I’m using my husband’s 2020 Jeep Gladiator and honestly, I really dislike it. It’s super loud. The steering wheel feels really loose, and I experienced something called ‘death wobble’ yesterday for the first time. I had no idea what that was until I explained the feeling to my husband.
So, I was driving at about 30-35 mph in a construction area where they had plates over the trenches. The truck went from pavement to these plates, and suddenly it started wobbling. Luckily, I was next to the median, so I was able to merge over and come to a complete stop since it wouldn’t settle down. The bump from the pavement to the plates wasn’t that bad, actually smoother than most speed bumps.
Then it happened again today on the freeway at 65-70 mph, with no bumps at all. The wobbling started up again, but I was able to slow down and stop it quicker than yesterday.
It sounds like your vehicle has some loose or worn parts in the steering and front suspension. Get ready to spend some money. You should find an independent shop nearby that knows how to work on Jeeps or solid front axle vehicles and has experience with death wobble issues. It’s not a simple fix. You might be looking at around two thousand bucks, including labor.
@Keegan
Is that why it’s so hard to drive with one hand? Is this how they usually feel? I’m used to my Jeep Grand Cherokee, which drove so well. Sadly, it got rear-ended and totaled.
Paxton said: @Keegan
Is that why it’s so hard to drive with one hand? Is this how they usually feel? I’m used to my Jeep Grand Cherokee, which drove so well. Sadly, it got rear-ended and totaled.
They shouldn’t be hard to drive with one hand if everything is working right. If you really have death wobble, you can barely drive even with two hands. When that starts, it feels like the vehicle is going to fall apart.
There are several possible issues, but you really need to have a mechanic look at it. If you keep driving, parts in the suspension will wear down and get damaged, which will make repairs more expensive. Plus, it’s not safe to drive like this. Please take it in for an inspection.
From my experience, when I had ‘death wobble’, it was usually just intense vibrations from having a lift and big mud tires. This happened to me around 60 mph, and the steering wheel would shake so much I’d feel it in my shoulders. The best thing to do is to stay calm and not speed up or brake—just coast and hold the steering wheel firmly until it stops. I didn’t even realize it was a Jeep issue until I had a modded TJ. My 2017 Cherokee is way smoother.
I own a 2019 Wrangler, and there was a recall on these. Call the dealership about it. Some dampeners might be faulty, but it was covered by the recall. You can probably find info about it online too. Mine was completely free.