VIOLENT WOBBLE. "DEATH WOBBLE" WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 60MPH, I CROSSED OVER AN EXPANSION CRACK FOR A BRIDGE. THE FRONT END OF THE JEEP BEGAN A VIOLENT WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH UNTIL SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THIS WOBBLE ALMOST CONTRIBUTED TO A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER IN THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC DUE TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE SAME SPEED AFTER ANOTHER SMALL BUMP. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM FURTHER, THERE ARE ENDLESS FACTORS THAT TRIGGER THE WOBBLE. EACH PROBLEM MAY BE FIXED, BUT IT WILL ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. THE WOBBLE ITSELF CANNOT BE FIXED UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU CAN ONLY FIX WHAT SETS IT OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE INTERNET. IT WAS ALSO DISPLAYED PUBLICLY ON THE NEWS, HOWEVER CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

Mileage: 48,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 2-DR 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY VIBRATE. THE CONTACT DECELERATED TO 10 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO STOP. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED WHENEVER DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES OR BUMPS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-60 MPH. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

VIOLENT, EXTREME SHAKING IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE ("DEATH WOBBLE") AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55-60MPH. HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES, BUT IS RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT, WITH NO KNOWN PRECIPITATING FACTORS. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING OVER MINOR BUMPS BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY ON PERFECTLY SMOOTH, STRAIGHT PAVEMENT - WITH NO TURNING, BREAKING, ACCELERATION. THE SHAKING SEEMS TO BE IN THE FRONT TIRES/AXLE AND CONTINUES FOR 3-4 SECONDS AS I AM TRYING TO REDUCE SPEED CAREFULLY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT TIRES ARE GOING TO FLY OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS! AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR MONTHS, BUT RECENTLY HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS TOLD BY ONE GARAGE THAT IT WAS DUE TO TIRE BALANCE (WHICH I KNEW WAS NOT THE CASE), BUT I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES BALANCED/ROTATED (AT ABOUT 42,500 MILES). GARAGE PERSONNEL STATED THIS "TOOK CARE OF MOST OF THE PROBLEM" BUT SUGGESTED I GET NEW TIRES. PROBLEM OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES WITHIN A WEEK, BEFORE NEW TIRES. HAVE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. DEATH WOBBLE HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TIRES/BALANCE AND THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK. WHEN I MADE THE APPOINTMENT, THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, SO I WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION I GATHERED IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES OFF VARIOUS WEB SITES DETAILING THE APTLY-NAMED "DEATH WOBBLE." I AM WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH THE "COULD-NOT-DUPLICATE-THE-PROBLEM" GARAGE MANTRA, SO FORESEE A PROTRACTED AND FRUSTRATING BATTLE BEFORE THIS LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM IS FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

DEATH WOBBLE - WHEN I REACH A SPEED OF OVER 45 AND HIT A ROUGH PATCH, MY FRONT TWO TIRES START WOBBLING UNCONTROLLABLY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP. I HAVE JUST 31,000 MILES ON MY JEEP (NO MODIFICATION AND STOCK TIRES). THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF MY WIFE HAD THIS HAPPEN, I DOUBT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT INTO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP. THEY PUT A NEW STEERING DAMPER ON IT AND SAID THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I GO TO CHRYSLER. *KB

Mileage: 31,000

AT 50,000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY BADLY WORN STOCK BALL JOINTS. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF UNMODIFIED 2008 JEEP WRANGLER X WHEN HITTING A BUMP ON HIGHWAY. FORCED TO SLAM ON BRAKES ON HIGHWAY TO STOP VIOLENT SHAKING AND REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND HAPPENS ANY TIME I HIT A BIG BUMP. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES YESTERDAY. I GOOGLED THIS AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A RATHER COMMON COMPLAINT - ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE PARTICULARLY COMMON IN THE NEWER STYLE JEEPS AT AROUND 20,000-30,000 MILES EVEN WHEN NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IF ITS THIS COMMON, CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS! *TR

Mileage: 26,000

EXTREME VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END BROUGHT ON BY (1) HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND (2) HITTING THE BRAKES HARD. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS REFERRED TO AS THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. IT IS, AS YET, UNREPAIRED. VEHICLE DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT. *TR

Mileage: 39,500

WELL I HAVE A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER X. WHEN I GET TO 50 MPH I EXPERIENCE EXTREME "DEATH WOBBLE" AS ITS OFTEN CALLED. MY VEHICLE WILL SHAKE TO THE POINT THAT IT FEEL LIKE EITHER THE AXEL IS GOING TO SNAP OR THE WHEELS WILL SHOOT OFF IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. IT IS VERY SCARY. ITS DOES IT ROUGHLY 8 OUT OF 10 TIMES AT 50MPH. IT STARTED AFTER HAVING THE JEEP FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND MY DEALERSHIP TRIED ONCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FRONT STABILIZER. IT CONTINUED AFTER THEY REPLACED THAT AND FROM THAT STANDPOINT TOLD ME IT WAS THE TIRES AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER NEW TIRES AFTER ONCE TELLING ME THEY HAD FIXED THE ISSUE. I NOW HAVE TO AVOID THE HIGHWAY IN FEAR OF DEATH. IT IS HONESTLY RESEMBLES OF A 8 OR 9 ON THE RICHTER SCALE. *TR

SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH. IT OCCURS 90% OF THE TIME WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH. *TR

Mileage: 40,141

WHEN DRIVING OVER 50MPH IN MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER IF I HIT CERTAIN POTHOLES OR EXPANSION JOINTS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHOLE JEEP STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE I LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVERS AROUND ME PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN THEY SEE WHAT MY JEEP IS DOING. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING AND IT ONLY DOES SO ONCE I AM ABLE TO BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT SEEMS MANY JEEP WRANGLERS DO IT. IT IS CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE" AND JEEP/CHRYSLER WILL NOT FIX IT. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY IN. *TR

Mileage: 28,070

I HAVE A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER 2 DOOR. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" OCCASIONALLY AT AROUND 40 MPH. WHILE DRIVING MY YOUNG SON, ALL WAS FINE AND SMOOTH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT END STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND BANGING AROUND. IT STEERED ITSELF OFF THE ROAD, LUCKILY INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT I WAS STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET IT STOPPED BEFORE SLAMMING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END, I FOUND THAT MY FRONT TRAC BAR BRACKET WELDS HAD BROKEN FROM THE FRONT AXLE. HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE, THE FRONT AXLE WOULD HAVE SLID OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE! THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND WOULD HAVE TOTALED THE JEEP AND MOST LIKELY CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF BUDDIES THAT HAVE THE SAME MODEL WRANGLERS. THEY BOTH HAD THE SAME ISSUE! I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FREAK DEAL. THIS IS THE SAME RESPONSE MY BUDDIES GOT FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP! *TR

Mileage: 30,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 JEEP WRANGLER AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH OVER A ROUGH SPOT ON THE ROAD, I EXPERIENCED HORRIBLE FRONT END SHAKE THAT I COULD NOT CONTROL UNTIL I PULLED THE CAR OVER. I'M VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF ME BECAUSE I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED INTO THIS ONLINE AND HAVE LEARNED IT'S CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND IT'S HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 9,500

EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE, WHEEL HOP AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH WHEN ENCOUNTERING SMALL CHANGES IN ROAD SURFACE(IE. SLIGHT POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, RIPPLING OF ROAD). ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE AMONG JEEP OWNERS AND DEALERS. *TR

Mileage: 6,700

EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE, WHEEL HOP AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH WHEN ENCOUNTERING SMALL CHANGES IN ROAD SURFACE(IE. SLIGHT POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, RIPPLING OF ROAD). ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE AMONG JEEP OWNERS AND DEALERS. *TR

Mileage: 6,700

MY BRAND NEW 2008 JEEP WRANGLER X 4X4 BEGAN THE DREADED "DEATH WOBBLE" (LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL) AROUND 550 MILES. THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO "DIE". HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES UNTIL I GOT IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER SEARCHING JEEP FORUMS AND SUCH, I FOUND THAT 1000S OF JEEP OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WITH MANY JEEP MODELS. AND LEARNED THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONSIDER THE DEATH WOBBLE AN ISSUE. MY FAITH IN MANUFACTURERS HAS DROPPED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT. THIS IS AN EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I'M GOING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THIS JEEP DEFECT ON NATIONAL TV. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. *TR

Mileage: 550