2022 Jeep Wrangler Lemon Law Case Study
A Brand-New Jeep Wrangler That Was Never Safe to Drive at Highway Speeds
Our client purchased a new 2022 Jeep Wrangler from Piedmont Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Anderson, South Carolina, on July 11, 2022. Just three days later — with only 186 miles on the odometer — 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 including a manufacturer recall repair, the dangerous steering defect was never resolved. The wobble progressively worsened, ultimately occurring at 70 mph and making the vehicle unsafe to drive on highways.
What Went Wrong
- Steering misalignment from day one: Within 3 days of purchase at just 186 miles, the steering pulled right with vibration at highway speeds — a defect present from delivery
- Aggressive shaking over bumps: By 7,130 miles the vehicle shook violently when hitting any bump at speeds above 50 mph — the classic "death wobble" pattern
- Unstable steering on uneven roads: At 25,144 miles the steering became unpredictable on uneven surfaces. A recall-related repair was performed but failed to fix the problem
- Severe wobbling at 70 mph: By 28,280 miles the wobble had worsened to the point of severe instability at normal highway speeds, creating an imminent safety hazard
18 Months of Worsening Steering Failures
Visit 1 — July 14, 2022 (186 miles)
- Just 3 days after purchase, steering wheel was off-center
- Vehicle pulled to the right with noticeable vibration at highway speeds
- Dealer attempted alignment/adjustment — problem persisted
Visit 2 — October 26, 2022 (7,130 miles)
- Vehicle began shaking aggressively when hitting any bump at speeds over 50 mph
- Classic "death wobble" pattern: front end oscillates violently, steering wheel shakes uncontrollably
- Dealer performed repairs — wobble continued
Visit 3 — November 9, 2023 (25,144 miles)
- Steering became unstable and unpredictable when driving on uneven roads or after hitting a bump
- Manufacturer recall-related repair was performed
- Despite the recall fix, the underlying steering defect remained
Visit 4 — January 18, 2024 (28,280 miles)
- Severe wobbling occurred when hitting a bump at 70 mph
- The death wobble had worsened significantly since previous visits
- Vehicle was unsafe at normal highway speeds
Why This Case Required Expert 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: Loss of steering control at highway speeds is among the most dangerous vehicle defects possible. South Carolina law treats safety defects more seriously, requiring fewer repair attempts before a vehicle qualifies
- Recall did not resolve the issue: The manufacturer's own recall repair in November 2023 failed to fix the wobble, undermining any defense that the defect was addressed
- Progressive worsening: The defect escalated from vibration to aggressive shaking to severe wobbling — demonstrating that dealer repairs were not only ineffective but the vehicle was deteriorating
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, the recall repair records, 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 progression of the death wobble from initial steering misalignment to severe highway-speed instability. We documented the failed recall repair and the escalating severity of the defect.
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, from Piedmont Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Anderson, SC
- Status at purchase: Brand new
- Current mileage: 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)
- Recall performed: Yes — did not resolve the defect
Results may vary. Prior outcomes do not guarantee a similar result. Each case is unique and depends on its specific facts and applicable law. Attorney advertising. Easy Lemon® by RockPoint Law P.C.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Steven Nassi, Esq.
Managing Partner — Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Licensed attorney specializing exclusively in lemon law across all 50 states. 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.
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