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2005 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Wrangler years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler are substantially higher than the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

533 reports with mileage · 117 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 346 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Suspension complaints

51 reports
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50,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Suspension

WE OWN A 2005 JEEP TJ WRANGLER. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE IT WILL STOP. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FIND THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF JEEP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER, SWAY BAR ENDS, TRACK BAR BUSHINGS, ALL NEW S…

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WE OWN A 2005 JEEP TJ WRANGLER. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE IT WILL STOP. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FIND THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF JEEP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER, SWAY BAR ENDS, TRACK BAR BUSHINGS, ALL NEW SHOCKS, BRAKES AND ROTORS, TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO AVAIL. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND WE CANNOT SEEM TO GET ANY ANSWERS. THE JEEP HAS 60,00 MILES ON IT AND IS COMPLETELY STOCK WITH NO MODIFICATIONS ON IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVE, BUT MY ONLY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION TO MY JOB. MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER SUSPENSION AND STEERING SO EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE HAS BEEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK AND FOR A YOUNG DRIVER COULD BE FATAL. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. WE ARE STUCK WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AS WE ARE STILL PAYING ON IT. WE CAN GET NO ANSWERS, EXCEPT KEEP REPLACING PARTS WITH BETTER QUALITY ONES. WHICH BRINGS THE QUESTIONS UP, WHY DID THEY USE LESS THAN GOOD QUALITY WHEN IT WAS BUILT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344327

10,000 miles · May 28, 2010
SteeringSuspension

I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. WITHIN A YEAR I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAD BEEN A VERY MODERATE DRIVER, AND HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE JEEP TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE STABILIZER ARM, WHICH THE WARRANTY COVERED, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE DEALER THEN ROTATED AND…

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. WITHIN A YEAR I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAD BEEN A VERY MODERATE DRIVER, AND HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE JEEP TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE STABILIZER ARM, WHICH THE WARRANTY COVERED, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE DEALER THEN ROTATED AND BALANCED MY TIRES AND ADJUSTED MY ALIGNMENT. THEY CHARGED ME OVER $200 FOR THAT. THIS SEEMED TO MASK THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, THEN THE "DEATH WOBBLE" RETURNED. I TOOK THE JEEP TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS PROMPTLY SOLD 2 NEW TIRES (STOCK UNIROYAL TIGER PAWS @ $104 EACH) AND A STEERING DAMPENER. TOTAL COST THIS TIME WAS WELL OVER $500. THIS TOOK CARE OF THE WOBBLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR. NOW THE WOBBLE IS BACK, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT TO DO. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER DEALER TO FLEECE ME AGAIN, AND I HEAR JEEP ISN'T ACKNOWLEDGING THIS WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH, I LOVE MY JEEP AND WANT IT FIXED. I DON'T WANT IT TO KILL ME OR ANYONE ELSE. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM? I CAN'T AFFORD $200-$500 EVERY YEAR ON BAND-AID SOLUTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332605

29,500 miles · Feb 17, 2010
SteeringSuspension

I OWN A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 29,500 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, THE FRONT-END HAS STARTED TO WOBBLE/SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 40-45 MILES PER HOUR CAUSING NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMM…

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I OWN A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 29,500 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, THE FRONT-END HAS STARTED TO WOBBLE/SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 40-45 MILES PER HOUR CAUSING NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON, IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN LABELED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". PROBLEM IS, NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE IDENTIFIED THE EXACT CAUSE OR FIX. SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: INSTALL AFTER-MARKET HEAVY STEERING STABILIZER (DID THAT, NO CHANGE), ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCE, STEERING BOX, CAMBER ANGLE, ETC. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311373

30,000 miles · Aug 14, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES OVER 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES. AS A RESULT, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10280423

23,533 miles · May 23, 2009
SteeringStructureSuspension

JEEP SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN A BUMP IS HIT OR ROAD IS UNEVEN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW ITSELF DURING THE TEST DRIVE BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING THROUGH THE INTERNET THEIR ARE SEVERAL JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS WITH THE "DEATHWOBBLE" PROBLEM. I CLICKED ON YOUR LINK PROV…

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JEEP SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN A BUMP IS HIT OR ROAD IS UNEVEN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW ITSELF DURING THE TEST DRIVE BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING THROUGH THE INTERNET THEIR ARE SEVERAL JEEP WRANGLER OWNERS WITH THE "DEATHWOBBLE" PROBLEM. I CLICKED ON YOUR LINK PROVIDED BY A LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS STATION WSOC CHANNEL 9 IN CHARLOTTE, NC AFTER THEY COVERED A STORY ABOUT ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE. I IMPLORE YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND ASK CHRYSLER TO RECALL OR REPAIR, AT THEIR EXPENSE, MY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CROSSROADS FORD P&A CODE 00994, AND WE WERE TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY WAS STILL VALID. AFTER TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EVEN TAKING IT TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP NO ONE WILL ACCEPT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT AND FEAR FOR THE LIFE OF OUR SON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269773

30,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
SteeringSuspensionTires

PARIS RENT A CAR RENTED 2 @2005 JEEP WRANGLERS THAT HAD BALD TIRES, BAD BRAKES AND INPROPER STEERING WHILE VISTING ST. JOHNS, VIRGIN ISLAND. PARIS RENT A CAR, P. O BOX 1155, CRUZ BAY, ST. JOHN VI 00831. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258049

5 miles · Aug 22, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE SO SEVERELY THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP JERKING UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY ON OCCASION; HOWEVER, IF HE DROVE OVER A BUMP, THE SHAKING WOULD OCCUR. H…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE SO SEVERELY THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP JERKING UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY ON OCCASION; HOWEVER, IF HE DROVE OVER A BUMP, THE SHAKING WOULD OCCUR. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE WHEN THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY NEVER DID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,437 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. UPDATED 10-30-08 *BF UPDATED 10/31/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10239273

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2008
SteeringSuspension

EMAIL FROM CONSTITUENT REQUESTING THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE JEEP WRANGLERS IN REFERENCE TO A PROBLEM CALLED THE "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE" CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE STEERING DAMPENER. *NJ THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING DAMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON HER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10236092

44,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008
EquipmentSteeringSuspension

DRIVING WRANGLER AT 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS VERY TRAUMATIC, I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG JEEP OWNERS. DEALERSHIP DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING DAMPER AND STABILIZER BAR WEN…

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DRIVING WRANGLER AT 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS VERY TRAUMATIC, I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG JEEP OWNERS. DEALERSHIP DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING DAMPER AND STABILIZER BAR WENT BAD. OF COURSE THESE ITEMS WERE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. JEEP NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS. PLEASE GOOGLE "DEATH WOBBLE"HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. WILL NOT TAKE KIDS IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229623

12,819 miles · May 27, 2008
SteeringSuspension

2005 JEEP WRANGLER X. THIS IS A STOCK VEHICLE, NO MODIFICATIONS. BETWEEN 45-55 MPH BOTH ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE (DW). FIRST MAJOR DW WAS JUNE 07 (12,819 MILES) AS I WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH SPEED LIMIT 50MPH ROAD, DEALER REPLACED BOTH STEERING DAMPER AND FRONT TRAC BAR. NEXT MAJOR DW IN APRIL 08, DEA…

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2005 JEEP WRANGLER X. THIS IS A STOCK VEHICLE, NO MODIFICATIONS. BETWEEN 45-55 MPH BOTH ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE (DW). FIRST MAJOR DW WAS JUNE 07 (12,819 MILES) AS I WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH SPEED LIMIT 50MPH ROAD, DEALER REPLACED BOTH STEERING DAMPER AND FRONT TRAC BAR. NEXT MAJOR DW IN APRIL 08, DEALER REPLACED FRONT TRAC BAR AGAIN. NEXT MAJOR DW 1 MAY 08, DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR. NEXT MAJOR DW 12 MAY 08, DEALER STATED MANUFACTURER HAS DEVELOPED A STRONGER STEERING DAMPER AND THERE ARE OVER 1,600 ON BACK ORDER, EXPECT TO BE INSTALLED IN JULY 08. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,631. THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND JEEP NEEDS TO FIX IT. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND LEAD JEEP MECHANIC BOTH STATE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON JEEP WRANGLERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229050

Official recalls

1

05V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems