Steering Lock up on Highway during cold weather

[Alall002]

Hey everyone first post here. So I was looking through the forums and noticed that a few other Jeep Owners had issues like mine, but I am the only experiencing these issues on the 21 Wrangler unlimited. So for the first few weeks I had my Wrangler the vehicle was perfect I bought it back in February of this Year brand new. One day at around 1000 miles or so the vehicle had its steering wheel lock up shortly on the highway but I brushed it off thinking it may have just been a once in a lifetime thing. It happened again a week later then I brought the jeep into a service center that was near my house but not the one i purchased my Jeep from. They performed a Restore Vehicle configuration, and checked for loose Ground as per TSB. Ever since then it was fine but I didn't realize that this was happening due to cold and it was warming up around that time. Fast forward to the beginning of this month when temperatures are hitting sub 35 degrees Fahrenheit, this is happening almost every other day with multiple lock ups in one drive. The vehicle only has 8100 miles and I'm not confident in it safely getting me home without putting me in a coffin first, I dropped the vehicle off for service (the one I bought the vehicle from) and didn't get offered a loaner, so now i'm just waiting for a response. Hopefully Jeep cares see's this huge safety issue and works with my service center to get this resolved. I love my wrangler but I need to be assured that the next time on the highway I'm on the highway won't be the last time I drive a vehicle.

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[4-play]

I had a temperature related windshield wiper motor issue On my JK. Below freezing temps, the wipers would not work. Above 32, they would work fine. Brought it to the dealer on a sub freezing day.

 

[Bill_P]

Have your dealer see if you have the same issue covered in this TSB: TSB 08-092-18 . The steering will basically freeze up if the ambient temperature is below 40 degrees and your speed is above 60 mph. You say yours freezes up on the highway when it's cold. This may not be your issue, but it is a starting point. I know this isn't supposed to apply to your Jeep, but the symptoms sound the exact same. Maybe the newer jeeps have a software bug like the older ones did?

 

[Alall002]

Have your dealer see if you have the same issue covered in this TSB: TSB 08-092-18 . The steering will basically freeze up if the ambient temperature is below 40 degrees and your speed is above 60 mph. You say yours freezes up on the highway when it's cold. This may not be your issue, but it is a starting point. I know this isn't supposed to apply to your Jeep, but the symptoms sound the exact same. Maybe the newer jeeps have a software bug like the older ones did?

Yeah, the dealership close to my house did do this as a preventative measure but the issue popped up again a few months down the line.

 

[Alall002]

I had a temperature related windshield wiper motor issue On my JK. Below freezing temps, the wipers would not work. Above 32, they would work fine. Brought it to the dealer on a sub freezing day.

This weekend will dip into the 20's so hopefully the dealer see's it before they close for Christmas

 

[John VonJeep]

Wow, that is a legit serious safety issue. I hope you’re able to get it sorted.

 

[1Evil55]

I'd take death wobble over this.

 

[Alall002]

heres a video from december 16th where it locks up 4 times in one drive?

 

[Dyolfknip74]

heres a video from december 16th where it locks up 4 times in one drive?

It looks like you're losing power steering. Maybe a pump issue?

 

[Alall002]

Another video from the same night where it locked up again

 

[bjm00se]

Your definition of "lock up" and mine are dramatically different.

Based on watching your videos, you remain able to turn the wheel, and turning the wheel does in fact cause the front wheels to steer left or right. That's not "locked up."

It does appear to be considerably higher effort than you are expecting or is reasonable. I'd describe the problem as a loss of effectiveness of power assist.

Yes, loss of power assist is a serious problem that needs to be fixed. But not the same as actual steering "lock up," which could only end in either an accident or an undrivable vehicle stopped in the lane or on the side of the road and then being towed to service.

 

[chaseshort]

My 2019 did this; I never took it in but should have. Once the car was warm or warmed up enough, I no longer had this issue, but the next morning would do it again. My research took me to the old steering box being the issue, there are some threads on this problem already and I will look for them and link them here. But you should have the new steering box so this should not be an issue.

 

[Alall002]

Thats what's so strange to me as well, I thought i was safe because my truck didn't have the weird wandering issues or anything like that but guess they fix one thing and mess something else up instead

 

[Reinen]

Yeah, that's loss of power steering not a lockup.
I'd flush and replace the power steering fluid, there may be some water/moisture in there causing things to frost up. May also be a bad power steering pump.

 

[Alall002]

Currently the dealer had the vehicle since the 21st and still has not looked at it and my case manager called me to let me know they have not looked at it..... Still here with no loaner and need to get to work.

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