2020 JLUR steering issue

[Brandon3333]

@JeepCares so two people on this thread (and numerous other threads) all note that the Steering Box was the culprit. By either replacing the whole unit, or the least costly easiest way...replace the fuse, corrected this issue. I will have my dealer pull the fuse and replace it to see if it resolves this and will report back to the forum. If not, I am not sure what to do.
I am not wealthy and cannot afford a lawyer to do a lawsuit and I hope to avoid this if @JeepCares will do something about it. Perhaps any Jeep loving lawyers on this forum wish to represent me/us in a class action??? Cmon...not all of you drive only Mercedes....
I have heard from service managers that the Case Managers aren't really able to do anything...the service dept opens a STAR case and gets techs involved who actually make the recommendations on what to replace/do...not case managers. @JeepCares...care to comment on the validity of any of this? Exactly what should/can I expect with the assistance of a case manager or is this simply a necessary step in the process...open case....open STAR...get FCA rep involved...blah blah blah?

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[Brandon3333]

Hello neighbor and welcome.

I’m curious to know which dealers your took your Jeep to for service. I’ve been taking mine to Folsom for my steering issues and they’ve been working with me. But after four unsuccessful visits, I’m debating my next step.

It’s so maddening to read that the 2020s also have steering problems. I’ve read that they do have the AE boxes and better (relatively speaking) track bar, but still the short LCAs.

Jeep cares does monitor the forum, you’ll need to tag them @JeepCares will do the trick.

Hello Julie - yes...Folsom Lake Jeep. I am wondering if you are the person they were talking about this past week that had already replaced some parts with after market. They said someone (a lady) had the same problem and that the FCA rep decided to not come to Folsom to drive or resolve this. Was that you?
I actually purchased my 2020 in Roseville since they were the only store last month to have 2020's, but my local dealer is Folsom who services my Jeeps for the past 2 decades.

 

[Rdmitch]

@JeepCares so two people on this thread (and numerous other threads) all note that the Steering Box was the culprit. By either replacing the whole unit, or the least costly easiest way...replace the fuse, corrected this issue. I will have my dealer pull the fuse and replace it to see if it resolves this and will report back to the forum. If not, I am not sure what to do.
I am not wealthy and cannot afford a lawyer to do a lawsuit and I hope to avoid this if @JeepCares will do something about it. Perhaps any Jeep loving lawyers on this forum wish to represent me/us in a class action??? Cmon...not all of you drive only Mercedes....
I have heard from service managers that the Case Managers aren't really able to do anything...the service dept opens a STAR case and gets techs involved who actually make the recommendations on what to replace/do...not case managers. @JeepCares...care to comment on the validity of any of this? Exactly what should/can I expect with the assistance of a case manager or is this simply a necessary step in the process...open case....open STAR...get FCA rep involved...blah blah blah?

What is the fuse number for the steering unit ? This would be interesting to try.

Also just for your information, if you go the legal route, Federal law known as “fee shifting” would require FCA to pay all your legal fees. In a lemon law case you do not pay for the lawyer. I would check your states individual rules.

 

[Rdmitch]

Has anyone actually had any luck getting your dealership to hear you about your steering issues????

The first few times the dealer was very “stand offish” and only gave me the corporate line that it drives as designed. After the 3rd or 4th time in and after the service advisor with 40 yrs experience with jeeps drove it and actually experienced the fun, Then the attitude seemed to change to being a lot more empathetic. Unfortunately the dealer is only permitted to do what FCA authorizes them to do. They did however try to help. Could they have gone above the minimum allowable service and really fight for me ? I think yes, but ultimately any costs would have been born by them which was not going to happen.

 

[Runemb81]

The first few times the dealer was very “stand offish” and only gave me the corporate line that it drives as designed. After the 3rd or 4th time in and after the service advisor with 40 yrs experience with jeeps drove it and actually experienced the fun, Then the attitude seemed to change to being a lot more empathetic. Unfortunately the dealer is only permitted to do what FCA authorizes them to do. They did however try to help. Could they have gone above the minimum allowable service and really fight for me ? I think yes, but ultimately any costs would have been born by them which was not going to happen.

Yesterday, was the first time I had mine 19 in for service. Basically, said drives like any other Jeep. Now, I also had it in because when you stop at a higher rate of speed, it pulls to the left. Of course they blamed the lift and tires. This is a braking issue, at least I feel and we did not touch the breaks. Got the dealership owner involved. Asked him to at least look up the loose steering issue. He claims he’s going too. We shall see what happens next.

 

[Rdmitch]

Yesterday, was the first time I had mine 19 in for service. Basically, said drives like any other Jeep. Now, I also had it in because when you stop at a higher rate of speed, it pulls to the left. Of course they blamed the lift and tires. This is a braking issue, at least I feel and we did not touch the breaks. Got the dealership owner involved. Asked him to at least look up the loose steering issue. He claims he’s going too. We shall see what happens next.

Standard line they give everyone hoping they just go away. On the braking issue that seems unrelated to the steering issues. They should definitely review that. After the diagnosis they can determine what is warranty and what has to do with any user modifications. That's fair to both parties.

 

[Runemb81]

Standard line they give everyone hoping they just go away. On the braking issue that seems unrelated to the steering issues. They should definitely review that. After the diagnosis they can determine what is warranty and what has to do with any user modifications. That's fair to both parties.

Well little did the know, this isn’t our first battle over modifications. My fiancé knows a thing or two. We’ve had several modified vehicles. Not gonna let this go. My friend has a JLU too and hers pulls to the left when breaking at a higher speed. What do I know?!?! I’m a woman my dad wasn’t a mechanic my entire life or anything.

 

[JeepCares]

@JeepCares so two people on this thread (and numerous other threads) all note that the Steering Box was the culprit. By either replacing the whole unit, or the least costly easiest way...replace the fuse, corrected this issue. I will have my dealer pull the fuse and replace it to see if it resolves this and will report back to the forum. If not, I am not sure what to do.
I am not wealthy and cannot afford a lawyer to do a lawsuit and I hope to avoid this if @JeepCares will do something about it. Perhaps any Jeep loving lawyers on this forum wish to represent me/us in a class action??? Cmon...not all of you drive only Mercedes....
I have heard from service managers that the Case Managers aren't really able to do anything...the service dept opens a STAR case and gets techs involved who actually make the recommendations on what to replace/do...not case managers. @JeepCares...care to comment on the validity of any of this? Exactly what should/can I expect with the assistance of a case manager or is this simply a necessary step in the process...open case....open STAR...get FCA rep involved...blah blah blah?

Hi Brandon,
I would be happy to clarify for you what having a case manager can do. The dealers and service advisors are our eyes and ears in the field, so yes they are responsible for identifying a plan of action. However, having a case manager ensures that all resources are being utilized to assist in building this. Having a case specialist also allows for your experience to be documented within our corporate system, which ensures the appropriate parties are made aware if or when a trend arises.
Alex
Jeep Cares

 

[JeepCares]

Has anyone actually had any luck getting your dealership to hear you about your steering issues????

Hi Emily,
As mentioned to your fellow forum members, if you need assistance while working with your dealer, please feel free to send us a PM. We'd be happy to connect you with a Case Specialist.
Alex
Jeep Cares

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Hello Julie - yes...Folsom Lake Jeep. I am wondering if you are the person they were talking about this past week that had already replaced some parts with after market. They said someone (a lady) had the same problem and that the FCA rep decided to not come to Folsom to drive or resolve this. Was that you?
I actually purchased my 2020 in Roseville since they were the only store last month to have 2020's, but my local dealer is Folsom who services my Jeeps for the past 2 decades.

Hi Brandon, that was me, I’m sure. I’ve had my Jeep in there four times since I bought it in April. I’m sure they were as frustrated as me regarding the steering issues. They always listened to me and tried, which is more than others on the forum can say.

The parts I swapped out helped for sure (from un-drivable to barely acceptable to drive to work) but it’s still not good. We had a JKUR and are comparing the JL’s driving to that.

We canceled our trip to Colorado because we didn’t feel confident driving it. We even turned around on our way to Tahoe because driving it on 50 was scary (especially past Kyburz).

Just this morning I asked my Jeep Cares rep to forward my case to the buy-back department. That’s incredibly disappointing, but I can’t keep this Jeep as it is and there doesn’t seem to be any answers.

I love this thing.

PS: I didn’t hear that the FCA rep declined to come out. That’s news to me. I was waiting to hear from my Jeep Cares rep.

PPS: The service manager said he spoke with the regional tech who said he was going to talk to the FCA rep. So around and around we go. It’s been a month since my last visit in which the replacement AD box was installed (did nothing) and no one has any idea of what to do. I’m so done.

 

[NPE102414]

So I'm really curious as to why people are taking the tire pressures down - with the tires the Rubi's come with, the sidewall is much taller (and therefore more susceptible to side-to-side flexing) than with the more common lower-profile tires on most of today's vehicles, so dropping the pressure just makes the sidewall flex all the more. Why not try putting the pressures up some? It would stiffen the sidewall, which should reduce side-to-side flex.
I hadn't driven my low-profile tire Challenger for a couple months, and the tire pressures had all gone down to the low thirties, from the nearly forty I like to keep them at. But as an experiment, I left them "low" and the thing drifted quite a bit (in the same places the Jeep does, but where it didn't previously drift). I think I for one will go put 45 psi in the Jeep to see if that stiffens the sidewalls up and reduces the drifting...
Thoughts?

Forget about the side wall flex and concern yourself more with the contact patch your tires are making with the road. Off road tires on the street drive a lot different then normal street tires. Look up the chalk test and determine for yourself what the correct psi is for your particular Jeep. This is especially important for lifted Jeeps with 35/37” E/D rated tires.

 

[NPE102414]

So I'm really curious as to why people are taking the tire pressures down - with the tires the Rubi's come with, the sidewall is much taller (and therefore more susceptible to side-to-side flexing) than with the more common lower-profile tires on most of today's vehicles, so dropping the pressure just makes the sidewall flex all the more. Why not try putting the pressures up some? It would stiffen the sidewall, which should reduce side-to-side flex.
I hadn't driven my low-profile tire Challenger for a couple months, and the tire pressures had all gone down to the low thirties, from the nearly forty I like to keep them at. But as an experiment, I left them "low" and the thing drifted quite a bit (in the same places the Jeep does, but where it didn't previously drift). I think I for one will go put 45 psi in the Jeep to see if that stiffens the sidewalls up and reduces the drifting...
Thoughts?

When tires are over inflated they will ride in the center of the tire, under inflated will ride on the edges. Both are bad because they are not driving on a flat plane and both will cause wandering and drifting issues. Try the chalk test and figure out the correct psi and you’ll probably figure out your wondering issue

 

[Tire Guy]

Gladiators have the same problem. I know because mine has 4 inches of dead play in the steering wheel and wanders like a drunk sailor going backwards. First Jeep dealer was unhelpful, "It drives like the others on the lot". I have a case manager. Nice guy but so far not a lot of help. He is doing what is allowed.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Gladiators have the same problem. I know because mine has 4 inches of dead play in the steering wheel and wanders like a drunk sailor going backwards. First Jeep dealer was unhelpful, "It drives like the others on the lot". I have a case manager. Nice guy but so far not a lot of help. He is doing what is allowed.

Reading about the Gladiators and 2020s with the same steering issue is maddening. It’s the third year of the JL platform, why isn’t it fixed?

It makes me wonder about getting another JL.

 

[NPE102414]

My 2020 JLUR also has no "dead spot", but does drift around intermittently. Not so much I think it's a danger, but enough to where I have to pay a little more attention in it than I do in my other vehicles (which might not be a bad thing). I read the posts about these issues, and the posts are more all over the place than the Jeep is!
I kept my tires at the 42 PSI they were at when I took delivery, because I got to thinking the taller sidewall tires might tend more towards helping it drift a little - more so if there's less air in them. I can let go of the steering wheel up to 65 MPH and it will track pretty darn good at times, but at other times even as "slow" as 45 MPH I have to do more correcting to keep on the straight than I do with other vehicles. Since it's intermittent it's hard to know what to do - but it's not so bad I feel any less enthusiastic about it. (and I have lots of other vehicles I can drive, so it's not out of need)
I do recall many years ago getting rid of drift in a vehicle by getting tires that had more belts (stiffer) in the sidewall - I suppose if I get to bothered by the drift I'll try changing out the tires since it worked for me once before. And maybe I'l try a new track bar...

It’s probably intermittent because as your tires heat up the psi changes and causes more of a drift. I think you are way to high at 42psi to begin with. Getting a stiffer sidewalk tire like a 10ply E rated tire is not the answer, probably will make it worse because the ride will be unbearable with a high psi in wander even worse at a really low PSI Guys really need to start doing the chalk test to determine the best psi for their set up. With a 2 inch spacer lift and 35s I was wandering all over the road because the caster was really low. I install the Mopar lift and got the caster up to six and really paid attention to getting the correct psi and the tracks great. Granted the wind and road will take it where it wants to go sometimes but that’s expected on a brick with four wheels and 3.5” of lift.

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