US investigates new Jeep Wrangler over chassis welds

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation to examine steering problems potentially due to deficient chassis welds in the recently-launched JL-series Jeep Wrangler.

North America's auto safety regulator aims to address more than 3500 consumer complaints about steering or chassis weld concerns in MY18 and MY19 Wrangler, 270,000 of which have been sold in the US.

In those vehicles a steering shimmy or wobble has been linked to a variety of welding quality issues, including "porous welds, excessive slag, lack of weld penetration, over penetration of welds, overweld or weld drip, and weld splash ... allegedly located at a variety of locations on the frame assembly", reports Automotive News.

It's not known if any Wranglers have structural integrity issues related to the faulty welding.

Also said to be evaluating the new claims of build quality issues with the Wrangler is another US government agency, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), which reportedly opened its own investigation earlier this month.

It's not the first time consumers have complained of steering wobbles in the new JL. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled 18,055 Wranglers in September 2018 over steering problems related to a front bar bracket with an "out-of-specification weld", which might result in the bracket separating from the frame.

NHTSA documents show no crashes, injuries or deaths have been reported in connection to the current investigation.

The Jeep Gladiator, meanwhile, has also been recalled in some markets following an unrelated issue with the rear axle's driveshaft that could suffer fractures.

It's not yet known when the NHTSA and/or ODI plan to publish findings on their Wrangler probes.