NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
192 reports74,500 miles · May 25, 2010
SteeringSuspension
WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLER MODEL LINE IS A PROBLEM KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE." I PURCHASED A USED JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. MY JEEP, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AFTERMARKET MO…
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WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP WRANGLER MODEL LINE IS A PROBLEM KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE." I PURCHASED A USED JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. MY JEEP, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS, YET HAS A VERY DANGEROUS SYMPTOM WHICH MAKES ME SCARED TO DRIVE IT OVER 40 MPH. THE "DEATH WOBBLE" CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS AN INCREDIBLY VIOLENT SHAKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. IT WILL USUALLY START OFF SLOWLY, BUT WITHIN HALF A SECOND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL, AND ONLY STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A STOP. WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING VIOLENTLY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, SINCE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS PROBLEM IS TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY, THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE JEEP WRANGLER, AND CHRYSLER HAS ONLY ISSUED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO REPLACE THE STEERING STABILIZER. I HAVE DONE THIS TWICE NOW, AND IT IS ONLY A BAND-AID TO MASK THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, WHICH JEEP REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR PAY THE BILL TO FIX. I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE ON ANY HIGHWAY, AND I AM SURE THOUSANDS OF OTHER JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS OUT THERE ARE IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION I AM IN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332191
57,000 miles · Apr 15, 2010
Suspension
I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING DEATH WOBBLE, WHERE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND WHEELS ACTUALLY WOBBLE.I HAVE REPLACED SHOCKS, STEERING STABILIZER, ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES AND HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED AND CHECKED BY A CAR DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. THE WOBBLE LESSENS BUT S…
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I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING DEATH WOBBLE, WHERE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND WHEELS ACTUALLY WOBBLE.I HAVE REPLACED SHOCKS, STEERING STABILIZER, ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES AND HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED AND CHECKED BY A CAR DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. THE WOBBLE LESSENS BUT STILL PERSISTS. IT OCCURS AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FULLY EXPLAIN A SURE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. MY JEEP HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 57,000 MILES. JEEP/CHRYSLER ARE NO HELP IN FIXING THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325924
32,500 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other
GAS OVERFLOWS BEFORE FUEL NOZZEL SHUTS OFF WHEN FILLING TANK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317906
28,887 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED KEEPS OVERFLOWING WITH FUEL AT THE PUMP. WHETHER THE JEEP IS FILLED FROM EMPTY OR PARTIALLY FULL IT DOES NOT MATTER. FUEL KEEPS SPITTING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK ONCE THE JEEP IS FULL. I AM TIRED OF GETTING FUEL ALL DOWN THE SIDE OF THE JEEP, ON THE GROUND, AND ON MYSELF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE …
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MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED KEEPS OVERFLOWING WITH FUEL AT THE PUMP. WHETHER THE JEEP IS FILLED FROM EMPTY OR PARTIALLY FULL IT DOES NOT MATTER. FUEL KEEPS SPITTING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK ONCE THE JEEP IS FULL. I AM TIRED OF GETTING FUEL ALL DOWN THE SIDE OF THE JEEP, ON THE GROUND, AND ON MYSELF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10314946
74,950 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
EVERY TIME I FUEL MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER THE FUEL SPLASHES ALL OVER AROUND THE GAS CAP. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE OF A CHANCE OF FIRE. ALOT OF JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND ITS ONLY A MATER OF TIME BEFORE A FIRE HAPPENS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10311973
58,000 miles · Nov 13, 2009
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD SURFACE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. NEXT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD SURFACE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. NEXT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,526.
NHTSA ODI #10292081
26,357 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
BROKEN INTERIOR JEEP UNLIMITED 2004 HANDLE. CAN OPEN FROM OUTSIDE BUT NOT INSIDE. HAVE NO CHILDREN THAT WOULD HAVE PULLED AT IT,SO NOW I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF THE CAR? HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287250
15,000 miles · Aug 5, 2009
Suspension
THE PROBLEM IS VIOLENT FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATED BETWEEN 45MPH-55MPH. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE IT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER 5 YEARS OF OPERATION AND ESPECIALLY AFTER TIRE CHANGES. I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES ON THIS …
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THE PROBLEM IS VIOLENT FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATED BETWEEN 45MPH-55MPH. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE IT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER 5 YEARS OF OPERATION AND ESPECIALLY AFTER TIRE CHANGES. I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES ON THIS JEEP WHICH WERE BALANCED AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IN THE PAST I OVERCAME THIS PROBLEM BY ROTATING THE TIRES UNTIL I FOUND THE TIRE ORIENTATION THAT GAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VIOLENT VIBRATION I HAD THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE ON ONE OF THE RIMS BUT AFTER INSTALLING NEW RIMS AND THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND AS BAD AS EVER. OUT OF FRUSTRATION I TURNED TO THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THEIR ARE ANY OTHER JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. TO MY SURPRISE AFTER READING SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS ON JEEP WRANGLERS MANY DO . THIS PROBLEM EVEN HAS A NAME THE JEEP COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" ! THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR IN THE 96-06 TJ BODY STYLE WHICH INCLUDES THE SAHARA,X AND SPORT EDITIONS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSSIBLE CAUSES AND REPAIRS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME UP WITH BUT IT SEEMS AS NO ONE HAS PINPOINTED THE CORRECT REPAIR. THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS SUGGEST THE TRACTION BAR AND STEERING STABILIZER ARE AT FAULT BUT PEOPLE HAVE HAD MIXED RESULTS REPLACING THESE PARTS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE AT JEEP MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE FAILED THEIR CUSTOMERS AT REMEDYING THIS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279522
60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2009
Steering
I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND 3 OF THE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE ITS HAS A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE (GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE)MY JEEP HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY, BOUGHT IT USED. WHEN I DRIVE THIS JEEP 40-55 MILES A HOUR AND IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF T…
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I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND 3 OF THE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE ITS HAS A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE (GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE)MY JEEP HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY, BOUGHT IT USED. WHEN I DRIVE THIS JEEP 40-55 MILES A HOUR AND IF I HIT A BUMP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE JEEP SHAKES OUT OF CONTROL, VERY DANGEROUS. MY JEEP WRANGLER HAS HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT (NO LIFTS OR ADDED PARTS ALL STOCK) I HAVE BROUGHT THIS JEEP TO A MECHANIC 1 MONTH AGO AND THIS FRIDAY IT WILL BE GOING BACK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. WHEN MY JEEP FIRST DID THIS DEATH WOBBLE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? THIS JEEP SAT AT THE DEALERS LOT FOR 1 YEAR BEFORE HE SOLD IT, DID HE KNOW? MAYBE NOTHING WILL COME OUT OF THIS BUT I FEEL JEEP NEED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT CORRECT BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT BAD. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND I WILL NOT LET THEM RIDE IN MY JEEP UNTIL I FIND THE CORRECT WAY TO FIX IT. MY JEEP HAS THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 1 TIME A DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278617
48,000 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Power TrainCrash
MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER WAS IN PARK AND RUNNING AND DRIFTED DOWN A HILL AND INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING 4K WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY JEEP AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2005 AND 2006 JEEP WRANGLERS FOR TRANSMISSION "PARK" PROBLEMS, I THINK THEY ARE MISSING A YEAR! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10274139