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2000 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

11 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

11
Complaints
2
Crashes
Feb 2001Oct 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (11)

criticalSTEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2020

Your Jeep's front frame has rusted severely from the inside out, nearly separating the steering gearbox from the rest of the frame, and the passenger side frame has become so soft you can compress it by hand. You noticed the problem when the Jeep suddenly became difficult to steer straight on the road. The rust progressed rapidly—there was no visible rust two years ago, and the frame appeared sound when the steering gearbox was replaced last year. Fixing this will likely require a complete frame replacement rather than repairs.

NHTSA #: 11344261
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION
Filed: Oct 2017

ALL NOTES I HAVE FOUND INCLUDING ONLINE FORMS REQUESTING THIS YEAR KEEPS FRAME BE RECALLED, ROTTEN AT BUMPERS WHERE STEERING COMES INTO PLAY AND OTHER SPOTS MID FRAME... HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FRAME LET GO, HE WAS IN ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL! THE JEEP WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED WHICH CAUSED THE ROAD TO BECOME UNSAFE AS IT WAS STOPPED AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL WITH TRAFFIC FLYING OVER THE HILL... HE ALMOST GO HIT 5 TIMES HE COULD HAVE DIED EASILY HAD HE NOT JUMPED OUT AND CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE

NHTSA #: 11032315
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH FRONT STEERING MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

NHTSA #: 10631490
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS
Filed: Mar 2013

-AT APPROXIMATELY FIFTY-FIVE TO SIXTY MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I HAVE PERSONALLY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS COMMONLY CALLED, "DEATH WOBBLE" AMONGST OTHER JEEP OWNERS. THE ISSUE TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR DRIVING AROUND A BEND ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN EARLY 2009, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANICS FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT SUGGESTED COURSES OF ACTION FROM EACH ONE. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPONENTS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE (1) TRACKING BAR, (2) U-JOINTS, (3) STEERING DAMPENER ETC. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN ENTIRE NEW SET OF TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH REPLACING THE TRACKING BAR WORKED TEMPORARILY, THE PROBLEM SOON RETURNED AFTER ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 - 15,000 MILES TO THE VEHICLE. -ALTHOUGH MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE OVER THE YEARS, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THE FORM OF A RECALL FROM THE FORMER "DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG" OR ITS SUCCESSOR "CHRYSLER GROUP L.L.C." OR IT'S SUBSIDIARY "JEEP CORPORATION." *TR

NHTSA #: 10505175
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Mar 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A TROUBLESHOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA #: 10451238
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 2007

1-DAILY DRIVING 2-43-47MPH VIOLENT FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE (DEATH SHAKE)-DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY ONLY AND FAVORITE VEHICLE 3-I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE STEERING DAMPER, ROTATE THE TIRE, VERIFY THE TIRE PRESSURE, VERIFY THE TIRE ROAD WORTHINESS, CHECK THE BRAKES, BALANCE THE TIRES. IT WAS DONE IN DETROIT AND 4 MONTHS AGO. THE SHAKE NEVER WENT AWAY. THERE IS NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THE STEERING DAMPER ISN'T LEAKING. *TR * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA #: 10203411
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CrashFiled: Mar 2006

CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2000 JEEP WRANGLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BRAKES WERE NEW AND IN GOOD CONDITION. UPON PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD AND HAD TO BE ADJUSTED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. THE FRONT PINION SEAL WAS REPLACED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA #: 10154092
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Oct 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE. STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY THEN AFTER SLOWING DOWN THE CONSUMERWAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK *TC

NHTSA #: 10091713
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Apr 2001

STEERING BOX LOCKED UP WHILE ON A LEFT HAND BEND. CROSSED UNCOMING TRAFFIC, ALMOST WENT OFF SIDE OF MOUNTAIN PASS. CONTACTED JEEP, THEY ARE APATHETIC ABOUT IT. HAD THIS HAVE HAPPENED AT SPEED, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE.

NHTSA #: 743877
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 2001

WAS TOWING VEHICLE BEHIND MOTORHOME, AFTER MAKING TWO SHARP TURNS, STARTED TO FEEL A DRAGGING SENSATION. WAS NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST OF A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED PROBLEM. NOTICED STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM HAD LOCKED UP WHEELS, CAUSING DRAGGING SENSATION. *AK

NHTSA #: 881708
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 2001

WAS TOWING VEHICLE BEHIND MOTORHOME. AFTER MAKING 2 SHARP TURNS FELT A DRAGGING SENSATION. WAS NOTIFIED STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM HAD LOCKED UP WHEELS WHICH CAUSED DRAGGING SENSATION.*AK

NHTSA #: 881652

Other 2000 Jeep Wrangler Issues