2018 Jeep Wrangler · symptom sheet
Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"
- 517owner reports
- 8,000median miles
- $3,200median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
1116 of the 1,823 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 517 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Wrangler.
Tick what matches of 517 reports
Death wobble on other Wrangler years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the violent one. Owners describe the steering wheel shaking hard at highway speed, often right after the front end hits a bump or an expansion joint, and it keeps going until they slow way down. Six in ten complaints in this group use the word wobble, and plenty of owners call it the "death wobble."
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (88 reports), the track bar (22 reports), the tie rod (7 reports) and the ball joint (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the steering system covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The intermediate steering shaft may not have been properly welded causing a split where the external spline is formed.
All 14 recalls on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Wrangler
Underhood fires. Closed sep 24, 2026, led to recall 26V-363.
Frame weld deficiencies. Closed oct 29, 2023.
Frame weld deficiencies. Closed sep 17, 2019.
What owners paid
6 of the 517 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $4,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 4,400 and 15,000 miles, from the 408 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Air Trapped in Steering Damper Warranty Extension XF1 A shimmy in the steering wheel after hitting an irregularity on the road surface (symptom is more prevalent in cold temperatures). This bulletin involves replacing the steering damper.
What owners wrote
“my vehicle has extremely bad death wobble, only 55 thousand miles on it. its a extreme safty hazard ! i just had my tires rotated and balanced and the problem is not any better ! once i hit 65 mph its shakes uncontrollably and i have to slow down to 40mph to get it to stop! that is extremely dangersous on a highway to be driving like this ! it has been like this since i got my car at 33,000 miles in august 2021”
Filed Apr 15, 2024 · 33,000 miles
“Death wobble when hitting a bump over 50 mph. Only 31K miles but out of warranty. Dealer repalced track bar, but it didn't reslove the problem. Waiting on a dampener replacement. Both I hve had to pay for.”
Filed Feb 8, 2024 · 31,000 miles
“At 60 miles an hour if you hit a bump jeeps starts the death wobble til you slow to 45 miles an hour. Jeep has claimed recall was completed 1/14/20 at 4840 miles, we purchased used and has 22041 miles now and same issue. Their alleged fix is not fixed. I spoke with Chrysler about this and they stated I must pay for diagnostic and then they would maybe do something.”
Filed Apr 5, 2023 · 4,840 miles
“This vehicle is not safe due to the "death wobble". My 2018 Jeep Wrangler with only 36,000 miles has become unsafe to drive. Anytime it's driven over 30 mph there is an almost uncontrollable, violent shaking that occurs. What is being done about this? Is it going to take serious injury or death to happen for this to be recalled?”
Filed Jan 19, 2023 · 36,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 517 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 342 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 117 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 104 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 96 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 68 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 67 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 63 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 49 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 47 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 42 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 40 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 27 reports