NHTSA Complaint #11340478 — 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR

PICKED UP A NEW SPORT S GLADIATOR JUST BEFORE XMAS 2019. DURING INITIAL TEST DRIVES, I WAS EXPECTING SOME DEGREE OF SLOP IN THE STEERING, BUT DURING SUCH A LIMITED TIME, IT WAS NOT EVIDENT EXACTLY HOW BAD IT IS. BETWEEN 35-55 MPH, THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE. THE SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE (NEEDING CONSTANT CORRECTION) IS BEYOND BELIEF. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, IT GETS LESS UNCONTROLLABLE, BUT I USUALLY DRIVE IT LOCALLY, AND IT'S TRULY TERRIFYING. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON FEATURE ON ALMOST EVERY GLADIATOR, TO THE POINT THAT A COMPANY HAS DEVELOPED AND SELLS A $250 PART TO REDUCE THIS DEATH-SWAY. THE ISSUE IS THE STEERING BOX BEING BOLTED TO THE FRAME (WHICH FLEXES UNDER NORMAL USE) ALONG WITH A SUB-PAR ANTI-SWAY DAMPENER AND FACTORY-CALLIBRATED STEERING BOX, WHICH HS WAY TO MUCH PLAY (BUT CAN BE ADJUSTED). IN MY OPINION, THIS ISSUE IS GROUNDS FOR A RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. IT'S THAT DANGEROUS THAT I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER ANY DISTANCES OTHER THAN TO MY LOCAL STORE. IT IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE STATED THEY CANNOT MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION OR ADD THE SYNERGY ADAPTER WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE BECAUSE FIAT-CHRYSLER HAVE NOT ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THE NHTSA HASN'T FORCED THEM TO RESOLVE THIS. MY HOPE IS THAT SOMEONE DOESNT GET KILLED BEFORE THIS GETS RESOLVED - BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO....