Bad steering box 68418449AE

[Scrubb84]

I’ve had my new 2020 3 weeks now.
It’s honestly the worst steering I’ve even encountered on a vehicle in 40 yrs of driving.
I’ve made an appointment to get the dealer to look at it,but I’m guessing they won’t fix anything.
Just for reference,I have atleast 5 degrees if free play.

FCA/Jeep is fully aware of the bad steering boxes and they are not doing anything about it. Sry you had to join this club.

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[JCopeland40]

FCA/Jeep is fully aware of the bad steering boxes and they are not doing anything about it. Sry you had to join this club.

Yeah,I love everything about this vehicle except the garbage steering.
Wife and son both won’t drive it.
I may try the steering box tightening fix if all else fails,gotta try the dealer and Jeep first.

 

[Scrubb84]

Yeah,I love everything about this vehicle except the garbage steering.
Wife and son both won’t drive it.
I may try the steering box tightening fix if all else fails,gotta try the dealer and Jeep first.

Apparently the back up camera is WAY more of a safety issue than the giant deadzone in the steering boxes. Figure that one out!

 

[Scrubb84]

MARK CHAMPINE, MARK ALLEN, JIM MORRISON & many others wouldn’t dare let their families drive one of these (with a garbage steering box) But they sit back and do nothing while hundreds of us are scared to drive even on straight road in a BRAND NEW TRUCK. I don’t understand why none of them are in jail yet.

 

[Robert J]

I took my gladiator to the dealership last week, I told them about the steering problem, the tac took it for a drive after a meeting with the service Mgr they said it was ok. they are quite simply liars ! Saying the problem does not exist, what kind of a company does this! I have driven Jeeps foe the last 25 years, I tell everyone not to buy one

 

[Scrubb84]

All of this so they can get more money in their pockets.
I bet they wouldn’t let their landscapers drive one of these.

 

[steve68]

Got the same thing, there's nothing wrong with the steering, corporate is not doing anything to fix this problem,

but Greenway CDJ road tests on a 4 mile loop which is all residential, they drive on the main road for 2 blocks then its all low speed back streets absolutely stupid!!!

@JeepCares whats the corporate plan forward??????????????

 

[Factoid]

The only way to check accurately if it is in the steering box is to let the vehicle sit over night. Find a helper how can slide under the front (this is where a lift really helps) to watch the pitman arm with a flashlight. Grasp the top of the wheel and rock it back and forth lightly While your helper observes the pitman arm for movement. Slowly increase the strength of your rocking until your helper sees the pitman arm make the slightest movement. You now know the extent of your sloppiness and can determine if the sector shaft adjustment will help or not. If the slop is not in the box, you need to inspect the entire steering system, something is not right!

If you feel you have sloppy steering and repeated trips to the dealer have yielded no joy, I would not change anything else until you try this test and make an APPROPRIATE adjustment to the sector shaft if required. A lift and larger tires tends to exaggerate the problem. A new steering stabilizer like a Fox or Falcon (preferred by me) will hold position better, but will not eliminate slop. The Synergy brace will help eliminate wandering and bump steer, but will not eliminate slop.

And finally, when you make any of these adjustments or upgrades. Drive around to let everything warm up. Find a level spot preferably in grass or dirt and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock five times. Five complete cycles. Now drive around some more and see how it feels. If you do all of this and nothing changes, you need a new box!

 

[Rayzzz]

So far steering is much better after the adjustment to the steering box. I'll say it again. It's a shame that the dealerships can't adjust the steering boxes on the ones needing the adjustment because it's an easy job to do.
My Jeep likes my money

 

[JCopeland40]

Took mine to the dealer yesterday to check out the really horrible steering issue.
Turns out the front was really far out of alignment causing it to pull hard right.
My question is...How does a 2020 new vehicle roll of the assembly line so far out of adjustment?

I will tell you that it’s actually drivable now.

 

[NC_Overland]

Not all dealerships won’t fix it. My dealership replaced mine with zero fight. The shop foreman drove it for 7 miles, about half highway. Noted it was very loose and ordered a new steering box.

 

[sonchik]

Not all dealerships won’t fix it. My dealership replaced mine with zero fight. The shop foreman drove it for 7 miles, about half highway. Noted it was very loose and ordered a new steering box.

Is yours working fine after new steering box? I have a JL but same issue for almost two years. Dealer finally listened and ordering a new steering box. Hopefully that will resolve; however I saw others had 2 if not 3! times box replaced.

 

[NC_Overland]

Is yours working fine after new steering box? I have a JL but same issue for almost two years. Dealer finally listened and ordering a new steering box. Hopefully that will resolve; however I saw others had 2 if not 3! times box replaced.

Yes. I noticed an immediate difference. Big difference.

 

[FREEZE451]

Yes. I noticed an immediate difference. Big difference.

Any chance you have the serial numbers? I'd even pay to have a new nice steering box - however I'm content with my adjustment, but if rumor has it correctly and I wear the worm gears down faster, I'd be down to get a nice steering box.

Glad yours worked!

 

[NC_Overland]

Any chance you have the serial numbers? I'd even pay to have a new nice steering box - however I'm content with my adjustment, but if rumor has it correctly and I wear the worm gears down faster, I'd be down to get a nice steering box.

Glad yours worked!

I do not. I don’t think it’s a new part number though.

Thank you! The only thing I’ve noticed is now that it’s hot, I had to let some air out of my tires. I have E load 275/70/18s and the steering isn’t as precise on the hwy when they are over 38 psi. I need to do a chalk test now that I have these heavier, stiffer tires on it. 38 might even be too high...

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