Be very cautions about buying any new or newer vehicle with EPS (Electronic Power Steering) and this is in addition to what the mfg says. Dodge, Ford and GM all have reported vehicles with the "Death Wobble" which is severe front wheel oscillations. EPS means it's electronic controlled steering without any hydraulics. A hydraulic steering system like my 2014 Grand Cherokee has a electric motor for the hydraulic pump and is not EPS. Jeep has a fix for some but not all of the vehicles with EPS and Death Wobble. The 2016 GC has EPS and Death Wobble has been reported.You can Google Death Wobble and get a lot of information and not all of it is correct or complete. The available Jeep fix for some models adds a switch to turn on EPS while towing. This can also drain the battery. Just a FYI as I'm not a expert and Death Wobble is a vehicle specific problem.

Three years and 50,000 miles on my Tahoe...no shimmy, no shake with or without TT. Please give websites where Dodge, GM and Ford report on their death wobble steering.

Death wobble has been around long before eps.

We fought this problem for a couple of years on the new Jeep Cherokee's.We finally proved it was a problem and not the way we were hooking up the Cherokee. There was a long thread a few years ago on this. Supposedly, they have a fix for it now. We sold ours and went to a Wrangler (which is not as comfortable), but is easy to tow. I still run into some towing the Cherokees, but the dealers still do not tell them about the problem!

jfkmk wrote:Death wobble has been around long before eps.Yep. Had a JK Wrangler that would DW in tow when the front end got a little wear.Had a Ram 3500 develop DW at around 30k miles. Hit a bump just right and it would go into earthquake mode.

Caution About Buying a Car with Electronic Power Steering

wannavolunteerF
Explorer
May 20, 2018
theoldwizard1 wrote:
One thing I have never seen is a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Or in layman's terms, what things can go wrong, how likely they are to go wrong and what bad things happen when it does go wrong !

Off topic, but had to comment on FMEA as I don't think I have ever seen the term on this forum. Currently in middle of FMEA for a process at work, so it really jumped out at me.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 20, 2018
ScottG wrote:
DW has nothing to do with whether the assist is hyd or elect. It originates in the suspension and not in the steering wheel.
It is certainly not CAUSED by eps.

I've had two vehicles with electric power assist and I like it.
Jeep owners and Chrysler would disagree for a toad. A coordinated Cherokee report effort through FMCA to Chrysler resulted in a fix which turns on EPS when towing the vehicle.

The Grand Cherokee reintroduced in 2014 with hydraulic steering does not have reported wobble. The 2016 and newer models have EPS and there is a effort for Chrysler to supply a fix.

From the reports hydraulic steering has damping that eliminates the wobble while EPS turned off while being towed does not.

My research is largely focused on my 2014 Grand Cherokee and other vehicles may/may not have the wobble.
ScottG
Nomad
May 20, 2018
DW has nothing to do with whether the assist is hyd or elect. It originates in the suspension and not in the steering wheel.
It is certainly not CAUSED by eps.

I've had two vehicles with electric power assist and I like it.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
May 20, 2018
Oh come on guy's, my wife just bought a new Ford Explorer Limited with EPS. Now I'm a little worried.

I know we were driving near Grand Marais MN. and the old Bounder and it that to me, hydraulic steering though.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 20, 2018
jfkmk wrote:
Death wobble has been around long before EPS.

Concur

Death wobble seems to be more common on 4WD vehicles with a solid front axle, like Jeeps.

I retired from automotive engineering before EPS became common. One thing I have never seen is a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Or in layman's terms, what things can go wrong, how likely they are to go wrong and what bad things happen when it does go wrong !

EPS absolutely does save gas ! But, what we all really want to know is, are these more failure prone than old fashioned hydraulic power steering and are the "bad thing" worse or less severe !
Ductape
Explorer
May 20, 2018
jfkmk wrote:
Death wobble has been around long before eps.

Yep. Had a JK Wrangler that would DW in tow when the front end got a little wear.

Had a Ram 3500 develop DW at around 30k miles. Hit a bump just right and it would go into earthquake mode.
rr2254545
Explorer
May 19, 2018
Old news
richnorsworthy
Explorer
May 19, 2018
We fought this problem for a couple of years on the new Jeep Cherokee's.
We finally proved it was a problem and not the way we were hooking up the Cherokee. There was a long thread a few years ago on this. Supposedly, they have a fix for it now. We sold ours and went to a Wrangler (which is not as comfortable), but is easy to tow. I still run into some towing the Cherokees, but the dealers still do not tell them about the problem!
jfkmk
Explorer
May 19, 2018
Death wobble has been around long before eps.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 19, 2018
Three years and 50,000 miles on my Tahoe...no shimmy, no shake with or without TT. Please give websites where Dodge, GM and Ford report on their death wobble steering.

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