The "Death Wobble" is a creative term coined by Jeep owners that describes a situation when the front axle begins violently oscillating, causing the car to shake (or wobble) in a manner which makes the vehicle hard to control.

Death Wobble Examples

1. Interior Video Wobble starts about 12 seconds in
2. Exterior Video Look at the tires 8 seconds in

Why the Wobble?

The death wobble is a simple problem without a simple solution. Essentially the wobbling is your suspension system is out of equilibrium. Unfortunately there are many areas in the suspension system, including the tires and the body, that could be causing the problem:

• Poor alignment: If you're experiencing the wobble and haven't had your alignment checked, this is the first thing you should do.
• Unbalanced Tires: Tires that are unbalanced can start throwing the axle around and the only way to stop the wobble is by slowing down.
• Ball Joints: Worn ball joints can allow the wheel to move laterally and independently of the opposite wheel. These should be replaced regardless, worn ball joints are very dangerous in any vehicle.
• Steering Stabilizer Bar: A steering stabilizer that is loose may lead to the death wobble.

Why is this Problematic in Jeeps?

A couple main reasons this problem is mostly isolated to Jeeps: first, many Jeeps are coil-sprung with a track bar setup and secondly, a lot of Jeep owners get their Jeeps lifted or modified or have after-market track bars installed. Jeep models affected by this design are: the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. If it's any consolation (I know it's not) this problem also occurs in some Ford and Dodge trucks, especially older Broncos.

Fixing the Jeep Death Wobble

Obviously, to fix the wobble you need to know what's causing it. The best way to do that (although frustrating) is to go through the common causes one-by-one until you find it. Let's start small and work our way up:

• Start with a quick visual inspection under the front end of the vehicle. Look for shiny or damaged steel, indicative of metal that's moving around.
• Check to make sure all bolts are tightened on the front track bar
• Check the tires since they typically break down faster and are more prone to storing and releasing the energy that causes the wobble. Are they properly balanced and inflated to the manufacturer's suggested PSI? Did you recently have them balanced? You might try bringing the car back and asking them to make sure the balance is still true.
• After that check the front wheel bearings by jacking the the front tires off the ground, grabbing the top and bottom of the tire and trying to wiggle it back and forth. If you notice any lateral give you might want to have a mechanic check those bearings for you.
• Look for loose connections in the tie rod ends and drag link ends.
• Has your Jeep been lifted? Might want to check the front axle casters.
• If all else fails, you might need a new steering stabilizer. Although if you do replace the stabilizer you might want to replace other components as well since the death wobble shakes everything and can loosen other components as well.

Actions You Can Take & Possible Recourse

Are you experiencing the death wobble? Have you found a solution that works for you? Please share your story over at CarComplaints.com and help out similar owners with the same problem:

This step is crucial. Don't just complain on forums; The sites below actually manage your complaint in ways that allow useful statistics and they report dangerous trends to the authorities. Law firms often contact these sites for help with Class Action lawsuits. Make sure to file your complaint on all three sites, we can't stress that enough.

1. Step 1: File Your Complaint at CarComplaints.com

   CarComplaints.com is a free resource dedicated to uncovering car problem trends and informing the consumer. File Your Complaint

2. Step 2: Notify the Center for Auto Safety

   The Center for Auto Safety is an organization that informs consumers about auto safety issues. Notify the CAS

3. Step 3: Report a Safety Concern to the NHTSA

   The NHTSA directs highway safety and has the authority to force recalls to be issued following investigations. Report Your Concern

Have Your Say

Let us know if you've experienced this problem, know of a potential fix or just want to voice how frustrated you are:

Resources and Reference

1. JPMagazine.com: Top 25 Most Asked Jeep Tech Questions
2. Yuccaman.com: Death Wobble
3. KevinsOffRoad.com: Death Wobble Cure