Front Suspension Problems of Jeep Cherokee - part 1

1. Early this year, just after the new year holiday, '09, our '96 Jeep Cherokee (152k in excellent condition) began shaking or wobbling violently at speeds between 52 to 56 mph. On inquiring in a handful of web sites on the internet about this problem I learned that this is an extremely common problem with a tremendous amount of Jeep Cherokee owners and owners of other Jeep models in a broad range of manufacture dates between '86 and as recent as '05. Also learned that this dangerous condition is commonly referred to as the "death wobble" or "death shake". Additionally, in my internet research, many Jeep owners attempting to remedy this problem have taken their vehicles to professional mechanics including Chrysler-Jeep dealer/service centers to have the problem resolved, spend hundreds, in some cases well over a thousand $, only to have their vehicle returned with no improvement in the wobble condition. 2. With our Jeep, this wobble has not subsided. It happens on every occasion when driving on the highways while merging into traffic as we accelerate up to the 55 mph range. Upon acceleration, at approximately 51 to 52 mph a vibration begins, then upon accelerating at 53 to 55 mph the vibration becomes a violent wobble to the extreme that we have had instances when we had to decelerate down to approximately 35 mph or less in order to regain control while on the highway. If there is a saving grace out of this problem, it is that we can accelerate out of the wobble by getting beyond 55 mph as quickly as possible, but in phoenix highway driving, this is not always a possibility. Though' not in every instance as during acceleration, the same condition exists @ 55 during deceleration as we exit the hi-way. 3. Thus far, as we've read and heard of so many Jeep owners spending hundreds of dollars at a prof. Auto repair center with no resolution, the possible remedy, and avoiding highway driving as much as possible.

See all problems of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

At speeds between 50mph and 60mph, front end of vehicle and steeling wheel shakes violently. Have changed tires, brakes, had tires balanced, and front end aligned. The cause is thought to suspension or bearing according to all mechanics that look and drive it. No one knows for sure, only that the mechanics say that this year Cherokee, is known for this, and they have all said there is no known investigation about this danger in progress. From what I have read at this site alone, I am curious as to why there is no investigation regarding this problem with the front end. . .

See all problems of the 2000 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full, dealer cannot find problem. Will drive for about 30 miles and then fuel tank will read what it is supposed to. Also terrible shaking in front end when braking. Brakes/rotors all new and replaced still shakes. Fog lamps continuously burn out, dealer states wiring harness. Have had to pay the deductible on this numerous times. . . Like it is my fault they burn out.

See all problems of the 1999 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Consumer states while driving at any speed, if vehicle hits the sligtest bump in the road , a massive vibration is felt in the front end, enough to lose control of vehicle,vibration is worst at speeds above 55mph. Contacted dealer cannot fix problem. Nlm.

Whenever vehicle goes over a bump it shimmies and is very hard to steer. Please provide any further information.

The shaking is getting worst everytime I drive the car, it is going to the car dealer in my area to have it fix, I want this to be covered under the warranty since I have only owe the car for 5 months.

See all problems of the 2001 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

While driving vehilce at any speed above 50 mph steering wheel shakes violently when brakes are applied vehicle pulls to the right and proceeds to shakes until you are below 50 mph and have removed your foot from brakes. Sometimes it is so bad you have to grip the steering wheel exmtremely tight to try and avoid losing control of vehicle.

Jeep acelerated on its own causing me to have to stand on the brakes(thinking I had abs) brakes did not work correctly, causing me to hit the back of a 4x4 truck at the speed of about 15 mph all bumper parts had to be replaced as did many other parts air bags did not go off. Today I took the Jeep back to dealer for the 4th time to try to get thing taken care of . On the 1st trip I was told that my abs breaks were working fine and that the mechanic felt them kick in. Took it back a week later because break peddle dropped to the floor, again I was told that all breaks were fine and that the abs were working. On 5/29/01 my husband took Jeep in and test drove it w/ service manager and they decided the abs was not working at all. And then we were told that we did not have abs ( salesmen told us the Jeep had abs). The front end now shakes at about 45-55 when going around curves and sometimes when making turns at lower speed. When jchrysler was contacted they tried to blame everything on me. It was my fault that I didn't check to see if the Jeep had abs( who would have thought that it wouldn't have them and we did ask to make sure and we were told yes it had them) and it was also my fault that an inspector did not come out to inspect the Jeep after the crash because I did not request one to although no one told me that one could come out I am supose to be able to find this information out on my own. As of today the Jeep is in for service again 3rd time for brake service 2nd time for front end vibrations and 2nd time to have them fix all the things they didn't do right the 1st time.

Vehicle will not track, constantly pulls right, dealer addressed and it still pulls right. Vibration felt between 35-50 mph from rear, dealer replaced many axle parts, vibration still felt.

While driving on highway at 70 mph and without warning, headlights went completely out causing poor visibility which resulted in an accident, consumer rearended another vehicle causing one injury, upon impact the airbags did not experience deployment, consumer had been to dealer several times due to taillights inoperable and headlamps inoperable prior to accident, dealer replaced fuses and found connector's loose. Consumer states front end pulled to the left while driving, dealer found no problems. Consumer states on normal braking, pedal goes to the floor and during above mentioned accident brakes locked causing a block of skid marks, prior to accident when dealer could find no problems with abs or hydraulic brake system. Vehicle had stalled on 2 occasions at stops, dealer found no problem and 3000 miles later the stalling occurred again, however dealer still could not find problem, possible engine problem.

While driving about 20 mph vehicle started wandering side to side until losing control of vehicle, went off, and avoided crashing. Then, dealer had checked brakes, but did not found the cause.

Chrysler put steering wheels on the passenger side for post office use. Also, when driving vehicle would not steer properly. The vehicle pulled to the right. Tire wearing due to poor alignment.

Front rotors and the pads are wearing excessively. Front rotors were turned twice, and replaced once. Brake pads were replaced on three occasions from 15. 000 miles to present. Dealer notified. Consumer stated that while driving the steering and front end shakes.

At 50-55 mph vehicle shimmies, went to arbitration, tires were exchanged, no change. The dealer and the manufacturer could not find the cause for shimming and the vehicle cannot be safe to drive.

While driving on the freeway at speeds of approximetely 70mph and hitting bumps on the road the front end goes into a violent wobble almost lost control. After slowing down it stops. This has occurred ~7 times and is noww in the 4th round of repairs. Dealer does not know what is causing problem nor how to check to make sure it is fixed.

See all problems of the 1997 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Front end wobbles at 50 miles hour-steering wheel wobble also.

The vehicle vibrated at speeds of 50-55 mph, the vibration could be felt in the steering wheel, and the right front wheel, the vehicle was brougt for service more than six times and each time something else was repaird but the problem was not corrected, consumer was informed by dealership that the vibration is a known defect and will never be able to be corrected.

When the vehicle was delivered it pulled dangerously to the right. The vehicle was changed to a right hand drive by Chrysler for post office delivery use before delivery to the owner. It was driven 249 miles by anb employee of the dealer before delivery. The problem should have been aparent to them at that time. The dealer has snt the vehicle out for alignment three times to attempt alignment. They have not been able to get it properly aligned. The dealer will try to get it aligned again, but they will not do any work on the vehicle to really fix the problem. The dealer sent the owner out to get new tires, but they would not pay for them. The vehicle is still out of alignment and it does not steer properly. The dealer does not want to take any more action to fix it. The daeler claims that Chrysler is nonresponsive to the problem.

Vehicle has been vibrating since purchase. Taken to dealer 4 - 5 times. Dealer replaced rims and tires. Problem not resolved.

Between speeds of 50-55 mph, vehicle's steering wheel will shimmy and or vibrate. Additionally, once vehicle's brakes are applied, vehicle's steering wheel will shake erratically. Manufacturer has been contacted and given 7 repair attempts. Unfortunatley, defect still remains and vehicle is currently undergoing state arbitration program.

2000 Jeep Cherokee: this vehicle has had ongoing front end vibrations/woobling since 3000 miles. Has been in for service several times however problem has never been resolved! stablizer bar has been replaced, tires have been rotated, new tires have been put on from new Jeep on lot and same problem existed as with old tires. I would like to know why chyrsler seems to be ignoring this problem? there are several complaints similar to this so they must be fully aware of this existing problem. I can not drive the posted dot speed limit of 55 mph as the Jeep is not safe to drive at that speed! I would like this problem resolved before my warranty expires at 36,000 miles, as I do not wish to pay for something that chrylser should be held accountable for! I request that NHTSA investigates this problem as this is a manufacturer defect!.

Going 40 mph frontend bounces,&putting on brakes,it bounces.

Consumer has had many sets of tires, may be due to alignment problems.

Front end vibration caused the steering wheel to pull. Yh.

Vehicle was leaning to the left side while in the garage. Moved to level surface and the vehicle stille dappered to be leaning to the left.

While driving 60 mph and the occupant was in a seatbelt experienced a rollover accident, in which the seatbelt unlatched and the occupant was ejected out of the vehicle.

Toe was out and front end out of alignment.

See all problems of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee 🔎.

Front end misalignment/front brake failure/gas tank leak/ fuel gauge failure.

When applying vehicle's brakes, the vehicle will pull to the left.

Vehicle misaligned.

Severe vibration was detected coming from the front end, correct rotors. Passenager power windows will not operate with out messing with the window lock button, the problem is intermittent.

Purchased Jeep new, when driving the front end pulls to the right .

Rear end shimmies and is very difficult to steer. Lost control and flipped over.

Front end problems causing vehicle to pull at any speeds slightly to right or hard to the left, possibly due to out of alignment which dealer has attempted to fix 3-4 times, but cannot fix defect.

Vehicle has a "wobble" in the front end at speeds from 51mph up. The following components have been replaced and the problem still exists. Front stabilizer shock, all four tires (twice) all four rims-wheels, both axles, and numerous attempts to correctly align the tires. The problem developed immediately upon purchase and was serviced within one week of delivery. I moved last year and the Jeep dealer in staunton, va. Stated that the Jeep engineers are aware of the problem and are trying to figure it out. This is the same thing I was told almost one year ago and they still don't know what the problem is. I attempted to handle this through arbitration, however, as I travel a lot, Jeep told me my vehicle was out of the original factory warrenty and even though I purchased the six-year, 100,000 mile extended warranty, they denied any claim I may have against Jeep. I am concerned that the continuous wobbling will not only speed up tire wear, but other components may vibrate loose.