Major steering issue problem with JL Wrangler. Please watch

[rbrown1723]

Have them apply TSB 08-092-18 assuming it's applicable to a 2019. if you go back all the way on the thread there were several posts about this lock-up happening in hot temps but the cold seemed to be the dominate scenario. I've put over 4000 miles on mine since the issue and application of the TSB and haven't experienced the issue again - but i also haven't really tried to replicate the conditions of when it showed up the first time.

I'm now dealing with a clicking/popping in the front axle and the dealership is waiting on parts that were back-ordered to replace the front axle bearings - but this also seems to be an experimental fix.

if you are able, i've had better experience with the smaller, more rural jeep dealer (same goes for toyota and honda) than the big "city" dealerships when it comes to service. Look for jeeps in the employee parking lot and you'll probably get someone more likely to want to fix versus the guys who are just doing a job.

Thanks for writing back; I really appreciate it... today is Day 15 and my Wrangler is still at the dealership; they finally replicated the locked steering on the highway (but no codes) and now installing a new electronic steering pump but who knows if that is a true fix since they can’t replicate the error codes! I asked them to change out the gear box as well as apply the TSB you mentioned and I’m getting a run around; Also told them I had a death wobble and they installed a new damper (Recall v41). I spoke to Jeep Cares and not overly helpful either; I asked for an escalation to a “decision maker” and was told my escalation request was rejected! So from their perspective, it would be better for me to take the Jeep back and crash as I try to go around a curve on the highway than to take care of this problem the right, ethical way! So disappointing; I’m at the point where I need to seek counsel on next steps; with all my dealer installed Mopar add-ons (tires, off road lights, bumpers, etc.) and almost a $55K price tag, I should not be having these problems w/ a brand new truck .... and, a little more respect and better customer service (for loyal customers which I have been) would be nice!

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[Baker the Grey]

Thanks for writing back; I really appreciate it... today is Day 15 and my Wrangler is still at the dealership; they finally replicated the locked steering on the highway (but no codes) and now installing a new electronic steering pump but who knows if that is a true fix since they can’t replicate the error codes! I asked them to change out the gear box as well as apply the TSB you mentioned and I’m getting a run around; Also told them I had a death wobble and they installed a new damper (Recall v41). I spoke to Jeep Cares and not overly helpful either; I asked for an escalation to a “decision maker” and was told my escalation request was rejected! So from their perspective, it would be better for me to take the Jeep back and crash as I try to go around a curve on the highway than to take care of this problem the right, ethical way! So disappointing; I’m at the point where I need to seek counsel on next steps; with all my dealer installed Mopar add-ons (tires, off road lights, bumpers, etc.) and almost a $55K price tag, I should not be having these problems w/ a brand new truck .... and, a little more respect and better customer service (for loyal customers which I have been) would be nice!

Did this get resolved?

 

[HunnerWoof]

Had my first experience with this a couple weeks ago driving down a curvy mountain road. Happened twice more over the next two weeks. Steering essentially becomes ultra-stiff when I hit about 55-60MPH, and the only way to reset is to slow below 30MPH. The first time it happened, I was on a sharp curve to the left and I could not steer. Had to brake hard, and left the pavement on a curve with a steep drop and no guard rail. The third time it happened, I drove straight to the dealership. They kept overnight and applied TSB 08-092-18. I find it odd that this is a "if you have the issue bring it in" kind of problem vs. an active communication to owners to bring their JLUs in. Losing steering at high speeds on dangerous curves seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[JeepCares]

Had my first experience with this a couple weeks ago driving down a curvy mountain road. Happened twice more over the next two weeks. Steering essentially becomes ultra-stiff when I hit about 55-60MPH, and the only way to reset is to slow below 30MPH. The first time it happened, I was on a sharp curve to the left and I could not steer. Had to brake hard, and left the pavement on a curve with a steep drop and no guard rail. The third time it happened, I drove straight to the dealership. They kept overnight and applied TSB 08-092-18. I find it odd that this is a "if you have the issue bring it in" kind of problem vs. an active communication to owners to bring their JLUs in. Losing steering at high speeds on dangerous curves seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Hi Hunter,
We deeply regret to hear about your experience. Should this return, please reach out to us. We would be happy to connect you with a Case Specialist to work with you and your dealer.
Alex
JeepCares

 

[JJJEEEEEEPPP]

I had my near accident experience yesterday on highway. I was going 63 with cruise on and the steering wheel locked up.
It was hell scary experience. Although I could move the steering with a little force, but I was not expecting that to happen.
I have driven on the same route for last 1.5 years in my Jeep and never had that experience, but yesterday it just happened and now keeps happening.
I had the V41 (Steering Damper) recall done on my Jeep sometime back.
I am always worried driving my jeep on curves now. Taking it to dealer soon.

 

[Kalinakov]

You're describing the problems I had on mine in an earlier part of this thread. The dealer replaced a ton of stuff on mine but was never able to figure it out. It's now been a year and I've found my old sahara on another dealers site as being for sale with a bunch of miles on it. They seem to have found the issue, or they just stopped being able to reproduce it. All in all they had my jeep for about 3 months in the shop before I finally got it replaced by FCA.

Good luck folks.

 

[offcamber]

I had my near accident experience yesterday on highway. I was going 63 with cruise on and the steering wheel locked up.
It was hell scary experience. Although I could move the steering with a little force, but I was not expecting that to happen.
I have driven on the same route for last 1.5 years in my Jeep and never had that experience, but yesterday it just happened and now keeps happening.
I had the V41 (Steering Damper) recall done on my Jeep sometime back.
I am always worried driving my jeep on curves now. Taking it to dealer soon.

What was the temperature? That is a known issue on the JL when temps are below 45 or so degrees...

 

[Aceman]

What was the temperature? That is a known issue on the JL when temps are below 45 or so degrees...

And to add to that question, do you have little to no dead space in the steering wheel? If this happened at a temp below 45 and you’re steering has been tight with very little play off the lot, it fits the pattern we’ve been seeing for a little while now.

Only Jeeps with tight to normal steering have experienced lock up at colder temps. Jeeps with loose, unresponsive, steering don’t seem to lock up at cold temps but totally suck to drive. Both are dangerous and being ignored by FCA, though they’re aware of these problems. If the dealer offers to put yet another revised steering damper on to resolve the problem, ghost ride your rig straight into the showroom.

 

[GARRIGA]

Thought this issue had been resolved by FCA

 

[JJJEEEEEEPPP]

And to add to that question, do you have little to no dead space in the steering wheel? If this happened at a temp below 45 and you’re steering has been tight with very little play off the lot, it fits the pattern we’ve been seeing for a little while now.

Only Jeeps with tight to normal steering have experienced lock up at colder temps. Jeeps with loose, unresponsive, steering don’t seem to lock up at cold temps but totally suck to drive. Both are dangerous and being ignored by FCA, though they’re aware of these problems. If the dealer offers to put yet another revised steering damper on to resolve the problem, ghost ride your rig straight into the showroom.

Yes, the temperature was below 45. The steering felt like someone is holding it and I have to apply force to turn it and it kind of feels like it clicked and unlocked.
Had the jeep since Feb 2018, so it has seen winter weather already last year, but did not face this problem then. It started happening now after I got the recall V41 (Steering damper) work done.

 

[fjavier]

Yes, the temperature was below 45. The steering felt like someone is holding it and I have to apply force to turn it and it kind of feels like it clicked and unlocked.
Had the jeep since Feb 2018, so it has seen winter weather already last year, but did not face this problem then. It started happening now after I got the recall V41 (Steering damper) work done.

Could the locking that people are experiencing in colder weather be caused by the steering damper getting locked up and not the steering box? Anyone else getting the locking with an aftermarket damper or with no damper at all?

 

[Dkretden]

Yes, the temperature was below 45. The steering felt like someone is holding it and I have to apply force to turn it and it kind of feels like it clicked and unlocked.
Had the jeep since Feb 2018, so it has seen winter weather already last year, but did not face this problem then. It started happening now after I got the recall V41 (Steering damper) work done.

Hmmmmmm

is the dampener installed with the correct orientation?

 

[JJJEEEEEEPPP]

Hmmmmmm

is the dampener installed with the correct orientation?

Taking Jeep to dealer today to get it checked. Hopefully they fix it in 1 attempt

 

[golong27]

Taking Jeep to dealer today to get it checked. Hopefully they fix it in 1 attempt

my issue came with the original damper on a 30 degree morning when the jeep was left out overnight. never was able to reproduce before or after the dealer applied the TSB to flash the computer. had the damper recall done in august but we've chosen to keep the jeep garaged overnight so it's not exposed to cold temps as a way to try to avoid this from happening again.

8000 lock-up free miles and counting....

 

[JJJEEEEEEPPP]

Taking Jeep to dealer today to get it checked. Hopefully they fix it in 1 attempt

Looks like the issue was fixed with TSB update. Why wouldn't this update be applied to all Jeeps, why wait for an incident to happen

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