9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$750
Average Mileage:
86,650 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (16 reports)
2004 Jeep Wrangler suspension problems

suspension problem

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2004 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments

problem #16

Oct 192016

Wrangler

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've had this Jeep for a little over 2 months, not my everyday drive. I've had the death wobble slightly a few times, however on my way into the office today it was so bad I almost pulled over and left it sitting. I got the wobble under control 4 different times. This is my first Jeep, always wanted one but if I can get rid of this thing I'll never buy one again. I'm a single female and NO not a mechanic, can't afford to spend thousands on fixing this thing!!! .

Why in the H!!!! has there not been a recall, what's it going to take a few hundred deaths!?!?!? If I die or am injured in any way because of this, this KNOWN problem, my children have been informed, take every dime of my life insurance money and hire the best attorneys in the world....put JEEP out of business!!! So anyone have an email, phone number, fax number and any other way to contact someone.

- Brenda H., Harrison, AR, US

problem #15

Dec 052015

Wrangler Sport 4

  • Manual transmission
  • 97,000 miles

I was driving with my granddaughter, and the Jeep starts shaking terribly, my granddaughter starts screaming. The death wobble has occurred on my Jeep. I just bought it in June and now it is sitting a a service shop. I don't have the money to get it fixed and from what I'm hearing it cannot be fixed! How can the Jeep makers get away with this? Now I have no car and cant sell it, what am I to do? Thanks Jeep!

- Michelle H., Plattsmouth, NE, US

problem #14

Oct 032015

Wrangler X 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

Car steering wobbles violently at about 55 to 60 mph

- wsrussell, Inverness, IL, US

problem #13

Sep 122015

Wrangler Sahara I6

  • Manual transmission
  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

So frustrating this Death Wobble I have been doing research on this car for such a long time and never came across this information until recently and with the information I found on the Internet it's seem to was rectifiable problem but from the information I am reading here it seems like this thing cannot be fixed.

- Steven G., Union City, NJ, US

problem #12

Jun 012015

Wrangler Sport V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

2004 Jeep Wrangler - No Modifications/Completely Stock

Jeep "Death Wobble" started out as a pretty significant shimmy around 65 mph but never used to go into full-on death wobble mode and I could accelerate through the vibration. Had tires balanced and rotated and the problem turned into a full blown "Death Wobble". Replaced Track Bar and Stabilizer as recommended by mechanic ($700) and death wobble happen less frequently but still just as violent of shaking.

Took to dealer and they suggested replacing upper and lower control arms and axle bushings as well as replacing tires (tires had only 15,000 miles on them). Dealer wanted $2,500. I took to local mechanic who replaced the upper and lower control arms and all associated bushings ($885). Death Wobble now happens even more frequently.

Basically, I cannot drive the car over 50-55 mph for fear of death wobble. I put in a claim with Goodyear to get partial credit for the Goodyear Wranglers I have on the car with only 15,000 miles on them. Not sure what to do if replacing tires doesn't solve the problem. This is such a severe problem with the Wrangler and is clearly an engineering design flaw that needs to be fixed via recall or manufacturer buyback. Ridiculous that so many people have the same issue and no sure-fire solution is known.

Never buying a Chrysler product again.

- jonbmn, St. Paul, MN, US

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problem #11

Aug 232015

Wrangler Rubicon 4.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I've had this corrected 3x over the years, now on the 4th go-round. Between 50-60 MPH this typically happens. If I can make it to 65 or keep it under 50 there is no problem, it is just that one zone.

- lancaster505, Lancaster, PA, US

problem #10

Jun 082015

Wrangler Rubicon 4.0L I6

  • Manual transmission
  • 111,032 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have had two Jeep Wranglers, 1 was lifted and bigger tires on it that had the death wobble, but I thought it was partially due to the lift and tires (was really just a toy vehicle used for off-roading).

Now that I have this 2004 Rubicon that is completely stock and has the same issues something needs to be done or reported. Cruising down the highway at about 40-45mph or more and hit a bump it send the entire vehicle into a shaking wobble until brought down to about 30mph. I know on many Jeep forums and social media its a big topic. It should not happen to a stock vehicle. The Jeep even has same size tires on it that came on it.

- Matthew D., Hope Mills, NC, US

problem #9

Mar 212015

Wrangler

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

This is a disaster just waiting to happen. At some point it will cause an accident shaking so violently. It happens every time I hit 60 and hit a bump. EVERY TIME. It has done almost since I bought the car. I had it fixed once and it lasted maybe 6 months and started again.

- Lisa C., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #8

Feb 052015

Wrangler Rubicon 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

Why is there no recall on this problem? Jeep wobbles around 55mph!

- Mark V., fort myers beach, FL, US

problem #7

Aug 132014

Wrangler X 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

When i drive and hit 55mph my front end feels like it is going to jump off my Jeep. Replaced u joints, tie rod ends and had wheels rebalanced and aligned. One week later same damn thing happened again. No idea how to fix it.

- Jeremy P., Florence, Al, US

problem #6

Jan 132010

Wrangler Sahara V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 9,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased this jeep with 8100 miles on it and a 90 day warranty. I'm sure the dealer knew there was an issue. About 70 days in, it starts with a shimmy at 55mph. I take it in, they tell me the tires are out of round and I need new tires. The tires are practically brand new (original tires), so I'm loath to spend $500.00 on another set.

The shimmy gets worse, turns into the death wobble and my regular mechanic isn't sure he can fix it. Tires are all balanced, etc. Gets so I don't want to take it on the highway because I have to slow down to 40 mph and shift into 4th gear to stop it.

Last night, I almost got killed over this. Had to drive home at 50mph. I won't take this vehicle out of town until I can get an alignment guy to fix it. I've been told it may be a bad tie rod on the right front side, so that's what I'll check first.

All my reading tells me this is a common enough problem that jeep should fix it across the board, regardless of the model year.

- mrscaptjack, Palm Springs, CA, US

problem #5

Sep 162011

Wrangler Sport 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport, everytime I drive over 40 mph my jeep shakes so bad and the front end bounces of the road. I have to come to a complete stop our slam on my brakes to make the shaking stop. It is sooooo dangerous, that I can not drive it on the highway. This NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM JEEP!!!!

NOTHING that I have done to try to repair this works. Does someone have to DIE, for JEEP to fix this Manufacturing error??????????????????

- rolona, Vacaville, CA, US

problem #4

Oct 132012

Wrangler Wrangler 4 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,123 miles

I was having problems on curves in the mountains, was bad, but everyone was saying it was my tires, that just didn't sound right to me. it was pulling or trailing to the right also.

Now I was going down the freeway at about 65 mph when I went into the death wobble. every little tiny bump in the road my jeep was out of control. I was 250 miles from home and had to ride the bus to get back home.

What a unsafe and death trap that would have been, so who is going to pay for this? This happened at least 30 times before I could get off the highway.

Are the replaced parts going to fix the problem, or just fall apart again? LEMON.

I will not purchase another JEEP again,

We need to do something to stop this, where can I go to get help? Call and complain to?

- Tery V., Greenville, CA, US

problem #3

May 152011

Wrangler Unlimited 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,500 miles

This is ridiculous very dangerous fix the design problem you cheapskates. I don't know what's wrong other than the notorious "death wobble" I'm experiencing.

- Stephen P., Roanoke, VA, US

problem #2

Dec 182010

Wrangler Wrangler V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I recently purchased my 04 jeep Wrangler from a local dealer in November of 2010. Beginning December, I noticed the first time it shook so bad, it felt as though the car was going to collapse under me. At that point, I thought I hit a bump which threw off the suspension. What I have learned, is whether driving or decelerating off of a hwy, my jeep will "death wobble" at random moments, which have become more frequent. I took the jeep into a local Les Schwab, and they checked all parts...immediately new it was this concern which I understand....many have. THIS IS DANGEROUS!! This can happen at any moment, and I realized if for some sudden moment I have to hit the breaks to avoid another vehicle, it swerves to one side, and begins "the wobble" What is Chrysler doing about this, and If there is a class action lawsuit, or recalls, I NEED TO KNOW about it. WIll it take the suspension falling out from under me to get awarness to this problem...or others?

- wculver, Yakima, WA, US

problem #1

Feb 172011

Wrangler Sahara 4.0L Inline 6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I have owned Jeep for about 6 months. This is the first time I have experienced the "death wobble". Contacted other people who own jeeps who all had either experienced it or know someone who has. It was the scariest driving incident I think I have ever experienced. Scared the sh*t out of me.

- jasonillinois, Wyoming, IL, US

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