Loose steering-dealers response

[JJmoto]

I am definitely going to pay closer attention next time I drive to work. I noticed the same thing when I initially got it on the highway but attributed it to being "a jeep thing". I have an Overland with the stock 32" Dueler's and it was hard to keep center. I only have my old 2000 xj to compare it to and it didn't exactly have tight steering. Definitely going to keep following this. Anyone in South Carolina having similar issues and want to compare?

I’m in Augusta, GA.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I'd STILL love for someone who has the true steering issue - meaning the "loose" steering where there's play, etc. to come for a visit. They can drive my JT (I'll even wipe it down with alcohol) and I'll drive theirs (and disinfect it when done) and we can compare.
Anyone with this issue in Iowa who can come and compare?

 

[HWKIGRL]

Hmm, was there a 2" lift when you purchased it? Bigger tires? I would find out who did the lift and if there was a wheel alignment performed? I had mine stock and it drove well, put the 2" lift on, it drove well. Added JL Rubicon tirs and it pulled hard to the left. Had the dealer rebalance and was good again. I know the dealer sent the truck to a 4 wheel place after the lift to have the alignment done. Good Luck!

The dealer I purchased from (over 3 hours away) installed the lift, my wheels were delayed (back ordered) so I drove the three hours back on the original stocks wheels and tires, it drove HORRIBLY once on the highway, we took side roads the first 175 miles, to “break in” but than had to get on the grapevine....it had been fine or not noticed until the freeway, speed, wind, traffic....
Three weeks later my wheels arrived and my local dealer (where I purchased my last Jeep) did the install, balance, alignment and Mopar speedometer calibration, I also asked them to take a look at loose steering but they just drove around the block...told me it “was within normal range” unfortunately this is also the dealership who’s employees told me Mopar didn’t do a speedometer calibration, Mopar didn’t have black grill inserts, Then after the Owner contacted me, still ordered the wrong wheels, wrong tires and overcharged me...so I’m not super confident they even checked the steering.

 

[Nurse K]

Yeah. It’s a big difference. It’s only been a few thousand miles, but the steering feels the same now as after they fixed it. I just happened to get a faulty one. And there wasn’t a fight by the way. I just said it’s dangerous on the hwy and I’ve had other solid front axle Jeeps and this isn’t normal. The shop foreman drove it on the hwy and noted that it was “very loose” and ordered a new steering box for me.

Thanks again for the information. I took mine in today and asked them to please drive it on the highway and not just around the city streets. They just called and are keeping it for the next two days until the new steering box arrives. They indicated it "floated all over the road" and I feel quite relieved to say the least. I've owned three Wranglers before the Gladiator and just knew this was not typical.

 

[Ace310]

Update to my post about my dealership experience at Courtesy Jeep in Coatesville PA. After they told me they felt the loose steering and replaced the steering stabilizer I called this morning to say it didn’t change anything I was told by the manager that’s just the way the steering is and they didn’t want to replace the stabilizer in the first place but did it just to appease me. He tried just blowing me off and said there wasn’t anything he could do about it and told me to come in and drive another one to show me it wasn’t just mine. My reply to that is A. I’ve driven several and didn’t notice it in others and B. If they are all the same then Jeep needs to fix the issue with a recall because it’s not acceptable. I love my gladiator and the sales team at Courtesy was awesome but the service department is not up to par with them and it’s frustrating when someone tries to blow you off and doesn’t seem interested in helping as if the money it costs to try to fix it comes out of their pocket so they don’t want to try to help.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Update to my post about my dealership experience at Courtesy Jeep in Coatesville PA. After they told me they felt the loose steering and replaced the steering stabilizer I called this morning to say it didn’t change anything I was told by the manager that’s just the way the steering is and they didn’t want to replace the stabilizer in the first place but did it just to appease me. He tried just blowing me off and said there wasn’t anything he could do about it and told me to come in and drive another one to show me it wasn’t just mine. My reply to that is A. I’ve driven several and didn’t notice it in others and B. If they are all the same then Jeep needs to fix the issue with a recall because it’s not acceptable. I love my gladiator and the sales team at Courtesy was awesome but the service department is not up to par with them and it’s frustrating when someone tries to blow you off and doesn’t seem interested in helping as if the money it costs to try to fix it comes out of their pocket so they don’t want to try to help.

Tell your sales people that if their shop keeps up with this attitude, there are other awesome sales people out there............. Sales has a lot of impact on the shop. I had a sales person (this was years ago) really lay it all out to the shop one time - and got a call from the shop telling me to bring my vehicle back and they'd take care of it for me.
Well, it's worth a try. Lost sales = lost shop work and many dealerships rely on the shop for cash coming in.

 

[Ace310]

Tell your sales people that if their shop keeps up with this attitude, there are other awesome sales people out there............. Sales has a lot of impact on the shop. I had a sales person (this was years ago) really lay it all out to the shop one time - and got a call from the shop telling me to bring my vehicle back and they'd take care of it for me.
Well, it's worth a try. Lost sales = lost shop work and many dealerships rely on the shop for cash coming in.

Tell your sales people that if their shop keeps up with this attitude, there are other awesome sales people out there............. Sales has a lot of impact on the shop. I had a sales person (this was years ago) really lay it all out to the shop one time - and got a call from the shop telling me to bring my vehicle back and they'd take care of it for me.
Well, it's worth a try. Lost sales = lost shop work and many dealerships rely on the shop for cash coming in.

Funny that you say that I just text the sales woman that I bought it from ( who is great and has gotten a lot of business from this forum) and she talked to the original guy I dealt with. He was very nice and wanted to help but he works in service and isn’t the manager. The manager is the one I dealt with today and he could care less about my problem. Long story short both are not happy the way I was treated by the manager and while he’s on vacation next week I’m bringing it in to have them look at it closer. Crazy they have to sneak around this manager. I’m not one that wants people to lose their jobs especially during this time so I hope he doesn’t but someone needs to teach him that customer service drives sales and people’s willingness to spend $40,000-$50,000 on vehicles and have them serviced at that particular dealership.

 

[Blknblu]

Funny that you say that I just text the sales woman that I bought it from ( who is great and has gotten a lot of business from this forum) and she talked to the original guy I dealt with. He was very nice and wanted to help but he works in service and isn’t the manager. The manager is the one I dealt with today and he could care less about my problem. Long story short both are not happy the way I was treated by the manager and while he’s on vacation next week I’m bringing it in to have them look at it closer. Crazy they have to sneak around this manager. I’m not one that wants people to lose their jobs especially during this time so I hope he doesn’t but someone needs to teach him that customer service drives sales and people’s willingness to spend $40,000-$50,000 on vehicles and have them serviced at that particular dealership.

His manager reports to someone too, can always escalate and get local FCA rep involved too.

Bruce

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Funny that you say that I just text the sales woman that I bought it from ( who is great and has gotten a lot of business from this forum) and she talked to the original guy I dealt with. He was very nice and wanted to help but he works in service and isn’t the manager. The manager is the one I dealt with today and he could care less about my problem. Long story short both are not happy the way I was treated by the manager and while he’s on vacation next week I’m bringing it in to have them look at it closer. Crazy they have to sneak around this manager. I’m not one that wants people to lose their jobs especially during this time so I hope he doesn’t but someone needs to teach him that customer service drives sales and people’s willingness to spend $40,000-$50,000 on vehicles and have them serviced at that particular dealership.

I had trouble with a 1984 Eagle wagon I bought brand new, special order. The car leaned to the left. The left side sat lower when on flat ground. The techs agreed it didn't look right and others on the lot didn't lean like that. Round and round we went, the service manager finally said there wasn't a problem. I called in the regional AMC rep.
They had us bring the car back in, it got new springs and seems they did something else, too.
A month later I went to the local Chevy dealer to get some parts for a car I was working on for someone else. The AMC service manager was working at the Chevy dealer parts counter as a parts guy.
I don't like it when people lose jobs, either - I've been manager of a retail store and manager at a health care business and I hated having to let folks go - but on the other hand, if that sort of person stays put they'll drive business away from that dealership and it will hurt your sales team hard, too.
Next time you have troubles, you will likely have the same results........... unless HIS superior lays down the law - or sends him to customer relations school.

 

[Rocksalt]

if it is all over the place something is not right. mine has been true since day 1 . one hand on steering at hwy speeds.

 

[Rayzzz]

The dealership I had taken my new Gladiator to only wanted to say they didn't think it was a problem and they all drive that way but I knew it was unsafe to drive. After taking it back 4 times they succeeded at piss%#! me off so bad I while most likely never go back there again. Steering box adjustment is not that hard and I'm rolling down the road safely with no thanks to the dealership.

 

[watarski]

Another VERY dissatisfied customer with the Service Dept AND Jeep Customer Service. I absolutely have a dead spot in my steering. I was polite with every single phone call and visit to my local dealership. I said from the get-go that I wanted the "over center check done on the steering gear" - and explained the problem, and the safety issue at higher speed (ie, interstate). Their fix, or rather Jeep's "engineers" suggestion was to have them do an alignment. I balked and said I wasn't having alignment issues. Long story short, dealership refused to do the over center check - after they said they would - because the "engineers" said all it needed was an alignment and that I would have to call Jeep Customer Service to force them to do anything else. The backwoods tech said "drives like a Gladiator". BS. I've talked to Jeep Customer Care twice now (because the first guy didn't take correct information), explaining the problem. I was told I'd be contacted. I just received an email stating: the dealership states it repaired your problem, is it fixed? Super. I'm not wasting anymore time with Jeep, or this dealership.

@JeepCares I don't take my vehicle in for service unless absolutely necessary. I do all my own wrenching and have for years - I'm particular with my vehicles and I know how service staff usually treat vehicles. If I'm taking it in, there's a problem - and I explained that to everyone I've talked to throughout this - I don't want to waste anyone's time for something I can handle. No one seems to care or want to address this issue. All anyone has to do is simply Google jeep/gladiator steering issues - read for hours on end...
To say I'm disappointed is an understatement, and my story isn't as bad as some of the others I've read here.

 

[Ace310]

Another VERY dissatisfied customer with the Service Dept AND Jeep Customer Service. I absolutely have a dead spot in my steering. I was polite with every single phone call and visit to my local dealership. I said from the get-go that I wanted the "over center check done on the steering gear" - and explained the problem, and the safety issue at higher speed (ie, interstate). Their fix, or rather Jeep's "engineers" suggestion was to have them do an alignment. I balked and said I wasn't having alignment issues. Long story short, dealership refused to do the over center
check - after they said they would - because the "engineers" said all it needed was an alignment and that I would have to call Jeep Customer Service to force them to do anything else. The backwoods tech said "drives like a Gladiator". BS. I've talked to Jeep Customer Care twice now (because the first guy didn't take correct information), explaining the problem. I was told I'd be contacted. I just received an email stating: the dealership states it repaired your problem, is it fixed? Super. I'm not wasting anymore time with Jeep, or this dealership.

@JeepCares I don't take my vehicle in for service unless absolutely necessary. I do all my own wrenching and have for years - I'm particular with my vehicles and I know how service staff usually treat vehicles. If I'm taking it in, there's a problem - and I explained that to everyone I've talked to throughout this - I don't want to waste anyone's time for something I can handle. No one seems to care or want to address this issue. All anyone has to do is simply Google jeep/gladiator steering issues - read for hours on end...
To say I'm disappointed is an understatement, and my story isn't as bad as some of the others I've read here.

Couldn’t agree more. I’m taking mine back in Saturday to the one guy in the service department that was willing to help while the service manager is on vacation. I’m really hoping they are willing to do what’s necessary to fix the issue. If it were one or two people complaining that never drove a Jeep then chalk it up to not knowing how a Jeep drives but when a lot of life long Jeep owners are saying something isn’t right you’d think @JeepCares would be all over the issue.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Couldn’t agree more. I’m taking mine back in Saturday to the one guy in the service department that was willing to help while the service manager is on vacation. I’m really hoping they are willing to do what’s necessary to fix the issue. If it were one or two people complaining that never drove a Jeep then chalk it up to not knowing how a Jeep drives but when a lot of life long Jeep owners are saying something isn’t right you’d think @JeepCares would be all over the issue.

Please don't take this as "Arguing" about what you said - but IMO, I would differ with the bit about "not knowing how a Jeep drives".
They should, and normally DO, drive like any other non-IFS SUV or truck. My Jeep drives and handles just about like any other truck I've owned and not a whole lot different from my IFS Eagle SX4 (a 4x4)
I guess maybe some prefer to say "a Jeep drives different" because it makes it more special or different, but frankly, one of the things I really like about this truck is how it does drive and handle, especially now with the Fox shocks (Rubicon take-offs) and Rubicon front springs and me centering the steering wheel. I would say now that in fact it feels BETTER than my Silverado did - more feel, more resistance to turns, I can let go of the steering wheel and let her run 1/4 mile down the highway, maybe make one minor correction for difference in road crown in one area.
This truck actually resists my trying to take it off the straight more than my Chevy did. I have a better feel of the road and I actually feel more like "one with the truck" with this Jeep.
Sorry if that takes away from the Jeep guys feeling Jeeps are special because they drive differently, mine simply doesn't. It drives GREAT and that's why I actually prefer it as my D-D over my other stuff.
I sometimes think that Jeep owners prefer to believe they won't ever handle or drive nice because they are Jeeps..... LOL - sort of tongue-in-cheek here guys, don't be mad........
But seriously, it doesn't nor should it handle that much differently.

Looking at all everyone is saying, and then thinking of mine - wow, was I lucky, or were that many people really not getting as solid a vehicle as I did?

I guess I ask - don't be mad because I say my JT doesn't "handle like a Jeep". It's not meant to take anything away from Jeeps being special.

Offer still open - anyone in Iowa with a JT that they believe handles crappy or steers like BS - come to my place. We'll chat, compare trucks, you drive mine, I'll drive yours (with the covid disinfecting in between, of course) and we'll see how they compare. Might even go out and get a 6 pack and relax - whatever.
I have a feeling after some owners drive mine they'd be even more upset......... NOT intended to be bragging since I didn't build the truck, just stating how well I think it handles and drives. Frankly, I'd change ZERO on the steering of my truck right now.
Please feel free to stop by and compare.

 

[Ace310]

Please don't take this as "Arguing" about what you said - but IMO, I would differ with the bit about "not knowing how a Jeep drives".
They should, and normally DO, drive like any other non-IFS SUV or truck. My Jeep drives and handles just about like any other truck I've owned and not a whole lot different from my IFS Eagle SX4 (a 4x4)
I guess maybe some prefer to say "a Jeep drives different" because it makes it more special or different, but frankly, one of the things I really like about this truck is how it does drive and handle, especially now with the Fox shocks (Rubicon take-offs) and Rubicon front springs and me centering the steering wheel. I would say now that in fact it feels BETTER than my Silverado did - more feel, more resistance to turns, I can let go of the steering wheel and let her run 1/4 mile down the highway, maybe make one minor correction for difference in road crown in one area.
This truck actually resists my trying to take it off the straight more than my Chevy did. I have a better feel of the road and I actually feel more like "one with the truck" with this Jeep.
Sorry if that takes away from the Jeep guys feeling Jeeps are special because they drive differently, mine simply doesn't. It drives GREAT and that's why I actually prefer it as my D-D over my other stuff.
I sometimes think that Jeep owners prefer to believe they won't ever handle or drive nice because they are Jeeps..... LOL - sort of tongue-in-cheek here guys, don't be mad........
But seriously, it doesn't nor should it handle that much differently.

Looking at all everyone is saying, and then thinking of mine - wow, was I lucky, or were that many people really not getting as solid a vehicle as I did?

I guess I ask - don't be mad because I say my JT doesn't "handle like a Jeep". It's not meant to take anything away from Jeeps being special.

Offer still open - anyone in Iowa with a JT that they believe handles crappy or steers like BS - come to my place. We'll chat, compare trucks, you drive mine, I'll drive yours (with the covid disinfecting in between, of course) and we'll see how they compare. Might even go out and get a 6 pack and relax - whatever.
I have a feeling after some owners drive mine they'd be even more upset......... NOT intended to be bragging since I didn't build the truck, just stating how well I think it handles and drives. Frankly, I'd change ZERO on the steering of my truck right now.
Please feel free to stop by and compare.

I’m glad your experience is different than mine. When I say how a Jeep drives I’m talking about the way it handles bumps in the road not the usual steering. I’ve had several different wranglers and all had a tougher ride than other things I drove, and I love that about Jeeps, but steering was great. I had a Ram 1500 before my gladiator and that thing was stuck to the road like glue. I could do the same as you and take hands off the wheel and not budge but my gladiator the steering is loose. I have 2 inches of play left or right before the wheels move at highway speeds. Obviously not everyone has this issue but enough do for it to be taken seriously by @JeepCares.

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