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

[DobaMark]

So why is the parts procurement process so poor that Jeep Cares has to get involved and expedite parts?

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[Jeeperjamie]

Mine came in Today, took about 4 weeks them to get it Got it scheduled for Friday morning. They said about 4hrs for them to replace it and my 3rd brake light, 3rd brake light stopped working on one side about 3 weeks ago. That includes alignment as well if anyone is still wondering, they said it's part of the TSB now. I should have it back by lunch time.

 

[ducatirdr]

I had the TSB done yesterday. The JT came out of the shop with the steering wheel aimed about 45 degrees to the right and the steering was VERY heavy. I assume the box was swapped and that was it. No alignment and no e-steering update. I turned around and walked into service and told them that this wasn't completed per the full TSB. My vehicles have been BMW's in the past due to the amount of driving I was doing in sales. The service experience at this Dodge/Jeep dealership is a joke compared to premium brands. Much like electric windows, it's hard to go backwards and that goes for service that I assume most American vehicle owners are used to this crap.

I have been having a blast with my JT. Lots of off road and last summer the roof and doors were off the entire summer. But this type of thing has me thinking about getting rid of it the end of this summer.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I had the TSB done yesterday. The JT came out of the shop with the steering wheel aimed about 45 degrees to the right and the steering was VERY heavy. I assume the box was swapped and that was it. No alignment and no e-steering update. I turned around and walked into service and told them that this wasn't completed per the full TSB. My vehicles have been BMW's in the past due to the amount of driving I was doing in sales. The service experience at this Dodge/Jeep dealership is a joke compared to premium brands. Much like electric windows, it's hard to go backwards and that goes for service that I assume most American vehicle owners are used to this crap.

I have been having a blast with my JT. Lots of off road and last summer the roof and doors were off the entire summer. But this type of thing has me thinking about getting rid of it the end of this summer.

Just got to find a honest dealership, that's why I've always used Hendricks in Concord NC, never had one issue in my 15 yrs of doing business with them. They go out of their way everytime I've ever had a issue including a buy back on a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had engine issues. I didn't even know at the time a buy back was a option but after 4 times of going down there over the same issue they suggested a buy back and handled pretty much everything for me. Even gave most of what we had in it back on our 2009 BMW. I always go to them first when I'm in the market for a automobile. These crappy service depts give the good ones a bad rap.

 

[RH 67]

I had the TSB done yesterday. The JT came out of the shop with the steering wheel aimed about 45 degrees to the right and the steering was VERY heavy. I assume the box was swapped and that was it. No alignment and no e-steering update. I turned around and walked into service and told them that this wasn't completed per the full TSB. My vehicles have been BMW's in the past due to the amount of driving I was doing in sales. The service experience at this Dodge/Jeep dealership is a joke compared to premium brands. Much like electric windows, it's hard to go backwards and that goes for service that I assume most American vehicle owners are used to this crap.

I have been having a blast with my JT. Lots of off road and last summer the roof and doors were off the entire summer. But this type of thing has me thinking about getting rid of it the end of this summer.

I agree. Service at my dealership is a joke. My dealership refused to do the TSB because i have a lift yet they sell Gladiators with the same lift. Jeep Cares got involved and agreed with the dealership and basically said tough luck and said sorry you should have not installed a lift and hung up.

Knowing what i know now i never would have bought this truck, costumer service is a joke and i have a 60k truck that is not 100%. Jeep Cares refused to even listen to me and took the dealers BS hook line and sinker. Service should be the same at each dealership i should not have to drive 100`s of miles to get proper service. Service on my other makes of cars and trucks is so easy and trouble free anything with Jeep is like pulling teeth, the lack of knowledge that Jeep Cares has just worsens the situation. I asked Jeep Cares if the dealership was doing the TSB on the Jeeps they sell with lifts and got no answer.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I agree. Service at my dealership is a joke. My dealership refused to do the TSB because i have a lift yet they sell Gladiators with the same lift. Jeep Cares got involved and agreed with the dealership and basically said tough luck and said sorry you should have not installed a lift and hung up.

Knowing what i know now i never would have bought this truck, costumer service is a joke and i have a 60k truck that is not 100%. Jeep Cares refused to even listen to me and took the dealers BS hook line and sinker. Service should be the same at each dealership i should not have to drive 100`s of miles to get proper service. Service on my other makes of cars and trucks is so easy and trouble free anything with Jeep is like pulling teeth, the lack of knowledge that Jeep Cares has just worsens the situation. I asked Jeep Cares if the dealership was doing the TSB on the Jeeps they sell with lifts and got no answer.

Mines sits like in the picture and they never questioned doing the TSB on mine. They never even looked at mine at Hendricks. They just gave me a list and asked me if mine was doing any of the things on it. I said yes, they ordered the part. It will be installed tomorrow morning. I'd go to another dealership. A lift has nothing to do with crappy steering if it's done right.



For reference, none of the work as far as lift and tires was done at the dealership.

 

[RH 67]

Mines sits like in the picture and they never questioned doing the TSB on mine. They never even looked at mine at Hendricks. They just gave me a list and asked me if mine was doing any of the things on it. I said yes, they ordered the part. It will be installed tomorrow morning. I'd go to another dealership. A lift has nothing to do with crappy steering if it's done right.



For reference, none of the work as far as lift and tires was done at the dealership.

That is why i`m frustrated. It should be the same across the board. Jeep should look into these dealerships that refuse to do work simply because there are lazy. I should not have to spend hours driving around looking for a competent dealer. Your lucky to have a good dealer.

 

[watarski]

About a month post-TSB completion. Steering alignment was initially off, which was disappointing. Drove a mile down the road and turned around as I had to turn the wheel to nearly 11 o'clock to drive straight. Clearly low-bar on confirming whether or not the techs do their job right.

Wife still wonders if more could be done. Would steering stabilizer further help tighten things up, even if we're still on stock suspension?

I'm overall not impressed with the TSB. I'm now several months post-TSB and honestly it's not much better. Aside from several glaring issues I had with the dealership, it's just disappointing. I bought a Teraflex Falcon steering stabilizer based on input I received here and from a few others I've chatted with. From my personal experience, it didn't do much. In my case (and I've read a few others here had a similar experience), the medium and firm settings actually made the steering issue more noticeable. I recently went down to "soft" and it's the least noticeable while driving. If it wasn't for all the work I've put in the truck and how much it would cost to get into a new Ram, I'd jump ship. Otherwise, I love certain aspects of it - it's just the actual driving experience at times is souring.

 

[DaveL]

I'm overall not impressed with the TSB. I'm now several months post-TSB and honestly it's not much better. Aside from several glaring issues I had with the dealership, it's just disappointing. I bought a Teraflex Falcon steering stabilizer based on input I received here and from a few others I've chatted with. From my personal experience, it didn't do much. In my case (and I've read a few others here had a similar experience), the medium and firm settings actually made the steering issue more noticeable. I recently went down to "soft" and it's the least noticeable while driving. If it wasn't for all the work I've put in the truck and how much it would cost to get into a new Ram, I'd jump ship. Otherwise, I love certain aspects of it - it's just the actual driving experience at times is souring.

Consider contacting @JeepCares I bet they'll help you.

Dave

 

[Whatsamod]

The variance is tough when it comes to dealerships. I am on my second one trying to correct my steering. The first one had the truck for a week, and they only did an alignment. Then they told me my oversized tires were the issue... I have rubicon takeoffs.
The second dealership has been the polar opposite. They knew about the TSB and said they only need the truck for less than an hour to order the parts. We will see how this goes.

 

[RH 67]

Consider contacting @JeepCares I bet they'll help you.

Dave

@JeepCares did not even try to help me. My dealer told @JeepCares that i had a lift and that was it for me i was done. All a dealer has to say is that they did everything then your pretty much on your own. I explained to @JeepCares that my dealer sells Gladiators with lifts as mine and asked do they refuse to service these once they are sold?? They had no answer. If i did not have soo much invested i would be out of this truck.

 

[steffen707]

i've had this done for months now. took another 3 hour highway drive and DAMN this steering box is awesome on the highway, and SUCKS at slow speed full lock maneuvers.

Anybody else experiencing this? Its not just a cold vehicle thing either. Fully warmed up truck, sometimes its difficult to turn full left or right. The original steering box was light and easy to turn, but wandered.

the new box is definitely better though.

EDIT: i guess full lock movement isn't what i'm experiencing. its more like initial quick movement from stationary. I dunno, i'll have to monitor it more.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I'm overall not impressed with the TSB. I'm now several months post-TSB and honestly it's not much better. Aside from several glaring issues I had with the dealership, it's just disappointing. I bought a Teraflex Falcon steering stabilizer based on input I received here and from a few others I've chatted with. From my personal experience, it didn't do much. In my case (and I've read a few others here had a similar experience), the medium and firm settings actually made the steering issue more noticeable. I recently went down to "soft" and it's the least noticeable while driving. If it wasn't for all the work I've put in the truck and how much it would cost to get into a new Ram, I'd jump ship. Otherwise, I love certain aspects of it - it's just the actual driving experience at times is souring.

No steering stabilizer was ever meant to fix any dead spots you notice.

You're gonna jump ship over a little dead spot? I honestly still don't know what all this fuss is about, maybe some of you have a really weak box or something, but this dead zone play is way over stated imo.

 

[watarski]

No steering stabilizer was ever meant to fix any dead spots you notice.

You're gonna jump ship over a little dead spot? I honestly still don't know what all this fuss is about, maybe some of you have a really weak box or something, but this dead zone play is way over stated imo.

I fully understand the intent of the stabilizer. I didn't buy it to "cure" the dead spot. Upon installation and over 8k miles driving, my experience has been that at medium and firm settings it makes the dead spot more noticeable. Now you have constant steering corrections that require a firmer input.

As for the "little" dead spot. From reading this thread, it still seems various people have various experiences, as well as various thresholds for dealing with the dead spot. What's over stated for you, might be completely different for someone else. I was hoping the new box would cure the issue but unfortunately it didn't. My spot isn't little, and quite frankly it's downright angering at times, especially in windy conditions. I'm OK to a certain point with "Jeep Life" and accepting nuances of the Jeep. But when the actual driving of the vehicle is not enjoyable, for this cost... It's disappointing. This isn't my first rodeo with Jeeps. But could be my last for a while.

 

[Riccochet]

Got my JT back from the dealer. They didn't replace the steering box, citing it already has the updated version, which it does. But, they did do an alignment and found the front toe was way out. They pulled the toe back in to spec.

The way it was driving the toe being out does make sense. Now, it does drive better, stay in the lane better, no more drastic over-corrections. But, there is still a noticeable amount of dead play at the center of the steering.

Going to drive it for bit more and see if I'm fine with how it is, or take it back and have them address it further.

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