Episode 389 – Jeep Sued Over Death Wobble

This Week In Jeep:

MENDED LITTLE HEARTS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR JEEP EVENT JUNE 21-22

The Evansville Jeep Association’s (http://www.evvjeep.com/) 5th Annual “Wheelin’ For a Cause” is coming up next Friday and Saturday (June 21st and 22nd). The event will feature Jeep owners from all over the area putting their vehicles to the test on a course through the Interlake State Recreation Area in Lynnville Indiana. There will also be food, an auction, and other activities with the proceeds benefiting Mended Little Hearts of Evansville. As with any fundraising event, it takes quite a few hands to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible, that’s where you come in. Organizers are in need of volunteers for a variety of different responsibilities including the information tent, traffic control, trash pickup, clean up, food service and sales, and more. If you’re interested in helping out, we’ll have a link on our site in the show notes for this episode where you sign up for a shift online. https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2810328/false#/invitation

Mended Little Hearts provides support programs for parents of children with heart defects and heart disease…as well as offers resources and a caring support network as families find answers and move forward to find healing and hope.

https://www.facebook.com/Mended-Little-Hearts-of-Evansville-154904741243161/

The Time Has Come – Class Action Lawsuit Over Death Wobble

This may have the potential to be one of the biggest things to hit the Jeep world since the advent of the locker. Jeep owners are taking to the courts over what is so affectionately called “death wobble.” The entire web is absolutely ablaze with reports about this class-action lawsuit that was filed on June 12 in the Detroit’s U.S. District Court, targeting FCA specifically, and alleging the automaker knew about the issue but neither addressed it nor warned buyers at the time of sale about this potential problem. In a recent statement, an FCA spokesperson said:  “FCA US has not been served with this lawsuit and can not comment on its allegations at this time. However, we note that any manufacturer vehicle equipped with a solid axle can experience steering system vibration and, if experienced, it is routinely corrected.”  Typically, most reported incidents of steering system vibrations are primarily due to such things like poorly installed or maintained after-market equipment, like lifts and steering upgrades. 

Damaged or worn steering system components are almost always to blame. Even Incorrect tire pressure in some cases can cause vibrations. But As we have previously described, and as some of you have experienced first hand, Jeep owners seem to get the worst of it, as it’s less of a vibration, and more of a violent shaking back and forth of the steering wheel. It usually occurs at higher speeds after hitting a bump, and it immediately thrusts into your minds eye visions of a horrific death with the only thing saving you from a certain wobbly perril….. is to simply slow down.  As some of us more seasoned Jeepers will tell you, this is nothing new. Death Wobble has been affecting Jeepers for decades. Unfortunately for many of us though the class-action lawsuit specifically identifies only the 2015-2018 model-year Jeep Wrangler. The rest of us are for now, S.O.L. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists numerous complaints of a violent shaking of the wheel in Jeep Wranglers, though no official investigation is presently underway. However, multiple news agencies say safety advocates in Washington have campaigned for a closer look at the potential issue as far back as 2012. The lawsuit alleges Jeep has replaced steering dampers for some owners experiencing issues under warranty, but that it doesn’t fix the problem. Throughout all of this, there’s no mention of the new Jeep Gladiator experiencing problems, since it shares the same front axle set up as the Wrangler it’s based on. Maybe it will be just a matter of time, who knows. It will be interesting however, to see what comes of this, and whether this will set a precedence for future lawsuits, or if it just sort of goes away. 

And it’s time for a quick turn of the rumor mill

Word on the street and off the trail is that the Ram 1500 will likely be sharing the new 3.0L EcoDiesel with the Gladiator. Sources close to the rumor are saying this is all but verified, and even if it does happen, it wont be until the Ram pickup has several months of sales under its belt. And there are rumors and pictures circulating, that some recently posted spy photos of a crazily camouflaged vehicle are of what some are calling a 2021 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Prototype. Unfortunately, if you were using your eyes when looking at the photos, and not your butt, you’d clearly see the pickup bed over the rear tires. What these vehicle paparazzi clearly don’t understand is that it was likely just a test run of Ram’s new version of the mid-sized Dakota which is rumored to come back as early as 2021. This one is less of a rumor and more of a “hey thats pretty cool!” ….There’s a new Jeep-themed bar in Toledo, Ohio, called Wheelin’ on the Rocks. Looks pretty cool too. Always lots of Jeeps out front, and they even have an entire sectioned Jeep on the wall thats been cut in half and made into wall art. Definitely unique. We’ll have a link to their facebook page, and we’ll maybe even see if we cant get the owners to come on the show and talk about Wheelin’ On The Rocks in person. 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/WheelinOnTheRocks/photos/?ref=page_internal

Wrangler Talk:

Pre-Winch “How To”

Interview with:

Philip Schrei is a “Forged In Fire” champion living in Spring Texas. Owner and bladesmith at Be Ready Blade Works. Philip is a proud father, husband and owner of a 1997 and 2001 XJ You can check him out at www.brbwtx.com  Along with Facebook and Instagram.

Phillip from Be Ready Blade Works
https://www.brbwtx.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bereadybladeworks/
https://www.instagram.com/bereadybladeworks/

Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:

Local vs Online buying

Jeep Momma Review:

Barricade Rock Sliders UPDATE

$320 Extreme Terrain

Barricade Off-Road Rock Sliders will give your 4-door JK Wrangler a rugged off-road appearance while providing practical side and undercarriage protection from brush, rocks and other trail hazards. Plus these Barricade Off-Road Rock Sliders also double as a convenient step for easy entry into your lifted JK Wrangler.  Provides Side and Under Carriage Protection Doubles as a Convenient Step Heavy Duty 2 in. Tubular Stainless Steel Construction Textured Black Powder Coat Finish Easy, Bolt-On Installation Fits 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK 4 Door Models

Nicky G:

We’re never sure what we’ll hear from Nicky, but we’re sure we will hear from him! 😀

Wheeling Where:

United Christian Off-Road Alliance – Crawl 4 Christ
July 4th – 7th
Disney, Oklahoma
More Info: http://crawl4christ.org/

32nd Annual A&A Auto Stores
Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals
July 12th – 14th
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
More Info: https://www.4wheeljamboree.com/

Links Mentioned in Episode 389:

Barricade Off Road Rock Sliders

Jeep Momma Blog – My Build: http://www.jeepmomma.com/p/jeep-parts.html