RoadVitals

1997 Jeep Cherokee Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Aug 25, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 390 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Jeep Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Aug 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
10628221
Incident
Jan 17, 2012
Mileage
108,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 12, 2005

"NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V069000." DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A STEERING GEAR RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH BOLTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10107243
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2004

RADIATOR & VARIOUS AC PARTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. STEERING GAVE OUT IN 2002. A SCREW WENT THROUGH AN ENGINE PART. RECENTLY, A JOINT CONNECTING THE AXEL TO THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL PUMP FAILED. INCREDIBLY, IT IS INSIDE THE GAS TANK. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT JEEP GAS TANKS CORRODE ON THE INSIDE, THUS CLOGGING THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE LABOR. THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS NEW FUEL PUMP MAY ALSO FAIL, BECAUSE THE GAS TANK WAS NOT REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I\\\\\\'VE HEARD NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM OTHER JEEP OWNERS. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10069497
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
74,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 26, 2002

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, ALSO STEERING LOCK BROKE OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK. *JB

NHTSA ID
8012725
Incident
Jun 24, 2002
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2001
1 injury reported

DUE TO STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD BEING TOO LOW, CONSUMER HAS SUFFERED LEG INJURIES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
891686
Steering
Filed Apr 19, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, WHEN PARKED FOUND A BROKEN BOLT THAT HAD FALLEN FROM STEERING BOX. *AK DEALER INSTALLED NEW GEAR BOX, BOLTS AND ADDED FLUID. *SLC

NHTSA ID
886341
Incident
Apr 15, 2001
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2000

WHENEVER I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THERE IS POPPING NOISE. ALSO, SOMETINES WHEN I MAKE A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT THE TURN DOES NOT SEEM TO BE COMPLETE (SHARP ENOUGH). *AK

NHTSA ID
717474
Incident
Jul 4, 1997
Body & structureBrakesFuel system+1 more
Filed Mar 3, 1999
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

NHTSA ID
703977
Incident
May 15, 1997
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 1999

THE BOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN KEEPS COMING LOOSE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE VERY BADLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND TIGHTEND UP 5 TIMES, AND THE WHOLE COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
833515
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Jun 30, 1998
Crash reported

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD VIBRATE. POWER STEERING BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPAIRED BRAKES & STEERING BELT. WAS GOING UPAN INCLINE & APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY. VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. HIT PHONE POLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
824816
Incident
Oct 11, 1997
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 9, 1998

SIX DAYS AFTER FUEL GAUGE REPAIR THE STRAP HOLDING THE TANK BROKE ALLOWING TANK TO DANGLE. BRAKE FAILURE AND STEERING MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
528252

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .