Problems · by component
2008 Jeep Wrangler steering problems
200 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler cite steering, 16% of all 1,255 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
200
16% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The RHD Jeep Wranglers had a recall on all the clock springs. I had mine fixed, it lasted a year and then broke again. Every mail carrier I know has the same issue. I believe the recall needs to become a lifetime recall, not a singular recall. They are all failing again causing postal employees to be at risk for fatality with the airbag failing to deploy.”
“While driving at 65mph my vehicle began to violently shake, and I had to come to a complete stop. This violent shaking happened four times in a 25 mile stretch of bumpy highway, all four times I had to come to a complete stop in fast moving traffic, that traffic was going at speeds of 65 to 70mph.”
“Steering wheel shaking at about 50 mph. Then warning lights on dash came on ABS- ESP and BAS. I slowed down drove home and parked it. Can’t get into shop until next week. Jeep has less than 48,000 miles.Not safe to drive!”
“ALRIGHT I HAVE A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA JK. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2DOOR SOFT TOP. AND I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THERE IS WET CONDITIONS ON ANY CURVY ROAD THAT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE A CURVE TO THE RIGHT WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ON THE TRANSMISSION WILL DOWN SHIFT AND CAUSE THE BACK TIRES TO SPIN AND LOSE TRACTION WHICH INTURN SENDS THE [XXX] END SIDEWAYS. AND IT DOES IT BOTH UP AND DOWN HILL AND PRETTY MUCH ONLY ON RIGHT TURNS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH PUTS THE DRIVER SIDE REAR END INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE A LITTLE. AND I TRULY BELIEVE IF IT WAS A YOUNG DRIVER OR ANYONE THAT HASN'T DROVE ANYTHING WILDLY BEFORE IN THERE LIFE IT COULD CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. BUT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF IT DON'T DO IT IS BAD IF AT ALL. WHICH MAKES ME THINK IT'S WIRING OR THE COMPUTER AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN ON BACK ROADS AND MT ROADS EVEN TURN ON THE INTERSTATE RAMP. ANY ROAD WHERE YOU REMAIN IN MOTION WITH A DECENT CURVE TO THE RIGHT. ALOT ON THIS WINDING MT ROAD OVER THE RIDGE TO THE NEXT TOWN. IT'S CALLED JOPPA MOUNTAIN. AND IT SIDESTEPS WITH YOU THERE LIKE IT HAS ME QUITE A FEW TIMES, AND YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR GAME IT…”
“I'VE EXPERIENCED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AROUND SEVEN TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, MAINLY ON SECONDARY ROADS. I TOOK IT TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS WHO FOUND NO ISSUES. IT HAD YET TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS ON INTERSTATE 81 (WHICH I DRIVE DAILY-SPEED LIMIT 70) AND HIT THE BEGINNING OF A BRIDGE AND THE JEEP SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT I HAD TO PULL INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT THIS POINT. I FEAR NOT ONLY MY SAFETY, BUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS COMMON AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MANUFACTURING FAULT AND THAT RECALLS WERE BEING ISSUED, BUT WHEN I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER, NO RECALLS WERE FOUND.”
“WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE FRONTEND STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DID $1400.00 IN REPAIRS. IT SEEMED TO HELP BUT THEN 6 MONTHS LATTER IT STARTED AGAIN.I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE FIRST REPAIRS AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME.”
Showing 6 of 200 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.