FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_11"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_11-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b16, mixed mode, sharing)

I've tested this on the latest 1.6.0_13 but as we are not using that in our dev environment, switched back to 11. I'm not going to switch back to 13 just to copy and paste it.

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

Darwin Peregrine.local 9.6.0 Darwin Kernel Version 9.6.0: Mon Nov 24 17:37:00 PST 2008; root:xnu-1229.9.59~1/RELEASE_I386 i386

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
In the JFileChooser file open dialog, a file named "2.17a" will appear before a file named "2.3.19". This is different from a Windows Explorer sort and a Mac Finder sort, which puts them the other way around.

If you switch the dialog to Detail view, you can then sort on file name by clicking on the Name header -- it's originally shown as unsorted (there's no up arrow next to the Name header). Once you sort by name, switching back to List view maintains the sorting. But it's lost the next time you open the dialog.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
  Touch two files: one named "2.17a" and one named "2.3.19".

Using a JFileChooser (for example, the one found at the beginning of the tutorial located here: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/filechooser.html), browse to the directory containing the above files.



EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
I expect the file "2.3.19" to appear before "2.17a"
ACTUAL -
I found that file "2.17a" appeared before "2.3.19"

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
/*
 * Copyright (c) 1995 - 2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 * - Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * - Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * - Neither the name of Sun Microsystems nor the names of its
 * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
 * from this software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
 * IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
 * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */


import java.io.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
import javax.swing.filechooser.*;

/*
 * FileChooserDemo.java uses these files:
 * images/Open16.gif
 * images/Save16.gif
 */
public class FileChooserDemo extends JPanel
                             implements ActionListener {
    static private final String newline = "\n";
    JButton openButton, saveButton;
    JTextArea log;
    JFileChooser fc;

    public FileChooserDemo() {
        super(new BorderLayout());

        //Create the log first, because the action listeners
        //need to refer to it.
        log = new JTextArea(5,20);
        log.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
        log.setEditable(false);
        JScrollPane logScrollPane = new JScrollPane(log);

        //Create a file chooser
        fc = new JFileChooser();

        //Uncomment one of the following lines to try a different
        //file selection mode. The first allows just directories
        //to be selected (and, at least in the Java look and feel,
        //shown). The second allows both files and directories
        //to be selected. If you leave these lines commented out,
        //then the default mode (FILES_ONLY) will be used.
        //
        //fc.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);
        //fc.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_AND_DIRECTORIES);

        //Create the open button. We use the image from the JLF
        //Graphics Repository (but we extracted it from the jar).
        openButton = new JButton("Open a File...",
                                 createImageIcon("images/Open16.gif"));
        openButton.addActionListener(this);

        //Create the save button. We use the image from the JLF
        //Graphics Repository (but we extracted it from the jar).
        saveButton = new JButton("Save a File...",
                                 createImageIcon("images/Save16.gif"));
        saveButton.addActionListener(this);

        //For layout purposes, put the buttons in a separate panel
        JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(); //use FlowLayout
        buttonPanel.add(openButton);
        buttonPanel.add(saveButton);

        //Add the buttons and the log to this panel.
        add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
        add(logScrollPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    }

    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {

        //Handle open button action.
        if (e.getSource() == openButton) {
            int returnVal = fc.showOpenDialog(FileChooserDemo.this);

            if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
                File file = fc.getSelectedFile();
                //This is where a real application would open the file.
                log.append("Opening: " + file.getName() + "." + newline);
            } else {
                log.append("Open command cancelled by user." + newline);
            }
            log.setCaretPosition(log.getDocument().getLength());

        //Handle save button action.
        } else if (e.getSource() == saveButton) {
            int returnVal = fc.showSaveDialog(FileChooserDemo.this);
            if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) {
                File file = fc.getSelectedFile();
                //This is where a real application would save the file.
                log.append("Saving: " + file.getName() + "." + newline);
            } else {
                log.append("Save command cancelled by user." + newline);
            }
            log.setCaretPosition(log.getDocument().getLength());
        }
    }

    /** Returns an ImageIcon, or null if the path was invalid. */
    protected static ImageIcon createImageIcon(String path) {
        java.net.URL imgURL = FileChooserDemo.class.getResource(path);
        if (imgURL != null) {
            return new ImageIcon(imgURL);
        } else {
            System.err.println("Couldn't find file: " + path);
            return null;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Create the GUI and show it. For thread safety,
     * this method should be invoked from the
     * event dispatch thread.
     */
    private static void createAndShowGUI() {
        //Create and set up the window.
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("FileChooserDemo");
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        //Add content to the window.
        frame.add(new FileChooserDemo());

        //Display the window.
        frame.pack();
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //Schedule a job for the event dispatch thread:
        //creating and showing this application's GUI.
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                //Turn off metal's use of bold fonts
                UIManager.put("swing.boldMetal", Boolean.FALSE);
                createAndShowGUI();
            }
        });
    }
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
If you switch the dialog to Detail view, you can then sort on file name by clicking on the Name header -- it's originally shown as unsorted (there's no up arrow next to the Name header). Once you sort by name, switching back to List view maintains the sorting. But it's lost the next time you open the dialog.