The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while his wife was driving 80 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stopped the vehicle to regain control, and the steering wheel independently resumed normal functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the vehicle had been in the dealer’s possession for two weeks. The…
2022 Jeep Gladiator steering problems
severe 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
3fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 33 steering complaints filed for the 2022 Jeep Gladiator, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 33 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 5 model years of Jeep Gladiator in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2022 Jeep Gladiator has a widespread and serious steering problem informally called "Death Wobble"—violent front-end shaking triggered by bumps at highway speeds—that dealers struggle to repair permanently and often try to downplay. Additionally, isolated but severe failures include spontaneous power steering loss and engine fires, with no recalls addressing the full scope of reported issues.
Owners of 2022 Jeep Gladiators report steering-related failures that cluster into five distinct problems. The most common and consistent is "Death Wobble"—violent shaking of the steering wheel and front end when hitting a bump, pothole, or bridge expansion joint at highway speeds (55–75+ mph). The shaking is severe enough to threaten vehicle control and stops only when speed drops to roughly 45 mph. It occurs on stock, unmodified vehicles with no warning lights. Owners document this happening multiple times per drive, with mileage ranging from 3,196 to 35,000 miles.
A second problem is spontaneous power steering loss at highway speed: the steering wheel suddenly goes hard, with no warning light at onset, then spontaneously returns 20–40 seconds later when speed drops to 20–30 mph. This is especially dangerous during passing or lane changes.
A third issue involves steering wheel lock-up at highway speeds, sometimes during lane changes, resolving only when speed is reduced or the engine is restarted.
Four owners report engine compartment fires—some while driving, others while parked and unattended—on vehicles with 15,000 miles or fewer. One fire followed power steering failure by roughly 40 seconds.
Dealers typically replace the steering damper/stabilizer, but owners report the fix is either temporary or ineffective. Parts are frequently on backorder with no ship date. One owner reports the dealership altered the problem statement on paperwork to avoid manufacturer scrutiny. Owners emphasize that Jeep is aware of these issues but has not issued a comprehensive recall for the 2022 Gladiator.
Same Jeep Gladiator steering reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble (steering and suspension vibration triggered by bumps at highway speed)
Violent shaking of the steering wheel and front end when the vehicle hits a bump, pothole, bridge expansion joint, or similar road feature while traveling at highway speeds (typically 55+ mph). The shaking can be severe enough to make the vehicle difficult or impossible to control. The phenomenon resolves only when the driver reduces speed to approximately 45 mph or below.
When: Occurs at highway speeds 55-75+ mph, triggered by road discontinuities; onset ranges from 3,196 miles to 35,000 miles; first reported as early as November 2022 on 2022 model year vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking/vibration of steering wheel; Violent shaking of entire front end and vehicle body; Loss of steering control or difficulty controlling vehicle; Shaking lasts 5-15 seconds or until speed is reduced below 45 mph; No warning lights or diagnostic codes present; Shaking stops immediately when vehicle slows to ~45 mph; Occurs on stock, unmodified vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have attempted replacement of steering damper/stabilizer; repairs often temporary or ineffective. One owner reports steering damper replaced twice with no resolution. Another reports steering damper, bolt, and shoulder on square neck replaced with continued failure. Parts frequently on backorder with indefinite ship dates. One dealer suggested tire replacement as potential cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep is aware of the issue (one narrative explicitly states manufacturer aware but cannot supply parts). No fleet recall appears to cover all 2022 Gladiators despite widespread reports. One owner reports dealer modified problem statement on paperwork to avoid engineering review. Some owners cite YouTube videos and internet forums as evidence of widespread awareness.
Power steering failure at highway speed
Complete loss of power steering without warning while driving at highway speed, making the steering wheel extremely hard to turn. Steering remains non-functional for 20-40 seconds, then spontaneously returns when vehicle slows to approximately 20-30 mph. No warning lights or diagnostic codes appear at onset.
When: Occurs while driving at highway speeds; one incident at ~20,000 miles, another at unspecified mileage with multiple recurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering (steering becomes hard/heavy); No warning lights or dashboard messages at failure onset; Steering wheel light may appear on dash within 20 seconds; Power steering spontaneously returns when speed is reduced to 20-30 mph; Occurs without prior warning or symptom; Hazardous during lane changes or passing maneuvers
Codes mentioned: Steering wheel light/warning indicator
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealership changed oil, attributing failure to low engine oil, but issue recurred. No permanent repair documented. One incident associated with engine fire (see separate failure mode).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep has no documented fix. Owner notes issue is widespread on forums and YouTube but manufacturer has not issued recall.
Steering wheel lock-up at highway speed
Steering wheel suddenly seizes or locks during highway driving, typically while changing lanes or accelerating, preventing any steering input. Lock-up resolves spontaneously when the driver reduces speed or restarts the vehicle.
When: Occurs at highway speeds, unpredictably; documented at ~20,000 and ~35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete steering wheel seizure/lock-up without warning; Occurs during lane changes or acceleration; No warning lights illuminated at onset; Resolves when vehicle speed is reduced or engine is restarted; Can occur intermittently and without warning; Intermittent: may occur only when changing lanes or accelerating
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers inspected but in documented cases did not repair. One dealer planned to drain steering gearbox and check for metal shavings but repair status unknown. No permanent fix documented.
Engine compartment fire
Fire occurs in the engine compartment either while the vehicle is parked and unattended or during operation. In one case, fire started during highway driving after power steering loss and warning light appeared. In another case, vehicle caught fire while parked in driveway without running. In a third case, fire started while parked in parking lot, vehicle not running.
When: Documented at ~15,000 miles and at unspecified lower mileage; fires occur both during operation and while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Fire visible in engine compartment; In one case: power steering failure preceded fire by ~40 seconds; In one case: vehicle attempting to start itself while fire active; Fire visible on passenger side under hood
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle under warranty at time of fire; inspection pending to determine warranty coverage. One vehicle total loss. One fire extinguished by owner with handheld fire extinguisher.
Loose or wobbly steering on cold mornings
Steering feels very loose and wobbly during cold morning conditions, making the vehicle difficult to control at speeds above 40 mph. Issue is temporary and weather-dependent.
When: Occurs on cold mornings; reported on 2022 model with zero modifications
Symptoms owners cite: Very loose steering feel; Wobbly steering unable to control above 40 mph; Condition develops in cold conditions; Requires extra caution when driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership identified as known issue and referred owner to Jeep Wave (customer service program).
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
driving on I495 in Alexandria Virginia, on 26-dec-2022 at 1746 hrs est, north bound, at 55 mph, I drove over a series if raised areas on the roadway and suddenly the steering wheel started shaking violently and then the entire jeep was shaking back and forth like it was going to come apart. i slowed down as much as I could and moved over to a more or less vacant lane. this action made NO…
Heavy vibration in steering wheel when hit bumps at highway speeds. This started in Nov 2022 when the Jeep was 5 months old. The dealer replaced the steering damper under warranty. It happened again in the summer of 2023. The steering damper was replaced again. It continues to happen and is now at the dealer for the fifth time with the same issue. The dealership confirms the condition…
When driving over 55 MPH and hitting a bump, the vehicle intensely and dangerously vibrates and nearly causes me to lose control.
I was driving when suddenly I got a message that said “service shifter” I got it 4 times flashing and suddenly I lost steering power, it got hard and couldn’t move the steering wheel and I almost crashed, this has happened many times and when I took it to the dealer ship they said “‘nothing was found” when clearly I have proof of the messages and I have witness”s that have been with me when it’s…
When traveling around 35-40 mph and a bump or dip in the road (think manhole cover) is hit by either the left or right wheel an extreme wobble and vibration in the steering column occurs. This will last 5-15 seconds until it works itself out. Research on the internet indicates that this is a common problem called a “death wobble”. The concern is that this may cause loss of control resulting in…
Driving on highway, steering shook aggressively. Had to slow down and pullover off the road. I was able to get back on road and drive again. This has happened before and dealership said it was fixed. It happened again about 6 months later. Vehicle is stock with no modifications.
The vehicle is factory stock with 30,000 miles on it. At highway speeds it experiences what is referred to as the "Jeep Death Wobble" - the vehicle and steering wheel shake violently until I reduce speed to below 50 mph. It is difficult to control and slowing rapidly on the highway is additionally dangerous. It is at a Jeep dealer, but they only want to change the steering dampner. This…
Driving down the highway and the steering wheel locked up. When I started to slow down to stop the steering came back. This could have been a really bad problem if I was turning.
Had steering trouble with your 2022 Jeep Gladiator?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2022 Jeep Gladiator?
It's a meaningful issue. 33 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 33 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 19,999 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Jeep/Gladiator.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.