Jeep vehicles equipped with solid front axles — especially the Wrangler and earlier solid-axle Grand Cherokee models — are known for a phenomenon commonly referred to as “death wobble.” This involves violent front-end oscillation at highway speeds after hitting a bump, often requiring the driver to slow down significantly to regain control.
Numerous lawsuits, including class actions, have alleged a steering and suspension design defect. FCA/Stellantis has typically responded with TSBs, revised steering dampers, and partial goodwill repairs, while avoiding acknowledgment of a fundamental design flaw.
| Year(s) | Make | Model | Should Purchase? | Reason | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 | Jeep | Wrangler (JK) | Caution | Front-end oscillation at highway speeds |
Solid front axle Known for “death wobble” after bumps Multiple TSBs and steering damper revisions issued |
|
| 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 | Jeep | Wrangler (JL) | Caution | Oscillation and steering vibration |
Solid front axle FCA issued updated steering damper TSBs Complaints continue despite revisions |
|
| 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 | Jeep | Gladiator (JT) | Caution | Steering shake and oscillation |
Solid front axle (Wrangler-based) Similar behavior to Wrangler JL Included in steering-related TSB updates |
|
| 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee (WJ) | Caution | Steering oscillation on solid-axle models |
Solid front axle (last GC generation to use it) Known for wobble when components wear Some early litigation referenced WJ models |
|
| 2005 2006 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee (WK – early) | Caution | Occasional oscillation reports |
Early WK models retained some solid-axle traits Far less common than Wrangler but still documented Steering/suspension wear can trigger wobble |
Jeep’s solid-axle vehicles — especially the Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT — are known for “death wobble,” a violent front-end oscillation triggered by bumps at highway speeds. While FCA has issued TSBs and revised steering dampers, lawsuits allege a deeper design flaw. Buyers should proceed with caution and verify steering/suspension condition.