Sponsored

Poor steering.........throwing in the towel

Chewbacca2264

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Threads
4
Messages
92
Reaction score
153
Location
upstate NY
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU Sport S
After 6500 miles, non stop frustration and $1500 in aftermarket parts I have made the decision to throw in the towel and get rid of this thing. Bottom line is that it is not safe to drive, you can massage it around and drive super careful and get where you are going, but make no mistake if you have a situation where you have to react to some other dumb driver this thing is a death trap. Had a run in with a box truck yesterday on a mountain road that sealed the deal for me. He came around a sharp right hand corner in my lane. I was going up the mountain luckily and reacted by yanking the Jeep to the right, he also moved right and missed me by about 18". Problem is once the Jeep went right I tried to ease it back to the road, the passenger side tires were on the shoulder and well below the drivers side tires and there was not enough of a response. Forced to yank the wheel I was shocked that the Jeep rebounded dead left and carried me clear across the opposite driving lane. I managed to gather it up from there and did no damage but honestly after logging 100k miles in two JK's I can positively say that both of my JK's would have handled that situation with little more than some cursing from me. Bottom line is that after a Falcon Nexus 2.2, adjustable LCA's with caster set, a yeti track bar and a new steering box this thing still stinks. The box seemed better for about 200 miles, or until the weather warmed back up over 20 degrees and now it is as bad as the original box. There is a dead spot where the wheels do not react, once you get through that spot the wheels seem to react too quickly and when you are forced to make quick adjustments, like to avoid an idiot in your lane the Jeep is completely unpredictable. I have a line on a couple of 2018 JKUR's and will be dumping this thing at a bad loss as soon as possible. To all who have the poor handling Jeeps, beware and be careful, if you are forced to take evasive action on the road these things are worse than a handful.

Chewi
Sponsored

 

Jeepo

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
12
Reaction score
11
Location
Alaska
Vehicle(s)
MB C250; Audi A4; Toyota 4Runner; Ram 1500; Ducati Panigale; Harley Davidson Road King; Trek Mountain Bike; Segway.........
After 6500 miles, non stop frustration and $1500 in aftermarket parts I have made the decision to throw in the towel and get rid of this thing. Bottom line is that it is not safe to drive, you can massage it around and drive super careful and get where you are going, but make no mistake if you have a situation where you have to react to some other dumb driver this thing is a death trap. Had a run in with a box truck yesterday on a mountain road that sealed the deal for me. He came around a sharp right hand corner in my lane. I was going up the mountain luckily and reacted by yanking the Jeep to the right, he also moved right and missed me by about 18". Problem is once the Jeep went right I tried to ease it back to the road, the passenger side tires were on the shoulder and well below the drivers side tires and there was not enough of a response. Forced to yank the wheel I was shocked that the Jeep rebounded dead left and carried me clear across the opposite driving lane. I managed to gather it up from there and did no damage but honestly after logging 100k miles in two JK's I can positively say that both of my JK's would have handled that situation with little more than some cursing from me. Bottom line is that after a Falcon Nexus 2.2, adjustable LCA's with caster set, a yeti track bar and a new steering box this thing still stinks. The box seemed better for about 200 miles, or until the weather warmed back up over 20 degrees and now it is as bad as the original box. There is a dead spot where the wheels do not react, once you get through that spot the wheels seem to react too quickly and when you are forced to make quick adjustments, like to avoid an idiot in your lane the Jeep is completely unpredictable. I have a line on a couple of 2018 JKUR's and will be dumping this thing at a bad loss as soon as possible. To all who have the poor handling Jeeps, beware and be careful, if you are forced to take evasive action on the road these things are worse than a handful.

Chewi
Chewi, I feel your pain. I threw in the towel last month and that was the best decision I made in the past 5 months. Hopefully, this problem is really not a "Jeep thing" and Jeep will finally realized that there are JLs out there that have steering problems. I will consider another wrangler in the future...
 
OP
OP

Chewbacca2264

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Threads
4
Messages
92
Reaction score
153
Location
upstate NY
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU Sport S
Chewi, I feel your pain. I threw in the towel last month and that was the best decision I made in the past 5 months. Hopefully, this problem is really not a "Jeep thing" and Jeep will finally realized that there are JLs out there that have steering problems. I will consider another wrangler in the future...
Thanks, this has been a really hard battle for me. I am a die hard wrangler guy, can't even imagine myself driving anything else. Have had nothing but Jeeps for many years but this thing is just terrible. When I first had it I stole my dad's truck to do some work at my house. He drove the Jeep about 15 miles and told me straight up, get rid of that thing it is dangerous. Now that is coming from a 31 year LEO who used to teach EVOC to recruits. Should have listened, instead I dumped money in it thinking I could fix it. Feel like an idiot.
 

Markham

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Threads
15
Messages
294
Reaction score
193
Location
Maine
Vehicle(s)
2020 Sahara High Altitude
:( I really hope this doesn’t happen to me. I’m hoping for a fix.
 

Sponsored

Four Flusher

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Nov 11, 2017
Threads
8
Messages
180
Reaction score
289
Location
Sparks
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLUR Sting Gray, auto
Wow bummer, I’ve been watching your issues and so I’m sorry you couldn’t get them resolved. Any ideas about your next ride? I’m considering doing the same but nothing really gets me excited, maybe a 2020 defender? I test drove a Grand Cherokee trail hawk, it was ok, but I’m kind of sick of the styling. Build a Ranger?
 
OP
OP

Chewbacca2264

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Threads
4
Messages
92
Reaction score
153
Location
upstate NY
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU Sport S
Wow bummer, I’ve been watching your issues and so I’m sorry you couldn’t get them resolved. Any ideas about your next ride? I’m considering doing the same but nothing really gets me excited, maybe a 2020 defender? I test drove a Grand Cherokee trail hawk, it was ok, but I’m kind of sick of the styling. Build a Ranger?
Looking at two lightly used 2018 JKUR's. Still want to be in a Jeep, just going back to what I know.
 

nerubi

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Nov 28, 2018
Threads
23
Messages
3,995
Reaction score
5,370
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle(s)
2019 JLR, 2020 VW Tiguan
Occupation
Retired
Vehicle Showcase
1
To be honest it is not just a JL problem. People have reported this for years on Jeeps and other vehicles.
My concern is that you are passing this on to another driver that may not understand the danger. Are you going to do full disclosure and have them sign a liability waiver? If not and they have an accident, especially if there is injury or death, you would probably be held at least partially liable either civil or criminal.
 

californiajeeping

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2019
Threads
46
Messages
2,035
Reaction score
1,750
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
JLUR
To be honest it is not just a JL problem. People have reported this for years on Jeeps and other vehicles.
My concern is that you are passing this on to another driver that may not understand the danger. Are you going to do full disclosure and have them sign a liability waiver? If not and they have an accident, especially if there is injury or death, you would probably be held at least partially liable either civil or criminal.
If he trades it in through a dealership, then the dealership and FCA would be responsible I believe.
 

Sponsored

DeVoTee

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Jun 26, 2018
Threads
5
Messages
227
Reaction score
114
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle(s)
12 JKU Rubicon, 17 JKU Sport on Roids, 18 JLU Rubicon, 19 JL Rubicon ordered, RAM, Range Rover
To be honest it is not just a JL problem. People have reported this for years on Jeeps and other vehicles.
My concern is that you are passing this on to another driver that may not understand the danger. Are you going to do full disclosure and have them sign a liability waiver? If not and they have an accident, especially if there is injury or death, you would probably be held at least partially liable either civil or criminal.
Are you Fing kidding!!! You sound like some left wing commey!

Suggesting a previous owner is held responsible for an accident of the new owner. The above reasoning is why we have so many ambulance chasers and why the cost of goods have risen in our country. nerubi, hope you never sit on a jury.
 

Jeepsterfreak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
2,147
Reaction score
1,308
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
Honda, Future JLU
Are you Fing kidding!!! You sound like some left wing commey!

Suggesting a previous owner is held responsible for an accident of the new owner. The above reasoning is why we have so many ambulance chasers and why the cost of goods have risen in our country. nerubi, hope you never sit on a jury.
The OP did put aftermarket parts on his Jeep that impacts the steering response. Not saying it wasn’t already bad from the factory, which it obviously was. I would be a little nervous about selling it in a private sale without full disclosure, especially to a jeep newbie. I wouldn’t hesitate to trade it in without disclosure. Then it’s the dealer’s problem. Buyer beware I suppose.

Edit: OP stated he is putting stock suspension back on before selling.

I’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for these steering problems to be solved. Guess I will be waiting longer. Maybe by the time Jeep gets this fixed there will be a new Bronco or Xterra to consider as well.
 
OP
OP

Chewbacca2264

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Threads
4
Messages
92
Reaction score
153
Location
upstate NY
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU Sport S
To be honest it is not just a JL problem. People have reported this for years on Jeeps and other vehicles.
My concern is that you are passing this on to another driver that may not understand the danger. Are you going to do full disclosure and have them sign a liability waiver? If not and they have an accident, especially if there is injury or death, you would probably be held at least partially liable either civil or criminal.
It is being traded through a reputable dealer and full disclosure has been made. Plus I have a receipt at home from the dealership where I purchased that states clearly that "the vehicle drives as designed." Apparently FCA is not concerned about the handling of many of their "flagship" vehicles, not sure why any of us feel the least bit responsible. Plus there has been no lift kit added, I simply put Rubicon shocks and springs on, there will be no change in geometry from stock as all the stock equipment is going back on. Plus I actually use a torque wrench and ensure that everything is properly torqued......unlike my Jeep from the factory.
 

nerubi

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Nov 28, 2018
Threads
23
Messages
3,995
Reaction score
5,370
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle(s)
2019 JLR, 2020 VW Tiguan
Occupation
Retired
Vehicle Showcase
1
Are you Fing kidding!!! You sound like some left wing commey!

Suggesting a previous owner is held responsible for an accident of the new owner. The above reasoning is why we have so many ambulance chasers and why the cost of goods have risen in our country. nerubi, hope you never sit on a jury.
Maybe you don't understand the legal process. Anyone can sue for any reason and non-disclosure of a serious safety issue would get any attorney interested. It isn't communism it is the democratic system that allows it. Communist countries wouldn't allow a suit like this. Perhaps if you had made it past 5th grade you would know the difference. I had a case where a couple on a motorcycle made an illegal u-turn on a highway and got smashed by a car. Our investigation showed they were at fault and the car driver was not issued a citation. County Attorney determined they were at fault and did not file charges against the driver. But the motorcycle people kept sueing the driver and we had to keep going to testify of what happened. So the legal system here works that way.
And I will never be selected to serve on a jury because I was a LEO. Perhaps I even gave you ticket or arrested you. With your attitude that may have happened.
 

Tunesoul

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kirk
Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Threads
44
Messages
489
Reaction score
625
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
1999 Jeep Wrangler Sport, 2012 Subaru Outback, 2018 Ocean Blue JLUR
Occupation
Owner of a Mobile Auto Paint Touch Up Co.
Wow, that's crazy. I have 8500mi on my 2018 JLUR and the steering has been solid. Hands down the best feeling steering I've ever experienced in any of my vehicles. Trips me out when I hear that some people feel their steering is less than perfection. I'm wondering if there really is a problem or if people just don't like the way it feels for some reason...
Sponsored

 
 





Top