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

[DaveL]

got a message from dealership that they are unable to remove pitman arm to replace steering gear so they ordered a new pitman arm to go with new steering gear. is this familiar with any of you? thanks

They took our wheels off. We have wheel locks, and never thought they would need them. Left a polite note to come back within a hundred km and they would retorque the wheels for free.

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[DaveL]

So after JeepCares reached across the US-CAN border and schooled FCA Canada on how to treat a customer...

Two weeks ago, my case was escalated to a higher level FCA Canada rep who told me that the TSB was approved (originally denied due to having the Mopar Lift installed). Dealership called me today to inform me all the parts are in and I'm scheduled for next Thursday morning.

I cannot express my appreciation and gratitude for Darlene @JeepCares. Thanks to her and JeepCares making this all possible!

Now hoping my install goes smoothly and I'm not back reporting notchy steering or steering fluid all over my engine bay.

Baby steps.

Good news! Well done.

 

[Blade1668]

Well yesterday morning after I got off from work I stopped in at dealership talked with my salesman few minutes and looked at few other new Jeeps then went to service area to be added to waiting list for TSB replacement. Right off of the bat first "Guy #1" one no problem other one started with that I had lifted and changed tires... Then my quick shut down on that... nope OEM no mods factory tires n rims. Guy #1 has to get vin and mileage on vehicle and put on list for parts. "He was directed on down low" to see if it's still stock as I said. After I said I have Vin and mileage on hand walking in door. I said I'm not rushed for TSB work, my work vehicle is a lot worse. Anyway my XJ has (had) twitchy steering in it due to it's mod's.

 

[Conrad101st]

Again, I’m asking. is this upgrade to be done on all vehicles (Period) or is this only offered if you have a problem like sloppy steering?

 

[Tapped_Out]

Again, I’m asking. is this upgrade to be done on all vehicles (Period) or is this only offered if you have a problem like sloppy steering?

If you have the correct, non-problematic steering gear, to begin with, you won't get or need the TSB fix. My understanding is the problem only affects the aluminum steering gear. You can easily tell which one is installed by crawling under the vehicle and seeing if you have the cast iron or aluminum gear.

As for the behavior of individual dealers, no one has control over that. Others are getting the run around, threatened with fees, or told they're lift kits or other actions violated the warranty, and some of us walked in with the TSB in hand, and instantly got the parts ordered. As was my case.

 

[DaveL]

Again, I’m asking. is this upgrade to be done on all vehicles (Period) or is this only offered if you have a problem like sloppy steering?

When we bought our new Jeep the dealer assured us that all Technical Service Bulletins were done. That was just over a year ago.
I complained the first day; took it in to Service and heard the next day that "It's a Jeep thing" and it was fine. It wasn't. Was it the worst steering Jeep out there? Nope. But it wandered and had the symptoms on the TSB when it came out a year later.
The new steering gear is remarkable.

I've read every post here and elsewhere trying to understand what the problem is.
Design?
Parts quality? Maybe some are bad, and some are really bad...
Installation?
Dealer service? Yup.

Advice? I got it done. If Jeep is offering new steering gear to make the Jeep safer, I'd take the offer. Now the Jeep steers like it should have coming out of the factory.

 

[Skull]

Dealer told me yesterday over the phone that TSB parts will not be available until the end of the year...still trying to get a simple door seal fixed...very frustrating...

 

[DobaMark]

I've been running BFG KM2s on JK wheels on my Gladiator. For my trip south from PA to GA, I put the stock wheels and tires on and it for the long drive and it was worse. Sure surprised me.

Now I've got to figure which dealer I want to go to for this steering TSB issue. I live near Jasper Jeep but hear they aren't as good as they used to be. I used to go to Landmark on Peachtree Industrial when I lived here before but the good service manager left there.

 

[Mouse]

got a message from dealership that they are unable to remove pitman arm to replace steering gear so they ordered a new pitman arm to go with new steering gear. is this familiar with any of you? thanks

Somewhere in the past 100 pages, someone else also had an issue with a pitman arm. Not a big deal. Mostly a surprise that the mechanic can't remove it. Sometimes they take a heavy hand and a good puller.

 

[GLDHE8R]

Took mine into the dealer Wednesday for stearing and gas overfill. Was told today pick it up NO PROBLEM FOUND. I'm in contact with Jeep Cares will see if they can help

 

[Bradt530]

Please send our team a private message with your VIN, mileage, and dealer so that we can look into this further.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

Spoke to the dealer yesterday. Finally returned my call and they are expecting the parts any day now.

 

[cgflyer]

In this case he wants it - and a steering gear isn't major surgery. There is an obvious problem with the aluminum original and once he runs out of warranty, if he has troubles with it - it's on him.
If it was just to check to see if he had an old or faulty version of software, or compare VINs to see if he had a certain part that may have problems, and they decide he didn't, that's one thing, but these have a horrible history.
I didn't think mine that bad - my wife did. I listened to her and took it in and got the new steering gear and am glad I did.
I now have the better gear, the software to go with it, and no wandering.
Trouble with many dealers is they are so used to calling anything other than sports car performance "a jeep thing" they are getting away with calling almost anything abnormal "a jeep thing".
Time for the excuses to stop.
It's up to him if he wants to drop it - but I'd suggest he not because if there's even a slight issue, it won't get better and if he decided in 2 years it has a problem, he's screwed.

I also didn't think mine was that bad (28,000+ miles on my JT) but several months ago I was towing an empty trailer and I heard a LOUD pop and horrible steering ever since. I took mine in for the manual transmission recall and asked them to order the steering gear for the TSB...they were very familiar with it and essentially said sure with little questions asked but later said they drove it and it failed the "test" making it eligible for the TSB. They also told me the steel gear is just the JK steering gear. And I do think there are "Jeep" things like poor steering, but after my experience with the pop, mine was definitely bad, but I couldn't find anything else that seemed off.

 

[JeepCares]

Is this a repair if your current system is obviously defective only, or will they updated even if your truck seems to be driving correctly?

Hi @Conrad101st,

I understand that your question was previously answered by a fellow forum member. However, in the event that you do experience steering concerns, we are happy to assist while your vehicle is in service at the dealer.

got a message from dealership that they are unable to remove pitman arm to replace steering gear so they ordered a new pitman arm to go with new steering gear. is this familiar with any of you? thanks

Hi @Sgt. Pepper,

Please let us know via private message if you would like to work with a Jeep Wave Specialist while your Jeep is in service for this.

Spoke to the dealer yesterday. Finally returned my call and they are expecting the parts any day now.

Thank you for following up with us! We are happy to hear that the parts will be in soon.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

just got out of the dealership, not night and day with the short drive to home, still have to take it to the freeway
thank you @JeepCares for the help.

 

[Tapped_Out]

Somewhere in the past 100 pages, someone else also had an issue with a pitman arm. Not a big deal. Mostly a surprise that the mechanic can't remove it. Sometimes they take a heavy hand and a good puller.

These are all new, or nearly new Gladiators, so I can't imagine how a mechanic could possibly damage the pitman arm, unless he used nothing but a hammer to try and remove it. Removing the part isn't difficult or rocket science, it just requires the right tools.

Was the vehicle up in "salt winter" country? What gives here?

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