TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR (ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BEING STUCK) AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HAS WARMED UP.
2009
STEERING
MY WIFE HAD JUST TAKEN OUR 2009 JEEP WRANGLER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WHICH INCLUDED AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. ON HER WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING DRAMATICALLY SO SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED ME. I TOLD HER THAT IF THE TIRES WERE REBALANCED THEN A WEIGHT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN OFF CAUSING ONE OF THE TIRES TO BE OUT OF BALANCE AND TOLD HER TO TRY AND DRIVE IT HOME AT A SLOW SPEED. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE SHAKING DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. A COUPLE DAYS LATER SHE TOOK THE JEEP BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO RECHECK THE TIRE BALANCING. THEY INDICATED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS OUT OF BALANCE SO THEY FIXED IT AND WE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING THE JEEP AT ABOUT 55MPH WHEN WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND IT STARTED A RATHER VIOLENT SHAKING AND WOBBLING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE SHAKING AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. I STARTED DRIVING THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN IN ORDER TO TAKE NOTE OF ALL THE CONDITIONS PRESENT WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS AND TO TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH IT ON THE INTERNET AND IMMEDIATELY FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES DISCUSSING A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS A "DEATH WOBBLE". THE SYMPTONS DESCRIBED ARE PRECISELY WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THERE IS A VIOLENT SHAKING AND WOBBLING OF THE VEHICLE AND YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY TO REGAIN CONTROL. OUR JEEP IS STOCK AND NO AFTER-MARKET MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
