Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving on the interstate at a speed of about 55-60 miles per hour. I drove into a curved part of the interstate that veered to the left and when I traveled through it, the whole Jeep began to shake violently. I slowed down to pull over and when I reached about 40 miles per hour, the shaking stopped. I asked a mechanic about it and he said that this "death rattle" is a common problem with jeeps. We changed the tires and the steering damper. This seemed to fix the problem for a while but a year later the shaking came back. I did some investigating on the internet about the death wobble and found out that the cause can be one or more of a number of things on the front end. I had the track bar changed and that helped about 80%. Now, 8 months later the shaking is back. …
I purchased the Wrangler in about October of 2009. Since then, the fuel tank over-spills when it is filled at the gas pumps. It caused damage to the paint and to the plastic wheel guard. Of greater concern is death wobble. The front end violently shakes at highway speeds from time to time. The vehicle is hard to control. I made attempts in 2013 and 2014 to fix it, only to have the problem return. In 2013 the steering damper and steering stabilizer bar was replaced. In 2014, the tires were replaced and aligned. The problem returned this year, and is at its worst.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Jeep Wrangler. While driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel vibrated and shook when the vehicle drove over a bump. The contact had to hold the steering wheel aggressively, slow down, and stop the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the shocks and tires needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
Entering the interstate and driving up to approximately 60-65mph, the steering wheel shook violently to the point where I needed to slow down drastically to stop the vibration. I took the vehicle in for service on the13th of March at ewald Jeep in franklin when they told me to replace the front tires because they were 2/32. I told them the tires have only 15,000 miles on them then they told me to see the place (pomps in racine) that sold me the tires. Pomps said I needed an alignment. Then, on the 8th of April driving at 40mph on a bumpy road, the steering wheel shook violently again with what felt like the front wheels were loose. To stop this vibration, I needed to slow to 10 to 20 MPH. I called for service once again to ewald on the10th of April. They replaced the steering damper ($126.28 and $98 for labor). They also performed a 2 wheel front end alignment. …
I had a set of bf goodrich mud terrain tires 33" on a 06 Wrangler. The tires were about 5 years old but had barely been used, approximately 80% of the tread was left. I swapped these tires from a 73 cj5 that I just wasn't using that much anymore. After around 4000-5000 miles after the switch the tire popped on me going down the highway doing 75-80 MPH. The vehicle shook for 2-3 seconds then I heard a "pop", instantly this threw my vehicle where it flipped and rolled and totaled the vehicle. I had to be airlifted away as a result of this accident. Investigators from Jeep and my insurance company both concluded that this was a product defect that caused the accident. While taking up the issue with bf goodrich they advised me to take the tire in to be inspected. The tire store stated after about 10 seconds of looking at the tire that it was caused by a road hazard. …
Since purchasing my 2006 Jeep Wrangler unlimited, I have had multiple issues with severe front-end instability (shimmy and shaking) when the vehicle travels approximately 50 miles per hour. Immediately after purchase, I spent hundreds of dollars on front-end work, tire balance, and tire rotation work, in an attempt to resolve the issue. However, despite a slight initial reduction in the problem, the shimmy and shaking returned soon after the work I had done, and has become progressively worse. This issue is so common that thousands of people in online Jeep communities have named the condition, "death wobble.," since the issue can render a vehicle virtually undrivable. I fear for my personal safety, and for that of my wife and young children when we travel in this vehicle. …
I own a 2006 Jeep Wrangler and besides excessive tire wear which the local dealership cannot seem to fix, my latest problem is with the ignition system . Originally I thought it was the ignition switch but when I called the dealership to get a new one the parts salesman told me that my problem wasn't with the switch (and he was right) the problem is a piece of plastic between the switch and the tumbler and that the only way to get the plastic piece was to buy the complete steering column. In that phone call he also informed me that he knew this due to the fact they have had several problems with the wranglers 1997 on up and the factory hasn't done anything to correct the problem and the only way to get this little 50 cent piece was to buy a $500.00 steering column. …
My Jeep experiences what's known as the "death wobble." it has happened for years, but I had always been told that my tires were out of balance, or that I needed a front wheel alignment. Those fixes would help for a couple of months, and then the shake would return. Just in the last 6-8 months did a mechanic actually tell me about the wobble, what really seems to cause it, and that it's a known issue with jeeps. My Jeep is stock, with no modifications, but I still get the wobble. It occurred 3 times this morning on the 5 freeway in san diego county, each time at speeds between 55-68 miles per hour. The front end of the Jeep shakes violently, and the only way to stop the shaking is to come to a complete stop. Luckily, I've always been able to pull over safely to the shoulder of the freeway. A few months ago it happened, and a co-worker was following me in a different vehicle. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Jeep Wrangler. The vehicle has Goodyear Wrangler gsa tires, size 225/70/r15 (na). While driving approximately 45 MPH on normal road conditions, the front end of the vehicle was shaking uncontrollably. The malfunction caused steering difficulty. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle proceeded to a complete stop and began to operate normally. The contact inspected the front passenger side tire and noticed blistering on the sidewall. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to blistering of a defective tire. The front passenger side tire was replaced for free. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the same failure for the front driver's side tire; however, they refused to assume responsibility for the repair. The defective tire has not been replaced. The VIN was unknown. …
I was traveling down the highway passing another vehicle on the first lane. As I was going down, I felt my vehicle pulling to the side very slightly, and at first I put the feeling off as me overreacting over something or it was just the road being a little rough. I was going at highway speed around 75mph, and eventually my rear passenger side tire ruptured effectively destroying all of the sidewall of the tire. I managed to stay in control and pulled to the side of the road. After the incident and upon closer inspection of the failed tire at home, I found that the rubber part where the valve stem meets the wheel of the tire was mostly cracked almost to the point of detachment. I feel certain that this was the cause of the tire failure, where I lost air pressure causing the sidewall of the tire to give away at highway speed. …
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Wrangler years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2006 Jeep Wrangler?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2006 Jeep Wrangler, 4% of the model year's 730 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Jeep Wrangler wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2006 Jeep Wrangler, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Jeep Wrangler wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.