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A recent Jeep class action lawsuit claims that Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles are subject to a “death wobble” defect when moving at highway speeds.
Plaintiff Melinda Martinez states that 2018 to 2020 Jeep Wrangler and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles are affected by the defect.
According to the Jeep class action lawsuit, the death wobble stems from a defective solid front axle and damping system.
These components were reportedly designed or manufactured in a defective way, causing the steering wheel to “shake violently” after encountering normal highway speeds.
This “death wobble” allegedly causes the affected vehicles to uncontrollably shake from side to side. Reportedly, the defect is associated with significant risks that make the vehicles unsafe.
The plaintiff argues the affected vehicles are difficult to steer and control, “presenting a safety risk to the occupants and others on the road.”
Martinez allegedly experienced the issue in her 2018 Jeep Wrangler. When she was driving with her child on a freeway overpass, her vehicle started to shake uncontrollably. The shaking was reportedly so severe that Martinez feared she would lose control of her vehicle. The Jeep Wrangler class action claims that she was “absolutely terrified, fearing for her safety and the safety of her child.”
After experiencing the issue, Martinez says she brought her vehicle to a local dealership in January 2020, and explained her frightening experience. In response to her concerns, the dealership employee allegedly laughed and explained to her that the issue is commonly called the “death shake” but that “it happens.” Martinez says she was offered repairs but it did not resolve the issue. Allegedly, the “death wobble” continues to plague her vehicle.
Martinez claims that Jeep manufacturer Fiat Chrysler knew or should have known the vehicles were prone to the “death wobble” defect. According to the Jeep class action lawsuit, the company was aware of the defect for more than a decade. In 2019, following “thousands of steering-related complaints,” Fiat Chrysler reportedly acknowledged the defect but failed to offer effective repairs for the issue.
“Rather than address this defective condition—or disclose its possibility and/or warn drivers at the point of sale — [Fiat Chrysler] claims the ‘Death Wobble’ is not a ‘safety issue’ and that it ‘can happen with any vehicle that has a solid front axle (rather than an independent front suspension), such as the Wrangler,’” the Jeep class action lawsuit claims.
“This strategically allows Defendant to continue its failed repair efforts until the warranty expires and the problem rests exclusively with the owner.”
Martinez seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased or leased a 2018 to 2020 Jeep Wrangler or 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicle. She also seeks to represent a subclass of the same consumers from California.
Did you experience the “death wobble” on your Jeep vehicle? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Martinez and the proposed Class are represented by Christopher D. Moon and Kevin O. Moon of Moon Law APC.
The Jeep Death Wobble Class Action Lawsuit is Martinez v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-00463, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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109 thoughts onJeep Class Action Claims Dangerous ‘Death Wobble’
I own a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. Last year while driving on the highway this past summer, I experienced (what I now know as) the “death wobble”. Took to dealer-had it “fixed”. Buzzer…wobble is back again, just like me at the dealer. Another steering stabilizer had to be ordered and they do not know when the part will be in because the demand is so high and trying to get parts during this pandemic is a s-l-o-w process. So continue to drive your death wobble jeep and we’ll call you when the part is in. ?
I have this issue with my 2020 jeep gladiator. A 50k car I can not drive on the freeway!!!!!
Did you lift the vehicle? Like add bigger springs? Lift kit?
I own a 2015 Jeep Wrangler and mine does that all the time. Same as everyone else, take it to the dealership and they can’t find anything wrong with it.
I’ve experienced the death wobble on my 2018 JL wrangler, I thought I was going to get into a car accident. The shaking is out of control. I didn’t expect to have issues with such a new car, what a waste of $$
If my Jeep runs over uneven pavement it starts to wobble like the wheels are falling off.i reduce my speed to almost 0 speed and it goes away until next time there’s a dip in the road. It repeats itself.
any uneven payment in the road activates the death wobble on my 2019 wrangler. it happened about 30 times during my drive from phoenix to apple valley california and to mexico and back to az
My first experience with the death wobble worth in my 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara limited it was the first four-door Jeep ever made after about I don’t know three years I was going over the bridge on the highway and the thing started shaking like crazy OK I was like what to do I had cars all behind me I was going about 55 miles an hour I could not break or it would have been a Manny car accident so I push the gas it was scary about 85 it stopped and went to the dealership They say I am crazy they test drive the vehicle many times and couldn’t find anything I even called The Jeep company because I had lifetime insurance for Repairs they said they were only fix it if my dealership agrees , I was mad,So I told her the lady from the Jeep place on the phone please make sure you put this on my record because if I have an accident and I die somebody need to know about this she said , we know about it,wow really I did not know what to say anymore it happened couple more times spent a lot of money on the vehicle but if you hit a special bump on the highway it came back so please whatever happened include me in this I lost a lot of money because of this but I am a jeep lover, So I end up trading it in and bought another jeep but I did lost because of this plus it was very very scary I don’t want to know how many people died because of the death wobble losing control of the vehicle and died and can’t tell nobody!
I own a 2015 Jeep wrangle Sahara amd everyone that gets in my vehicle says comments and ask what that it is. it wobbles. You can just feel it and hear it too. I thought it wasn’t tired even though they were fairly new so I got new ones but it still happens .
I had it happen, the wheels feel like they’re going to fall off and the steering wheel gets erratic- its terrifying.
I own a 2013 Jeep Wrangler once I hit 65 The Death wobble hits in. the faster you go the worse it gets.some times if u hit a pot hole it starts at 50.