NHTSA Complaint #10447481 — 2011 JEEP WRANGLER

14MM BOLTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE OF THE MANUFACTURER (CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP) IN THE TRACK BAR BUSHINGS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS OF THE JEEP WRANGLER SUSPENSIONS, WHICH ACTUALLY CALLS FOR A 9/16" BOLT. NOT ONLY WERE THE WRONG SIZE BOLTS USED, THE WRONG TYPE OF BOLTS WERE USED IN THE INSTALLATION. THE BOLTS USED WERE THREADED TO THE HEAD, RATHER THAN USING THE APPROPRIATE "SHOULDER" BOLT - THREADED AT THE BOTTOM AND SMOOTH UP TO THE HEAD. BY INSTALLING THE WRONG BOLTS, THE THREADS HAVE EATEN AWAY AT THE INSIDE OF THE BUSHINGS, CAUSING THE ROUND HOLE TO HAVE WEAR FROM THE CUTTING ACTION, THUS LOOSENING THE SURFACE AREA INSIDE WHICH CAN LEAD TO "DEATH WOBBLE". DEATH WOBBLE IS WHERE THE BALL JOINTS, TRACK BARS, AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN THE SUSPENSION FLUTTER WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SUSPENSION TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND CAN RESULT IN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. I EXPECT CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP TO ISSUE A RECALL AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I TOOK MY JEEP TO MY DEALERSHIP AND UPON EXAMINATION, SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT WEAR INSIDE THE BUSHINGS WHERE THESE BOLTS WERE INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I WANTED TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE CORRECT SIZE AND TYPE OF BOLTS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, BUT THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, RESULTING IN ALL NEW PARTS NEEDING TO BE ORDERED (TRACK BARS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, ETC.) SOURCES: PLEASE REFER TO NUMEROUS YOUTUBE CONSUMER VIDEOS ON "JEEP WRANGLER DEATH WOBBLE" AS WELL AS A "STICKY" POSTED IN THE FOLLOWING JEEP ENTHUSIAST FORUM: WWW.WRANGLERFORUM.COM THERE, YOU WILL FIND A STICKY CALLED "THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING OUT STOCK BOLTS" WITH OVER 12,000 VIEWS AND OVER 300 POSTS. *TR