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

[Morphling]

Does anyone know if the TSB applies to 21 JT Diesel Rubi. At highway speeds the car requires constant course correction.

i noticed the problem months ago but can’t get an appointment at 2 dealers. They just send you to Voice Mail and never return calls.

I suspect the TSB was address complaints from 2020 and has not been updated to include 21 vehicles.

does anyone know definitively if then21 uses the same materials as the 2020 models.

thanks in advance.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Does anyone know if the TSB applies to 21 JT Diesel Rubi. At highway speeds the car requires constant course correction.

i noticed the problem months ago but can’t get an appointment at 2 dealers. They just send you to Voice Mail and never return calls.

I suspect the TSB was address complaints from 2020 and has not been updated to include 21 vehicles.

does anyone know definitively if then21 uses the same materials as the 2020 models.

thanks in advance.

My take - right or wrong, is based on personal experiences, and it's why I believe that some 2021 models should be included (at least the early ones)
Mine is a 2020 Overland gasser.
I had the TSB done in about October 2020. It was better directly after that, and through early winter. Then come late winter and spring, it got worse - and actually in the end was worse than the truck had been originally.
I took it back and it didn't take them very long to call me and ask if they could keep the truck "we need to replace the steering gear".
When I got the truck back with the paperwork is said "replace steering gear, internal fault" or words to that effect.
The first replacement had part number suffix AA (meaning the part number ended in AA) and the second replacement had suffix AB (part number was the exact same but ended in AB instead of AA)
The part number suffix can mean something so small like it's painted gloss instead of semi-gloss or they put a different rib on the housing, to a bearing sourced differently or of different design. So the AA to AB could mean nothing substantial at all, who knows. But the truck is doing well now.
Anyway, the fact that I had one of the replacements bad tells me that if they were using that same part in production, why couldn't some of the EARLY 2021 models be seeing issues?? Since I got mine replaced again in early 2021 it SHOULD mean that 2021 models made in 2021 should be fine.

 

[Sazabi19]

2 SEP 2020 UPDATE:
2020 Jeep Gladiator (JT) Rubicon
Ordered 9 June 2020
Received 21 August 2020

Got it back last night and while it does drive different than before it went in, I can say it is a definite improvement.

For those following this thread and waiting their turn for the repair, here is the pertinent info:

TSB#: 08-074-20 (dated August 10, 2020)

Original OEM aluminium steering box PN: P68418449AE

New / Replacement OEM steel steering box PN (IAW TSB): P68507576AA

Pictures for reference:

Old:

New:

TSB Parts:

Just using this to put on the last page since someone asked, good documentation.

@Morphling Old one is black, new one is silver.

Page 54, post 797.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just using this to put on the last page since someone asked, good documentation.

@Morphling Old one is black, new one is silver.

Page 54, post 797.

OLD original 2020 gear is gray/silver because it's an aluminum housing.
NEW or replacements are all black because they are painted steel housings.
NEW replacements should currently be AB part number. The first ones in 2020 were AA and the part number in the TSB was AA but that was superseded.

THIS is the latest TSB I could find, dated about January, 2021 and it does not include 2021 models.

 

[Dougstdig]

Does anyone know if the TSB applies to 21 JT Diesel Rubi. At highway speeds the car requires constant course correction.

i noticed the problem months ago but can’t get an appointment at 2 dealers. They just send you to Voice Mail and never return calls.

I suspect the TSB was address complaints from 2020 and has not been updated to include 21 vehicles.

does anyone know definitively if then21 uses the same materials as the 2020 models.

thanks in advance.

If your 21 JTRD is like mine, it already has the upgraded steering box. The bonus is when I saw the iron outer knuckles. I thought this was a Mojave only thing. Then I saw how low and exposed the oil pan is and my first (minor) oil leak…and 15 minute later I had my first bottom out in 4 low, away at disconnected going 5mph (just to do it) driving on a relatively smooth area of his property where they did dirt work for his new house slab. Scared doodoo balls out of the both of us.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

he bonus is when I saw the iron outer knuckles. I thought this was a Mojave only thing.

Mojave and diesel equipped JT. There's a lot of extra weight there............. they got smart.
I swear if mine ever fail I'll pay for the extra cost of the steel knuckles.

 

[C6inFL]

My take - right or wrong, is based on personal experiences, and it's why I believe that some 2021 models should be included (at least the early ones)
Mine is a 2020 Overland gasser.
I had the TSB done in about October 2020. It was better directly after that, and through early winter. Then come late winter and spring, it got worse - and actually in the end was worse than the truck had been originally.
I took it back and it didn't take them very long to call me and ask if they could keep the truck "we need to replace the steering gear".
When I got the truck back with the paperwork is said "replace steering gear, internal fault" or words to that effect.
The first replacement had part number suffix AA (meaning the part number ended in AA) and the second replacement had suffix AB (part number was the exact same but ended in AB instead of AA)
The part number suffix can mean something so small like it's painted gloss instead of semi-gloss or they put a different rib on the housing, to a bearing sourced differently or of different design. So the AA to AB could mean nothing substantial at all, who knows. But the truck is doing well now.
Anyway, the fact that I had one of the replacements bad tells me that if they were using that same part in production, why couldn't some of the EARLY 2021 models be seeing issues?? Since I got mine replaced again in early 2021 it SHOULD mean that 2021 models made in 2021 should be fine.

I took mine in this week, 2021 Rubicon for the same thing. Service writer called me said tech drove it and noticed the dead spot and it wanders at higher speeds but drove another one and it also had the dead spot so must be ok (@JeepCares sound right to you?). Said they checked the alignment, retorqued all the steering components. To me this is BS they know they have an issue and won't do anything about it until people get hurt and they're forced to fix it. Dealer Service said they can't replace parts on speculation.. Must be a new policy for dealers, in the past didn't seem to be a problem if it's on your dime. Needless to say not too pleased with my new JT, less than 1,500 miles and my wife won't drive it on the highway because she's afraid of how it drives. We' had a lifted wrangler in the past and it was nothing like this..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I took mine in this week, 2021 Rubicon for the same thing. Service writer called me said tech drove it and noticed the dead spot and it wanders at higher speeds but drove another one and it also had the dead spot so must be ok (@JeepCares sound right to you?). Said they checked the alignment, retorqued all the steering components. To me this is BS they know they have an issue and won't do anything about it until people get hurt and they're forced to fix it. Dealer Service said they can't replace parts on speculation.. Must be a new policy for dealers, in the past didn't seem to be a problem if it's on your dime. Needless to say not too pleased with my new JT, less than 1,500 miles and my wife won't drive it on the highway because she's afraid of how it drives. We' had a lifted wrangler in the past and it was nothing like this..

When I took my truck in, I told the service writer what some were saying " it's a jeep thing" or "it's normal" or "all Jeeps do that" and he came right back at me "These should not do that, that's wrong". He said that's a thing of the past and the Gladiator should drive like other vehicles.
Now that's a service writer saying that, and saying the others are wrong.
Mine does have a pull on our roads but in Iowa, due to snow, ice and the torrential rains we get, almost every road is crowned or slanted fair amounts to the right. Roads without that crown or slant get cut for drainage. That means many vehicles, including my JT, will pull to the right. HOWEVER, when I reach a stretch that is flat or is made in such a way that that "tilt" is changing direction and has a flat area, my truck tracks perfectly straight, no pull at all, no wander.
Parts of I35 coming back up from KC are really flat, almost airport runway flat and I so wanted my wife to take a video while I was driving and show that my hands on that steering wheel didn't budge or move at all for long periods of time. It was only a stressful drive for me because it was BORING - I was just sitting there hands on the wheel and not having to steer it. It just went up the highway straight as an arrow, I did no correcting. (it was weird as it was one of very few windless days for us)
Since it tracks true and straight on total flat I ignore the bit of "lean to the right" it has on our normal roads. There's no play. If it does lead to one side, as quick as I move the steering wheel it's corrected. There's no play. Move wheel, truck responds.
So either the other Gladiators have problems, or my truck was built all wrong and should have play and wander.

 

[JeepCares]

I took mine in this week, 2021 Rubicon for the same thing. Service writer called me said tech drove it and noticed the dead spot and it wanders at higher speeds but drove another one and it also had the dead spot so must be ok (@JeepCares sound right to you?). Said they checked the alignment, retorqued all the steering components. To me this is BS they know they have an issue and won't do anything about it until people get hurt and they're forced to fix it. Dealer Service said they can't replace parts on speculation.. Must be a new policy for dealers, in the past didn't seem to be a problem if it's on your dime. Needless to say not too pleased with my new JT, less than 1,500 miles and my wife won't drive it on the highway because she's afraid of how it drives. We' had a lifted wrangler in the past and it was nothing like this..

Thanks for tagging us here, C6inFL. We would be happy to discuss your concerns further in private message. Please follow up with us there when you have a chance.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[Morphling]

I took mine in this week, 2021 Rubicon for the same thing. Service writer called me said tech drove it and noticed the dead spot and it wanders at higher speeds but drove another one and it also had the dead spot so must be ok (@JeepCares sound right to you?). Said they checked the alignment, retorqued all the steering components. To me this is BS they know they have an issue and won't do anything about it until people get hurt and they're forced to fix it. Dealer Service said they can't replace parts on speculation.. Must be a new policy for dealers, in the past didn't seem to be a problem if it's on your dime. Needless to say not too pleased with my new JT, less than 1,500 miles and my wife won't drive it on the highway because she's afraid of how it drives. We' had a lifted wrangler in the past and it was nothing like this..

this is my 4th Jeep and I understand the driving a box on the freeway feel. The issue I speak of is best described as wandering which requires constant course correcting.

jeep cares is on the case for me but the two dealers near me won’t answer the phone. It’s wild. Been trying for over a month to get an appointment. I just get voicemail and no return call.

 

[C6inFL]

Thanks for tagging us here, C6inFL. We would be happy to discuss your concerns further in private message. Please follow up with us there when you have a chance.

Kate
Jeep Cares

PM Sent @JeepCares , thanks

 

[SkyKing]

this is my 4th Jeep and I understand the driving a box on the freeway feel. The issue I speak of is best described as wandering which requires constant course correcting.

jeep cares is on the case for me but the two dealers near me won’t answer the phone. It’s wild. Been trying for over a month to get an appointment. I just get voicemail and no return call.

I too experience the wandering… I traded a GMC Canyon for my Gladiator. At first I explained it as “Well honey… it’s just the way a Jeep drives”… she won’t drive it now.
I’m taking mine in soon to have it “assessed” by a technician that has never driven MY Gladiator.
We’ll see what happens. I just want it fixed right the first time.

 

[Scrubb84]

I too experience the wandering… I traded a GMC Canyon for my Gladiator. At first I explained it as “Well honey… it’s just the way a Jeep drives”… she won’t drive it now.
I’m taking mine in soon to have it “assessed” by a technician that has never driven MY Gladiator.
We’ll see what happens. I just want it fixed right the first time.

Good luck. Problem is the steel boxes are made in the same factory with the same ZERO quality control as the old aluminum ones were made. They do not give a single F about the sloppiness of the boxes they produce because the fca only pays them so much per box.
In my opinion.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I too experience the wandering… I traded a GMC Canyon for my Gladiator. At first I explained it as “Well honey… it’s just the way a Jeep drives”… she won’t drive it now.
I’m taking mine in soon to have it “assessed” by a technician that has never driven MY Gladiator.
We’ll see what happens. I just want it fixed right the first time.

Don't let them give you that pure unadulterated bull crap about "that's just how Jeeps are" because it's not. I've also heard "that's because it's a solid axle" and that is also BS - Grand Cherokees up through 2005 were solid front axle and they drove like a dream. One lady I worked with called them a 4 wheel drive Cadillac. She loved hers. How nicely they steered and handled and rode is what got my wife sold on Jeeps (other than my Comanche and then a Cherokee we had about 1990, she loved those, too)

It's not a "Jeep thing" and it's not a "solid axle thing".
Granted short wheel base Jeeps will not be a nice handling/steering but these are longer and when all things are normal, do just as well as my other trucks have (other than being an Overland it's narrower and the long flat sides mean the wind kicks it around more than other stuff but on a rare calm day, it's straight and true as Green Arrow's arrows.

 

[SkyKing]

Don't let them give you that pure unadulterated bull crap about "that's just how Jeeps are" because it's not. I've also heard "that's because it's a solid axle" and that is also BS - Grand Cherokees up through 2005 were solid front axle and they drove like a dream. One lady I worked with called them a 4 wheel drive Cadillac. She loved hers. How nicely they steered and handled and rode is what got my wife sold on Jeeps (other than my Comanche and then a Cherokee we had about 1990, she loved those, too)

It's not a "Jeep thing" and it's not a "solid axle thing".
Granted short wheel base Jeeps will not be a nice handling/steering but these are longer and when all things are normal, do just as well as my other trucks have (other than being an Overland it's narrower and the long flat sides mean the wind kicks it around more than other stuff but on a rare calm day, it's straight and true as Green Arrow's arrows.

I have an Overland… are you saying I need to modify… I mean “Upgrade” my Gladiator to improve my wife’s Jeep experience?

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