Jeep Class Action Claims Dangerous ‘Death Wobble’

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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