Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[Mordin Solus]

Looks like the lawyers have smelled blood in the water for the JL steering issue...

https://www.lemberglaw.com/2018-jeep-wrangler-problems-complaints-lemon/

Checking that site looks like have 3 or 4 other vehicles targeted for the month of August, assume more if you go through all the postings.

Appears to me they troll NHTSA, find some vehicles, cruise forums, then throw up a blog post.

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[jeremyjeep]

What is a star case and how does it differ from the case # Jeep Cares gave me?

A Star case is created by the dealer and is more technically focused. It is between the dealership tech and the FCA engineers/technical people. It is the process in which a tech at a dealership escalates issues to the next level. JeepCare / JeepWave is a customer support, customer resolution type case. Sometimes they reference each others case numbers but they are different case management systems.

 

[cohocarl]

Tire thread squirm could be a factor..., lowering air pressure solved a great deal of my issue, Sahara on AT Bridgestone tires...

I agree. We're running higher PSI in the tires nowadays for higher MPG. Some are noting a dramatic improvement in colder weather...(PSI would be lower).
I brought my Goodyear's down from 39 to 36 and it was an improvement. Not dramatic, but it was noticeable.

 

[Holymoly1963]

Drove in to work this morning, cloudy and cool at 59 degrees... and steering was no better for me than when it's been in the upper 90s.

Some people mention darting, I don't have that issue. Mine just kind of wanders and has a dead spot in the steering so you are constantly adjusting and trying not to over correct.

At this point I'm waiting for my dealership to call to schedule the TSB update.

I think "darting" is most likely caused by over correcting. When you turn the steering wheel a half inch and nothing happens, your brain says, oh crap better turn faster, and darting occurs .

 

[mischman]

Add me to the list of people that got the TSB and it made no difference, still have a massive dead spot in the steering wheel.

 

[Tylerjcloud92]

Picked up my new JLU Sahara August 22 on a typical 97 degree Kansas day. Steering was horrible as described by many here, but I guess body reflexes made up for the vagueness after a few miles, so I learned to live with it while researching forums.

Outdoor temperatures remained hot for the following days and steering continued to play the guessing game .... felt like be married to the darn thing.

Along comes August 29 and temperature drops to 73 degrees ..... and .... low and behold ..... the steering was perfect and precise at any speed up to 85 mph, just like it should be for a $52,000 car.

Guess till a solution is found, I will have to check the weather forecast to decide which care to drive for the day.

I have noticed a difference with temperature as well okay is the same but the wheel just seems easier to turn I guess maybe it’s the tires? Idk.

 

[Tod13]

I agree. We're running higher PSI in the tires nowadays for higher MPG. Some are noting a dramatic improvement in colder weather...(PSI would be lower).
I brought my Goodyear's down from 39 to 36 and it was an improvement. Not dramatic, but it was noticeable.

Lowering mine from the crazy 57 PSI on delivery to the 37 PSI as per the door label cured 99% of my issues. (It was crazy squirrelly at freeway speeds.) Dealership figured out last 1% was using 4HI auto (Sahara).

 

[Richamby]

I can’t figure out, why dealers don’t order every Sahara auto with Select-trac.

I looked all over Huntsville and Nashville and didn’t find one back in June.

Only option I wish I had.

Great to hear yours is good, now we all need to take up a collection so we can purchase tire pressure gauges for our local Jeep dealers.

 

[x8086]

I've been running 37 PSI here in since June. No fix.

I have an appointment next week and I'll have them check the usual based on feedback here.

 

[moonpup]

I can’t figure out, why dealers don’t order every Sahara auto with Select-trac.

Good question... I bought my Sahara off the dealer lot, which has pretty much every optional package installed, but has the standard Command-Trac...

 

[Saejin]

Just a follow-up to my experience. Have had my JLUR since Mar.

- always had a dead spot in steering, but never bothered me too much... got used to it. Didn’t have the drifting or darting, I could always drive with one hand or pass semis or do 75+ on the highway with little to no issues.
- starting reading this thread and got to thinking I could get the dead spot removed completely through various fixes
- haven’t brought it up to dealership as they’d write it off as it’s a Jeep thing plus mine isn’t bad anyway
- adjusted steering box last week by 1/16 of a turn. Dead spot went from 1” side to side to 2/3 side to side. Will do exact measurements later
- felt much better overall, no negative effects like slow to return to center or binding
- saw the reports of temp differences effecting steering feel...my experience is similar
- in the morning, the steering feels tighter especially the dead zone but after about 10 minutes when the hydraulic fluid has warmed up the dead zone is looser but overall steering feels the same. It seems the hydro fluid when cold causes the dead zone to be less noticeable as I’m sure it causes the steering box to feel tighter as it has to move this fluid. Cold hydro fluid is thicker than warm fluid

I may try and adjust the steering box by a full 1/8 turn this weekend to see if I can eliminate all of the dead zone without causing issues. I’ll report back what happens and also take more exact measurements and maybe video.

Overall I’m happy with the steering. And with the dead zone almost gone I may push the psi in my tires back higher. I’m not convinced the door jam settings are right as those are the same for every Jeep, but each Jeep has different tires. Psi settings should be set for the type of tire and not standard. May set psi using a chalk test so I get even wear.

 

[Richamby]

Awesome report. I’m going under my Jeep over the long weekend to check things out. Overall I can’t complain.

 

[cableline01]

Have you taken it back yet? Send us a direct message with your VIN as we've been documenting this for every customer that's experiencing this and escalating it for further handling. Very sorry for the trouble.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Does not matter to take it back in. They do not have a TSB for this issue and will not fix anything they dont have one for. I have spoken to everyone in the service dept. They will open a star case and will be told to compare to a like jeep. They will say it steers the same and return back to the owner. Stating drives and normal nothing to fix. This is crap I ad the service manager take 2 test drives and report there is a issue. but then come back saying no issues. I am tired of the dealer not being able to take the stance to stay there is an issue. I have a jeep cares case and they have escalated to some one higher and they cant do anything to help. Completely loosing faith in FCA.

 

[vavaroutsos]

Does not matter to take it back in. They do not have a TSB for this issue and will not fix anything they dont have one for. I have spoken to everyone in the service dept. They will open a star case and will be told to compare to a like jeep. They will say it steers the same and return back to the owner. Stating drives and normal nothing to fix. This is crap I ad the service manager take 2 test drives and report there is a issue. but then come back saying no issues. I am tired of the dealer not being able to take the stance to stay there is an issue. I have a jeep cares case and they have escalated to some one higher and they cant do anything to help. Completely loosing faith in FCA.

Try calling Jeep Wave and give them your Jeep Cares case number. The rep I spoke with said poor steering is the number one complaint he gets. When I told him my suspension, tires, and wheels were stock, he said he would make sure my Jeep didn't leave the dealership without it being fixed. He's going to contact the dealership before my next visit, at which time I'll report back.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Try calling Jeep Wave and give them your Jeep Cares case number. The rep I spoke with said poor steering is the number one complaint he gets. When I told him my suspension, tires, and wheels were stock, he said he would make sure my Jeep didn't leave the dealership without it being fixed. He's going to contact the dealership before my next visit, at which time I'll report back.

Can you send me a private message with the name of that rep that said it is the number one complaint? The one I talked with said they never heard of the steering problem before (yeah, right).

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