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

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Darlene
Jeep Cares

As requested, I sent you the required info.
Please respond and advise on next steps.
Thanks!

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[ShadowsPapa]

Did you get a loaner or rental? Why did they let you drink it off before everything was in?

They were out of loaners/rentals. VERY busy.
I had it checked last Thursday - they agreed it had a problem and ordered the parts. Said parts would be in LAST Friday.

They called Friday morning and said the bolts were not there but would be in Tuesday. I said keep it - it's 30 minutes there and back so just getting it, then taking it back again means 2 hours time.
Then on Tuesday, they said the bolts didn't arrive, they'd be in Thursday (today)

Apparently the bolts are the hardest item to get........ others have said they got the gear but not the bolts.

If I knew the exact size and specs I'd go to the local bolt supply house and buy 4 and take them to the dealer. I'd need to know size (diameter) thread pitch, length and hardness.
But I bet they'd not do it due to liability issues.

I do wish @JeepCares could at least look into why they haven't been able to get four silly bolts for a week, 7 days, when the steering gear is in!

 

[JJmoto]

Took mine in on 8/24 and I’m still waiting....

*Update* Picked up my JT tonight after the TSB was implemented. The vehicle drives great. No pull or wander anymore! Even the SA who test drove noticed a tremendous difference and improvement.
Good luck to those who are in line for the repair. You won’t be disappointed.

 

[Shootist]

Apples and oranges. Tires CAN impact handling and ride and steering. NOT saying they ARE causing this, but it's such a wide ranges of parts and pieces, and worse, people doing it, some know how, others don't have a clue.
If you have a bearing go in your water pump - you could be denied if you switch belt systems. If the alternator goes south, you could be denied if you have changed belt systems. In fact, I did have a water pump fail because a DEALER didn't set belt tension correctly on a 4.0. How hard can that be? The place to check tension is on the decal under the hood. The dealership got me a new radiator, belt, fan, water pump and other misc. stuff.

Window tint doesn't impact the window weight or operation - tires, wheels, other parts can.
Got wheels that are wider and with a different offset? - darned straight it can negatively impact handling. You change the intersection of the SAI line and the center patch of the tire - you can cause it to be harder to steer, easier, bump steer, all sorts of nasty things.
Small scrub radius makes a vehicle less sensative to braking, more makes for more road feel - Negative scrub radius gives more control in case of a blowout, or other emergency. Take that away and it's not as easy to control the vehicle.
Wheel offset changes and changes in height can have bad consequences. I'm sort of surprised they don't address that - on the other hand, they do know there's a problem..

If an oil filter fails (and I've had two do that) the company MAY go after the filter maker if they find the cause was indeed the filter - but as long as you have some record of maintenance......
It could get fuzzy if you drive the thing 20,000 miles and never change or check the oil......

But in this case - the TSB is pretty clear - they know there's an issue, check this stuff first, if the customer complains, FIX IT.

I understand what you are saying by a resulting failure and agree with what you have said. It is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison it was more an attempt of trying to point out there are several things that technically could void your warranty but it doesn’t always make it right and the burden off proof for component failure does lay with FCA if they deny a claim. I just don’t think in the case of this TSB the work should be denied even if it does have a lift or tires. The issue was pretty straightforward as is the repair and FCA has already acknowledged that the part has issues.

 

[danielspivey]

I just talked to my service department and they said it would be the end of the month before the parts are in. I called them originally about the TSB September 1 first thing in the morning so I’m not sure what the holdup Is in getting parts here in Virginia (4 week lag).

Jeep cares can you look into this ?

 

[ucijeepguy]

I just talked to my service department and they said it would be the end of the month before the parts are in. I called them originally about the TSB September 1 first thing in the morning so I’m not sure what the holdup Is in getting parts here in Virginia (4 week lag).

Jeep cares can you look into this ?

When i spoke to my dealer about the parts, he said he was only allowed to order 1 box every 7 days. Fortunately only one person ahead of me. I should have my work done the 19th or so.

 

[DanHillAK]

Just dropped mine off.... hopefully they have the bolts!

 

[danielspivey]

When i spoke to my dealer about the parts, he said he was only allowed to order 1 box every 7 days. Fortunately only one person ahead of me. I should have my work done the 19th or so.

Do your think this a dealership thing or an FCA thing ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just talked to my service department and they said it would be the end of the month before the parts are in. I called them originally about the TSB September 1 first thing in the morning so I’m not sure what the holdup Is in getting parts here in Virginia (4 week lag).

Jeep cares can you look into this ?

So far at least a half dozen members have said the dealer can order 1 per week. So if there are 3 ahead of you, that explains it............
If it was one dealer stating that I'd "wonder" - but it's been more than one that has said they are restricted to one steering gear per week. I suspect this is to even things out around the country and is in part due to the covid-19 short staff and short hours at many plants and businesses.
We aren't in full production - heck, I was told 12 weeks to see a Grand Cherokee built - it took less than a month for my JT last fall.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Do your think this a dealership thing or an FCA thing ?

Definitely a restriction in the channel - more than one dealer has said this.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just dropped mine off.... hopefully they have the bolts!

Good luck - STILL, more than a week waiting on bolts. The gear is in.

 

[danielspivey]

So far at least a half dozen members have said the dealer can order 1 per week. So if there are 3 ahead of you, that explains it............
If it was one dealer stating that I'd "wonder" - but it's been more than one that has said they are restricted to one steering gear per week. I suspect this is to even things out around the country and is in part due to the covid-19 short staff and short hours at many plants and businesses.
We aren't in full production - heck, I was told 12 weeks to see a Grand Cherokee built - it took less than a month for my JT last fall.

I guess that math adds up- They said I was the 4th person and that I’m about 4 weeks out.

Guess it’s good I called when I did before the word gets out to all the other JT and JL owners!! I imagine they have sold hundreds of JLs and JTsover the last 3 years.... that’s a long line !!!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess that math adds up- They said I was the 4th person and that I’m about 4 weeks out.

Guess it’s good I called when I did before the word gets out to all the other JT and JL owners!! I imagine they have sold hundreds of JLs and JTsover the last 3 years.... that’s a long line !!!

You betcha.

I was typing in another thread here and my phone rang - my truck is all ready to go.
The service writer said that the tech just came back with it and he thought it was a night and day difference, he said "huge difference". Really? And here I didn't think it was that bad.
And, they said they just had another one come in with the same issue - I was the first and now another has come in. The good news for that owner is that mine is done, the parts were ordered last Thursday, so this is a week later, his parts are on order and may come in pretty soon.
I wonder if it's the owner from the Johnston area?

Anyway - good news, mine is done, the tech made very positive comments. Again, that's really interesting when they thought it was worse than I did LOL.
Good thing my wife kept commenting on how bad she thought it was - I may have never taken it in!!
We're getting ready to go get it in a few minutes, I can't wait to see how it handles if the tech thought it was a big difference.

 

[danielspivey]

You betcha.

I was typing in another thread here and my phone rang - my truck is all ready to go.
The service writer said that the tech just came back with it and he thought it was a night and day difference, he said "huge difference". Really? And here I didn't think it was that bad.
And, they said they just had another one come in with the same issue - I was the first and now another has come in. The good news for that owner is that mine is done, the parts were ordered last Thursday, so this is a week later, his parts are on order and may come in pretty soon.
I wonder if it's the owner from the Johnston area?

Anyway - good news, mine is done, the tech made very positive comments. Again, that's really interesting when they thought it was worse than I did LOL.
Good thing my wife kept commenting on how bad she thought it was - I may have never taken it in!!
We're getting ready to go get it in a few minutes, I can't wait to see how it handles if the tech thought it was a big difference.

Let us know, would love to hear your opinion on the difference!

I was in the same boat as you, never really thought it was terrible, because I didn’t have the expectation it would have remotely tight steering. When driving yesterday I did correct it a fair amount and do have a pretty large dead zone. I guess I’ve gotten used to it. I’m excited!

 

[JRegister]

I just talked to my service department and they said it would be the end of the month before the parts are in. I called them originally about the TSB September 1 first thing in the morning so I’m not sure what the holdup Is in getting parts here in Virginia (4 week lag).

Jeep cares can you look into this ?

@danielspivey - where in VA are you? I’m in Yorktown.

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