NHTSA Complaint #10573173 — 2010 JEEP WRANGLER

I PURCHASED A USED 2010 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED ON JULY 11, 2013. IT HAD JUST UNDER 10K MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF DRIVING IT, I HEAR AND FEEL A THUMP IN THE STEERING, WHILE DRIVING. IT IS NOT A NORMAL NOISE FROM SUSPENSION WORKING. THE ISSUE HAS GONE ON AND ON. LATER AT ABOUT 18K MILES, I BEGAN HAVING DEATH WOBBLE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD IT TO 2 SHOPS AND INSPECTED THINGS MYSELF. BALL JOINTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, TIE RODS/ENDS, STEERING STABILIZER, YOU NAME IT. I FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL SCARY EVENTS, AND CONTINUALLY HAVING SHOPS TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, HAVE FOUND THE ISSUE. WITH 25K MILES, I AM HAVING TO HAVE THE STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED. THE SECTOR SHAFT IS SHOT. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER, SO UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO DRIVE IT AND HOPE I MAKE IT TO AND FROM SAFELY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I BELIEVE AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE JEEP FORUMS, THAT JEEP HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR BOX, AND THAT IT IS ONE OF THE COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH WOBBLE IN THE JK MODELS. I AM TAKING MINE IN TOMORROW TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I HAVE ONLY 25K MILES ON IT, BUT IT IS 4YRS OLD. SO, I AM SURE I WILL END UP STUCK WITH THE BILL ON THIS. *TR