2020 Jeep Gladiator · symptom sheet

Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"

43owner reports
25,000median miles
1involved a crash

Newest report Dec 16, 2025 · checked Sep 19, 2026

181 of the 482 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 43 of those describe death wobble. Only infotainment is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 43 reports

it is called the death wobble online

a bump or pothole sets it off

it only happens at highway speed

slowing down stops the shaking

a steering damper was replaced

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (7 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2020 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Gladiator

PE24-024opened Sep 6, 2024

Steering · model years 2021 to 2023

Underhood fires. Open, led to recall 26V-363.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 9 Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire (VOQ) reports, 1 Death and Injury report, and multiple field reports alleging incidents of engine compartment fires in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The majority of the reports describe a fire occurring while the ignition in the vehicle was in an âOFFâ state with a suspected origin at the passenger front side of the engine compartment. An ignition âOFFâ vehicle fire can result in an increased risk of occupant injury, injury to persons outside the vehicle, and property damage, with little to no warning. ODI has contacted the vehicle manufacturer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and learned of several thermal events originating at the power steering pump electrical connector in recent model year Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The location of the pump connector is located at the passenger front side of the engine compartment, coinciding with the majority of fire reports known to ODI. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the cause, scope, and frequency of the alleged defect. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Numbers document, go to NHTSA.gov.

None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 12,887 and 36,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

720

221

822

1323

724

625

What owners wrote

“My Jeep Gladiator has had the "death wobbles" three different times now. It has been "repaired" by Jeep only to have the issue return a month or two later. The 2nd repair was done more extensively than just a dampener replacement. There is a class action lawsuit on this issue. But the new repair does not solve the problem! My truck has never been modified. It is original.”
Filed Sep 20, 2023

“The steering wheel begins to vibrate uncontrollably at highway speeds to the point where other drivers notice the shaking in the front end. to correct this problem i have to slow down well below highway speeds to get the steering under control. No the problem has not been reproduced by a dealer and now the vehicle is out of warranty. No indicators lights or warning signs appear when this issue arises.”
Filed Aug 7, 2023

“Steering wheel violently shakes if driving at highway speed and you hit a small bump”
Filed Feb 4, 2023

“At highway speeds when hitting a slight bump (i.e. expansion joint on a bridge or road way) the vehicle shakes violently. This can easily make the driver lose control of the vehicle. The Dealership reproduced and confirmed the issue and a Jeep Star Ticket was opened.”
Filed Jan 20, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 43 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.