Sway Bar problems of the 2008 Jeep Wrangler

Takata recall: while on the highway traveling at 50mph or higher, if the Jeep hits a small bump, the vehicle will begin to violently shake, only stopping the vehicle makes it come to a stop. This extreme wobble makes controlling the vehicle difficult, which could have resulted in severe highway accidents. Extremely dangerous in any type of inclement weather. This has required me to pull off the highway several times, which in itself is also a dangerous situation to be in. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership of purchase 2 times with in the first 6 week of purchase and then the dealership of purchase sent it to the local Jeep dealership which it has been there 3 time in a 2 month period in an attempt to fix it. They have replaced my steering dampener,sway bar link, track bar, bushing, balanced my tires, and replaced any in the front suspension in an attempt to fix the problem which has not to this point. Extremely dangerous problem- can't believe there is not a recall!.

Recently the air bag light in my jk Jeep Wrangler (2008) began illuminating. I did some investigation prior to servicing it at the dealer and determined it was likely the clockwork spring since there were some many reports of failure. In addition, my electronic sway bar disconnect system would not re-engage after a camping trip. I drove down a mountain pass and on a stretch of 75 mph interstate without a sway and an air bag which was dangerous. I took it into the dealership to get both issues looked at. Jeep confirmed it was the clockwork spring causing the air bag light ($48. 00 diagnosis) and that the sway bar disconnect motor ($96. 00 diagnosis) had failed. They quoted me for $410 to get the clockwork spring fixed & $1410 to replace the sway bar. No promise was made to reimburse me for the diagnosis and repair cost should the issues become recalls since they are under investigation. I took initiative to self determine the cause of the sway bar not reconnecting since I suspected that the electronic motor was still functioning (I could hear and feel to motor operating before & after I took my vehicle into the dealership for service). After disassembling (never been tampered with prior), I found water and rusty parts inside and could see that the unit as poorly designed judging from the one small spring that is suppose to work to re-engage the sway bar by pushing the internal gears (now rusty) back together. I simply applied some grease to the parts and reinstalled the unit. To my delight this allowed the motor to reconnect the sway bar. It is unconscionable to put motorist in harms way without a functioning air bag system and / or sway bar due to poorly vehicle construction and then charge for diagnosis and repair costs. Please issue recalls for the clockwork spring and the lack of water protection for the electronic sway bar disconnect system before fatalities occur.

Driving on the highway at approximately 65 miles per hour my front end began to shake and the steering became so erratic that I had to grip the steering wheel to keep the car from veering into another lane of traffic. I was able to slow the car down and pull over to the side of the road. Once I began again there was no vibration. This is the second time this has happened within two month. There are many cases of this happening on the internet. It's called the "death wobble" and I don't feel safe in the car anymore. The dealership has told me that its a worn sway bar but 25k miles shouldn't wear out this type of part.

Death wobble on a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. Vehicle has a predictable vibration between 55-60 mph. On one occasion, the vehicle shook so violently that it took the steering wheel out of my wife's hands. She was going around 55 mph around a curve. On a second occasion, I was slowing down to take an exit ramp. Slowing from 75 mph to around 60 mph and entering the exit ramp curve, the steering wheel was almost shaken out of my hands. On a third occasion, at around 60 mph on a straight road with no bumps, the Jeep began to shake violently and again pulled the steering wheel out of another drivers hands. The minor vibration happens everyday between 55-60 mph. The dealership says nothing is wrong. I have replaced the steering stabilizer with a rancho heavy duty stabilizer. Vibration went away for about 500 miles. I religiously do a 5 tire rotation and balance. No change. I have had a 4 wheel alignment completed. No change. Jeep will not drive the vehicle. They say if there is a vibration to have the tires balanced and the front end aligned. When I tell them that has been done, their reply is that it was not completed properly and they would do it for $300. I am getting to the point of selling or trading it in since I cannot fix the issue. I am almost ready to try to replace ball joints, but at 47,700 miles and no suspension or engine modifications. The Jeep has never been off-roaded, never been mistreated. What now? Jeep also offered to replace the ball joints, pitman arm, tie rod ends, sway bar end links, etc. For a nice sum of the $2500. Ouch.

The contact 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph the vehicle drove over a bump and the front end started shaking violently. The contact described the shaking as the "death wobble". The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the tires needed to be replaced. The contact did not change the tires and stated that the sway bar caused the vehicle to shake. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause a serious crash to occur. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 50,000.