My Steering Issues Have Been Fixed!

[GinjaNinja]

What is the exact steering symptom? Did they loosen the steering control arms and re-torque them to spec? Supposedly they are over tightened at the factory. And did they drive it and agree there is a problem or did they claim the typical "it's a Jeep thing"?

I have the massive dead spot on center so at highway speeds its like driving an old pickup/Jeep from the 70s...i.e., all over the road due to constant corrections requiring a lot of steering input for the smallest correction. Same exact thing a number of people are experiencing.

With regards to the control arms, I doubt they checked the torque on them and I am 100% sure they did not loosen and re-tighten. I will likely go through and check the torque on all critical parts myself.

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[Drkarr]

Same here. My JL Rubicon ABS/4 wheel drive light went on episodically at 600 miles and the steering has been loose and sloppy since mile one.

Fixed with TSB # 08-092-18

 

[Drkarr]

Same here. My JL Rubicon ABS/4 wheel drive light went on episodically at 600 miles and the steering has been loose and sloppy since mile one.

Fixed with TSB # 08-092-18

 

[otisroy]

Man, I don't like this to be my first post but the steering is awful on these things. I took it to the dealership today. The service foreman drove it and said it's normal for a Wrangler. Then we hopped in a Sahara sitting on the lot and drove it; it had the same dead spot at the top and required constant sawing back and forth over that dead spot to keep it tracking straight. I was able wiggle the wheel back forth over two inches either way with no noticeable affect on the front wheels.

My last 'Jeep' was a 1970 Kaiser-Jeep M109A3 and it tracked better than this thing. Hell, I had an AM General M35A2 with air assist steering that was a dream compared to this 2018 Wrangler. Makes me wish I'd kept one or both of 'em when I moved over here. My seldom used '05 Chevy 2500HD riding on Wrangler MT/Rs and sorely in need of front hub bearings and a pitman arm is easier to drive.

I've got a RK lift and 315s on order so I'm afraid if I don't get this fixed now the dealer is going to say that it's due to the mods. The foreman already thinks these problems are inherent on all Wranglers because of the short wheelbase combined with the ride height. I couldn't get the guy to admit that a big dead spot isn't normal on any vehicle regardless of ride height.

 

[skrubi12]

Just got my JLUR back Monday after dealing with a couple issues for 2 months. I had the dealer service dept apply the TSB a few weeks ago and I feel like the steering is better at speed. Had the wife drive it today and she instantly though something was wrong (and I haven’t mentioned this issue to her). I watched her hands as she drove and she was back and forth with the wheel constantly. I seem to have no problem but I can feel it here and there - could all be in my head. So either A) there’s nothing wrong or B) I got used to it and can manage to kee the vehicle tracking straight. Either way, I can manage and don’t feel unsafe. I’ve been without my Jeep for 53 days since May 29th so I’ll just ride this out and hope for a recall or TSB to actually fix it.

 

[Holymoly1963]

Just got my JLUR back Monday after dealing with a couple issues for 2 months. I had the dealer service dept apply the TSB a few weeks ago and I feel like the steering is better at speed. Had the wife drive it today and she instantly though something was wrong (and I haven’t mentioned this issue to her). I watched her hands as she drove and she was back and forth with the wheel constantly. I seem to have no problem but I can feel it here and there - could all be in my head. So either A) there’s nothing wrong or B) I got used to it and can manage to kee the vehicle tracking straight. Either way, I can manage and don’t feel unsafe. I’ve been without my Jeep for 53 days since May 29th so I’ll just ride this out and hope for a recall or TSB to actually fix it.

As is usually the case, your wife is correct.

 

[skrubi12]

So you know her? Haha

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

The deadspot is maybe due to steering boxes adjusted too loose and either need to be adjusted or replaced.

Don’t see how a software update could magically reduce deadspot.

 

[XTrooper]

The deadspot is maybe due to steering boxes adjusted too loose and either need to be adjusted or replaced.

Don’t see how a software update could magically reduce deadspot.

Software controls how much or how little steering assistance your electric power steering pump applies. My steering looseness was fixed by the TSB re-configuration and I'm not alone. For the life of me, I can't understand why some people choose the hard way involving various mechanical fixes (that may or may not work) without trying something as easy as a re-flash of the PCM first. I was always taught to start with the simple fixes before progressing to the more difficult ones. In any case, the steering on my Jeep went from downright dangerous to 100% fixed literally in a flash! Magic!

 

[jeremyjeep]

Software controls how much or how little steering assistance your electric power steering pump applies. My steering looseness was fixed by the TSB re-configuration and I'm not alone. For the life of me, I can't understand why some people choose the hard way involving various mechanical fixes (that may or may not work) without trying something as easy as a re-flash of the PCM first. I was always taught to start with the simple fixes before progressing to the more difficult ones. In any case, the steering on my Jeep went from downright dangerous to 100% fixed literally in a flash! Magic!

They did flash with the new steering TSB on mine first. No change. Several others have reported the same thing.

 

[XTrooper]

They did flash with the new steering TSB on mine first. No change. Several others have reported the same thing.

That's too bad. There are definitely at least two different steering issues going on. For instance, even though my steering would "lock up" at highway speeds (basically because it was getting no or next to no steering assistance from the power steering pump) and loose as a goose at lower speeds (again because of insufficient power steering assistance), I never got the clicking from the steering gearbox that some have experienced. That is obviously a mechanical issue and a number of these have been fixed by having a new (and improved?) gearbox swapped in.
Have you suggested to your dealer to order you a new one? My dealer originally did order me a new steering gearbox but before the order was filled (they were and may still be on backorder), the re-configuration TSB came out and, fortunately for me, that fixed it so we canceled the order.

 

[jeremyjeep]

That's too bad. There are definitely at least two different steering issues going on. For instance, even though my steering would "lock up" at highway speeds (basically because it was getting no or next to no steering assistance from the power steering pump) and loose as a goose at lower speeds (again because of insufficient power steering assistance), I never got the clicking from the steering gearbox that some have experienced. That is obviously a mechanical issue and a number of these have been fixed by having a new (and improved?) gearbox swapped in.
Have you suggested to your dealer to order you a new one? My dealer originally did order me a new steering gearbox but before the order was filled (they were and may still be on backorder), the re-configuration TSB came out and, fortunately for me, that fixed it so we canceled the order.

They put a brand new steering box in, part number ends in AD a couple of days ago so it is the newest version. Same symptoms. Check out my post in the other steering thread for the thorough list of attempted fixes so far.

 

[XTrooper]

They put a brand new steering box in, part number ends in AD a couple of days ago so it is the newest version. Same symptoms. Check out my post in the other steering thread for the thorough list of attempted fixes so far.

Ugh. Ok, I will.
I'm genuinely sorry for the problems you're having. I hope they come up with a solution for you sooner rather than later, amigo.

 

[Dubya]

Took my jeep in for its 5000 mile service last Thursday and had the TSB applied. I had no problems getting them to perform the reset since my 4 door sport s was manufactured March 2018. Took off on 360 mile round trip to Boston right after that. The steering is definitely improved, but only marginally. It’s still a handful at most speeds. But every little bit of improvement helps in this case.

 

[Carbonalpine]

Damn hope these issues are fixed for MY 2019. I get all first year generations have their issues, just wish steering and welds weren’t the ones that are plaguing the JL

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