Steering wheel locked while driving 😱

[Lasdar]

Had a terrifying experience this morning while driving to work. Went to get in the turn lane for getting on the interstate, it starts 2 lights before the one you turn at. Guy in front of me decides seconds after I swing in behind him that even though all the lights are green and the speedlimit is 55 he should go 20. So I briefly signal I'm leaving the turn lane accelerate to go around him and discover the steering wheel is locked so I can't do more than a fraction of an inch to steer. Its a left double turn lane on a road about to curve right. I pull back into the far right of the left turn lanes, come to a stop (lights red now anyway), using the left turn signal as I do so. Once fully stopped the turn signal loudly clicks off and the steering wheel would move again. No issues the rest of the commute to work.

Has anyone else had this lock us happen while driving?

I am suspicious that the turn signal caused it.

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[NC_Overland]

They don’t lock. You lose power assist and it’s difficult to turn and people panic.

 

[VA6489]

If the steering system is OEM, likely the programming in the pump is the culprit.

 

[Lasdar]

They don’t lock. You lose power assist and it’s difficult to turn and people panic.

It wasn't difficult, it was impossible, I have driven without power steering before, it wasn't power assist.
This would not move at all other than a fraction of an inch in either direction.
There was a physical lock to it moving like it would be to turn the wheel while the truck was off, but I could feel a barrier to movement.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I would maybe pop the steering column cover off and maybe the signal stalk and see if theres something broken or loose in there. Might take a bit of disassembly to get deep enough to see.

At least in older vehicles, theres usually a detent in the steering shaft that when your vehicle is off, a pin is placed through to lock the wheel from turning. It's part of the key lock, and gets retracted when the key turns. Not sure how it's done with electronic ignitions, but I suspect something similar. Thats usually designed in a way that doesnt interfere with signal detents for canceling the signal, but I don't know what the column or shaft looks like in these, so maybe they are close enough together that a bent or misaligned signal detent could catch it?

 

[Lasdar]

I would maybe pop the steering column cover off and maybe the signal stalk and see if theres something broken or loose in there. Might take a bit of disassembly to get deep enough to see.

At least in older vehicles, theres usually a detent in the steering shaft that when your vehicle is off, a pin is placed through to lock the wheel from turning. It's part of the key lock, and gets retracted when the key turns. Not sure how it's done with electronic ignitions, but I suspect something similar. Thats usually designed in a way that doesnt interfere with signal detents for canceling the signal, but I don't know what the column or shaft looks like in these, so maybe they are close enough together that a bent or misaligned signal detent could catch it?

I was wondering if that was what was happening too. It very clearly seemed to be caused by the turn signal.

 

[GrubbyBaja]

Gladiators do not have a steering wheel lock pin associated with parking the vehicle. Sounds like you had an issue with the turn signal stalk which has a mechanical connection to the steering mechanism which returns the turn signal stalk to the "OFF" position when coming out of a turn.

 

[NC_Overland]

It wasn't difficult, it was impossible, I have driven without power steering before, it wasn't power assist.
This would not move at all other than a fraction of an inch in either direction.
There was a physical lock to it moving like it would be to turn the wheel while the truck was off, but I could feel a barrier to movement.

Our steering wheels don’t lock. It sounds like you had something break that’s not associated with the power steering assist. It would have to be something in the column.

 

[Lasdar]

Follow up:
Dealership had it for two weeks, kept "trying to recreate" the issue. Apparently they don't have a clue what can lock the steering. Which is odd since my non Jeep employed mechanic (sadly 100 miles away), gave me a list of 3 known reasons from Jeep of why it would happen. When I informed the dealership of those they "searched" somewhere (not the truck) to find them. Then called me and told me to take it home until I can't steer again (cause that's totally safe). I contacted Jeep Cares after another two weeks they decided want me to drive it back to the clueless dealership so they can "recreate the issue". I figure if I don't find the cause on my own they certainly won't, and my family doesn't need a second person to die from steering failure. Lost a cousin to a Ford steering failure already.

Coworker suggested the issue sounded like a lane assist gone bad. So now I am wondering is the Gladiator like my Patriot and has things in the steering trunk that were options, but since I didn't buy the package should be disabled?

How does the lane assist function in the Gladiator? How is it activated how is it disabled?
Does it change steering wheel function?

Do any of you have knowledge of this or other suggestions?

 

[bleda2002]

Follow up:
Dealership had it for two weeks, kept "trying to recreate" the issue. Apparently they don't have a clue what can lock the steering. Which is odd since my non Jeep employed mechanic (sadly 100 miles away), gave me a list of 3 known reasons from Jeep of why it would happen. When I informed the dealership of those they "searched" somewhere (not the truck) to find them. Then called me and told me to take it home until I can't steer again (cause that's totally safe). I contacted Jeep Cares after another two weeks they decided want me to drive it back to the clueless dealership so they can "recreate the issue". I figure if I don't find the cause on my own they certainly won't, and my family doesn't need a second person to die from steering failure. Lost a cousin to a Ford steering failure already.

Coworker suggested the issue sounded like a lane assist gone bad. So now I am wondering is the Gladiator like my Patriot and has things in the steering trunk that were options, but since I didn't buy the package should be disabled?

How does the lane assist function in the Gladiator? How is it activated how is it disabled?
Does it change steering wheel function?

Do any of you have knowledge of this or other suggestions?

There is no steering assist in these. The dealership isn't wrong there really isnt anything that can lock these up as they're just power assisted gear boxes.. The above suggestion of the turn signal is the most probable short of something jamming your pitman arm or a break inside the box itself or something like that

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Forgive my ignorance but I haven’t dug Into it yet: Do these have the Electro-hydraulic steering pump thing in them like other 3.6 Pentastars? If so what you’re describing could definitely be that malfunctioning. Had it happen on a Durango and it was “slightly” scary. No idea what broke on mine. It was out of warranty when it happened so I just ordered a new one and installed it. Couple bolts and a couple wiring connections and it was in.

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