Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[jeremyjeep]

Well surprise surprise.....got our jeep back from service and nothing is wrong with the steering. WOW. FCA better fix this issue. Dealer admitted there was a dead spot. Thinking of bringing the POS back and leaving it there with a sign on it saying LEMON. Very disappointed.

Park it near, but off the dealership property, so people about to enter the dealership can't help but see you. Stand next to your Wrangler with a large cardboard sign, use a fat sharpie, and write something on it like "(Dealership Name Here) won't fix my 5 month old $4x,000 2018 Wrangler. Avoid them." Potential customers for the dealer will see it and keep driving. You will scare away thousands of dollars of business in a short amount of time. The sales guys will find out soon about your sign, jump all over the service guys to DO THEIR JOB! Don't write anything untruthful on it, be honest, direct, and obvious. Some people won't know what FCA is, so be sure to use "Jeep" for example. I saw someone do this several years ago at a Ford dealership.

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[chadc880]

I got a call today from my service manager. The steering box arrived today. Going to have it changed hopefully on Wednesday. I am somewhat nervous because I have my current set up after the ball joints, TSB and Steering Adjuster nearly dialed in with the exception of the still present dead spot.

 

[carolinaclan]

Has anyone tried a steering stabilizer and has that helped with the issue ?

 

[jeremyjeep]

Has anyone tried a steering stabilizer and has that helped with the issue ?

These threads are about stabilizers:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/how-to-tighten-steering.9041/
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/search/11037087/?q=stabilizer&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

[LLRubylady]

These threads are about stabilizers:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/how-to-tighten-steering.9041/
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/search/11037087/?q=stabilizer&o=date&c[title_only]=1

Nobody should have to add a part to a vehicle to make it work properly.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Nobody should have to add a part to a vehicle to make it work properly.

I agree. I was just letting carolinaclan know there was already info to answer the question about stabilizers. On older Wranglers, a stabilizer can help for sure though. A friend of mine showed me the before and after affects on his 2009 Wrangler. Big difference. On JLs, stabilizers are subjective to what the JL owner wants as far as steering feel is concerned. But you are right, you shouldn't need a stabilizer on a JL to get it steer like a JL is supposed to steer in the first place. Especially if there are safety issues involved.

 

[HiJinx69]

Mine has the blue marks and they are currently lined up. I took the pin out of one and could get it tighter to the next notch where the Cotter pin would go through. I am confused at where it should be and I don’t have access to a torque wrench.

I did the same, no more than that. I set the torque at 70 lbs, couldn't get it to click beyond the next notch in the nut. Did it help? Not really. The play is still there, but the steering feels stiffer at low speeds. Beyond 40 MPH, nothing changed for me.

 

[barracj]

Here's my update so far. The dealer did the TSB update. No change. I took it back, asked if the tech would take me with him on the test drive to diagnose, they said not necessary. The came back a couple hours later and said they couldn't detect any problem. I called FCA headquarters. They talked directly with my service manager before I left the dealer and they then agreed to take me on a test drive at a later appointment so I could show them what I'm talking about. This will be my third visit still with no results. This is my report.

 

[cableline01]

I have been taking videos of every problem I have ran across to there is no way they can say it does not happen.

 

[Holymoly1963]

Here's my update so far. The dealer did the TSB update. No change. I took it back, asked if the tech would take me with him on the test drive to diagnose, they said not necessary. The came back a couple hours later and said they couldn't detect any problem. I called FCA headquarters. They talked directly with my service manager before I left the dealer and they then agreed to take me on a test drive at a later appointment so I could show them what I'm talking about. This will be my third visit still with no results. This is my report.

Absolutely no customer service at that dealer...this crap will not help the sales people.

 

[parkertl]

Hi longhorns,
We’re sorry to hear about this. Send us a direct message with your VIN as we’d be glad to discuss this in more detail.
Lydia,
Jeep Social Care Specialist

@JeepCares
The TSB clearly isnt helping this issue for most of us.

Can you guys tell us what FCA is doing about all of these reports of the same type of problem?

Is anything being reported to the dealers at this point? Most do not seem receptive or helpful at all.
Are there things we as owners can do to help the engineers to evaluate and diagnose the issue?

 

[kevinkeplar]

One more update... and it's an optimistic one. After a week of driving after my latest repair (6th visit to the dealership and a brand new and "improved" steering box installed) I honestly feel that this thing handles much better. I do still get a little wandering from time to time, but not nearly as bad as I had been getting. Also, the "dead space" in the steering wheel seems less - there is still a bit of play, but I get feedback from the Jeep much quicker than I did before - so I don't have to crank the wheel so far to make those turns. Also, turns are much more solid and controlled - before, I would find myself about half way through a bend only to discover that I needed to steer more into it to make it through the corner (was scary at times). That seems to be corrected now.

So, it's not "perfect" but it drives a lot more like a Jeep now. Just wanted to share a bit of good news with my fellow sufferers out there. Major props to my dealership for continuing to work on this thing to get me to a place where I no longer feel like I'm driving a death trap.

Now, I do plan on having my ball joints checked next time I'm in... just to be on the safe side. :0)

 

[Saejin]

Yesterday I brought my Jeep in and they performed TSB 08-092-18. Today, I took it up I-94 into Wisconsin which gave me open road 70 MPH speed limit and then construction - 55MPH tighter lanes, truck traffic, etc. I was able to stare out the window at billboards and scenery and not look back scared as I did before because I would be half in the other lane. I was trying to find wandering but could not - maybe a little? I told my wife that if I am looking for it and not finding it it must be better.

That being said, It seemed better all around except steering wheel play. It seems better, maybe? I still feel like when the Jeep does need correction there is too much play in the steering wheel which makes it feel off - more a chore or you over correct. I can't tell if it is better after the TSB but I did take a video. I wish I had my 2015 JK still to compare. Please excuse the vertical video but I thought it might be good to see if what I have now is now "normal". I will say, if the wandering is gone that is a huge step in the right direction because that was downright unsafe.



thanks

Drives like mine now and I consider it normal. Little bit of play but if you keep the wheel in the left or right boundaries of the play it will start to move that direction.

 

[TJ&JL]

Park it near, but off the dealership property, so people about to enter the dealership can't help but see you. Stand next to your Wrangler with a large cardboard sign, use a fat sharpie, and write something on it like "(Dealership Name Here) won't fix my 5 month old $4x,000 2018 Wrangler. Avoid them." Potential customers for the dealer will see it and keep driving. You will scare away thousands of dollars of business in a short amount of time. The sales guys will find out soon about your sign, jump all over the service guys to DO THEIR JOB! Don't write anything untruthful on it, be honest, direct, and obvious. Some people won't know what FCA is, so be sure to use "Jeep" for example. I saw someone do this several years ago at a Ford dealership.

Flood youtube with video's on steering issues and then maybee FCA will do something.

 

[Jlrut]

UPDATE:
I picked up my Jeep this afternoon from the dealer after they installed a new steering box. I cannot say there was any improvement. A meaningful dead spot remains in the steering wheel.

Here is a little info on myself. I learned how to drive on a 1943 MB. I owned a 1979 CJ 7, 2002 Sahara and a 2012 Sahara. I cannot comment about the steering of the MB nor would I of the CJ 7. I can attest to the 2002 and the 2012 Sahara’s. Neither of them had this steering issue.

I have provided the same update to JeepCares and requested their continued assistance.

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