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SteeringPart report

2009 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

Complaints
65about this part
Share
17%of 372 total for the year
Median mileage
45,940miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 65 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Jeep Wrangler, 17% of the 372 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,940 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When driving the Jeep on the expressway, the entire front end started shimmying from side to side, threatening to pull the steering wheel out of my hands. It stopped when I reduced speed to under 55 MPH. Whenever I tried to go over 55 MPH, the Jeep resumed it's death wobble. This is not a safe condition to be driving a vehicle in.”

NHTSA complaint #10939007, filed 2017-01, 91,000 miles

“Bought a used 2009 Jeep didn't know anything about a death wobble. I was going down the interstate at about 60 MPH hit a bump and the Jeep started shaking violently. Almost got hit trying to get off the interstate and stop. It does it every time I hit a bump in the road. Now I don't know what to do becasue we bought it used.”

NHTSA complaint #10724734, filed 2015-06, 109,000 miles

“While driving approximately 45mph I experienced a violet shaking of the steering wheel and could not control the vehicle until the speed slowed to approximately 15mph. I researched on the internet and someone said Jeep used a bolt smaller than the hole on a track bar that connects the front axle to the vehicle and this gets wallowed out and causes this.”

NHTSA complaint #10505273, filed 2013-04, 83,000 miles

“Me and my dad were driving on the expressway and it was 65 miles an hour all of a sudden the Jeep started shaking violently and it did it 3 times while we're on the expressway. The Jeep was doin the death wobble and both of us were shaken up. The brakes went out and had a hard time stopping. It's ridiculous and I think that these parts should be recalled. I'm gonna call detroit tomorrow.”

NHTSA complaint #10766287, filed 2015-09, 85,215 miles

“While driving my Jeep Wrangler 2009, I hit a bump in the road and the car went into the death wobble - violently shaking from side-to-side. The only way to stop it was to slow down or come to a near stop and then continue. It does this very often now - usually starts somewhere between 35-55 MPH and just after hitting a bump.”

NHTSA complaint #10514849, filed 2013-06, 100,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026217%
202534%
20247210%
20235715%
20228621%
202125527%
202023939%
201944760%
20181,11761%
2017196%
2016286%
2015296%
2014264%
201316725%
201220424%
20115812%
20106610%
20096517%
200815618%
200713825%
20068612%
2005589%
20046735%
20031414%
2002109%
2001106%
2000114%
199931%
1998166%
1997318%
199563%
199453%
199322%
199234%
199111%
199023%
198713%

Other parts of the 2009 Jeep Wrangler

Air bags
104 complaints
Fuel system
80 complaints
Suspension
63 complaints
Electrical system
35 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
34 complaints
Other or unknown
19 complaints
Engine
18 complaints
Brakes
14 complaints
Wheels
13 complaints
Electronic stability control
9 complaints
Exterior lighting
9 complaints
Body and structure
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Jeep Wrangler

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology