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

[Rayzzz]

The dealership I purchased mine from Steve White Motors in Hickory North Carolina kept telling me that it drove just fine. After four attempts they were so rude that my shadow will never darken their doorway again. I took it to another dealership an hour away and they said yes it was bad. They immediately took care of the issue by replacing the steering box. If I would have let my wife Drive mine before the steering box was replaced she would have never touch the steering wheel again. After the new box was installed it drives so much better

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[SkyKing]

The dealership I purchased mine from Steve White Motors in Hickory North Carolina kept telling me that it drove just fine. After four attempts they were so rude that my shadow will never darken their doorway again. I took it to another dealership an hour away and they said yes it was bad. They immediately took care of the issue by replacing the steering box. If I would have let my wife Drive mine before the steering box was replaced she would have never touch the steering wheel again. After the new box was installed it drives so much better

 

[SkyKing]

These experiences need to be reported to Jeep Corporate Headquarters.
The consumer should not have to experience frustration at this level for one of the most critical system on a vehicle.

I will report my experience when I have time to start the process.

 

[DobaMark]

The bad part is that for quite some time Jeep itself denied the problem. By the time people started experiencing this in Gladiator and being told "it's a Jeep thing", Wrangler JL owners had already been experiencing it for a year and a half.
It ended up being 3 years form JL introduction until this TSB first was issued. I'm sure Jeep was telling dealers "it's a Jeep thing".
So I don't expect Jeep to be a great help in getting dealers in line over this.

 

[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

Hello Kate,
I did send a PM @JeepCares waiting on a reply

 

[Bucephalus]

The dealership I purchased mine from Steve White Motors in Hickory North Carolina kept telling me that it drove just fine. After four attempts they were so rude that my shadow will never darken their doorway again. I took it to another dealership an hour away and they said yes it was bad. They immediately took care of the issue by replacing the steering box. If I would have let my wife Drive mine before the steering box was replaced she would have never touch the steering wheel again. After the new box was installed it drives so much better

Were you getting death wobble before?

 

[Hockeypilot44]

They replaced mine a few weeks ago. I didn't think my steering was that bad to begin with. Steering feels the same as before. Looking at my paperwork, they installed a part ending in AA. Does that mean they installed a different aluminum box instead of a steel one?

 

[Hootbro]

They replaced mine a few weeks ago. I didn't think my steering was that bad to begin with. Steering feels the same as before. Looking at my paperwork, they installed a part ending in AA. Does that mean they installed a different aluminum box instead of a steel one?

Stick your face in the drivers front wheel well, If the steering box is bare silver metal, it is aluminum. If painted black, then it is a steel steering box.

Just posting the "AA" suffix gives no detail other than it is a first revision part. Need the preceding numbers bumped against the latest TSB to see what you actually got installed.

Been a few instances of people getting a new steel steering box but a incorrect one intended for a JL instead of a JT was installed.

 

[Hockeypilot44]

The part number is 68507576-AA according to paperwork. Don't have TSB.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

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

No, just get it fixed. ;-)

My wife drove mine part way back to Iowa from Indiana in Feb of 2020. It was 4 months old then if that. She made a comment "I hope there's no cops behind us, they'll think I'm drunk".
I didn't think a lot of it at the time but........ a few months later I was driving and she commented "pay attention, can't you drive straight" or similar words. Gee, I didn't really think it was bad, not really, but her comments together, made me think, especially when I found the TSB.
I took it to the local dealer, I handed them the TSB, I told them just what my wife had said and suggested "It may have a problem, I'll let you decide". The service writer drove it around back while I waited out front in the lobby. A tech checked it over and said yeah, it had a problem. The service writer told me the Gladiator should not be like that.
They ordered the steering gear and replaced it. It was better - for a while.
Then in the spring it was really "wandery". I took it to them and asked them to check it over for anything loose, alignment, whatever. I think it was about 2 hours after I left it with them I got a call - we need to keep your truck, we have to replace the steering gear. He didn't say maybe, or we think or should, it was like "we have to".
My wife has since driven it several times - most of the way from Des Moines to Colorado Springs and then she drove it all the way back on the return trip. She thinks it's fine now (and her normal vehicle is a rack and pinion IFS Grand Cherokee).

 

[SkyKing]

No, just get it fixed. ;-)

My wife drove mine part way back to Iowa from Indiana in Feb of 2020. It was 4 months old then if that. She made a comment "I hope there's no cops behind us, they'll think I'm drunk".
I didn't think a lot of it at the time but........ a few months later I was driving and she commented "pay attention, can't you drive straight" or similar words. Gee, I didn't really think it was bad, not really, but her comments together, made me think, especially when I found the TSB.
I took it to the local dealer, I handed them the TSB, I told them just what my wife had said and suggested "It may have a problem, I'll let you decide". The service writer drove it around back while I waited out front in the lobby. A tech checked it over and said yeah, it had a problem. The service writer told me the Gladiator should not be like that.
They ordered the steering gear and replaced it. It was better - for a while.
Then in the spring it was really "wandery". I took it to them and asked them to check it over for anything loose, alignment, whatever. I think it was about 2 hours after I left it with them I got a call - we need to keep your truck, we have to replace the steering gear. He didn't say maybe, or we think or should, it was like "we have to".
My wife has since driven it several times - most of the way from Des Moines to Colorado Springs and then she drove it all the way back on the return trip. She thinks it's fine now (and her normal vehicle is a rack and pinion IFS Grand Cherokee).

??? As I drove home last night on Interstate 49 I was thinking the same… how am I going to explain to the State Trooper that it’s just the steering… I haven’t had anything but coffee…

 

[Hootbro]

The part number is 68507576-AA according to paperwork. Don't have TSB.

You have the correct one.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I got this one installed in May, 2021. This is my second one -

 

[Vtur]

I got this one installed in May, 2021. This is my second one -

Mine is the same AB box that came installed with my 2/21 built date. Idk why everyone called it a steel box? It's actually painted aluminum.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mine is the same AB box that came installed with my 2/21 built date. Idk why everyone called it a steel box? It's actually painted aluminum.

Uh, maybe because of this -
"The new steel gear frame bolts are all the same size"............... Jeep says the old one is aluminum and the new one is steel - could that matter?
Or the fact that a magnet sticks to it?
It's steel.

Where did you get the bad/incorrect idea that it's painted aluminum?

Here it is straight from Jeep - "new steel gear......"

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