Is there a true fix for the Steering/Wandering issue?

[Command Line RC]

You all have no one to blame but yourselves for trying to DIY fix a warrantied vehicle that has a fundmental build quality issue. I am taking the lemon law route by notifying FCA of issues and documenting shop attempts to have my vehicle replaced or bought back after 4th attempt. Im sorry but i have no idea what is going through some of yalls heads.

I mean I can play Devil's advocate. Sorry you you didn't learn the second time when you take a back to the dealership. You had to take it back four times. I fixed my issue and I went to the dealership once. So I'm guessing you should have learned your lesson???? Maybe you'll learn how to fix the issue on your own rather than relying on useless people at dealerships???

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[Markham]

I mean I can play Devil's advocate. Sorry you you didn't learn the second time when you take a back to the dealership. You had to take it back four times. I fixed my issue and I went to the dealership once. So I'm guessing you should have learned your lesson???? Maybe you'll learn how to fix the issue on your own rather than relying on useless people at dealerships???

I’m not paying out of pocket to fix a brand new vehicle.

 

[PDQ]

Hi RagTopDeluxe,
We regret to hear that you are experiencing this steering concern on your new JL. I would be happy to have a case escalated to add additional assistance to your dealer visit. If this is something you would be interested in, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Alex, what is it exactly that Jeep Cares does when you "have the case escalated to add additional assistance to your dealer visit"? My dealer states that he has done everything that he is allowed to do per his regional zone service rep from FCA. That included tightening the u joints to spec, set toe in and an aliegnment. Per my dealer that is all he is allowed to do. Again, please tell us what you add to that.

 

[Rdmitch]

I wasn’t aware they did work there, I have browsed around there once since my office is only 2 minutes from there. I was going to stop in and ask them for a suggestion on who to go to.

To help ZGN better understand my (our) position. .... yeah we get it’s a Jeep problem and we have tried to get them to step up and fix it to no avail. Yeah we get it that they should fix it free and we have complained to dealers, Jeep corporate, Jeep cares, etc. and we’re still here driving with crappy steering. I don’t want to start lemon law issues and even though I have documented everything and have a paper trail a mile long. I like the Jeep except the quirky steering and want to keep it. If for a few bucks I could make the problem go away it’s worth it to me to stop the battle, get a fun car to drive and I can attempt to get some reimbursement from Jeep. Or, I can fight on and have a crappy vehicle to drive while this issue continues for possibly years.

 

[zgn]

I mean I can play Devil's advocate. Sorry you you didn't learn the second time when you take a back to the dealership. You had to take it back four times. I fixed my issue and I went to the dealership once. So I'm guessing you should have learned your lesson???? Maybe you'll learn how to fix the issue on your own rather than relying on useless people at dealerships???

I knew before I took it in that it is an inherent issue due to faulty manufacturing of some early Jeeps. Hence, I took it in knowing they couldnt fix it to begin the process of having my vehicle replaced with one that was manufactured correctly. However, I am specifically referring to people who have had their vehicle in 5 times or have dropped thousands of their own money trying to resolve the problem to no avail.

 

[zgn]

I wasn’t aware they did work there, I have browsed around there once since my office is only 2 minutes from there. I was going to stop in and ask them for a suggestion on who to go to.

To help ZGN better understand my (our) position. .... yeah we get it’s a Jeep problem and we have tried to get them to step up and fix it to no avail. Yeah we get it that they should fix it free and we have complained to dealers, Jeep corporate, Jeep cares, etc. and we’re still here driving with crappy steering. I don’t want to start lemon law issues and even though I have documented everything and have a paper trail a mile long. I like the Jeep except the quirky steering and want to keep it. If for a few bucks I could make the problem go away it’s worth it to me to stop the battle, get a fun car to drive and I can attempt to get some reimbursement from Jeep. Or, I can fight on and have a crappy vehicle to drive while this issue continues for possibly years.

I know what your position is, I am in the same/similar position. They are going to replace your vehicle if it gets lemoned and it doesnt take years - it is done immediately after you have notified FCA. Jeep doesnt want you to be unsatisfied especially here at the start of a brand new generation. Some have already gotten replacements.

I can't really speak to this wander issue because it is difficult for me to tell who has an actual issue and who thinks they do because they aren't used to driving a Wrangler or larger tire vehicles.

 

[zgn]

I mean I can play Devil's advocate. Sorry you you didn't learn the second time when you take a back to the dealership. You had to take it back four times. I fixed my issue and I went to the dealership once. So I'm guessing you should have learned your lesson???? Maybe you'll learn how to fix the issue on your own rather than relying on useless people at dealerships???

I know how to fix vehicles, but I shouldn't be spending my own money to fix a new one. Besides, some of these issues arent fixable. Many of those with the wobble issue are simply masking the underlying problem with larger stabilizers.

 

[JeepCares]

Alex, what is it exactly that Jeep Cares does when you "have the case escalated to add additional assistance to your dealer visit"? My dealer states that he has done everything that he is allowed to do per his regional zone service rep from FCA. That included tightening the u joints to spec, set toe in and an aliegnment. Per my dealer that is all he is allowed to do. Again, please tell us what you add to that.

Hi PDQ,
In your case, the case specialist can connect with your dealership for further clarification on the diagnostic results and make sure all options have been explored. We create cases to ensure the internal resources are hearing what the customers are experiencing first hand, as well as track the volume of a certain concern.The more cases opened on a particular concern, the more visible a trend becomes.
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[Andrew05LJR]

Took mine in today. Dealer noted of the issue as its pretty obvious. Put me on the list as steering box and track bar seem to be the culprit. Who knows when parts will be available. May just get an aftermarket track bar to see what that does.

 

[Axix23]

I just picked up a brand new Rubicon and drove it 1000+ miles and was like wtf.

It’s scary over 70+mph passing traffic.

I driven a lot of crappy lowered old Hondas that had better steering that this.

Is this a factory defect or what? I am new to the Jeep game.

It’s such a shame bc it’s a great looking car.

 

[Command Line RC]

I just picked up a brand new Rubicon and drove it 1000+ miles and was like wtf.

It’s scary over 70+mph passing traffic.

I driven a lot of crappy lowered old Hondas that had better steering that this.

Is this a factory defect or what? I am new to the Jeep game.

It’s such a shame bc it’s a great looking car.

The car to the right of your Jeep is a nice car...you have a nice Jeep!

Now write that down 100 times on a piece of paper!

 

[Arrowhead]

You all have no one to blame but yourselves for trying to DIY fix a warrantied vehicle that has a fundmental build quality issue. I am taking the lemon law route by notifying FCA of issues and documenting shop attempts to have my vehicle replaced or bought back after 4th attempt. Im sorry but i have no idea what is going through some of yalls heads.

And thank you for being one of those bull dogs that every service manger rolls their eyes at when you call or come in. Good luck with your refund or "replacement". Do you really think a new version will be that much better? Parts will be significantly improved? I hope your right.

Here's the reality of the situation: There's about 8 feet of tubing connecting your steering box to the drivers side wheel with 4 joints, multiple bends and crimped fittings plus another say 3-1/2" feet of tubing and two ends for the track bar. The whole assembly acts like a spring when you hit a bump - the steering stabilizer is acting like a shock on your suspension to subdue the osculations from that tubing flopping around. The only real way to tighten up the steering (given everything else has been corrected like software, steering box, ball joints, all bolts are torqued to spec, etc) is to beef up these linkages to reduce or eliminate flex. FCA has already upgraded the drag link end and the track bar bushings. Are they going to beef up the linkages too? Time will tell. Hopefully they will have by the time you have churned out enough red tape to get satisfaction with a replacement.

You may have "no idea what is going through some of yalls heads" so I'll tell you. Life is too short and time is too precious to me to spend countless hours on hold, writing seething emails, sitting around waiting rooms, arguing with service advisors and taking time off from work to ensure my Jeep gets upgraded with hopefully less inferior parts than what's already on there with no guarantee it will be better or if it is will be better for the long term. (I already feel like I wasted my time writing this)

So call me a cop out or lazy or not a team player but I'm banking money invested into quality parts will be more effective (for me) to solving these issues than the route your taking.

 

[Command Line RC]

And thank you for being one of those bull dogs that every service manger rolls their eyes at when you call or come in. Good luck with your refund or "replacement". Do you really think a new version will be that much better? Parts will be significantly improved? I hope your right.

Here's the reality of the situation: There's about 8 feet of tubing connecting your steering box to the drivers side wheel with 4 joints, multiple bends and crimped fittings plus another say 3-1/2" feet of tubing and two ends for the track bar. The whole assembly acts like a spring when you hit a bump - the steering stabilizer is acting like a shock on your suspension to subdue the osculations from that tubing flopping around. The only real way to tighten up the steering (given everything else has been corrected like software, steering box, ball joints, all bolts are torqued to spec, etc) is to beef up these linkages to reduce or eliminate flex. FCA has already upgraded the drag link end and the track bar bushings. Are they going to beef up the linkages too? Time will tell. Hopefully they will have by the time you have churned out enough red tape to get satisfaction with a replacement.

You may have "no idea what is going through some of yalls heads" so I'll tell you. Life is too short and time is too precious to me to spend countless hours on hold, writing seething emails, sitting around waiting rooms, arguing with service advisors and taking time off from work to ensure my Jeep gets upgraded with hopefully less inferior parts than what's already on there with no guarantee it will be better or if it is will be better for the long term. (I already feel like I wasted my time writing this)

So call me a cop out or lazy or not a team player but I'm banking money invested into quality parts will be more effective (for me) to solving these issues than the route your taking.

I agree with you. Lets face it, their are two kinds of people in the Jeep community. 1) The folks who like to put the wrench time to upgrade the Jeep components. 2) The folks who just don't care to. Nothing wrong with either group and it's ok to be in either or. Factory parts are shit on the Jeep and I know that I do take mine off road so why not just upgrade the parts now.

I remember when I had 6000 miles on the Jeep and the "death wobble / steering wheel shimmy" was in full affect. I did take it to the dealership once, I knew nothing about the Jeep. They stated "Everything is fine and this is normal". Logic told me that this is not normal. A simple Google search and of course nothing came up for the JL...but the JK forums had already been though this. I simply upgraded the track and steering stabilizer....problem solved.

Arrowhead is right on the money, life is short and I'm going to upgrade stuff and rock the WarMachine naked every chance I get.

 

[clayps]

I agree with you. Lets face it, their are two kinds of people in the Jeep community. 1) The folks who like to put the wrench time to upgrade the Jeep components. 2) The folks who just don't care to. Nothing wrong with either group and it's ok to be in either or. Factory parts are shit on the Jeep and I know that I do take mine off road so why not just upgrade the parts now.

I remember when I had 6000 miles on the Jeep and the "death wobble / steering wheel shimmy" was in full affect. I did take it to the dealership once, I knew nothing about the Jeep. They stated "Everything is fine and this is normal". Logic told me that this is not normal. A simple Google search and of course nothing came up for the JL...but the JK forums had already been though this. I simply upgraded the track and steering stabilizer....problem solved.

Arrowhead is right on the money, life is short and I'm going to upgrade stuff and rock the WarMachine naked every chance I get.

I see both sides of this. Swallowing your pride and spending the money and doing the work yourself is likely a more stress-free approach, however going this route also enables FCA to continue with this type of crap. I'm glad there's people on both sides of this.

 

[zgn]

The vast majority of the vehicles don't have this issue. So, no, it is not about some parts. Of course, if you continue to put beefier parts on it will absorb vibrations. That is obvious, however, it does not fix the underlying issue with some of these Jeeps. It is more likely that in the frame construction and welding issues that many 2018 Jeeps had, some things occasionally didn't line up correctly and the parts it was designed to use were not capable of overcoming the asymmetries present in some vehicles. So, they have been trying a combination of larger parts to overcome this; sometimes with good results and other times not.

You're right, I am sure the service guys are rolling their eyes, but they didn't pay for the vehicle. Life is too short for me to drop $40k on a vehicle that doesn't operate like it is supposed to and just walk away as if nothing is wrong.