The U.S. federal authorities have launched an investigation of Jeep Wrangler models, covering units issued in 2018 and 2019, over allegations that the vehicles rolled out with substandard frame welds and likely steering problems. Up to 270,000 of JK Wranglers will be scrutinized following the complaints lodged by 3,566 owners, reports said.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency handling the probe, has indicated that the reported problems covered "various frame weld quality concerns, such as excessive slag, lack of and/or over penetration, overweld or weld drip, weld splash and porous welds ... along with steering shimmy/wobble, intermittent lock-up, and looseness/wandering."
However, the NHTSA has likewise indicated that no accidents or injuries have been connected so far to the same JK Wrangler issues, Fox News said in a report.
The agency added that the probe will largely look to establish if the quality discrepancies could result in "an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety." At the same time, the NHTSA has clarified that it would be premature at the moment to conclude that the problems could translate to structural risks, specifically on the purported frame weld quality concerns of the Wrangler vehicles.
In a statement, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Jeep's parent company, has made clear that the company is cooperating fully with investigators.
It should be noted that probers have not listed the 2020 JK Wranglers as part of the investigation, CNET said in a related report.
It bears stressing as well that the documents furnished by the NHTSA on the investigation have not connected the investigation to the vehicle recall issued by Jeep on September 2018, which also involved welding issues, particularly in connection with the Wrangler's front-track bar.
The recall of around 18,000 early production Jeep Wranglers at that time was ordered to repair a track bar mounting bracket that supposedly was welded below par, an issue that the carmaker admitted could result to severe vibration of the steering wheel.
Fiat Chrysler dubbed the issue as the "Jeep Death Wobble" and offered free repair when requested by unit owners.
Despite the steering difficulties created by the problem, the NHTSA at that time has concluded that the weld issues did not pose a safety risk.
Notwithstanding, Jeep has issued an advisory reminding Wrangler users that the steering wheel vibration, should it ever happens, occur during the cold weather. The company said engineers have been working on a permanent solution, which will come in the form of an upgraded steering damper.
