1996 Jeep Cherokee Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was running rough and then stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact had a mobile mechanic diagnose the vehicle, and it was determined that there was a failure of the manifold. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not running properly and called another mobile mechanic. The second mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that an aftermarket distributor and aftermarket computer had both failed. The contact stated that the distributor and computer were installed previously by another independent mechanic. The contact had purchased the aftermarket parts, Cardone Distributor Part Number 84-4694, and Cardone Computer Part Number: 79-1199 Model Number: 04886961, online. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and declined to stand behind the aftermarket computer and distributor parts. The failure mileage was approximately 223,000.

NHTSA ID

11626385

Incident

Oct 18, 2024

Mileage

223,000 mi

THE JEEP WILL START TO SHAKE WHENEVER YOU HIT A BUMP REALLY BAD SHAKING . ALSO WHENEVER YOU COME TO A STOP AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES THE MOST , THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON AGAIN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. AT SOME POINT I ROCKED THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND AFTER THAT IT WILL START. ALSO TOO THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS LOOSE . MY SHOCKS LIKE IT DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY

NHTSA ID

11317447

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

16,665 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE JERKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11152942

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VIBRATION STOPPED WHEN DECELERATING TO LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11152494

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT END SO SEVERELY WE HAD TO SLOW COMPLETELY DOWN AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TO A STOP COMPLETELY. THE JEEP IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I HAVE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS THAT THEY HAVE NAMED IT THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT COULD HAVE MADE US FLIP OVER AND WE COULD HAVE DIED IN A ROLL OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US BEFORE AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SHOCKS, BUT THAT HAS EVIDENTLY NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS FROM WHAT WE READ AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

11096835

Incident

Jul 15, 2017

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THEN BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER STEERING GAUGE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WERE NEEDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11090348

Incident

Mar 30, 2018

ON 2/21/17 AT 6:25 AM, TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, MY PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL. NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE OR VALVE STEM ISSUE. TOOK TIRE REMAINS TO DISCOUNT TIRE IN DURHAM FOR REPLACEMENT. YOKOHAMA YKHTX. P235/75 R15.

NHTSA ID

10957087

Incident

Feb 21, 2017

Mileage

310,500 mi

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AS THE "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE".

NHTSA ID

10948132

Incident

Sep 25, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

WE BOUGHT AN IMPORTED RIGHT-HAND DRIVE JEEP FROM POSTAL PETE, GALENA IL, FOR A MAIL ROUTE. THIS IS NOT SAFETY MAYBE: 1. THE OIL PRESSURE GUAGE, INSTEAD OF BEING REPAIRED IN THE DASH, THEY ADDED AN AUXILLARY OIL GAUGE BELOW THE DASH, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY LOOK AT THE GAUGE. 2. THE ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER UNIT DOESN'T MEASURE CORRECTLY I THINK. 3. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH & CONSOLE DON'T WORK. BECAUSE OF THE TAKATA RECALLS, I LOOKED AT YOUR SITE. WHEN WE COMPLAINED WITH THE DEALER THEIR ATTITUDE WAS TOUGH YOU PAID FOR IT. ALSO THE REAR END WAS BAD. MY HUSBAND WENT BACK BEFORE HE LEFT IL FOR FL. THEY EXCUSED IT SAYING IT WAS TIRES. MY HUSBAND KNEW THEY WERE LYING (HE DOES WORK ON VEHICLES FOR US). WE ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR END. THIS COMPLAINT IS MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTER POSTAL PETE THAN IT IS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS TO CUSTOMERS. ALSO THEY REQUIRED A CHECK IN ADVANCE, THEREBY MAKING IT SO WE COULD NOT REFUSE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAD OUR MONEY. NOT NICE PEOPLE. DIS-HONESTY. I RETIRED DEC. 2011. I DON'T REMEMBER PURCHASE DATE. YOU REQUIRE SOMETHING. PICKED UP 11/02/10 REG. 12/07/2010 THANK YOU. ALICIA

NHTSA ID

10881953

Incident

Nov 2, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10876502

Incident

Mar 25, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. VIOLENT SHAKING OF A CAR WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT TO STOP IT. MULTIPLE TIME OCCURRENCE. HAS BEEN "FIXED" BUT HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10873658

Incident

Jun 2, 2016

Mileage

212,000 mi

DRIVERS DOOR UPPER HINGE RUSTED WHERE WELDED TO BODY AND SEPARATED FROM BODY . DOOR IS ONLY HELD ON BY LOWER HINGE.

NHTSA ID

10852849

Incident

Mar 20, 2016

Mileage

256,000 mi

SEVERE RUST ALL OVER THE BODY BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE FRAME. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENTS FAIL AND CRACK, NOW TAKING IN WATER THROUGH CORNERS OF THE ROOF THROUGH RUST HOLES. PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME LIKELY TO SEVER UNDER FURTHER DRIVING. RUST ON THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE CREATED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. PART WAS REPLACED, NO PICTURE.

NHTSA ID

10810825

Incident

Jul 28, 2015

Mileage

182,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APROX. 40-45 MPH, THE JEEP WOULD START TO SHUDDER. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE JEEP WOULD THEN CRANK BUT NOT START. I HAD THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN FOR ABOUT FOUR TIMES. THREE OF THE TIMES THE JEEP WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. TWICE THE PCM UNIT WAS REPLACED AND TWICE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE LAST REPAIR WAS 1 MONTH AND A HALF AGO. TWO DAYS AGO, THE JEEP STALLED AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. WE ALMOST LOST OUR LIVES. A 16 WHEELER ALMOST COLLIDED WITH US DUE THAT I COULD BARELY MANIPULATE THE JEEP BECAUSE IT TURNED OFF ON ME. I TRIED TO DO SOME VISUAL INSPECTIONS UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD ONE OF MY SONS TO WIGGLE THE PCM (COMPUTER) WHILE I CRANKED THE STARTING SWITCH. AT ONE POINT THE JEEP MANAGED TO START AGAIN. THEN IT STALLED THE MOMENT MY SON STOPPED WIGGLING THE PCM. I HAD ANOTHER TOW TRUCK PICK UP THE JEEP AND SEND IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC. CHRYSLER HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS ISSUE ON THE PCM AND PERHAPS MIGHT NOT DO IT UNTIL ONE DAY SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE SHOW OTHER JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM 1996-2001.

NHTSA ID

10721042

Incident

May 20, 2010

VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHEN COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP OR BEING JARRED BY A BUMP OR POT HOLE. GRADUALLY PROGRESSED TO RANDOMLY STALLING WHEN APPLYING ANY PRESSURE TO BRAKES OR ANY SLIGHT JARRING. ALL POWER IS LOST AT THIS TIME ALONG WITH ANY CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATING UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AGAIN. RECENTLY VEHICLE REPEATEDLY AND INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WITHOUT ANY PATTERN DURING ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY BRAKING OR JARRING. IT THEN CATCHES ON ITS OWN AND REGAINS POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693765

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

Mileage

224,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER TO SERVICE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER STARTED THE REMEDY PROCEDURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO FINISH THE SERVICE DUE TO OTHER PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE THE REST OF THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE THEY WOULD FINALIZE THE REPAIRS AND RECOMMENDED TO NOT USE THE HITCH DUE TO THE CONDITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE ONLY SIX BOLTS TO HOLD THE HITCH UNTO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DEALER HAD BUSTED THREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PRODUCE THE PARTS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/09/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER 4 WEEKS OF WAITING FOR THE PARTS. UPDATED 5/11/15 *JS

NHTSA ID

10649731

Incident

Oct 24, 2014

AFTER VIEWING WEB SITE FOUND INFORMATION ON THIS 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE THIS RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALL INCOMPLETE STATUS PURCHASE THIS JEEP IN AUGUST 2011 NOTICE VEHICLE STEERING BOX WAS LOOSE.I FEEL THAT JEEP WAS NOT UNEXPECTED GOOD HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS AS LOOKING INTO THE DATA PURCHASE THIS FROM THIS COMPANY HAVE TO CALLIN FOR VEHICLE THEY FINALLY SHIP THIS IS NOT SAFE.NEEDSOME ASSISTANCES OF GETTING A REFUND THEY HAD TO KNOW THIS SOME INFO WAS SEND A BOUT THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACE THEY NEVER TRY TO COMPLETE THIS BEFORE SELLIN THE VEHICLE THIS IS UNSAFE THANKS GOD FOR THIS WEB SITE OF COURSE RIDING LIKE THIS NOT COOL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641475

Incident

Mar 12, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL IN AUGUST, 2013 RECALL NO. N45/NHTSA 13V-252. NO FOLLOW UP. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626574

Incident

Aug 9, 2013

Mileage

181,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , STRUCTURE) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN JUNE OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE APRIL OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10576935

Incident

Apr 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V069000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, HE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID

10552049

Incident

Nov 12, 2013

Mileage

146,000 mi

WHILE LEAVING HOME FROM WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND FAIL. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AT A SPEED OF 40MPH SINCE I NOTICED THAT AT A HIGHER SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRY TO STALL. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS THRU CELL PHONE TO SHAKE A BIT THE CABLES TO COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND CABLES TO DISTRIBUTOR COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE TURNED ON BUT WITH PROBLEMS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE CHEROKEE WAS LEFT FOR TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED A FAULTY COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AT A CROSS ROAD AND TURNED OFF. A TRUCK NEARLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT ON TIME. THE MECHANIC HAD TO SHOW UP AT THE SITE AND HAD SOME PROBLEMS STARTING THE CHEROKEE. THE DIAGNOSTICS, ANOTHER BLOWN COMPUTER. THE MECHANIC ORDERED ANOTHER COMPUTER WITH UPGRADE (HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH) ORIGINAL CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS ADDED. ALL SEEMED TO WORK WELL UNTIL YESTERDAY OCT/2/2013 WHEN I WENT OUT FOR A RIDE WITH MY SON AND THE CHEROKEE STALLED AND TURNED OFF. THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1,000.00 TRYING TO GET MY JEEP CHEROKEE TO RUN PROPERLY AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT TO THE STREET. I HAVE A FAMILY OF 4 AND I WORRY THAT THE CHEROKEE WOULD FAIL ME BY STALLING AGAIN AT A CROSSROAD CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. ALL CABLES WERE CHECKED FOR SHORTS BUT NOTHING SOLVES THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RECALL SEARCH BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL ALTHOUGH SOME JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE USERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR THEIR 4.0L ENGINE (MY JEEP CHEROKEE IS ALSO 4.0L) COINCIDENCE? I LOVE MY CHEROKEE BUT FEEL THAT I CAN'T RELY ANYMORE ON IT AS FOR SAFETY. HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS WITHOUT PROBLEMS THE FIRST 5 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546603

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

151,950 mi

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 4:30 AM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN CAME BACK ON, SEVERAL TIMES, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, WE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND IT APPEARED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER CONDUCTING A WEB SEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL BE INJURED BEFORE THIS DEFECT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543056

Incident

Sep 10, 2013

Mileage

206,000 mi

CHEROKEE BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS RECENTLY AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS AT 55 MPH. SHAKING WOULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SUBSIDE UNTIL CAR WAS PULLED OVER. SHAKING SO VIOLENT IT CAUSED AN EXHAUST LEAK. NEVER AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY - SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542606

Incident

Aug 5, 2013

Mileage

265,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A COMPLETE STOP, A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A FOREGOING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK LOCATION COULD BE A GREATER DANGER IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REAR END CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID

10519511

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

ALL OF A SUDEN THIS VERY BAD SHAKING PROBLEM HAS OCCURED AT ABOUT 50 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. MY CETIFIED ASE MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A WEEK NOW - NO LUCK SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513044

Incident

May 9, 2013

Mileage

212,000 mi