The Lemon IndexDeath wobble is a violent shake of the front end, mostly on trucks and Jeeps with a solid front axle, that starts after a bump at speed.
Stop and get help. Slow down firmly but smoothly to stop it, then get the front end inspected before highway driving.
A worn track bar or track bar bushings. Then: worn ball joints or tie rod ends; a worn steering damper (a new one can hide the problem, not fix it).
Owners describe this in 4,793 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford F-Series.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford F-Series | 675 | 21% |
| 2019 Ford F-Series | 666 | 22% |
| 2018 Jeep Wrangler | 267 | 15% |
| 2018 Ford F-Series | 235 | 8% |
| 2008 Jeep Wrangler | 161 | 9% |
| 2007 Jeep Wrangler | 158 | 10% |
| 2021 Jeep Wrangler | 152 | 16% |
| 2016 Ford F-Series | 151 | 6% |
| 2015 Ford F-Series | 150 | 7% |
| 2012 Ford F-Series | 143 | 6% |
| 2011 Ford F-Series | 105 | 4% |
| 2014 Ford F-Series | 101 | 6% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2019 Ford F-Series · 22% 2017 Ford F-Series · 21% 2004 Jeep Wrangler · 20% 2021 Jeep Wrangler · 16% 2018 Jeep Wrangler · 15% 2022 Jeep Wrangler · 14% 2009 Jeep Wrangler · 12% 2021 Jeep Gladiator · 12%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of death wobble
- A worn track bar or track bar bushings
- Worn ball joints or tie rod ends
- A worn steering damper (a new one can hide the problem, not fix it)
- Lift kits or larger tires changing the geometry
- Wheels out of balance or alignment
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with death wobble?
Stop and get help. Slow down firmly but smoothly to stop it, then get the front end inspected before highway driving.
Get help right away if you notice it at all.
Of the 4,793 complaints describing it, 1% mention a crash and 0.7% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: steering (77%), suspension (69%), wheels (9%), power train (2%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 37,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (2,610), Jeep (1,515), Dodge (505), Ram (75), Nissan (15).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (steering, suspension repairs): the middle half ran $462 to $2,000, typical $1,000, from 82 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Related symptoms
Car shakes at highway speed Car shakes when braking Clicking noise when turning Clunking noise over bumps Car pulls to one side Steering wheel hard to turn
Quick answers
What causes death wobble?
Death wobble is a violent shake of the front end, mostly on trucks and Jeeps with a solid front axle, that starts after a bump at speed. Common causes: a worn track bar or track bar bushings; worn ball joints or tie rod ends; a worn steering damper (a new one can hide the problem, not fix it); lift kits or larger tires changing the geometry; wheels out of balance or alignment.
Is it safe to drive with death wobble?
Stop and get help. Slow down firmly but smoothly to stop it, then get the front end inspected before highway driving.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford F-Series, Jeep Wrangler and Ram pickup. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 82 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $462 to $2,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup