NHTSA Complaint #11682941 — 2023 JEEP WAGONEER

2023 Jeep Wagoneer Series III 4x4 ~34,582 miles. Service dates: Aug 18–20, 2025. Work included a 4-wheel rotation on Aug 19. Vehicle is equipped with aftermarket Fuel Off Road D679 REBEL wheels that use spacers, sold with the pre-owned vehicle by a licensed dealer. What failed: After the rotation, the front-right wheel fasteners lost clamp load on drive from dealership. On inspection, four of six lug nuts were very loose/near removal and the wheel could be moved laterally by hand. Suspected contributors: (1) misalignment of polyurethane spacer during re-installation, leading technician to believe wheel fasteners were “torqued-to-spec,” and (2) interaction between spacer/wheel seating surfaces and the hub during movement. All components are available for inspection upon request. Video of the condition and photographs of the spacer are available; the dealer reports relevant in-shop CCTV exists. Safety risk: Loss of clamp load during vehicle operation created sufficient lateral wheel movement to be felt as wobble/thumping of steering wheel, with risk of wheel separation/loss of control. Reproduction/confirmation: The dealer confirmed the issue, and reported findings to customer. According to the Service Manager, the post-incident follow-up inspection (Aug 20) found the front-right spacer had shifted off-center during the tire rotation service, allowing the wheel to reach false-secure position and the fasteners to reach a proper torque without properly seating. This led to clamp-load loss as the spacer re-seated in subsequent vehicle operation, particularly as speeds increased. Inspections performed: The dealer inspected the vehicle on Aug 20 after towing back to the Jeep dealership. Customer has notified manufacturer of this incident and is awaiting response. Warnings/symptoms: No vehicle warnings. Around 1 mile into the drive from dealership, a slight wobble and then a repeating thump developed, that worsened by arrival at destination, prompting inspection.