Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[californiajeeping]

Well I am writing to share my final experience and my AE installed Steering Box. I was one of the first few that had the loose steering saga from the beginning. I vowed to stay in the run till the end. I had a awesome service manager at my purchase dealership. Well he was fired for some unknown reason. All the work he helped get fixed on my JL. Then the AE box came out. But then I started having the drivers door creaking noise. Y'll just wait. This is where the sub frame inside the door has come unglued from the inner door panel. The only fix is to replace the door and have it painted. Or attempted.

So I took my JL to a different local dealer. I printed everything up. Showed them pictures and videos. Even had corporate contact them from the prior repairs and steering box promise. 7 days later they did the V41 and a door check. I was pissed. plus I had a shitty smelly rental car. They said they would get the regional tech involved but possibly another 7 days. I asked for a better rental. They gave my a 2019 Ram. Oh my goodness. Y'll have no idea what perfect steering is like. The new Rams drive like a Cadillac. No lie. Unbelievable. It drove better than our Tahoe.

Regional Guy drives my Jeep and says there is nothing wrong with it. And apparently notes were missing from the FCA engineers who came and tested my JL last year and the prior dealership promises even corporate. Luckily I kept that info. After a huge pissing contest corporate agreed to put the AE box in. But the dealer called stating that was all they were going to do, They would not do the door replacement and the steering box was the last repair they were going to do to my JL and any future repairs that I needed to take my Jeep to a different dealer. Yup, Not Shit!!!

So that was it. That was my final straw.

I found a gorgeous 2019 Ram Laramie in Kernersville, NC even talked to the trade in manager explaining my door issue. My new truck will be delivered on Monday. I had to come out of pocket $4900 but I walk away with a brand new Ram with a MSRP a few hundred more than my JL cost.

Corporate did assist some with the trade.

So that is it folks. I am done. When someone decides to do a class action, look me up. I'll join you.

PS. How is the AE ? I had complete zero resistance about 1 inch in my steering. Even with the Jeep turned off. That is now gone. But there is still some slop on the highway. Nothing like it was before. The AE did make a difference, But until FCA truly redesigns the JL steering box, it will never be like it should be.

Hopefully your new RAM Laramie never needs service. Otherwise, you will still have to deal with the same last place dealership clowns that are clueless. JD Power survey below shows Ram is even lower than Jeep in customer satisfaction.

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[chadc880]

Hopefully your new RAM Laramie never needs service. Otherwise, you will still have to deal with the same last place dealership clowns that are clueless. JD Power survey below shows Ram is even lower than Jeep in customer satisfaction.

Considering that was done in 2018, There were no JL owners on there at the time of that publication. And out of all the good / bad ram review videos I have watched and reviews I have read, its small electrical rear view camera mess on the smaller radios and the iPad style radios customers have had issues with. Not one single loose steering or door inner frame separating.

I am good. I can live with that.

 

[cbrenthus]

I don't understand buying a Dodge because you're fed up with Jeep?!?!

 

[chadc880]

I don't understand buying a Dodge because you're fed up with Jeep?!?!

You have no idea what the repairs I have gone through on my JL. And now the doors are coming unglued on the inside. Your will too. And eventually need to be replaced and repaired.

Lastly, Go test drive a new Ram. Seriously go on your lunch break today and go test drive one.

 

[df007]

I think it is interesting that the star case states:
”Measuring the “over center rotating torque” for the steering gear can be found in service information- 19 Steering, Gear, Adjustments, Checking Over- Center. If the steering gear is in need of replacement order the most recent version shown in STAR Parts.”

The service information says: “If lash or torque are out of specification, the gear must be replaced.”

It specs the torque specs but not lash specs. Furthermore the torque measure the here are preload values stating to record maximum values so it has no relevancy on a system with lash.

Has anyone seen any lash or backlash spec? I assume any lash would be out of specification.....????? @JeepCares what is the design spec? Would love a clear answer on this. Please state it in degrees of rotation at the input of the steering gearbox when holding the output stationary at an normal operating temperature.

Also @JeepCares I am still awaiting a response to my PM that you invited.

 

[cbrenthus]

You have no idea what the repairs I have gone through on my JL. And now the doors are coming unglued on the inside. Your will too. And eventually need to be replaced and repaired.

Lastly, Go test drive a new Ram. Seriously go on your lunch break today and go test drive one.

I'm not doubting your issues, or how good a Ram will drive, I'm just questioning the decision to stick with the same company. If I became fed up with my JL I'd go to GM, Ford, or maybe Honda, but not another FCA. Especially if I was frustrated with customer service.

 

[dsgrey]

Hopefully your new RAM Laramie never needs service. Otherwise, you will still have to deal with the same last place dealership clowns that are clueless. JD Power survey below shows Ram is even lower than Jeep in customer satisfaction.

Is that regarding initial quality? I ask since I traded a 2016 Mazda for the Jeep. Actually, I bought 2 Mazda's that day in 2016 and traded in my 2012 and 2002 Mazda for those. Excellent quality and I notice they only rank above Jeep in that survey. Other models such as Nissan (ugh based on experience) and others I'd never touch rank higher. While Jeep/Ram won't be the top of the list, it seems odd they are that far down the list.

 

[JeepCares]

I think it is interesting that the star case states:
”Measuring the “over center rotating torque” for the steering gear can be found in service information- 19 Steering, Gear, Adjustments, Checking Over- Center. If the steering gear is in need of replacement order the most recent version shown in STAR Parts.”

The service information says: “If lash or torque are out of specification, the gear must be replaced.”

It specs the torque specs but not lash specs. Furthermore the torque measure the here are preload values stating to record maximum values so it has no relevancy on a system with lash.

Has anyone seen any lash or backlash spec? I assume any lash would be out of specification.....????? @JeepCares what is the design spec? Would love a clear answer on this. Please state it in degrees of rotation at the input of the steering gearbox when holding the output stationary at an normal operating temperature.

Also @JeepCares I am still awaiting a response to my PM that you invited.

Hi df007,
I apologize, but it can take us up to two business days to respond to private messages. I have replied to yours and will continue assisting you from there!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[Shakey Graves]

Hi df007,
I apologize, but it can take us up to two business days to respond to private messages. I have replied to yours and will continue assisting you from there!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Jeep Cares is now trending more towards 2 days, they can't catch up with all the complaints.

 

[df007]

Hi df007,
I apologize, but it can take us up to two business days to respond to private messages. I have replied to yours and will continue assisting you from there!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Thanks for the reply.

Jeep Cares is now trending more towards 2 days, they can't catch up with all the complaints.

Well they did get back to me. Hopefully we can all help move towards a solution here......

 

[brettJLg]

Checking in, had V41 recall done. Improved the wandering issue but brought back the wobble issue bad again. This will now be the second steering damper replaced. Previously had the steering gear and damper replaced before this attempt.

I am beginning to just plan to pay the Jeep down enough to take a loss on it. Will never buy another Jeep or recommend one to a friend.

The engineers fucked up this generation royally and the band-aid fixes they keep attempting are only masking the problem for a temporary period of time. What a disappointing waste. Should have never gotten rid of my JK Rubi.

 

[Stickerhead]

If they would have said with direct hydraulic steering, problem solved.

 

[kobejo34]

Checking in, had V41 recall done. Improved the wandering issue but brought back the wobble issue bad again. This will now be the second steering damper replaced. Previously had the steering gear and damper replaced before this attempt.

I am beginning to just plan to pay the Jeep down enough to take a loss on it. Will never buy another Jeep or recommend one to a friend.

The engineers fucked up this generation royally and the band-aid fixes they keep attempting are only masking the problem for a temporary period of time. What a disappointing waste. Should have never gotten rid of my JK Rubi.

Exactly. Never again for me and I will not lie to a friend

 

[JeepCares]

Checking in, had V41 recall done. Improved the wandering issue but brought back the wobble issue bad again. This will now be the second steering damper replaced. Previously had the steering gear and damper replaced before this attempt.

I am beginning to just plan to pay the Jeep down enough to take a loss on it. Will never buy another Jeep or recommend one to a friend.

The engineers fucked up this generation royally and the band-aid fixes they keep attempting are only masking the problem for a temporary period of time. What a disappointing waste. Should have never gotten rid of my JK Rubi.

We are terribly sorry to hear this, and we would like to document that this has happened. Please send our team a private message with your VIN, mileage, and dealer to get started.

Darlene
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[brettJLg]

We’

We are terribly sorry to hear this, and we would like to document that this has happened. Please send our team a private message with your VIN, mileage, and dealer to get started.

Darlene
Jeep Social Care Specialist

We have already done this.

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