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2005 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Wrangler years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler are substantially higher than the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

533 reports with mileage · 117 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 346 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Steering complaints

58 reports
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160,000 miles · Mar 5, 2015
SteeringSuspension

VIOLENT FRONT END VIBRATION / WOBBLING KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692252

79,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO CEASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING STABILI…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO CEASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, OR CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618962

92,000 miles · Jul 19, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OF 55 MILES PER HOUR THE JEEP SHAKES TO A POINT OF ALMOST LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE JEEP REACHES A SPEED OF 65 - 70 MPH THEN SETTLES DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614725

55,100 miles · Mar 18, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels

THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED; IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE 11/30/2013. I WAS ACCELERATING, AND WHEN I HIT ABOUT 50MPH, MY LEFT TIRE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. MY FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY; MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LITERALLY BOUNCING IN MY HANDS AND I COULD NOT ACTIVELY CONTROL THE JEEP. THE SHAKING WOULD…

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THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED; IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE 11/30/2013. I WAS ACCELERATING, AND WHEN I HIT ABOUT 50MPH, MY LEFT TIRE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. MY FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY; MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LITERALLY BOUNCING IN MY HANDS AND I COULD NOT ACTIVELY CONTROL THE JEEP. THE SHAKING WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY ROADWAY. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS JEEP HAS A SHIMMY/WOBBLE THAT OCCURS ON SOME BUMPS. SOME LEAD TO THE "DEATH WOBBLE," AND OTHERS DO NOT. THE SHAKING IS SO INTENSE THAT THE FRONT END FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME APART. I HAVE NEW TIRES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED USED FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER HAVING RECEIVED A FULL SERVICE. I TOOK IT INTO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THAT CONFIRMED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED OK, AND THE BUSHINGS WERE FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573291

89,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineSteeringSuspension

DEATH WOBBLE!!!! STARTED ABOUT DEC 2011 AROUND SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH. CAR WILL SUDDENLY START TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WHEN VIEWING FROM BEHIND IN ANOTHER CAR IT APPEARS AS IF THE WHEELS MAY COME OFF. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS, STRUTS, STABILIZER BAR, TRACK BAR, SPRINGS, SPACERS, CALIPERS, HUBS, NEW TIRES, BALANCE AND ROTATE TIRE …

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DEATH WOBBLE!!!! STARTED ABOUT DEC 2011 AROUND SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH. CAR WILL SUDDENLY START TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. WHEN VIEWING FROM BEHIND IN ANOTHER CAR IT APPEARS AS IF THE WHEELS MAY COME OFF. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS, STRUTS, STABILIZER BAR, TRACK BAR, SPRINGS, SPACERS, CALIPERS, HUBS, NEW TIRES, BALANCE AND ROTATE TIRE EVERY 5000-6000 MILES, NEW FRONT BRAKES, NEW BACK BRAKES, TWO REAR ALIGNMENTS, 3 FRONT ALIGNMENTS, AND ROTORS, I DEATH WOBBLE HAS GONE FROM BAD TO DANGEROUSLY WORSE. MY WRANGLER IS A FACTORY RIGHT HAND DRIVE JEEP THAT I USE TO DELIVER MAIL. I WAS USING AS MY PRIMARY CAR AS WELL. I MUST DRIVE 25 MILES TO WORK VIA INTERSTATE AND THEN ANOTHER 65 MILES ON MY ROUTE. THE CAR CONSISTENTLY SHAKES WHEN I HIT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR HIGHER. A BUMP IN THE ROAD WILL TRIGGER THE WOBBLE AS WELL. I SPOKE TO TWO DIFFERENT JEEP DEALERSHIPS TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TO AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS, ONE OFF ROAD SHOP, AND TWO DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT SHOPS. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TRY REPLACING THE GEAR BOX ($899.99) AND ALSO TRY REPLACING MY RIMS! IF THE MAKER OF MY VEHICLE HAS NO IDEA ON WHAT OR HOW TO FIX IT........THEN WHO WILL? I WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE MY DEATH WOBBLE. I AM EXTREMELY ANNOYED! I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR TO AND FROM WORK AND WHEN IT RAINS I AM A NERVOUS WRECK JUST KNOWING I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE MY JEEP ON THE INTERSTATE. SADLY ITS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OF MY KIDS IN THIS VEHICLE. I END UP HAVING TO LEAVE MY JEEP AT WORK IN ANOTHER TOWN IF MY HUSBAND ISN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AND FROM WORK FOR ME. I AM WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.......IF JEEP WOULD JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT THAT IS!!!! IN GOOD CONSCIOUS I COULD NEVER SELL AND STICK SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM/HEADACHE!! ALSO, WHEN I FILL MY JEEP UP WITH GAS, IT OVERFLOWS SPLASHING GAS EVERYWHERE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560615

43,000 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPAIR AVAILABLE TO RECTIFY THE "DEATH WOBBLE" HE HAD EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPAIR AVAILABLE TO RECTIFY THE "DEATH WOBBLE" HE HAD EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 09/18/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10525613

36,000 miles · Jul 15, 2013
Steering

I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED....IT WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING AND I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. A TINY PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THIS 1/2" PIN IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT A COST OVER $600! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524988

35,000 miles · Jul 15, 2013
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED...WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HITTING A SPEED OF ABOUT 62 MY JEEP STARTING SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOSE MY FRONT END! THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME OFF IN MY HANDS AND THAT MY TIRES WERE READY TO FALL OFF AS WELL! THIS WAS VERY VERY SCARY SI…

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I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED...WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HITTING A SPEED OF ABOUT 62 MY JEEP STARTING SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOSE MY FRONT END! THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME OFF IN MY HANDS AND THAT MY TIRES WERE READY TO FALL OFF AS WELL! THIS WAS VERY VERY SCARY SINCE I HAD MY GRANDCHILD IN THE JEEP WITH ME! I PAID OVER $800 TO HAVE THE SUSPENSION ROD/TIE RODS REPLACED. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY JEEP WOULD NOT START. A LITTLE PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND THE THAT PART IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY SO I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED...ABOUT ANOTHER $600. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524986

65,287 miles · Jul 2, 2013
SteeringSuspension

HI, APPARENTLY MY SITUATION ISN'T UNIQUE, I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES. AT ABOUT 50MPH IT STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS JEEP, ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE SHOP AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIE-ROD ENDS AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. IT WAS…

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HI, APPARENTLY MY SITUATION ISN'T UNIQUE, I HAVE A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES. AT ABOUT 50MPH IT STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS JEEP, ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE SHOP AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIE-ROD ENDS AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD I THOUGHT THAT SURELY MY FRONT END WAS COMING APART SO, I GOOGLED MY PROBLEM AND WAS LED TO A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION AND FOUND THE TERM "DEATH WOBBLE", I THOUGHT IT FELT LIKE DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, BUT DEATH WOBBLE SEEMS TO ALSO BE AN APPROPRIATE TERM AS WELL, BECAUSE THE FRONT END SEEMS TO BE SHAKING TO DEATH. I, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, WENT TO KEVIN'S OFF ROAD, KOR, WEBSITE AND READ ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CAUSES AND CURES. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS, IT'S AS STOCK AS THEY COME. ANYWAY, KEVIN'S RECOMMENDED SOLUTION TO MY "WOBBLE" IS TO REPLACE THE TRACK BAR, THE STEERING DAMPER, CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS. THE COST FOR THIS IS AROUND $366 FOR THE PARTS AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LABOR COSTS WILL BE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER SHOULD ACTUALLY GO DRIVE ONE BEFORE THEY SAY "IT'S NOT OUR FAULT". THEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION SINCE THEY CREATED THE PROBLEM. MY 1989 JEEP DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, LEAF SPRINGS VS. INDEPENDENT COIL SPRINGS, PERHAPS,... A SMOOTHER RIDE BUT AT WHAT COST? $366 PLUS LABOR FOR ME. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP APPLY PRESSURE TO CHRYSLER TO MAKE THIS RIGHT? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND INTEREST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522795

43,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AT ABOUT 47 MPH WHEN I MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. IT SERIOUSLY FELT AS IF MY WRANGLER WAS GOING TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES RIGHT OFF. THE ONLY WAY I ABLE TO STOP THE SHAKING WAS TO PULL OVER AND SLOW DOWN, THEN AS SOON AS I HIT 47 MPH THIS HAPPENED ALL OVER AGA…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AT ABOUT 47 MPH WHEN I MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. IT SERIOUSLY FELT AS IF MY WRANGLER WAS GOING TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES RIGHT OFF. THE ONLY WAY I ABLE TO STOP THE SHAKING WAS TO PULL OVER AND SLOW DOWN, THEN AS SOON AS I HIT 47 MPH THIS HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND THEY CALL IT A "DEATH WOBBLE," AND THIS HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH JEEP WRANGLERS FOR SOME TIME NOW. BUT FOR SOME REASON CHRYSLER DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEVERITY AND DANGEROUS NATURE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS KIND OF DEFECT COULD KILL SOMEONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505312

Official recalls

1

05V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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