California Democrats are being Chrysler to task for what they deem the “Jeep Death Wobble”. They are demanding that Chrysler warn Jeep Wrangler drivers about the front suspension vibration. The ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, U.S. Rep Anna Eshoo, and U.S. Rep Henry Waxman, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce committee are asking Chrysler “to undertake an outreach campaign to alert both Jeep owners and employees of the ‘Jeep Death Wobble’ and suggest methods to repair and prevent the problem.” There is one report of a fatality due to this issue, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rejected the U.S. Reps request for a formal investigation. This investigation would involve all of the 2005 through 2010 Jeep Wranglers.
Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese said “All manufacturer vehicles equipped with a solid axle can be susceptible to this condition and, if experienced, it is routinely corrected with a change of tires or installation of a simple steering dampener. In fact, most reported incidents — in all manufacturer vehicles equipped with or without a solid axle — are often linked to poorly installed or maintained after-market equipment, such as lifters, oversized tires, etc. The name you’ve given to this condition has no basis in fact.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the complaints the receive about the Jeep Wrangler are typically about drivers experiencing “shimmy symptoms at speeds above 45 mph, frequently after traveling over a bump such as a pothole or an expansion joint in the roadway.”
The California Democrats stance on this is, “The anecdotal evidence from our constituents indicates that many Jeep owners have not received consistent guidance from Chrysler representatives about how to approach this problem, even when owners report a relatively consistent set of symptoms.” They have officiated their concerns in a letter to CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Source The Detroit News