This problem has plagued solid front axle Jeeps for decades.
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By Zac Palmer, Autoblog
The redesigned 2018 JL Jeep Wrangler is selling remarkably well, but it looks like it's still susceptible to age-old Jeep solid front axle vehicle issues. Recently, the NHTSA
has received 11 JL Wrangler-specific complaints for a problem referred
to as "death wobble" in the Jeep community. It's currently looking into
the complaints to see if further action is necessary.
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Death wobble is a term used predominantly by Jeep and specifically Wrangler
owners to describe a violent steering wheel oscillation, typically
caused by hitting some form of bump or pothole at higher speeds. For it
to occur, there has to be something loose or damaged within the front
steering or suspension system. The death wobble gets its name, because
the vibrations through the steering wheel are far more frightening than
any kind of a wheel imbalance problem. However, using the word "death"
would be a misnomer as well, because there are no reported deaths due to
the issue over decades of Jeeps experiencing the issue.
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A little over a month ago, FCA decided it needed to recall 18,000 JL Wranglers because of a faulty weld
around where the track bar is welded to the frame. As of now, there's
no evidence linking this faulty weld with death wobble (an FCA
spokesperson told us as much), but one of the most common causes of
death wobble is a track bar issue. If a bad track bar weld is your
problem, you're in far worse shape than any death wobble, because you'll
end up with a complete loss of steering.
We asked Jeep about
death wobble and a company spokesperson said that it "is not a
widespread condition, nor is it a safety issue." FCA also said most of
the incidents are linked to poorly installed suspension modifications,
such as a lift-kit. However, the most current complaints for JL Wranglers
describe unmodified and recently purchased vehicles. This means some
vehicles still experience the issue despite being stock Wranglers.
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For
now, if you experience the death wobble in your new Jeep, it's best to
slow down immediately in a safe place. Most are taken by surprise by the
sudden oscillations from the wheel, but you should still be able to
control the car. FCA says that even if you do experience the issue, it
is routinely corrected on its own. We'll keep tabs on this, and update
if there are any developments.
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