RoadVitals

1999 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.
24
Latest Jan 25, 2017
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.
7%
of 366 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 1999 Jeep Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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 Jan 25, 2017

MY CAR HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT END WOBBLED SO BADLY THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. "DEATH WOBBLE"

NHTSA ID
10947668
Incident
Jan 25, 2017
Mileage
177,340 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 25, 2015

HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE OR A MAN COVER AT 45 MPH AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL. ALMOST BEEN HIT OVER 5 TIMES BECAUSE I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP THE ISSUE. TIRES A NEW AND I'VE BEEN TO THE SHOP THEY SAY EVERYTHING GOOD FOR SAFETY INSPECTIONS BUT IT'S NOT GOOD. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT JEEP IS JUST TRY TO KILL IT'S CAR DRIVERS I WON'T HAVE BUY THE THING.

NHTSA ID
10743434
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Mileage
174,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Apr 30, 2015

MY 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH WHEN I HIT A SLIGHT UNEVENNESS IN THE ROAD. I'VE HAD MY JEEP INSPECTED BY A JEEP DEALER, PAID TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, AND IT STILL REMAINS. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED, REPEATED ISSUE, THAT I, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, DRIVING JEEPS. IT'S BEEN REPORTED ON BY BOTH ABC NEWS (HTTP://ABC7NEWS.COM/ARCHIVE/8768540/) AND FOX NEWS (HTTP://WWW.FOXNEWS.COM/LEISURE/2012/07/09/WHAT-NEED-TO-KNOW-ABOUT-JEEP-DEATH-WOBBLE/) AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY CHRYSLER IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. I WENT TO MY LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP, CHRYSLER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN-HAND, SPENT $1,000 TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM AT THEIR BEHEST TO CORRECT WHAT THEY CLAIMED WAS CAUSING THE VIOLENT SHAKING I EXPERIENCED WHEN DRIVING MY JEEP ON THE HIGHWAY, ONLY TO FIND, POST-REPAIR, AFTER HITTING A MINOR SEAM ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 52 MPH, THAT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" WAS WORSE THAN EVER, AND MY JEEP WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FACT THAT NO ONE HAS DIED YET FROM LOSING CONTROL WHEN THEIR JEEP STARTS VIOLENTLY SHAKING WHILE THEY'RE SPEEDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (THAT WE CAN PROVE) DUE TO AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE VEHICLES IS A SHAMEFUL REASON FOR THE NHTSA TO DISMISS THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY, SO FAR THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE NOTICED ME RAPIDLY REDUCING MY SPEED IN TIME TO GET OUT OF MY WAY. I'VE BEEN LUCKY THAT ROAD CONDITIONS ALLOWED ME TO SLOW DOWN OR PULL OVER. I'VE BEEN LUCKY TO BE GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO REDUCE MY SPEED BEFORE I LOST CONTROL. I'VE STOPPED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STOPPED DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, AND PLAN TO TRASH MY JEEP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THOUGH I JUST INVESTED $1,000 IN ITS REPAIR. IS THAT RIGHT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10713762
Incident
Apr 23, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 16, 2013

I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER BEFORE THE SHAKING WOULD STOP. ANOTHER TIME I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AGAIN AND HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE VIOLENT SHAKING AGAIN OCCURRED. AGAIN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY BEFORE IT STOPPED SHAKING. THIS IS KNOWN AS DEATH WOBBLE AND CHRYSLER KNOWS IT. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR USING CHEAP PARTS ON JEEPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498375
Incident
May 7, 2012
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 7, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE FELT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING DAMPER AND THE TRACK BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID
10457704
Incident
Apr 6, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Sep 19, 2007

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, MY VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLABLY AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO STOP THE CAR SO THE SHAKING WILL STOP. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER PARTS REPLACED SUCH AS THE STEERING STABILIZER, AND THE STEERING ROD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10203488
Incident
Aug 15, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 26, 2003

ALMOST 100 REPAIRS 4 1/2 YEARS ON A NEW LEASED 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. 15 MONTHS REMAIN ON LEASE. AIR CONDITION REPAIRED 5 TIMES. TOO MANY ITEMS TO LIST HERE.

NHTSA ID
10039588
Incident
Aug 29, 1999
Mileage
30 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering+2 more
Filed Apr 1, 2002

CONSUMER HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE AND IS CURRENTLY IN NEED OF NEW ROTORS AGAIN. *JG

NHTSA ID
564832
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING STEERING LOCKS UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001731
Steering
Filed Sep 15, 2001

UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS BADLY WORN FROM CONTACT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, IT APPEARS THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE PRESSED THE OWER STEERING HOSE AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN JOINT. NLM

NHTSA ID
785608
Incident
Sep 15, 2001
Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2001
Crash reported

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD TRIED TO CORRECT STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. BUT, DID REPAIR TIE ROD DAMAGED DUE TO CRASH. A FEW DAYS LATER , STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN WHILE TURNING FROM ONE STREET INTO ANOTHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
893285
Incident
May 25, 2001
EngineInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Jul 17, 2001

PASSENGER'S DOOR DOESN'T OPEN, AND ALARM SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, MUFFLER SYSTEM DRAGS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
893048
BrakesSteeringVisibility
Filed May 18, 2001

THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT FAILED AND THE STEERING GEAR WAS WORN CAUSING A CATCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL. NLM

NHTSA ID
561275
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
885747
Steering
Filed Apr 11, 2001

CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN PARKED VEHICLE WITH GEAR IN PARK, AND WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF SPACE, STEERING WAS TURNING, BUT GOING ANYWHERE. DEALER NEVER SAID WHY IT BROKE, BUT ANY PIECE CAN BREAK. THAT WAS WHY THEY HAVE MANUFACTURER'S GUARANTEE. *AK

NHTSA ID
885696
Incident
Apr 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Feb 9, 2001

WHEN TURNING RIGHT THE STEERING LOCKS & YOU CAN'T TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ID
740679
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Dec 11, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED POWER STEERING HOSE HAD RUBBED THROUGH. EVERY TIME WHEEL WAS TURNED IT RUBBED ON POWER STEERING HOSE, NEXT TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE. *AK THE POWER STEERING LINE IS ADJACENT TO UNIVERSAL JOINT ON STEERING SHAFT, OVER TIME WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, IT WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH, THIS LINE IS ALSO NEAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHEN STEERING FLUID SPRAYS ONTO A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO KEEP THE LINE AWAY FROM THE STEERING SHAFT, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER SHOULD BE LIABLE TO REPLACE THE PART SINCE IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
876302
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting+4 more
Filed Sep 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY SETS OF TIRES, MAY BE DUE TO ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
554247
Incident
Nov 11, 1999
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS TRAVELING 65MPH, AND FEEL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. I WOKE UP IN THE DITCH AND TRIED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD BECAUSE AN APPROACH WAS COMING. I WAS ALMOST ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL. IT ROLLED TWO AND A HALF TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
723654
Incident
Feb 6, 2000
Steering
Filed May 28, 2000

THERE HAVE BEEN 9 CASES OF ENGINE FAILURE, NOT STARTING, NOT STARTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
723278
Incident
Nov 29, 1999
Steering
Filed Sep 9, 1999

STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFER AND HARDER TO MAINTAIN WHEN GOING AROUND A LONG CURVE. THE WHEEL SLIPS OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. *AK

NHTSA ID
847310
Incident
Jan 5, 1999
SteeringTransmission
Filed Sep 4, 1999

CONSTANT GRINDING/GARBALING SOUND (HEARD IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE) COMING FROM TRANSFER CASE LINKAGE AREA. CAN BE HEARD AT ALL SPEEDS AND SEEMS TO VARY IN INTENSITY WHEN MAKE ANY KIND OF TURN.

NHTSA ID
710933
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
Steering
Filed Sep 4, 1999

STEERINGS COLUMN HAS SOMTEHING LOOSE INSIDE IT. CAN FEEL CLUNK IN STEERING ON INITIAL ACCELERATION, ON BROKEN PAVEMENT, AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CAN ALSO FEEL THE CLUNK THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE IS NO DOUBT, SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE COLUMN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE BEING SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
710932
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Mar 16, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
704525

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .