NHTSA Investigates Jeep Wrangler Due to Frame, Steering Issues

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened investigations into the frame welds and steering problems of Jeep Wrangler SUVs built for the 2018 and 2019 model years.

The investigation covers around 270,000 vehicles believed to have the potential to pose a safety risk for drivers and passengers.

The problem stemmed from a complaint filed by an owner of a 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, claiming weld issues with the vehicle. From there, the agency also decided to expand its probe to include over 3,000 owner complaints of wobbly steering.

According to the NHTSA, the investigation aims to determine if the quality of frame welds in the Wrangler JL “compromise the structural integrity” of the vehicle. Among the problems specified by the government institution are welds with holes, welds with improper penetration, too much slag (coating on top of welds), and splash or bits of weld material splattered onto the metal. These problems, according to the NHTSA, are found in various parts of the SUV’s frame assembly.

The NHTSA, however, clarified that the investigation does not equate to a recall of the Jeep Wrangler SUVs for the said model years. No accidents or injuries relating to the car systems and setup in question have been reported.

Following the launch of the investigation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has announced that it will replace steering dampers of the vehicles affected by the steering issues at no cost to customers. The company also said the current problems are not related to the recall it issued in the previous year.

In September 2018, FCA announced a recall of more than 18,000 units of the Wrangler JL due to another welding problem that caused steering problems to drivers. Complaints on the “misaligned weld” came from about 152 owners of at least the 3,566 instances cited against 2018 and 2019 Wrangler models.