New JT Gladiator Steering Issue TSB 08-074-20 (for "Improved Steering Feel")

[ShadowsPapa]

Why isn't it just a recall part to get replaced/fixed...wouldn't it be considered a saftey issue?

On some, not all - and not even all that have a "wander". Mine I did NOT consider unsafe in most cases. Annoying to my wife, was fatiguing when I think of it honestly, but at no time did I figure the thing was "unsafe". Just more difficult - and obviously to the mechanic that checked it, more difficult that even he would like.
There wasn't "play" in mine like some have experienced.
Mine didn't wander as badly as some.
I could indeed let go of the steering wheel (but still needed to watch the road)
So of all JT owners, who was impacted? Obviously not all - even my poll months ago reflected that. Some said theirs was fine.

It's also extremely complicated once something reaches the recall stage as they have to work hand-in-hand with the NHTSA and I bet that's not fun. Better to shoot for a TSB if and while they can.

If I had even imagined mine having a safety problem, I would have never taken it to Indiana with my wife in with me, I would not have gone to Omaha with my trailer to pick up tires and signs......
An annoying issue, yeah, nothing more in my case.
And since the same steering gear (for the most part "apparently") was used on all JTs made, what do they do? Recall ALL of them?, Some - and if some, which ones? OR go by complaints? That's what a TSB does.
A recall of all would have meant months of waiting for parts - look at the air bag thing - some people waited for over a year!!

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[Stonesolo]

On some, not all - and not even all that have a "wander". Mine I did NOT consider unsafe in most cases. Annoying to my wife, was fatiguing when I think of it honestly, but at no time did I figure the thing was "unsafe". Just more difficult - and obviously to the mechanic that checked it, more difficult that even he would like.
There wasn't "play" in mine like some have experienced.
Mine didn't wander as badly as some.
I could indeed let go of the steering wheel (but still needed to watch the road)
So of all JT owners, who was impacted? Obviously not all - even my poll months ago reflected that. Some said theirs was fine.

It's also extremely complicated once something reaches the recall stage as they have to work hand-in-hand with the NHTSA and I bet that's not fun. Better to shoot for a TSB if and while they can.

If I had even imagined mine having a safety problem, I would have never taken it to Indiana with my wife in with me, I would not have gone to Omaha with my trailer to pick up tires and signs......
An annoying issue, yeah, nothing more in my case.
And since the same steering gear (for the most part "apparently") was used on all JTs made, what do they do? Recall ALL of them?, Some - and if some, which ones? OR go by complaints? That's what a TSB does.
A recall of all would have meant months of waiting for parts - look at the air bag thing - some people waited for over a year!!

Yea....I don't really have an issue with mine and if you look on the steering box the marks line up as per the video that was out explaining how to adjust it. It has a slight wander but nothing crazy. But if I can get a better part i'm wondering if I should say something to the dealer?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yea....I don't really have an issue with mine and if you look on the steering box the marks line up as per the video that was out explaining how to adjust it. It has a slight wander but nothing crazy. But if I can get a better part i'm wondering if I should say something to the dealer?

I did - I told them my wife said it wandered and she commented she hoped no cops were behind her as they'd think she was drunk. And I said she accused me of not paying attention and driving straight.
I handed them the TSB and let them have the truck for a while. A bit over an hour later a guy walks out with some papers and said parts are on order. They agreed it had a problem.
So I guess, I gave them my opinion, not a pushy argument (although I said that I didn't want to call my wife a liar and get smacked and then laughed). The mechanic obviously drove it around as the mpg dropped quite a bit on the cluster and there were more miles on it but I can't say exactly how many. They had it a bit over an hour.

I guess nothing to lose by giving them your thoughts and letting them look at it. Who knows, they may agree and order parts. Maybe you have just gotten used to it???????????

 

[JKABBQ]

Yea....I don't really have an issue with mine and if you look on the steering box the marks line up as per the video that was out explaining how to adjust it. It has a slight wander but nothing crazy. But if I can get a better part i'm wondering if I should say something to the dealer?

I agree with Shadowspapa with what he said. You may have a better tolerance for it. Frankly, if I didn’t read the forums or anything online, I may never have thought anything was wrong with mine. I drive a solid axel 1991 P40 truck for work and that thing wanders all over the place if a larger tractor trailer drives by at speed. So my “wandering”
Gladiator drives like a dream compared to that. Even speaking to the sales manager at my dealership who purchased a JTR said he noticed it doesn’t drive as nice as he thinks it should...but he’s not on the forums either and just thought it drove like that because even the JL’s on the lot drive the same. We only know what we know.

 

[Stonesolo]

I agree with Shadowspapa with what he said. You may have a better tolerance for it. Frankly, if I didn’t read the forums or anything online, I may never have thought anything was wrong with mine. I drive a solid axel 1991 P40 truck for work and that thing wanders all over the place if a larger tractor trailer drives by at speed. So my “wandering”
Gladiator drives like a dream compared to that. Even speaking to the sales manager at my dealership who purchased a JTR said he noticed it doesn’t drive as nice as he thinks it should...but he’s not on the forums either and just thought it drove like that because even the JL’s on the lot drive the same. We only know what we know.

I've had a few jeeps in the past and before I bought the gladiator I did test drive a few wranglers and gladiators...IMO...the gladiators steering was better even with the little bit of wander. In any case if I just show the dealer the paper on the steering complaint and say that it's not terrible but a bit wandery and I would like the replacement part for peace of mind are they under any obligation to replace it or just tell you to go scratch?

 

[Shackleton]

As I said before I knew about this TSB before I bought and the dealer said it was VIN related. I was buying anyway and I came back to the forum and read the VIN thing was a bunch of BS. I can say on my 80 mile highway ride home I felt a little disoriented from the play in the steering. Since then I think I’ve adjusted to that. I was not at all fatigued but it was only 1.5 hours. I haven’t tried to drive hands free yet. The guy I spoke to yesterday said he could turn the wheel 30 degrees to make it drive straight. Not sure if he was exaggerating. He was not aware of the TSB and mine is nothing like what he was describing. I’m taking a road trip around Labor Day and will report back

 

[JKABBQ]

I've had a few jeeps in the past and before I bought the gladiator I did test drive a few wranglers and gladiators...IMO...the gladiators steering was better even with the little bit of wander. In any case if I just show the dealer the paper on the steering complaint and say that it's not terrible but a bit wandery and I would like the replacement part for peace of mind are they under any obligation to replace it or just tell you to go scratch?

I guess by word of the TSB it’s up to your own tolerance for it. As an example, I texted a guy I met who owns a JTR about the TSB. He’s not on the forums so he didn’t know about it. His reply was, his drives great but thanked me for letting him know. He was fine with his and didn’t feel any need to get his even looked at. I think if it bothers you or as Shadowpapa mentioned it was his wife who really was the catalyst for pointing it out initially to him, then when speaking to a Jeep service department, you’ll have to let them know it does bother you. For example, the parts manager who ordered the TSB parts for me said to let anyone know on the forums about getting the TSB fix done at their dealership, but they are limited to ordering parts once per week. Well...if you tell a service manager yours isn’t that bad, his own human judgement may prioritize someone who is louder in their complaint about their steering over yours. That human element where they prioritize one customer over another is a whole different ball game! Limited supply of parts per dealer. I know at my dealership there are JL owners since the 2018 year that may also want this fix. I got lucky on mine being the first at my dealership. Apparently they changed a steering box out of a 2020 JL two days before the TSB was brought to their attention.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The guy I spoke to yesterday said he could turn the wheel 30 degrees to make it drive straight. Not sure if he was exaggerating. He was not aware of the TSB and mine is nothing like what he was describing.

My thinking - he's full of BS. Do you know how far 30 degrees is? And you do NOT turn the steering wheel on the column shaft. The only adjustment one should EVER make in the sense of the steering wheel is to CENTER it - wheels straight ahead (measured to be sure) adjust below to center the wheel but never remove the wheel to try to reposition it. In fact, some you cannot because the splines are indexed.
Further - my opinion as a person who has done too many front ends to remember - the guy knows nothing about how these work, how the steering gear works and what happens when the thing is off-center. There's a high spot in that box and that needs to be aimed exactly at wheels straight ahead. And if not - with these things, who knows what the software might do.

My take - again - anyone who suggested that to me as a "fix" for anything - I'd not let them in my truck.

 

[Sazabi19]

Do you have a Tazer? Maybe that could be different. My shop used a computer to update my settings. I probably should have went with a Tazer in the first place. I think I'll ask the shop to install a Tazer and have them credit my money that I paid for adjusting the speedometer and TPMS

I don't have a Tazer, I'm full stock.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess by word of the TSB it’s up to your own tolerance for it. As an example, I texted a guy I met who owns a JTR about the TSB. He’s not on the forums so he didn’t know about it. His reply was, his drives great but thanked me for letting him know. He was fine with his and didn’t feel any need to get his even looked at. I think if it bothers you or as Shadowpapa mentioned it was his wife who really was the catalyst for pointing it out initially to him, then when speaking to a Jeep service department, you’ll have to let them know it does bother you. For example, the parts manager who ordered the TSB parts for me said to let anyone know on the forums about getting the TSB fix done at their dealership, but they are limited to ordering parts once per week. Well...if you tell a service manager yours isn’t that bad, his own human judgement may prioritize someone who is louder in their complaint about their steering over yours. That human element where they prioritize one customer over another is a whole different ball game! Limited supply of parts per dealer. I know at my dealership there are JL owners since the 2018 year that may also want this fix. I got lucky on mine being the first at my dealership. Apparently they changed a steering box out of a 2020 JL two days before the TSB was brought to their attention.

Here's one for ya - over a week ago I called the dealer in Ankeny about my wife's Grand Cherokee - that's her vehicle, she is the primary driver and if she goes anywhere herself, that's what she drives. A couple of months ago she went to start it and the battery was dead. I jumped it, she made her trip, I charged it up. It was fine for a day or so, then it sat for a week. Again, battery dead. I checked it over stem to stern and no lights were on, all doors were latched and when running it was charging about 14.2 which is pretty normal.
Last time that happened was when I decided to call. The battery was dead, I could jump start it but it tripped the breaker on my little 6 amp charger. So I put my battery tender on it and got it charged - still if it sits, it's not going to start. My wife said about the same time this all started, she noticed the ESS stopped working, her rain-sensative wipers stopped working, and something else I can't remember.
Anyway, I called the dealer and said we had battery issues, and possible something else going on. TWO WEEKS and they can "look at it". Two weeks - that's coming up on the 1st thankfully.
So today she's asking me "how come you got YOUR Jeep in the very next day and mine has to sit for over two weeks to even get looked at?"
Ouch - how do you answer that one?
Same shop, same place, and we've bought at least 4 Grand Cherokees from them, maybe even more than that.

 

[JKABBQ]

Here's one for ya - over a week ago I called the dealer in Ankeny about my wife's Grand Cherokee - that's her vehicle, she is the primary driver and if she goes anywhere herself, that's what she drives. A couple of months ago she went to start it and the battery was dead. I jumped it, she made her trip, I charged it up. It was fine for a day or so, then it sat for a week. Again, battery dead. I checked it over stem to stern and no lights were on, all doors were latched and when running it was charging about 14.2 which is pretty normal.
Last time that happened was when I decided to call. The battery was dead, I could jump start it but it tripped the breaker on my little 6 amp charger. So I put my battery tender on it and got it charged - still if it sits, it's not going to start. My wife said about the same time this all started, she noticed the ESS stopped working, her rain-sensative wipers stopped working, and something else I can't remember.
Anyway, I called the dealer and said we had battery issues, and possible something else going on. TWO WEEKS and they can "look at it". Two weeks - that's coming up on the 1st thankfully.
So today she's asking me "how come you got YOUR Jeep in the very next day and mine has to sit for over two weeks to even get looked at?"
Ouch - how do you answer that one?
Same shop, same place, and we've bought at least 4 Grand Cherokees from them, maybe even more than that.

Yes ouch...there’s that whole element of the human we have to deal with that brings in the unknown factor. We don’t know what goes through the minds of those booking servicing of our Jeeps! lol

 

[Bookem.Dano.Bookem]

Here's one for ya - over a week ago I called the dealer in Ankeny about my wife's Grand Cherokee - that's her vehicle, she is the primary driver and if she goes anywhere herself, that's what she drives. A couple of months ago she went to start it and the battery was dead. I jumped it, she made her trip, I charged it up. It was fine for a day or so, then it sat for a week. Again, battery dead. I checked it over stem to stern and no lights were on, all doors were latched and when running it was charging about 14.2 which is pretty normal.
Last time that happened was when I decided to call. The battery was dead, I could jump start it but it tripped the breaker on my little 6 amp charger. So I put my battery tender on it and got it charged - still if it sits, it's not going to start. My wife said about the same time this all started, she noticed the ESS stopped working, her rain-sensative wipers stopped working, and something else I can't remember.
Anyway, I called the dealer and said we had battery issues, and possible something else going on. TWO WEEKS and they can "look at it". Two weeks - that's coming up on the 1st thankfully.
So today she's asking me "how come you got YOUR Jeep in the very next day and mine has to sit for over two weeks to even get looked at?"
Ouch - how do you answer that one?
Same shop, same place, and we've bought at least 4 Grand Cherokees from them, maybe even more than that.

I traded in an 18 Grand Cherokee for my Gladiator... Thing was an electrical nightmare. I would have the entire dash flash all sorts of lights at me, would drop out the entire 8.4" screen. It was back at the dealer several times, and was returned only being reset.

I even brought in a video of the issues. The dealer said they could not replicate the issue and it was once again reset and sent on my way. At one point they had the thing for a week and found no issues. Tried passing it off as a grounding issue they couldn't locate.

Wish at the time I was on more forums like this so I could have discovered jeepcares... Although if not for those problems I more than likely woulnt have the gladiator that I absolutely love.

 

[Rubicon Bob]

My thinking - he's full of BS. Do you know how far 30 degrees is? And you do NOT turn the steering wheel on the column shaft.The only adjustment one should EVER make in the sense of the steering

I think he was talking about the dead zone in the steering, not about repositioning the wheel on the column.

 

[Gr8ful]

I called my selling dealer service department and got the appointment person. She was nice but lock stepped, the vehicle needs to be inspected before any repair can be done. Tried to explain that I’m 50 back road miles away and wanted save a 100 mile by getting the parts on order. put on hold, came back and said sorry that’s the policy. I asked to speak to the person she spoke to. The service writer came on next and he said the same thing. I explained TSB and he pulled it up. Told me he would check with manager and call me back. That was 24 hours ago. No call. As a former service writer I understand policy but one must be able to think outside box. Will try again after the weekend.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think he was talking about the dead zone in the steering, not about repositioning the wheel on the column.

What could he turn 30 degrees to actually FIX it - he said turn the wheel. Basically, his comment made no sense. It he had the steering wheel turned and then lined the front wheels up straight, then you'd drive with a cocked steering wheel.
Maybe you meant that HE meant if he turned the steering wheel when driving it 30 degrees then it went away - of course it would because the pinion would be turned and the play (or preload) would change.
If he's saying that, he's saying your steering gear (or box as internet people call it) is bad.

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