Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[glang1992]

or spend way less than that and just fix it and enjoy it. There are other options.

My JL is a lease. Throwing thousands of dollars into a vehicle that, at this point, I have no intentions of purchasing at the end of the lease is not a smart financial decision. The vehicle I looked at last night had rebates and they wound up coming up a decent amount on the trade. So with the rebates and the money from FCA, I will about break even which I did not expect.

I would fix my steering problems on my own but I have yet to see the one solution that has fixed the problem for everyone. I am not up to throwing parts at and then having a bunch of stuff that is no longer under manufacturers warranty

the whole thing is frustrating. Makes me question my purchase. At this point I just hope the jeep will be worth something when I try to sell it.

AMEN! I love the JL. I traded in a perfectly good 2015 Ram that only had 40,000 miles and was a great vehicle. But, stupid me had to have another Wrangler. So far, they have not had a true fix. And with mine being a lease...that becomes even more scary. I have read probably hundreds of posts where people started putting aftermarket parts on to "fix" the issue and when they were approved for a new part like a steering box, the dealership wouldn't touch the vehicle because of the after market parts. You're truly damned if you do and damned if you don't. FCA gets the last laugh at the end of the day.

not being negative but is it really under warranty for they won’t fix it?

I've only had my JL since 5/2018 and it as of today only has 4,800 miles. All perfectly under warranty, but FCA will NOT admit that there is a steering problem. But, they will throw track bars and steering stabilizers on for "customer satisfaction."

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[Tire Guy]

My exit from the dealership trying to resolve problems came from their insanity. I put on an aftermarket steering stabilizer to help with the dangerous bump steer. Then I took it to the dealership for wander and play in the steering wheel. They wouldn't work on it because of the aftermarket part. So I reinstalled the OE part and took it to a different dealership. After 3 days they wanted to replace the OE stabilizer with a new OE stabilizer they would need to order. Waited another to day to have it done. Went to pick it up late in the day and the tech hadn't gotten to it yet. Come back Monday and leave it again. Ugh. So, I'm done unless something breaks under warranty that they know how to fix, because it is obvious they do not know what to do with the steering and wandering problems.

I look at it this way. If I replace an OE part with aftermarket, I know it is a much better quality part than OE. If it keeps me safer on the road with less white knuckle driving then it is worth my time and money. Simple. This is my 4th Jeep and once it is gone it will probably be my last because of this steering/wander issue that Jeep Corp denies.

 

[318Polara]

Well its been two years plus still no one solution for the jeep JL's or JT'S with steering issues from FCA. I have been watching this thread since October 2018 and noticed lately a drop in responses from Jeep Cares to offer help. It also seems that from some of the comments lately that dealers have become even more hard nosed about trying to fix or help owners with steering issues. Looks like they have wiped their hands of this mess. On a bright note, those of you with good steering out of the factory can demand a higher resale price. Only solution I see is to drive before you buy.

 

[Tire Guy]

Well its been two years plus still no one solution for the jeep JL's or JT'S with steering issues from FCA. I have been watching this thread since October 2018 and noticed lately a drop in responses from Jeep Cares to offer help. It also seems that from some of the comments lately that dealers have become even more hard nosed about trying to fix or help owners with steering issues. Looks like they have wiped their hands of this mess. On a bright note, those of you with good steering out of the factory can demand a higher resale price. Only solution I see is to drive before you buy.

I am guessing litigation has started and they don't want anything more printed by Jeep employees that can be used against them.

 

[Goin2drt]

@glang1992 That makes all the sense in the world. I would not either on a lease. I did not realize that.
@Tire Guy You will get it straightened out. Right attitude and if you are handy it will cost even less to get her driving the way you want. I am not so I needed to find a good shop to do the work. Fell into a good one that is affordable. Got lucky. I swear when the Jeep drives right there is nothing better to enjoy the day in.

 

[318Polara]

In time we will see someone figure it out. For now we shall just keep replacing part by part and trying different combination of fixes to achieve goal. Like others have said its just to bad we have to fix out of our own wallet, when it should be warranty work.

 

[Rdmitch]

agreed...you can blow the entire $ 5K and get zero improvement since there is no cut and dry answer.

The value has decreased due to the issues. I went on line to KBB and got a evaluation for trade in on mine and in exactly one year of ownership
and less than 14,000 miles the value was down 32% When I questioned it, a lot was due to the numerous repairs to steering as shown on CarFax data. One dealer told me with a "problem vehicle" it would get wholesaled out right away and never even get to their inventory.
The 5K offer you got neither subsidizes the depreciation or would fix the issue.

 

[Goin2drt]

or would fix the issue.

$5K would fix the issue but his Jeep is leased so that wouldn't be prudent.

 

[Shawn19]

Well, regional tech drove my Wrangler and said it was driving as designed. He did increase the caster in it, which has helped. Still a bit of dead spot, and some wander and I swear the wind grabs this thing much more since my steering box replacement. As long as it doesn’t death wobble or freeze up at high speeds any more I guess I’ll deal, but I do have trust issues with it now. The test will be when it gets cold again.

Recap- things get better after a software flash, a couple dampener replacements, a steering box replacement, an alignment, then add more caster.

Glad I didn’t buy it, but the lease makes it harder to get out of.

Good luck to all with these issues.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

I got an email for a survey from Jeep this morning:

Needless to say, not holding back my opinion and experiences was a bit therapeutic .

Interesting that they included these options:

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Well, regional tech drove my Wrangler and said it was driving as designed. He did increase the caster in it, which has helped. Still a bit of dead spot, and some wander and I swear the wind grabs this thing much more since my steering box replacement. As long as it doesn’t death wobble or freeze up at high speeds any more I guess I’ll deal, but I do have trust issues with it now. The test will be when it gets cold again.

Recap- things get better after a software flash, a couple dampener replacements, a steering box replacement, an alignment, then add more caster.

Glad I didn’t buy it, but the lease makes it harder to get out of.

Good luck to all with these issues.

"Drives as designed" it's unconscionable that Jeep is able to use this phrase to escape responsibility for the steering issues.

How did they increase the caster? They must have put the lift LCAs on?

 

[kre62]

Update for me. I got rid of the stock KO2s and went to 35x12.5 Toyo RTs. My steering is much tighter now. I wonder how much of this is from the C load rating of the KO2s, the sidewalls are flexing. The E rates Toyos react much more quickly.

Still a slight dead spot, but not too bad. I am on stock everything including rims with the new tires.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Update for me. I got rid of the stock KO2s and went to 35x12.5 Toyo RTs. My steering is much tighter now. I wonder how much of this is from the C load rating of the KO2s, the sidewalls are flexing. The E rates Toyos react much more quickly.

Still a slight dead spot, but not too bad. I am on stock everything including rims with the new tires.

Did you put those tires on the stock Rubi wheels? How are they for road noise?

 

[kre62]

Did you put those tires on the stock Rubi wheels? How are they for road noise?

Yea stock rubi rims.
Surprisingly less road noise than the ko2s. And way more stable feeling. Track straight as an arrow. Im really loving these tires.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Yea stock rubi rims.
Surprisingly less road noise than the ko2s. And way more stable feeling. Track straight as an arrow. Im really loving these tires.

Is this the tire?
https://www.amazon.com/Toyo-Tires-COUNTRY-Tire-35-12-5R17/dp/B00PB4EXSU

If I can get the wandering under control, I might get these.

My husband has a 981 and likes to tease me that at least one of us has the reliable economy car

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