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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’
2021 Jeep JLV. Same issue.
I bought my 2020 Jeep Wrangler in November of 2021. Within days, my teenage daughter had it on the interstate and was the first to experience the “death Wobble”. She got to the shoulder and called me hysterically crying and scared to death. After being serviced, within weeks, I was on a very busy, dangerous highway when I drove over the lip of a bridge on the highway which caused the violent wobble. The road was full of tractor trailers driving at speeds of 75+. I was stuck between two of those tractor trailers, shaking violently and desperately trying to maintain control. The shoulder was closed, so I had to drive this way for several miles while my children were in tears, scared to death. I had to stay calm and pray until I could get pulled over. I am so frustrated and angry! I have had my Jeep, that I waited years to get, for six months and I cannot drive it safely! I am paying a massive monthly payment for a vehicle I am fearful of driving! I would love to join the lawsuit. Please tell me how!
I would like to see how to join this class action lawsuit. I own a 2020 Jeep Wrangler with this death wobble. Jeep is currently at the dealership for over a month now…. Been given a lot of inconsistence information along with non-truth!
I have a 2018 Wrangler JL Unlimited with only 42k and have had the wobble happen many times. Been to one dealership 5 times for the issue with no avail. Replaced the steering dampener and still have the issue. Went to another dealership and they blamed it on my tires which weren’t old by any standards. Replaced all tires with larger ones to see if that would help. Still wobbles at speeds over 60. My Jeep has no been in the dealership since 2/13/2022 almost 2 months and they can not find the issue. I have had the steering dampener replaces 3 times. A new steering gear box in steel and not aluminum replaced much larger wider tires to see if that helps and nothing. I have no payed 2 months almost 3 of payments on a vehicle I don’t have in my possession having to rent a car to get back and forth with which has cost to now me buying a smaller commuter car. This Jeep has been a dream of mine to own but now it’s turned into a money pit and I’m not even sure if I want to drive it for the fear of it shaking uncontrollably at random. Why is it the newer models happening so soon and frequently. What changed and why is the consumer being blamed for this like I have. It’s so unsafe at highway speeds. What nice do I have to do to be take. Seriously at a dealership.
I have been leasing a Jeep Wrangler since 2018. I experienced the “Death Wobble” on this Jeep probably 6 months after I leased it. I took it to my dealer over the coarse of a year 5 or 6 times. Each time leaving it with the service department and had them do work to try to fix the issue. There were recalls and supposed fix-all attempts but nothing worked. Finally I was contacted by a rep from Chrysler that came to the dealership and determined that the Jeep would be able to be repaired. Chrysler took back by 2018 and gave me a brand new 2019 Jeep Wrangler. I was satisfied with this and felt like Chrysler was doing the right thing to make things right.
After about 6 months in my brand new 2019 Jeep Wrangler I began to experience the same issues. I had technician ride with me and of course we could not duplicate the problem. He said it could be because of the weight distribution was different since I am normally in my jeep alone commuting to work. Just yesterday my fiancé was riding with me and got to experience the “Death Wobble” in person.
I am beyond frustrated with this situation and don’t know what to do. I have 2 years left on my lease and will probably opt out early but feel those that own these Jeeps are owed something for the time, money and frustration we have had a to deal with.
I would like to be added to this lawsuit.
I have been experiencing the Death wobble since Oct of 2021. I have had it in the shop three times and the they replaced the tract bar and some other work and it still wobbles in a daily bases if I drive it. I have a 2020 Jeep Wrangler and now in arbitration to try to get this issue resolved, but they are disputing my claims. I have spent over 4 k in car rentals…. The car has been in the shop for 38 days and still I can’t get anyone to talk to me, or help me.
I have a 2008 wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, I have spent over 3k trying to get this fixed. I am taking it in again next week to try again. I am Disabled now and I do not want to have an accident because of this violent shaking and lose control. This has been a problem for Jeep a long time and they continue to sell these defective vehicles. Its criminal in my opinion.
Death Wobble got me. ?
I have a 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe (12,700 miles) and I have experienced the death wobble 4 times now!!
The first two were very mild, but caused me to call the service dept. (I don’t recall hitting any large bumps in the road, maybe an insignificant bump like a transition of an overpass on the freeway. Both times, I was going over 60 and it stopped after I slowed down.) I left a message and received no call back.
The next day, I was taking my daughter to school, and nearly lost control on the freeway on a snowy morning! It was as if the Jeep involuntarily began swerving from lane to lane. (Again, I did not hit a large bump of any kind. I was going around 55-60 mph. The freeway was plowed clear and I was driving slower than most cars who had no issue slipping.) I got it back under control and a semi truck flew past me in the other lane and my Jeep began to swerve again!! We called Jeep and told them to send a tow truck as I was not going to drive this to the dealership. (They did.)
The service technician replaced the steering damper with an “AF” damper, and when he test drove it, the wobble was still there. The case was escalated to Jeep STAR level for research. The technician was told to replace with “AG” level damper. (See service notes of everything they did in photo attached.)
I brought it in Jan 14, was called to pick it up on Feb 3. I drove 12 minutes away from dealership, hit a mild bump (transition from freeway to bridge/overpass) and my wheel began VIOLENTLY shaking. So bad that the tires were screeching back and forth on the freeway!
So scary!!
Took it back to the dealership immediately. My husband and I told them we’ve been doing our homework on the death wobble. They basically said they know about it but are supposed to act like they don’t. ? They said usually it’s older Jeep’s that have issues or modified Jeeps. (I have not modified my Jeep in any way.) I told them I’m not the only person experiencing this on the new Jeep 4xe and they need to Google it or go to the forums and see what people are saying about this. I can’t risk my life to be the test driver in icy roads again!!
They ended up putting a Fox steering damper in it for me. I’ve had it back again for about 2 weeks now and it seems to be doing okay. I’m still nervous when I drive over 60 and hit a bump though! ?
Bought my 2021 Gladiator in March 2021. I’ve had the death wobble happen about 20 times so far. I took it to the dealer on Jan 26 and they did order a steering stabilizer for it but it’s on backorder. I am not a lawsuit guy but I will happily jump on board a class action lawsuit since Jeep/Chrysler have known about this and after spending 50K. Going 65-70 mph in highway traffic and having this death wobble happen is not safe at all since you gotta slow down to 30-ish mph to make it stop. The worst time it happened I had to pull over on the shoulder and come to a complete stop. I don’t particularly like seeing 18 wheelers barreling down on me! And I can’t help but think that with the violent death wobble shaking that it loosens/damages other vehicle parts and/or damages the freedom top panels and roof. I know have my phone on at all times on the highway and I record every bridge I go over. I have about 10 videos of this situation. Hopefully this new part the dealer has on order will fix it.