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FCA Sued Over Jeep “Death Wobble” Steering
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has been sued on behalf of Jeep Wrangler owners over claims that the SUV’s front axle can develop a dangerous “death wobble” at highway speeds.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has been sued on behalf of Jeep Wrangler owners over claims that the SUV’s front axle can develop a dangerous “death wobble” at highway speeds.
The potential class-action lawsuit, which was filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, covers 2015-2018 model Wranglers, The Detroit News reports. The complaint asserts that FCA has shrugged off the issue as a condition that can occur for any vehicle with a solid front axle rather than an independent suspension.
Owners have reported the issue to consumer groups and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2012, the News points out. The lawsuit describes the shimmy as an “uncontrollable side-to-side shaking” of the front-end suspension and steering wheel.
Some owners say FCA has offered to replace the steering damper if the vehicle is under warranty. But the lawsuit asserts that the only real cure would be to make substantial modifications to the suspension.
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