2021 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Linkages
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1973%
• 25k–50k
  415%
• 50k–75k
  312%
• 75k–100k
  00%
• 100k–150k
  00%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a right-hand steering wheel and was used as a mail carrier vehicle. The contact stated that after parking and dropping off mail, the contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was overheating, and the battery warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal popping sound and smoke coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911, and the Fire truck arrived 10 minutes later; however, the fire had already started under the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly from the front-end to the front seats. Additionally, mail inside the vehicle were burned. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There was no injury sustained. …

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle and while inspecting the vehicle, the contact saw smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact became aware of fire underneath the vehicle. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. There were no injuries sustained. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,890.

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, causing a more difficult steering effort. The vehicle was restarted to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the CAN bus connector, but the failure persisted. While driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle almost crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained body soreness. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). …

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH over a bumpy road surface, the vehicle experienced a death wobble. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was wobbling violently from side to side and pulling toward the opposite lane. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and exceeding 40 MPH on bumpy road surfaces. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the steering shock absorber system needed to be upgraded to a double steering shock absorber system. The dealer informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under the warranty. The contact declined to pay for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they were waiting for the dealer to submit a claim with the diagnostic report. …

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to vibrate and sway left to right, commonly referred to as a "death wobble". No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the steering linkage. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The contact also received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V116000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was 21,000. …

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact experienced failure known as the death wobble. The contact stated that the vehicle started shaking violently after driving over a bump in the roadway, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact regained control of the vehicle once the vehicle had slowed down and the shaking ceased. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the model year vehicle was not covered under recall. The contact was then informed that the steering wheel stabilizer needed to be installed to prevent the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH over a bump in the roadway, the vehicle began to shake abnormally. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he decelerated to 20 MPH and the vehicle stopped shaking. The contact experience the failure a total of 6 times. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact took the vehicle to another local dealer; CR Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Adrian (1211 US-223, Adrian, MI 49221, [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing the stabilizer steering damper to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts not being available. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the entire vehicle began to shake while driving over a bridge. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The failure continued and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a bent tie rod. The tie rod was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back a third time to the dealer and the contact was informed that the steering wheel damper needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump in the road, and the vehicle started to wobble and shake violently. The contact slowed down and stopped the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the steering dampener needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated had experienced the failure several years prior. The vehicle was repaired under warranty; however, the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel began to forcefully shake and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and turn off the vehicle. The contact stated she was able to restart the vehicle and drive to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the steering damper to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,100.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other Wrangler years