NHTSA Complaint #11302436 — 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR

WHILE IN MOTION AND INCREASINGLY NOTICEABLE AS SPEED INCREASES THERE IS A DEAD SPOT IN THE STEERING. THE INPUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE MOVEMENT IN THE TIRES AS OBSERVED FROM TESTING STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT AND MONITORING THE TIRE MOVEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST TIME THE DRAG LINK WAS REPLACED WITH NO NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TO BE OPERATING AS EXPECTED. AFTER REPLACING THE DRAG LINK THE DEAD SPOT MOVED ENTIRELY TO THE RIGHT SIDE. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT IS IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE. MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT HAS ABOUT A 2 INCH DEAD ZONE. THE SYMPTOM CAN BE OBSERVED IN THIS VIDEO: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/-PJQTFGV4UC THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY IN THE STEERING BOX AS THE INPUT TO THE STEERING BOX IS NOT MATCHING THE OUTPUT INTO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. HAVING DRIVEN OTHER GLADIATORS WITHOUT THIS ISSUE AND HEARD FROM NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS ABOUT HAVING RESPONSIVE STEERING, THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE DESCRIBED AS NORMAL OPERATION.