2021 gladiator death wobble

[MagnusWolf]

Was driving my 2021 gladiator down the highway today doing the speed limit of 70 mph and got death wobble 3 times after hitting bumps on the highway, scared the crap out of my girlfriend. I already tightened the track bar and ball joints from a previous issue with noise while stopping. Going to take it to the dealer tomorrow and fight with them again, probably get the "could not duplicate" crap. Is there a better steering damper you guys use to correct this issue?

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[Fouts]

Typically a steering stabilizer will not fix a true death wobble. A true death wobble is when the steering wheel shakes violently and will not stop till you come to a stop. MIne was in a JK and I did find a loose track bar bolt that solved my problem. Even if your bolts are tight, if the bolts are undersized it can work loose. If dealership will not help I might try new adjustable track bar to start.

 

[jay21mojave]

Over many years on forums, replacement of the stablizer is only a bandaid, not the solution. How many times have you documented this condition with / at the dealership. Get a Warranty Repair order written up with the precise description of the issue; get a copy. Then offer (be persistent) to demonstrate with the service mgr in the vehicle; many will not ride- they will drive and you ride. Also you noted it occurred at 70mph-is that within the legal speedlimits; the reason I ask is that many dealership personnel will not drive above the legal speed limit.
Here are the phone numbers to contact FCA JEEP..

Jeep	877-426-5337
Jeep Wave	844-533-7928

Start your own case with the factory after your visit to dealership for warranty covered repairs.

 

[jay21mojave]

For informational purpose; here is a video - done on JK's. JKs did not have the electronic steering; and there are TSBs for earlier JTs / JLs on steering issues.

 

[MagnusWolf]

Over many years on forums, replacement of the stablizer is only a bandaid, not the solution. How many times have you documented this condition with / at the dealership. Get a Warranty Repair order written up with the precise description of the issue; get a copy. Then offer (be persistent) to demonstrate with the service mgr in the vehicle; many will not ride- they will drive and you ride. Also you noted it occurred at 70mph-is that within the legal speedlimits; the reason I ask is that many dealership personnel will not drive above the legal speed limit.
Here are the phone numbers to contact FCA JEEP..

Jeep	877-426-5337
Jeep Wave	844-533-7928

Start your own case with the factory after your visit to dealership for warranty covered repairs.

It has done it before at 55mph, and yes 70 mph is the speed limit on I-485. If it only did it once in a while then I wouldn't mind but it did the death wobble 3 times within 5 miles. Not to mention all the other problems the truck has had in less than a year I have owned it. Honestly starting to get sick of the truck but I don't know what other vehicle to buy.

 

[Doubletrack]

I have the same issue in my Gladiator Sport. This month it has happened 3 times, twice just yesterday. Each time the intensity increases, not good for a any vehicle with 14K miles. Here is what happened to me
1st time; uneven surface in left side while at 65 mph. In the 2-3 seconds while on the patch, experienced a left to right vibration in the steering wheel. It was also a pronounced wobble on the left side as well. This continued after the rough patch and the surface was smooth and normal. I slowed down to 55, and the wobble stopped and steering wheel vibration stopped as well. Increased speed up to 75, no vibration or wobble returned. Strange.

2nd time; 36 degrees this morning, changing lane to left at 65 very intense front wobble felt like both sides. Created dangerous condition while passing another vehicle on the right. Continued for 20-30 seconds until I was able to safely moved to the right and slow down to 50mph, then wobble stopped.

3rd time: same day 5 miles further up the interstate, still 36 degrees this morning, hit slight bump at beginning of overpass created a very intense front wobble felt like both sides. Created dangerous condition and continued for 20-30 seconds until I was able to slow down to 50mph, then wobble stopped.

Not accceptable, calling Jeep Monday to get this in for them to look at it.
Thought I would share my wobble story
…Tim..+

 

[MagnusWolf]

I have the same issue in my Gladiator Sport. This month it has happened 3 times, twice just yesterday. Each time the intensity increases, not good for a any vehicle with 14K miles. Here is what happened to me
1st time; uneven surface in left side while at 65 mph. In the 2-3 seconds while on the patch, experienced a left to right vibration in the steering wheel. It was also a pronounced wobble on the left side as well. This continued after the rough patch and the surface was smooth and normal. I slowed down to 55, and the wobble stopped and steering wheel vibration stopped as well. Increased speed up to 75, no vibration or wobble returned. Strange.

2nd time; 36 degrees this morning, changing lane to left at 65 very intense front wobble felt like both sides. Created dangerous condition while passing another vehicle on the right. Continued for 20-30 seconds until I was able to safely moved to the right and slow down to 50mph, then wobble stopped.

3rd time: same day 5 miles further up the interstate, still 36 degrees this morning, hit slight bump at beginning of overpass created a very intense front wobble felt like both sides. Created dangerous condition and continued for 20-30 seconds until I was able to slow down to 50mph, then wobble stopped.

Not accceptable, calling Jeep Monday to get this in for them to look at it.
Thought I would share my wobble story
…Tim..+

You would think there would be a TSB for this, seems like a common enough issue. If this was the only problem then i would have more patience but i have had numerous issues with mine, I'm starting to think it's cursed. Probably should just get rid of it.

 

[Gvsukids]

You would think there would be a TSB for this, seems like a common enough issue. If this was the only problem then i would have more patience but i have had numerous issues with mine, I'm starting to think it's cursed. Probably should just get rid of it.

It's not a common issue, otherwise there would be a TSB for it.

 

[MagnusWolf]

I'm done with this truck, I'm going to force a buy back or sell it. Hopefully Toyota gets some 4runners in soon. I'm done with this lemon.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Your not going to fix it with a steering stabilizer, just a bandaid. Figure out what the real problem is, I can drive without a steering stabilizer on mine and not get death wobble

 

[WoolyKris]

It has done it before at 55mph, and yes 70 mph is the speed limit on I-485. If it only did it once in a while then I wouldn't mind but it did the death wobble 3 times within 5 miles. Not to mention all the other problems the truck has had in less than a year I have owned it. Honestly starting to get sick of the truck but I don't know what other vehicle to buy.

This is unacceptable in a modern vehicle, nevertheless a sub $50k truck. Jeep is stuck in the 90s with their quality control. I already had a number of issues at 10k miles with my truck. Just waiting for a next gen Tacoma to come out…

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I'm done with this truck, I'm going to force a buy back or sell it. Hopefully Toyota gets some 4runners in soon. I'm done with this lemon.

Over death wobble, if that's what it really is. That's a fixable solution that can happen on any solid axle vehicle. It's not just Jeeps that have had the problems, even Toyota's owners I know have had the issue. Not saying nothing bad about a Tacoma or Toyota, but it can happen, especially in solid axle vehicles. I 100% doubt your going to force a buy back because of death wobble, and I don't care how good of a lawyer you can afford

 

[MagnusWolf]

Over death wobble, if that's what it really is. That's a fixable solution that can happen on any solid axle vehicle. It's not just Jeeps that have had the problems, even Toyota's owners I know have had the issue. Not saying nothing bad about a Tacoma or Toyota, but it can happen, especially in solid axle vehicles. I 100% doubt your going to force a buy back because of death wobble, and I don't care how good of a lawyer you can afford

It's more than just a death wobble, it had leaking exhaust pipe due to a bent flange from the factory, leaking left rear shock, knocking noise when braking, and the rear axle had to be replaced due to a bad limited slip diff binding. It only has 4,827 miles and has been back and forth to the dealer several times. I mean how many more problems do I need to have with this thing? I've already tightened every ball joint and suspension bolt on this thing.

 

[NachoRuby]

Over death wobble, if that's what it really is. That's a fixable solution that can happen on any solid axle vehicle. It's not just Jeeps that have had the problems, even Toyota's owners I know have had the issue. Not saying nothing bad about a Tacoma or Toyota, but it can happen, especially in solid axle vehicles. I 100% doubt your going to force a buy back because of death wobble, and I don't care how good of a lawyer you can afford

No one uses solid axles anymore on light/medium duty but jeep now (on front) in this country. So not many people are used to it anymore. We're the last ones outside of 2500s/F-250s and up.

 

[MagnusWolf]

This is unacceptable in a modern vehicle, nevertheless a sub $50k truck. Jeep is stuck in the 90s with their quality control. I already had a number of issues at 10k miles with my truck. Just waiting for a next gen Tacoma to come out…

I wouldn't buy the Tacoma, I work for Toyota and the new 3.5L is junk. The 4 runner is the only reliable Toyota you can get because it still uses the 4.0L v6

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