2012 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Revision 6 November 2019 Dealer Service Instructions for: Customer Satisfaction Notification V41Steering Damper 2018 - 2019 (JL) JeepWrangler vehicles front suspension steering damper on about 192,000 of the vehicles may not effectively damp oscillation of the steering system, resulting in a sustained shake or shimmy in the steering wheel. I have a 2012 Wrangler with the same issue - front-end shake/shimmy. My Mechanic said to replace the stabilizer with the next level-up heavier-duty stabilizer from Mopar. Why isn't my Jeep (JK Series) included in this recall? There aren't any of these stabilizers available at Mopar or online due to exceedingly high demand from vehicle owners. This should obviously be a recall.

The vehicle will die while driving it, it is a automatic so you loose power steering power brakes and the engine is completely shut off you have to safely pull over and not get hit to put vehicle in park sometimes it starts in park, sometime it just turns over and you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes for vehicle to start. Dealer keeps telling me there is no issue with the vehicle, and they cannot replicate issue. I fear for me and my family's life every day in my jeep wrangler.

I have experienced on a number of occasions, when traveling on the highway at speeds greater than 60 MPH and the vehicle his a bump in the road (expansion joint, pothole, etc), the vehicle begins to bounce uncontrollably. The steering wheel vibrates uncontrollably and it feels like the front end of the vehicle is bouncing on the highway. Its doesn't stop until you slow the vehicle down below 60 mph or so.

Driving vehicle at low speeds (30-40mph), front end of Jeep shakes uncontrollably. Vehicle must be stopped in order for shaking to stop. This shaking is becoming worse and dangerous. Two independent tire shops have reviewed the concerns and are unable to determine source of shaking. This is becoming a daily occurrence.

Driving down the road and entire Jeep started shaking. Stopped the vehicle immediately and had it towed home.

Becoming the new owner in 2021, I was issued a recall for the passenger airbag inflator replacement. After repairing this recall, the vehicle air bag light came on and has not turned off since. I made several attempts with dearlership to access the problem and in May 2022 the dealership diagnosed the problem stating it was the airbag clockspring. This clockspring had a recall on it in June 2016 and was replaced in September 2016. The dealership along with another AMS certified mechanics shop stated the clockspring that was replaced in 2016 is defective. This is causing multiple safety issues with the vehicle. The anti skid system activates, the anti lock braking is activated, the cruise control will not operate, along with the fact the air bags are inoperable or not operating at full capacity as they are required to.

ABS LIGHT, ANTI-SKID LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON. TOUCHED THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY AND JEEP WENT INTO A SKID. MY STEERING WHEEL WANTS TO LOCK UP, MY BRAKES ARE TRYING TO BRAKE. SEEMS LIKE A FAULTY ABS WHEEL SENSOR AND EVEEYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED (VIN: [XXX]). WITHIN 1 MONTH OF TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. SPECIFICALLY, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING AND BREAKS DEACTIVATE. TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION, PARTICULARLY AS OUR FAMILY HAS THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX. TO DATE, LARRY MILLER JEEP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AS NO ERROR CODES APPEAR. LOOKING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH JEEPS OF MY MODEL YEAR (HTTPS://WWW.WRANGLERFORUM.COM/THREADS/ELECTRICAL-PROBLEM-SHUTS-OFF-WHILE-DRIVING.190041/) SO I AM SURPRISED THAT JEEP HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM GIVEN THE DIRE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS MATTER TO YOUR CUSTOMER CARE GROUP, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FCA HAS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF THIS SITUATION AS WELL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY JEEP IS NOW STALLING MID DRIVE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL. 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE TURNING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP AND GO AROUND ME. I'VE HAD 2 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NEITHER OF THEM CAN FIND AN ISSUE. RPMS GO TO ZERO AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE ONLY WAY TO RESET IT IS TO PUT IT IN PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. OUTSIDE OF THOSE 3 TIMES IT'S HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND TURNING ONTO A STREET OR INTO A PARKING LOT - THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHAT WILL TRIGGER IT. I'VE READ QUITE A FEW FORUMS WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY!! I WENT FROM FEELING CAREFREE IN MY JEEP TO KEEPING BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHILE MAKING ANY TURN AND BEING CONSTANTLY TENSE. PLEASE PLEASE ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX THIS!

CLOCKSPRING GOING OUT , CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL AND HORN NOT WORKING PLUS NO PART AVAILABLE UNDER THE PART # 05156106AC. NOW TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T CLEAR.

JEEP STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN A CITY ROAD, TIGHTENED LOSE SWAY BAR, BUT A COUPLE WEEKS LATER NOTICED VIOLENT SHAKING AGAIN WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. WILL NOT DRIVE AS I AM TERRIFIED OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH.

I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHICH THEY PERFORMED AND AS A RESULT OF THAT REPLACEMENT I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK, HORN INCLUDED AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THEY INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AND COVERING THE COSTS. ALL WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL THE AIRBAG RECALL. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A BAY BEING WORKED ON FOR THE RECALL. THE DATE REFLECTS THE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING

JEEP SAHARA UNLIMITED GOES NEARLY UNSTABLE (AGGRESSIVE FRONT END OSCILLATION) WHEN HITTING POTHOLES/BUMPS AT SPEED (~50-60 MPH), ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO SLOW DOWN TO NEARLY 10-20 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY OR ANY ROAD GOING AT SPEED FOR FEAR OF GETTING HIT IN REAR AS YOU SLOW DOWN. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS (100+) TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, I MINIMIZE THE ISSUE BY AVOIDING KNOWN POTHOLES/BUMPS ON ROADS I USE. THIS IS APPARENTLY KNOWN BY FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES AND THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A FIX (NEW STEERING DAMPER), JUST SEARCH "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE" OR "FCA SAFETY ISSUES" ON GOOGLE, HUNDREDS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, APPARENTLY NOW A LAWSUIT. HAVE BROUGHT CAR IN AND JEEP SERVICE AND THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF IT. SAME WITH FCA / MOPAR SERVICE. THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL JEEPS WITH THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED. JUST WATCH THE VIDEOS ONLINE OF THIS HAPPENING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM.

FOR MONTHS ONGOING, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND AGAIN AT 80 MPH MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE VIBRATES. I DO NOT HAVE A LIFT KIT ON MY VEHICLE NOR ANY OTHER SUSPENSION OR STEERING MODIFICATIONS. I HAD A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER INSPECT TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, TRACK BAR, AND STEERING STABILIZER BUT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL PARTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT/REPAIR. MY JEEP HAS 99K MILES ON IT.

STEERING WAS SHAKING AND CAR WAS SHAKING AT A VERY LOW SPEED AFTER DRIVING ON COBBLESTONE STREET.

CLOCKSPRING REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. INTERMITTANT AIRBAG LIGHT, INTERMITTANT FUNCTION FROM CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL. NO PATTERN TO INTERMITTANT FUNCTIONING, I PERSONALLY CLEANED OUT ALL CONTACTS AND HARNESSES BEFORE PAYING DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE CLOCKSPRING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEE'S SUMMIT DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (1051 SE OLDHAM PKWY, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64081, (816) 525-9825) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN BODY WIRING HARNESS WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

JOINT BETWEEN PITMAN ARM AND TIE ROD FAILED, LEAVING NO STEERING WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT-AWAY. UNDER MANY CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEADLY CRASH. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING OF PENDING JOINT FAILURE (NO NOISE, VIBRATION, SLOPPY STEERING, ETC). VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PRECEDING 3 MONTHS. NO MECHANICS OBSERVED WEAR OF THIS JOINT. 105K MILES ON VEHICLE.

2012 JEEP SAHARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TENSIONER ARM AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ITS STEERING. THE TENSIONER ARM SEIZED SHREDDING THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH LODGED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS

I'VE SPENT $1500 ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE WOBBLING IN MY STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I'VE ALSO SPENT $700 ON A POORLY DESIGNED REAR OIL SEAL. THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH JEEPS.