2022 Jeep Wrangler Lemon Law Case Study: Cash and Keep Settlement in South Carolina
A Brand-New Jeep Wrangler That Was Never Safe to Drive at Highway Speeds
Our client purchased a new 2022 Jeep Wrangler in South Carolina on July 11, 2022. Just three days later, the steering was already off-center, pulling to the right with vibration at highway speeds.
Over the next 18 months, the vehicle developed the notorious Jeep "death wobble", a violent, uncontrollable shaking of the front end and steering wheel triggered by bumps at highway speeds. Despite four repair attempts, the dangerous steering defect was never resolved. The wobble kept coming back, with aggressive shaking over bumps and at highway speeds.
What Went Wrong
- Steering misalignment from day one: Within 3 days of purchase, the steering pulled right with vibration at highway speeds, a defect present from delivery
- Aggressive shaking over bumps: By October 2022 the vehicle shook aggressively when hitting a bump and when driving over 50 mph, the classic "death wobble" pattern
- Unstable steering over bumps: By November 2023 the vehicle was still shaking over bumps and the steering became difficult to control
- Shaking at highway speeds: By January 2024 the vehicle still shook aggressively over bumps and at highway speeds, creating a safety hazard
18 Months of Steering and Suspension Repairs
Visit 1: July 14, 2022
- Just 3 days after purchase, steering wheel was off-center
- Vehicle pulled to the right with noticeable vibration at highway speeds
Visit 2: October 26, 2022
- Vehicle began shaking aggressively when hitting a bump and when driving over 50 mph
Visit 3: November 9, 2023
- Vehicle continued to shake when hitting a bump
- Steering became difficult to control when hitting a bump
Visit 4: January 18, 2024
- Aggressive shaking continued when going over a bump and when driving at highway speeds
Why This Case Required Lemon Law Representation
The Jeep Wrangler "death wobble" is one of the most well-documented recurring defects in the automotive industry. NHTSA has received thousands of complaints about violent front-end oscillation in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models, leading to recalls and investigations. Despite this, Stellantis (formerly FCA) has been unable to permanently resolve the issue for many owners.
This case presented several legal complexities:
- South Carolina's narrow lemon law window: SC's lemon law applies only within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles. While the first two repair visits fell within this window, the later repairs did not, requiring a dual strategy under both state and federal law
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: Because repairs continued under the manufacturer's warranty beyond SC's lemon law timeframe, the federal warranty act provided a strong additional path to recovery
- Safety-critical defect: By the third visit, the steering became difficult to control when hitting a bump. A defect of this severity substantially impairs the use, market value and safety of the vehicle, the core standard under South Carolina's lemon law
- Repeat failed repairs: The defect went from an off-center steering wheel and vibration at highway speeds to aggressive shaking over bumps and above 50 mph, and the shaking was still present at the fourth visit
How Easy Lemon Fought for Our Client's Rights
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed the full repair history across all four dealer visits, the purchase documentation, and South Carolina's lemon law requirements to assess eligibility under both state and federal law.
Documentation & Case Building
Our team compiled all four repair orders showing the death wobble from the first off-center steering complaint through aggressive shaking over bumps and at highway speeds at the fourth visit.
Demand to Stellantis (FCA)
We filed a formal demand against Stellantis citing both South Carolina's lemon law and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, documenting the 4 failed repair attempts, the safety-critical nature of the steering defect, and the manufacturer's inability to resolve a known, recurring issue.
Resolution Achieved
Easy Lemon successfully resolved this case on behalf of our client. The specific terms are confidential, but the outcome reflected the severity of the safety defect and the manufacturer's repeated failure to repair it.
Case Successfully Resolved
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2022 Jeep Wrangler
- Purchased: July 11, 2022, South Carolina
- Status at purchase: Brand new
- Mileage reported at intake: about 40,000 miles
- Primary defect: Steering "death wobble", violent front-end oscillation at highway speeds
- Repair attempts: 4 visits over 18 months
- Manufacturer: Stellantis (FCA US LLC)
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Steven Nassi, Esq.
Managing Partner, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Licensed attorney whose practice is limited to lemon law. Steven leads the Easy Lemon legal team and has overseen thousands of successful lemon law claims against major manufacturers including Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, and more.
Experiencing Jeep Death Wobble?
Steering wobble, vibration, and loss of control are serious safety defects covered under lemon law. Get a free case evaluation, it takes 30 seconds and costs nothing.
Qualify in 30 Seconds →2022 Jeep Wrangler Lemon Law Questions in South Carolina
Your Jeep May Have a Lemon Law Claim Too
If your Jeep keeps going back to the shop for the same problem, you may qualify under your state's lemon law, the manufacturer pays our fees, not you. We handle Jeep cases like this one regularly.
See Our Jeep Lemon Law Page →Learn More
- South Carolina Lemon Law Attorneys
- All Settlements & Case Studies
- Lemon Law By Manufacturer
- Jeep Lemon Law
- Car Lemon Law Guide
- Free Case Evaluation
Related Case Results
- 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S buyback in New Jersey ($34,066)
- 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer cash-and-keep settlement in Florida ($33,000)
- 2024 Jeep Wagoneer cash-and-keep settlement in North Carolina ($23,000)
