Solutions for the freeway wander - will track bar/steering stabilizer help?

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

Hello all,

We know this has been discussed at length on other threads on this forum. However, we wanted to follow up here to make sure everyone is aware. TSB 08-074-20 has been released and may help remedy the concerns you are discussing here. Please let us know if you need additional support when working with your dealer on this. Details for TSB are as follows:

"SUBJECT:
Improved Steering Feel

MODELS:
2018 - 2020 (JL) Jeep Wrangler
2020 (JT) Jeep Gladiator
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: North
America, APAC, LATAM and EMEA.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The customer may describe one or more of the following:
• Steering wander.
• Vehicle has a lead/pull to the right or left.
NOTE: The lead/pull will be more noticeable in hot ambient temperatures.
• Steering feels like it has excess play."

Julie
JeepCares

So you see, all you negative nellies. Jeep really does Care.

Sponsored

 

[pparks72]

Hello all,

We know this has been discussed at length on other threads on this forum. However, we wanted to follow up here to make sure everyone is aware. TSB 08-074-20 has been released and may help remedy the concerns you are discussing here. Please let us know if you need additional support when working with your dealer on this. Details for TSB are as follows:

"SUBJECT:
Improved Steering Feel

MODELS:
2018 - 2020 (JL) Jeep Wrangler
2020 (JT) Jeep Gladiator
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: North
America, APAC, LATAM and EMEA.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The customer may describe one or more of the following:
• Steering wander.
• Vehicle has a lead/pull to the right or left.
NOTE: The lead/pull will be more noticeable in hot ambient temperatures.
• Steering feels like it has excess play."

Julie
JeepCares

Today was my third attempt to get the dealer to fix my steering,

1) I dropped it off in March/April to get an oil change and I explained that since I have had the truck I have had an issue with loose steering making it difficult to drive straight. The changed the oil and explained that what I was feeling is just a driving characteristic of that truck.

10 Aug 2020 TSB released and a few days after I stopped by the dealer with my request to have my steering looked at. They give me an appointment in 10 days.

2) 26 Aug 2020 at 0830 I drop off the truck with a typed note explaining the issue and referencing the possible fix (TSB). After work I stopped in about 1530 to check up and I was told that they should have an update soon. So, I left for a while and at 1641, just as I pulled in the parking lot the service adviser called and explained that they could not do anything with this truck because its lifted. I replied there is not a lift on that truck. Then I was told that it because it has a Fox steering stabilizer on it. I tried to explain that it was a Mopar part made by Fox, but I was having trouble explaining my point due to a disability. I was told that in order for me not to be charged it had to have the original equipment. I asked if I could changed it and return the next day.

3) Dropped of truck this morning (8/28) at 0900 with the original steering stabilizer installed....To Be Continued.

 

[Jolly’s Jp]

Today was my third attempt to get the dealer to fix my steering,

1) I dropped it off in March/April to get an oil change and I explained that since I have had the truck I have had an issue with loose steering making it difficult to drive straight. The changed the oil and explained that what I was feeling is just a driving characteristic of that truck.

10 Aug 2020 TSB released and a few days after I stopped by the dealer with my request to have my steering looked at. They give me an appointment in 10 days.

2) 26 Aug 2020 at 0830 I drop off the truck with a typed note explaining the issue and referencing the possible fix (TSB). After work I stopped in about 1530 to check up and I was told that they should have an update soon. So, I left for a while and at 1641, just as I pulled in the parking lot the service adviser called and explained that they could not do anything with this truck because its lifted. I replied there is not a lift on that truck. Then I was told that it because it has a Fox steering stabilizer on it. I tried to explain that it was a Mopar part made by Fox, but I was having trouble explaining my point due to a disability. I was told that in order for me not to be charged it had to have the original equipment. I asked if I could changed it and return the next day.

3) Dropped of truck this morning (8/28) at 0900 with the original steering stabilizer installed....To Be Continued.

Where in N.C. are you? I took mine to one dealer and they did an alignment (toe was off) but refused to look at the steering and blamed it on the bigger tires and rims.

Today, I was driving by another dealer (same major name but different shop) and decided to stop in. I went in with a different approach, told them what I was experiencing, and told them what I had done. They had the shop Forman ride with me and not an hour later after checking everything else, a new steering gear is on order.

I was told it will be mid-September before the parts arrive but at that point, I didn’t care...felt like someone listened.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Report them to MOPAR. In most cases you get a survey later asking how things went on your last service appointment. I had the OIL CHANGED And TIRE ROTATION done under the Jeep Wave thing and I got a survey asking how things went.
You should as well - give them 0's and contact FCA.
This sort of thing is BS.
There is ZERO anywhere in that TSB about checking to see if it's related to a lift or tires or a non-factory installed part.
Again, this is EASY MONEY for them! They do the work, they submit their "paper work" to Jeep - they get paid 1.9 hours (maybe other fees, I'm going from memory)
They don't have to spend any real time. Imagine a weird issue where they have to spend half a day figuring out what's wrong - the time invested, money they could have trouble getting back. This is money for them.

 

[JKABBQ]

2) 26 Aug 2020 at 0830 I drop off the truck with a typed note explaining the issue and referencing the possible fix (TSB). After work I stopped in about 1530 to check up and I was told that they should have an update soon. So, I left for a while and at 1641, just as I pulled in the parking lot the service adviser called and explained that they could not do anything with this truck because its lifted. I replied there is not a lift on that truck. Then I was told that it because it has a Fox steering stabilizer on it. I tried to explain that it was a Mopar part made by Fox, but I was having trouble explaining my point due to a disability. I was told that in order for me not to be charged it had to have the original equipment. I asked if I could changed it and return the next day.

Sorry to hear you’re having difficulties! My dealer installed the Mopar lift on my Gladiator and when it actually worsened the wandering they installed the Fox Steering Stabilizer on my Gladiator free of charge and told me it would at least be a temporary fix until a future FCA official fix came out which they expected would come one day. That was back in January. This is a load of crap that this service department is telling you otherwise and it’s because of an non-existent lift and the stabilizer that prevents them from doing this work. How about all of the Jeep dealerships across the country who do customized work on JL’s and JT’s on their lots? Ask them if the lifted Jeeps sold by then have to have their lifts removed before the TSB can be completed. My guess is they would say no.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

How about all of the Jeep dealerships across the country who do customized work on JL’s and JT’s on their lots? Ask them if the lifted Jeeps sold by then have to have their lifts removed before the TSB can be completed. My guess is they would say no.

Exactly - like I reported on the other thread (or maybe this one LOL)
Just steps outside the doors of the shop I left mine at there was a JT Sport - and listed by the dealer was a 2" MOPAR lift, 17" black custom wheels, and I think they were 35" tires.
I know they have done similar to other JTs on their lot over the past year.

 

[JKABBQ]

Exactly - like I reported on the other thread (or maybe this one LOL)
Just steps outside the doors of the shop I left mine at there was a JT Sport - and listed by the dealer was a 2" MOPAR lift, 17" black custom wheels, and I think they were 35" tires.
I know they have done similar to other JTs on their lot over the past year.

Absolutely! This level of inconsistency is what I find most troubling. It’s one thing which I take for granted now that as consumers we do know more than the sales staff and dealerships about their own products sometimes. My partner just bought herself a 2020 Black Edition Honda CRV last week and I knew more about it than the dealership who had one on their lot did. However that said...in this time and age where everything is linked by the internet and every service department is connected online, it baffles me that FCA doesn’t have internal memos that alert managers to this information that would make it consistent across North America.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Absolutely! This level of inconsistency is what I find most troubling. It’s one thing which I take for granted now that as consumers we do know more than the sales staff and dealerships about their own products sometimes. My partner just bought herself a 2020 Black Edition Honda CRV last week and I knew more about it than the dealership who had one on their lot did. However that said...in this time and age where everything is linked by the internet and every service department is connected online, it baffles me that FCA doesn’t have internal memos that alert managers to this information that would make it consistent across North America.

They may........ when I was trying to help a state agency set up a new helpdesk system - I had come from a huge company that had a very strict standard on how things were handled. The agency - meh, whatever they wanted to do. If someone called with an issue, there was no way in the world to see if they had experienced the same issue before, or if anyone else had, or what solutions had been. One person may enter "can't print" and then in the body to describe it in more detail "printer trouble". And in the solution - fixed printer.
Real helpful!
I created standards - key words, I wrote up a tip sheet on how to complete each area and the boss even had a meeting telling is helpdesk staff of my info and how to complete tickets.
A few months later there were still stupid-ass tickets with "fixed printer" or "computer is slow, fixed trouble" and when a certain staff member was asked about their tickets her response was "I don't want to do it that way" and guess what the boss did - nothing.......
FCA could scream this from the mountain top - but unless local management does something like tell people to spend 10 minutes every day checking for new bulletins - and then ENFORCES it, you end up with what we have. It could come into their screen as a yellow alert - and they simply dismiss it. Who knows.
A franchise restaurant is only as good as the cooks they hire and the management seeing that they meet corporate standards.

I did hear something interesting from the sales guy I bought through - if he receives anything less than 10s, he hears about it. If the dealership gets less than glowing, they actually are treated differently on certain things. He says it's not good to get less than perfect scores and that's why some sales people almost BEG you to complete the survey and give them perfect marks and nothing less at all.
So maybe people need to pay attention and seriously complete any survey they get from anyone connected with these things.......... I know they pay attention, I have recieved phone calls from Jeep customer care about how I answered their surveys.

 

[JKABBQ]

They may........ when I was trying to help a state agency set up a new helpdesk system - I had come from a huge company that had a very strict standard on how things were handled. The agency - meh, whatever they wanted to do. If someone called with an issue, there was no way in the world to see if they had experienced the same issue before, or if anyone else had, or what solutions had been. One person may enter "can't print" and then in the body to describe it in more detail "printer trouble". And in the solution - fixed printer.
Real helpful!
I created standards - key words, I wrote up a tip sheet on how to complete each area and the boss even had a meeting telling is helpdesk staff of my info and how to complete tickets.
A few months later there were still stupid-ass tickets with "fixed printer" or "computer is slow, fixed trouble" and when a certain staff member was asked about their tickets her response was "I don't want to do it that way" and guess what the boss did - nothing.......
FCA could scream this from the mountain top - but unless local management does something like tell people to spend 10 minutes every day checking for new bulletins - and then ENFORCES it, you end up with what we have. It could come into their screen as a yellow alert - and they simply dismiss it. Who knows.
A franchise restaurant is only as good as the cooks they hire and the management seeing that they meet corporate standards.

I did hear something interesting from the sales guy I bought through - if he receives anything less than 10s, he hears about it. If the dealership gets less than glowing, they actually are treated differently on certain things. He says it's not good to get less than perfect scores and that's why some sales people almost BEG you to complete the survey and give them perfect marks and nothing less at all.
So maybe people need to pay attention and seriously complete any survey they get from anyone connected with these things.......... I know they pay attention, I have recieved phone calls from Jeep customer care about how I answered their surveys.

Good points. Actually that’s no different than any customer service industry. For that matter any industry. I’ve worn many hats in various careers in my lifetime and professional standards are only as good as the people working and the supervisors/managers who oversee the operations. Holding them to account is the only true way of seeing any change in the end.

 

[JeepCares]

Hi @pparks72,

We're sorry to hear this happened! Please send our team a message with your VIN and dealer so that we can provide additional assistance having this TSB completed.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

 

[ACLdestroyer]

Hello all,

We know this has been discussed at length on other threads on this forum. However, we wanted to follow up here to make sure everyone is aware. TSB 08-074-20 has been released and may help remedy the concerns you are discussing here. Please let us know if you need additional support when working with your dealer on this. Details for TSB are as follows:

"SUBJECT:
Improved Steering Feel

MODELS:
2018 - 2020 (JL) Jeep Wrangler
2020 (JT) Jeep Gladiator
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: North
America, APAC, LATAM and EMEA.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The customer may describe one or more of the following:
• Steering wander.
• Vehicle has a lead/pull to the right or left.
NOTE: The lead/pull will be more noticeable in hot ambient temperatures.
• Steering feels like it has excess play."

Julie
JeepCares

Just ordered parts. Appreciate you addressing this Julie. Excellent customer care.

 

[pparks72]

Hi @pparks72,

We're sorry to hear this happened! Please send our team a message with your VIN and dealer so that we can provide additional assistance having this TSB completed.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

Updated 17 Sept 2020

(1st attempt) I dropped it off in March/April to get an oil change and I explained that since I have had the truck I have had an issue with loose steering making it difficult to drive straight. The changed the oil and explained that what I was feeling is just a driving characteristic of that truck.

*10 Aug 2020 TSB released and a few days after I stopped by the dealer with my request to have my steering looked at. I brought a short, typed note explaining the issues and the TSB #. They give me an appointment in 10 days.

(2nd attempt) 26 Aug 2020 at 0830 I drop off the truck with a typed note explaining the issue and referencing the possible fix (TSB). After work I stopped in about 1530 to check up and I was told that they should have an update soon. So, I left for a while and at 1641, just as I pulled in the parking lot the service adviser called and explained that they could not do anything with this truck because its lifted. I replied there is not a lift on that truck. Then I was told that it because it has a Fox steering stabilizer on it. I tried to explain that it was a Mopar part made by Fox, but I was having trouble explaining my point due to a disability. I was told that in order for me not to be charged it had to have the original equipment installed. I asked if I could change it and return the next day.

(3rd attempt) Dropped of truck this morning (8/28) at 0900 with the original steering stabilizer installed the truck. The service advisor called at 1435 to tell me that they know what is wrong. They said I needed a new steering stabilizer. I am both shocked and very frustrated by this diagnosis. I now had to coordinate with my wife to get at ride to the dealership. When we arrive in the service area my wife begins to ask them how did they come to the conclusion that the steering stabilizer need to be replaced. They said that the vehicle drove 80% better then it did previously with the FOX stabilizer installed. I attempted to explain the ambient temperature was different during each test drive and the steering feels even worse in the heat. This is when my wife asks why they are even looking at the steering stabilizer since its not listed on the TSB. They replied that they were not sure if the TSB applied to my vehicle. I replied yes and reminded them that the TSB number was on the note that I brought in and watched service advisor attach to my work order. After a few more mins of discussion I think that we both agree that my JT needs the TSB repair. This will take some to order parts and they will call me when they come.

*8 Sept 2020 Service Advisor called to let me know that my parts are in and asked to schedule an appointment for 1030 on 17 Sept 2020.

(4th attempt) Dropped the truck before 1000 for a 1030 appointment on 17 Sept 2020. While I was waiting for the shuttle to return the service advisor called at 1023 to say that the shop manager could not guarantee the truck would be done today. I asked why it would need to stay overnight for a 2-hour repair. They said that they are down two techs today and their steering guy was out and if I did not want to leave it, they could do it tomorrow. I said, “I would prefer to bring it in tomorrow if it can be completed that day”. Yes Sir”, the service advisor replied. What time I asked, “9 am they replied”.

(5th attempt) Appointment 0900 on 18 Sept 2020

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The shop here is way behind (as am I - covid stuff has thrown shops into a tizzy, as well as parts impossible to get, etc.) so I can see the timing - as a mechanic a 2 hour job isn't always a 2 hour job and to promise only 2 hours is malpractice.
But in your case, the shop guy is a complete idiot (if idiots are ever complete - they all seem to be missing something)
What a goof - the TSB CLEARLY gives detailed instructions even a child could follow.
check for codes, check software, if that's ok, then FIX IT according to the rest of the TSB - that means they can't question other stuff or suggest that's the way they are or complain about a stabilizer (especially one sold by dealers everywhere)

Too bad so many folks have to deal with fools at the shops.

 

[ACLdestroyer]

Updated 17 Sept 2020

(1st attempt) I dropped it off in March/April to get an oil change and I explained that since I have had the truck I have had an issue with loose steering making it difficult to drive straight. The changed the oil and explained that what I was feeling is just a driving characteristic of that truck.

*10 Aug 2020 TSB released and a few days after I stopped by the dealer with my request to have my steering looked at. I brought a short, typed note explaining the issues and the TSB #. They give me an appointment in 10 days.

(2nd attempt) 26 Aug 2020 at 0830 I drop off the truck with a typed note explaining the issue and referencing the possible fix (TSB). After work I stopped in about 1530 to check up and I was told that they should have an update soon. So, I left for a while and at 1641, just as I pulled in the parking lot the service adviser called and explained that they could not do anything with this truck because its lifted. I replied there is not a lift on that truck. Then I was told that it because it has a Fox steering stabilizer on it. I tried to explain that it was a Mopar part made by Fox, but I was having trouble explaining my point due to a disability. I was told that in order for me not to be charged it had to have the original equipment installed. I asked if I could change it and return the next day.

(3rd attempt) Dropped of truck this morning (8/28) at 0900 with the original steering stabilizer installed the truck. The service advisor called at 1435 to tell me that they know what is wrong. They said I needed a new steering stabilizer. I am both shocked and very frustrated by this diagnosis. I now had to coordinate with my wife to get at ride to the dealership. When we arrive in the service area my wife begins to ask them how did they come to the conclusion that the steering stabilizer need to be replaced. They said that the vehicle drove 80% better then it did previously with the FOX stabilizer installed. I attempted to explain the ambient temperature was different during each test drive and the steering feels even worse in the heat. This is when my wife asks why they are even looking at the steering stabilizer since its not listed on the TSB. They replied that they were not sure if the TSB applied to my vehicle. I replied yes and reminded them that the TSB number was on the note that I brought in and watched service advisor attach to my work order. After a few more mins of discussion I think that we both agree that my JT needs the TSB repair. This will take some to order parts and they will call me when they come.

*8 Sept 2020 Service Advisor called to let me know that my parts are in and asked to schedule an appointment for 1030 on 17 Sept 2020.

(4th attempt) Dropped the truck before 1000 for a 1030 appointment on 17 Sept 2020. While I was waiting for the shuttle to return the service advisor called at 1023 to say that the shop manager could not guarantee the truck would be done today. I asked why it would need to stay overnight for a 2-hour repair. They said that they are down two techs today and their steering guy was out and if I did not want to leave it, they could do it tomorrow. I said, “I would prefer to bring it in tomorrow if it can be completed that day”. Yes Sir”, the service advisor replied. What time I asked, “9 am they replied”.

(5th attempt) Appointment 0900 on 18 Sept 2020

Jesus Christ.

 

[JeepCares]

@pparks72,

How did your appointment go on Sept. 18th?

Darlene
Jeep Cares

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