“Death Wobble”.
Most drivers don’t know what it is. Jeep Wrangler drivers know it, warning each other and writing encyclopedia-worthy bulletin board posts every year.
It doesn’t stop them from buying Wranglers. Few vehicles in history have matched Jeep’s iconic off-road SUVs. However, the issue has escalated into lawsuits and many Wrangler owners may be eligible for an extended warranty.
Jeep has offered to settle an ongoing class action lawsuit regarding this issue. The company’s attorneys are offering warranty extensions and cash for repairs to groups of owners who have filed lawsuits over long-known problems.
An offer does not end litigation. Plaintiffs will have to decide whether to accept it, and a judge will have to prove it at a fair hearing scheduled for April.
What is Death Wobble?
First of all, the name is misleading. There have been no fatalities from the feared wobble. The lawsuit claims there were no fatalities. Just be afraid and fix the bill.
The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator will be one of the few vehicles with a front axle on sale in 2023. That is, the front wheels are connected by a single axle and connected to the frame of the car.
An old-fashioned design prized for its sturdiness and reliability, the beefy front axle gives the vehicle excellent wheel travel, and when a bump pushes one wheel up, the axle pushes the other down for traction. increase the
This is useful on unstable off-road surfaces.
Solid front axles were common on SUVs and pickup trucks. However, by 2023, they have all but disappeared from the market. Automakers have perfected the alternative of independent front suspension, where each front tire moves on its own, to the point that even off-road monsters like the Ford F-150 Raptor use that approach instead.
A solid front axle has at least one major drawback. If something is loose or damaged in the steering or suspension system, a collision with one wheel can cause both front wheels to become unstable. Worst case scenario, the steering wheel vibrates back and forth and the whole car shakes.
Who is suing over it?
A group of six Wrangler and Gladiator owners sued Jeep in a 2019 lawsuit. They must.
Plaintiffs allege that Jeep knew of the problem but failed to address it.
What does Jeep have to offer to solve the case?
According to the Detroit Free Press, Jeep is offering owners a warranty extension of “up to eight years or 90,000 miles” that covers “all parts and labor required to replace a failed front suspension damper.” doing.
The company also paid attorneys’ fees to allow “owners or lessees of affected vehicles who have paid for repairs related to the front suspension steering damper to file a claim for reimbursement at their website www.fcarecallreimbursement.com.” increase”.
Jeep does not admit to cheating as part of the contract.
What vehicles are covered?
The settlement is limited to owners of 2018-2020 Wranglers and 2020 Gladiator. According to a 2020 addendum to the lawsuit, this could include up to 192,000 Jeep owners.
But it doesn’t cover them all. Members of Congress first asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate the matter in 2012.