NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
67 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 16, 2010
SteeringSuspension
I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY BE DEALING WITH THE INTENSE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON BECAUSE I COULD NOT PUT UP THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND SHOP THAT WORKED O…
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I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY BE DEALING WITH THE INTENSE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON BECAUSE I COULD NOT PUT UP THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND SHOP THAT WORKED ON MY VEHICLE RECOMMENDED A STEERING STABILIZER THAT IT WAS WHAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOW THE JEEP IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. NOTHING SEEMS TO MAKE IT GO AWAY. THESE JEEPS THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS ONE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THE TRUE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT GIVING JEEP A GOOD REPUTATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349673
60,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
SteeringSuspension
2004 JEEP WRANGLER DEATH WOBBLE. FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING POTHOLES AT 45 TO 70 MILES AND HOUR. WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU COME TO ALMOST A STOP. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. KEY IN JEEP DEATH WOBBLE INTO ANY SEARCH ENGINE OR YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR A LENGHTY LIST OF DISCUSSION ON THIS SUBJECT. I MYSELF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COR…
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2004 JEEP WRANGLER DEATH WOBBLE. FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING POTHOLES AT 45 TO 70 MILES AND HOUR. WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU COME TO ALMOST A STOP. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. KEY IN JEEP DEATH WOBBLE INTO ANY SEARCH ENGINE OR YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR A LENGHTY LIST OF DISCUSSION ON THIS SUBJECT. I MYSELF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT PERMANENTLY WITH STABILIZERS, NEW TIRES, ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCING AND STEERING COMPONENT TIGHTENING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. THIS IS A STOCK JEEP, NO LIFT, STANDARD SIZE TIRES. THIS IS NOT ONE INCIDENT, BUT AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NEW TIRES HAVE FIXED IT TEMPORARILY ONCE, NEW STEERING STABILZER FIXED IT TEMPORARILY ONCE, NEW SWAY BAR ALSO DID A SHORT TEMP FIX. I NEED A PERMANENT FIX AS DO MANY MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS OUT THERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344546
49,000 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Steering
THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP RUBICON WITH JUST UNDER 49,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SOON AFTER THE JEEP STARTED THE DEATH WOBBLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANT FIND A SINGLE PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO BIG O TIRES AND THEY PUT NE…
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THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP RUBICON WITH JUST UNDER 49,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SOON AFTER THE JEEP STARTED THE DEATH WOBBLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANT FIND A SINGLE PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO BIG O TIRES AND THEY PUT NEW STEERING STABILIZER AND DRAG LINK, ONLY FIXED IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THE JEEP JUST SITS NOW WITH BRAND NEW TIRES, NEW STABILIZER, AND NEW DRAG LINK, I HAVE JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT, STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT AND I CAN ONLY TRUST TO DRIVE IT TO THE MAIL BOX AND BACK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL IS TO BRAKE TO A DEAD STOP BEFORE THE JEEP STOPS SHAKING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED, I HAVE BEEN THINKING TO JUST STOP MAKING THE PAYMENTS AND LETTING IT GET REPOED? WHAT SHOULD OR WHAT CAN BE DONE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10343837
74,500 miles · May 25, 2010
SteeringSuspension
WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLER MODEL LINE IS A PROBLEM KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE." I PURCHASED A USED JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. MY JEEP, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AFTERMARKET MO…
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WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLER MODEL LINE IS A PROBLEM KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE." I PURCHASED A USED JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. MY JEEP, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS, YET HAS A VERY DANGEROUS SYMPTOM WHICH MAKES ME SCARED TO DRIVE IT OVER 40 MPH. THE "DEATH WOBBLE" CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS AN INCREDIBLY VIOLENT SHAKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. IT WILL USUALLY START OFF SLOWLY, BUT WITHIN HALF A SECOND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL, AND ONLY STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A STOP. WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING VIOLENTLY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, SINCE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS PROBLEM IS TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY, THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE JEEP WRANGLER, AND CHRYSLER HAS ONLY ISSUED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO REPLACE THE STEERING STABILIZER. I HAVE DONE THIS TWICE NOW, AND IT IS ONLY A BAND-AID TO MASK THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, WHICH JEEP REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR PAY THE BILL TO FIX. I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE ON ANY HIGHWAY, AND I AM SURE THOUSANDS OF OTHER JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS OUT THERE ARE IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION I AM IN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332191
60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2009
Steering
I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND 3 OF THE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE ITS HAS A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE (GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE)MY JEEP HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY, BOUGHT IT USED. WHEN I DRIVE THIS JEEP 40-55 MILES A HOUR AND IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF T…
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I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND 3 OF THE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE ITS HAS A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE (GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE)MY JEEP HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY, BOUGHT IT USED. WHEN I DRIVE THIS JEEP 40-55 MILES A HOUR AND IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE JEEP SHAKES OUT OF CONTROL, VERY DANGEROUS. MY JEEP WRANGLER HAS HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT (NO LIFTS OR ADDED PARTS ALL STOCK) I HAVE BROUGHT THIS JEEP TO A MECHANIC 1 MONTH AGO AND THIS FRIDAY IT WILL BE GOING BACK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. WHEN MY JEEP FIRST DID THIS DEATH WOBBLE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? THIS JEEP SAT AT THE DEALERS LOT FOR 1 YEAR BEFORE HE SOLD IT, DID HE KNOW? MAYBE NOTHING WILL COME OUT OF THIS BUT I FEEL JEEP NEED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT CORRECT BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT BAD. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND I WILL NOT LET THEM RIDE IN MY JEEP UNTIL I FIND THE CORRECT WAY TO FIX IT. MY JEEP HAS THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 1 TIME A DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278617
6,000 miles · May 7, 2008
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR "SHIMMY" IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE FRONT END THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND SUGGESTED AN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR "SHIMMY" IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE FRONT END THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND SUGGESTED AN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AND THE TIRES WERE BALANCED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
NHTSA ODI #10226929
30,000 miles · Apr 17, 2008
Steering
2004 JEEP WRANGLER EXPERIENCES SEVERE VIOLENT FRONT END SHIMMY/WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SHIMMY OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS ON HIGHWAY WHEN TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT 40 TO 70 MPH. SHIMMY IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND ONLY CEASES WITH SLOWING DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224788
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2007
SteeringSuspension
2004 JEEP WRANGLER WITH A VIOLENT VIBRATION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VIBRATION AND SHAKING BEGAN WHEN SHE WENT OVER SOME UNEVEN PAVEMENT ON THE HIGHWAY. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRACK BAR AND STEERING DAMPER NEED TO BE REPLACED. *KB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10208264
42,000 miles · May 16, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
2004 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I'VE READ ABOUT THE DEATH WOBBLE ON MORE THAN ONE WEB SITE OR BLOG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING STABLIZER , BUT I BELIEVED THIS ONLY MASK, THE REAL PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL 4X4 SHOP AND THEY SAID JEEP MADE …
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2004 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I'VE READ ABOUT THE DEATH WOBBLE ON MORE THAN ONE WEB SITE OR BLOG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING STABLIZER , BUT I BELIEVED THIS ONLY MASK, THE REAL PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL 4X4 SHOP AND THEY SAID JEEP MADE THE LOWER CONTOL ARM TOO SHORT AND THIS PUSHED THE FRONT END DOWN AND THE ANGLES WERE OFF. ALSO, SAID THE AFTERMAKET REPLACEMENTS WERE APPROX 3/4" LONGER THAN THE OEM. MY JEEP WAS STOCK, NOT LIFTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE TIRES TO CUP, BRAKES, AND STEERING STABILIZER TO WEAR OUT EARLIER THAN NORMAL. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GOT KILLED OR INJURED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190908
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2007
Seat BeltsSteeringSuspension
VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE (SHIMMY, VIBE, WOBBLE) WHEN THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN ROADWAY CONDITION (BUMP, LIP, HOLE, UNEVEN ROADWAY). MY JEEP HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED IN ANYWAY. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. IN ADDITION MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER BELT BOTH CATCH IN THE DOOR - THEY DO NOT…
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VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE (SHIMMY, VIBE, WOBBLE) WHEN THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN ROADWAY CONDITION (BUMP, LIP, HOLE, UNEVEN ROADWAY). MY JEEP HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED IN ANYWAY. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. IN ADDITION MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER BELT BOTH CATCH IN THE DOOR - THEY DO NOT RETRACT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 5 MONTHS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10189286