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Why do Jeep steering shafts and knuckles keep failing?
⚠ 1 carries a park-outside (fire risk) advisory.
Five of these six Jeep recalls trace back to the same place: the steering column and the parts that connect it to the wheels. Chrysler cites improper welding on the 2018 Wrangler intermediate shaft, badly machined stub shafts on the 2019 Wrangler (shared with the Ram 1500), a steering rack gear that can break on the 2019-2020 Cherokee, an intermediate shaft that can pull out of its u-joint on 2021-2023 Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L models, and a mismachined steering knuckle on the 2024 Grand Cherokee. Wrangler and Grand Cherokee dominate the list. The sixth is different: electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring on 2021-2025 Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe and Gladiator can overheat and start a fire, even parked with the ignition off.
Warning signs to watch for
- In most of these recalls there is no advance warning at all — loss of steering is described as sudden.
- Steering that stops responding to the wheel, if a shaft splits, disconnects or a rack gear breaks.
- A front wheel falling outward on the 2024 Grand Cherokee knuckle recall, with immediate loss of control.
- Smoke or a burning smell around the power steering pump wiring on Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe or Gladiator, including while parked and switched off.
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these six recalls carries a stop-driving order. The one that changes where you park is the power steering pump wiring recall on 2021-2025 Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe and Gladiator: Chrysler tells owners to park outside and away from structures until the repair is done, because a fire can start with the vehicle off. The five shaft, rack and knuckle recalls allow continued driving, but each describes steering loss that can arrive without warning, so the advice is to book the inspection right away and limit driving until it is done.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are hands-on rather than software. Dealers inspect the intermediate or stub shaft and replace it or the whole steering column if needed, replace the Cherokee steering rack gear outright, replace the 2024 Grand Cherokee steering knuckle, and inspect and replace the power steering pump wiring and pump as necessary. Every one of these repairs is free of charge, and none is done over the air.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 6 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Power Steering Wiring Fire Risk · park outside | critical |
| 2024-02-22 | Jeep Grand Cherokee steering knuckle can break, wheel falls off | critical |
| 2023-05-18 | Jeep Grand Cherokee steering shaft can come apart | critical |
| 2019-08-29 | Jeep Cherokee steering gear may break, steering loss | critical |
| 2019-03-14 | Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500 steering wheel may detach | critical |
| 2018-05-25 | Jeep Wrangler steering shaft weld may split apart | critical |
Common questions
My Wrangler is on the fire recall — can I still park in the garage?
No. Chrysler tells owners of affected 2021-2025 Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe and Gladiator vehicles to park outside and away from structures until the wiring and pump are inspected, because the overheating can start a fire with the ignition off.
Will I feel the steering going bad before it fails?
The notices do not promise one. They describe shafts splitting or disconnecting, a rack gear breaking and a knuckle separating as events that can take steering away suddenly, which is why the advice is immediate inspection rather than waiting for symptoms.
Why does a Ram 1500 appear in a Jeep steering recall?
The 2019 stub shaft recall covers both the 2019 Jeep Wrangler and the Ram 1500 because the same improperly machined steering column part went into both vehicles. Dealers inspect the column on either one and replace it if necessary, free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.