Jeep Wrangler Complaints (2004)

192 consumer complaints on file.

#10567359March 4, 2014
SUSPENSION, STEERING
THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" ALMOST AS LONG AS I'VE HAD IT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. AT 50-55 MPH, THE FRONT-END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. SOMETIMES THE SHAKING IS INSTIGATED BY A BUMP - MOST OFTEN IT STARTS SIMPLY BY REACHING THE AFOREMENTIONED SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW DOWN (WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY OPTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) OR PUT IT INTO 4WD WHILE MOVING. I'VE TAKE IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERS AND MECHANICS, AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE CONDITION. WHILE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME I CROSS THE 50-55 MPH THRESHOLD, SHAKES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. IT'S TERRIBLY ALARMING, CERTAINLY UNSAFE, AND COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE FOR A RECALL AND COST-FREE FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537611August 28, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY JEEP WRANGLER SHAKES SPORADICALLY AT 45 MPH AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS POSTS BY OTHERS. WHEN MY JEEP SHAKES IT IS VERY AGGRESSIVE AND I OFTEN HAVE TO APPLY MY BRAKES SUDDENLY TO EASE THE JOLTING OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY JEEP A COUPLE TIMES, I HAVE SPRAINED MY WRIST, AND HAVE HAD BRUISES MERELY FROM MAINTAINING MY VEHICLE. I JUST TRADED IN MY OTHER CAR FOR THIS IN APRIL 2013 AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE AGAIN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I CAN'T EVEN TAKE MY CHILDREN IN MY JEEP OR TOW MY CAMPER. ALL BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN REASONABLY BEGIN TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT I PURCHASED WITH MY JEEP. I WISH I HAD KNOWN I WAS PURCHASING A DEATH TRAP BEFORE HAND. THERE IS A VERY GOOD REASON THESE LOW MILAGE JEEP'S HAVE MADE WAY TO USED CAR DEALERSHIPS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534019August 7, 2013
SUSPENSION
HELLO I BOUGHT THE JEEP FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, IT HAS 72,150 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE IT WILL SHAKE PRETTY GOOD. IT HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED. STOCK FACTORY TIRES AND RIMS NO LIFT KIT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL JEEP MECHANIC LOOK AT IT BUT STILL NO ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEM, I AM A DISABLED VET 100% AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE GUESSING GAME OF THIS MAY BE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515405June 6, 2013
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING THE WRANGLER DOWN ANY ROAD SURFACE THE WHEELS WILL START TO WOBBLE AND SHAKE VERY HARD LIKE YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL. THEN YOU HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY INORDER TO KEEP YOUR CAR FROM DRIVING OFF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513525May 25, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH, IF YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP OR EVEN UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE JEEP SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL YOU EITHER SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND SLOW DOWN TO 10 MPH OR YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY STOP, IF YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THE TIRES BOUNCE UP AND OFF THE PAVEMENT. THE STIRRING WHEEL SHAKES SO MUCH YOU CAN BARELY HANG ON TO IT. VERY DANGEROUS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502589March 12, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
DRIVING ONTO HIGHWAY. SPEEDING UP TO 35-40 MPH. JUST SHIFTED TO 4TH GEAR. WHOLE VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING VIOLENTLY. HAD TO ALMOST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TO GET IT STOP SHAKING VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS ME. STEEP SHOULDER COULDN'T PULL OVER. I THINK THIS IS REFERRED TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS WITH JEEP WRANGLERS ON THE INTERNET AFTER THIS HAPPENED TODAY. I WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497853February 12, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOBBLED OUT CONTROL WHEN DRIVEN OVER 45 MPH OR GREATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE BALANCED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT UNIVERSAL JOINTS, BRAKE, ROTORS, TRACK BAR, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THE STEERING STABILIZER BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490585December 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON A WELL TAKEN CARE OF 2004 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES TOOK IT IN AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL THE GEARS WERE STRIPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485896November 24, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
THE FIRST TIME I HAD DEATH WOBBLE WAS WHILE TOWING MY KAYAKS AND KAYAK TRAILER AFTER HITTING A BUMP.SINCE THEN I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT TILL I GET SOME CASH TO START DIVING IN TO FIND THE FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475583September 17, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT SEEMS THAT FUEL PUMP IN CAR IS NOT WORKING APPROPRIATELY, EVERYTIME I DRIVE VEHICLE IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN AND THE RADIO SHUTS DOWN OR COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474863September 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, ENGINE, STEERING, SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL, POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
2004 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES FOUND DURING INSPECTION AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY SHE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SOME PLAY IN THE STEERING, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO MISS A LITTLE, AND THE CD PLAYER IN THE RADIO SEEMED TO WORK WHENEVER IT WANTED TO. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED AN OIL SPOT ON THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRE-SALES ESTABLISHMENT AND THE INSPECTION REVEALED, THE REAR AXLES WERE LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES, THE PINION SEAL IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE FRONT TRACK BAR HAD PLAY, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A NEW PILOT BEARING; AS THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE REAR SWAY BAR LINKS WERE LOOSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470922August 8, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HIT A SMALL, SHARP BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY. ONLY BY SLOWING DOWN TO 45 MPH WAS I ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THIS. I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE ON IT. THE WOBBLE HAPPENED AGAIN, SOMETIMES AT EVEN HIGHER SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES, NOT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER JEEP DEALER AND ACCORDING TO THEIR RECOMMENDATION, HAD A NEW STEERING STABILIZER, NEW SWAY BAR LINKS AND TIE ROD INSTALLED AND AGAIN HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE ON IT. THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS THE SAME BEHAVIOR. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN THREE TIMES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND LUCKY ENOUGH EACH TIME I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER TO REDUCE SPEED AND GAIN CONTROL AGAIN. EACH TIME ON THE INTERSTATE MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I DROVE 20 MILES BACK HOME ON CITY STREETS IN ORDER TO KEEP MY SPEED BELOW 50 MPH. THE "DEATH WOBBLE" DOES NOT HAPPEN BELOW 50 MPH ALTHOUGH I CAN SOMETIMES FEEL IT STARTING TO SHAKE AS I APPROACH THAT SPEED. AS I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER, REPLACED THE RECOMMENDED PARTS AND HAVE DONE THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, I FEEL THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUILT INTO SOME OF THE VEHICLES LIKE MINE. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS MANY JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS ALSO WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM "DEATH WOBBLE" IN CONJUNCTION WITH JEEP WRANGLERS. IN FACT, AS I WAS DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO ONE OF THE AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER JEEP DEALERS, HE INTERRUPTED ME BY SAYING, "AH, THE "DEATH WOBBLE". ONCE IT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A VERY APT DESCRIPTION OF THE BEHAVIOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467283July 17, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
TURNED ONTO THE COUNTY HIGHWAY AND AS I APPROACHED APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP FOR IT TO STOP. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. ASKED MY MECHANIC IF HE COULD SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS AND HE DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN AS WELL ONE TIME BEING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR. I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS "DEATH WOBBLE" HAPPENING ON JEEPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR THE FIX IS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466081July 11, 2012
SUSPENSION
I OWN A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER WHICH I PURCHASED FROM A JEEP DEALERSHIP IN 2006. JUST WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE JEEP SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR FASTER. BRAKING DID NOT HELP. I LITERALLY HAVE TO LET THE JEEP SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN , SO THAT IT CAN RE-ADJUST ITSELF. DRIVING OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD ALSO CAUSES THIS UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING AT THE SAME SPEEDS. I HAVE NOW OWNED THIS JEEP NOW FOR 6 YEARS , AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IN THIS TIME PERIOD, I HAVE REPLACED THE TRACK BAR TWICE. CHANGED THE SHOCKS, HAVE HAD COUNTLESS WHEEL BALANCING AND ALIGNMENTS, AND HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER. MORE TIMES THAN NOT, THE SHAKING IS SO BAD, I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. I LIVE IN THE LAKE TAHOE AREA AND EXPERIENCE THIS SHAKING EFFECT OFTEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON WINDING ROADS IN THIS AREA. WHILE IM SURE THE DANGER FACTOR EXISTS FOR ANYONE OWNING A VEHICLE THAT DOES THIS, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING MY JEEP SHAKE RELENTLESSLY ON THESE MOUNTAIN ROADS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462538June 21, 2012
STEERING, WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE BEEN A PROUD OWNER OF MY JEEP SINCE 2004 UNTIL TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH A VIOLENT SHAKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH AND WOULD HIT A BUMP. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC A FEW TIMES BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY CHECKED MY TIRES, THE BRAKES, ETC. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN SO MY MECHANIC THOUGHT IT POSSIBLE NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED SO I TRIED THAT. THAT DIDN'T HELP EITHER. THEN THE TIRES BECAME A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION SO I BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND STILL THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE GEAR BOX TIGHTENED AND THE TIRES ROTATED AND AGAIN, NO FIXING THE PROBLEM. MY JEEPS SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY AND GETS ME SO SCARED BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE JEEPS TIRES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF THE JEEP AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SURE ENOUGH, I'M NOT ALONE. I HAVE A YOUNG SON AND I USE MY JEEP AS OUR TRANSPORTATION AND MY SON IS GETTING READY TO GET HIS LICENSE AND IT'S SAD, BUT I WON'T LET HIM DRIVE OUR JEEP BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. CHRSLER NEEDS TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE FOR US JEEP OWNERS WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A JEEP. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO GET REPAIRED NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. CHRSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THESE JEEPS! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461972June 16, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE SUSPENSION WHEN I REACH ABOUT 55 MPH, USUALLY ON THE NYS THRUWAY. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKE I NEED TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNNERVING, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED HE SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. REPLACED AND BALANCED TIRES. WAS FINE BUT THEN ,AS NOW , UNEXPECTEDLY GOES INTO CONVULSIONS. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS MY SOLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. IS THERE A RECALL? I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461731June 14, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, USUALLY WHEN THE JEEP IS APPROACHING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. FEELS LIKE THE JEEP IS GOING TO EXPLODE. PUTTING ON THE BRAKES, AND PRAYING, AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH, AND PRAYING, AND EVENTUALLY SLOWING DOWN TO BELOW 40 IS THE ONLY THING THAT ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. THIS APPARENTLY HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY, MANY TIMES, AND IS KNOWN AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". IS THERE A GOVERNMENTAL COVER-UP ABOUT THIS? HOW IS THIS KNOWN ISSUE ALLOWED TO GO UN-ADDRESSED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460367June 2, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, MOST RECENTLY MADE WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. HAS NOT BEEN OFF ROAD OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY. LADY DRIVEN ONLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460249June 1, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I PURCHASED THE ABOVE VEHICLE BACK IN10/2007 USED. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL RECENTLY THAT AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD TRY TO SHUT OFF AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS COMNG INTHRU THE VENTS. IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 600.00 DOLLARS IN TUNE UP, REPLACED COIL PACK AND THE FUEL INJECTOR AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL PUMP. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL AND I DID A SEARCH AND LONG AND BEHOLD THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I DON'T QUALIFY. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456201April 23, 2012
WHEELS, STEERING
SUDDEN ONSET OF VIOLENT FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, REQUIRING 2 HANDS TIGHTLY GRIPPING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COAX IT ONTO THE SHOULDER. 5 INCIDENTS IN 8 MONTHS AT 60MPH ON BOTH SMOOTH AND ROUGH PAVEMENT. NARROWLY MISSED SMASHING INTO A CEMENT BARRIER, TRACTOR TRAILER AND CAR DURING 3 OF THE 5 INCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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