2000 Jeep Cherokee Steering Problems

DEATH WOBBLE IN FRONT END...

NHTSA ID

10823380

Incident

Jan 31, 2016

Mileage

126,500 mi

AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND FRONT END FELT LIKE IT WAS VIBRATING APART, HIT BAKES AND SLOW VEHICLE TO 25 MPH FOR IT TO STOP. HAVE REPLACE ALMOST THE WHOLE FRONT END STEERING COMPONENTS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A DEATH WOBBLE. NOW WERE GOING TO TRY REPLACE THE TRACK BAR, AS THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE BRACKETS FOR THE TRACK BAR ARE GETTING WADDLED OUT DUE TO ONLY A 3/16 BOLT TO SECURE THE TRACK BAR AND CAUSE THE HOLE IN BRACKET TO GET WADDLED OUT IN THE STEEL BRACKET. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SEAMS TO BE ON ALL JEEPS. IN SOME CASE PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THE BRACKETS WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS THAT ARE MUCH THICKET STEEL AND USING A GRADE 8 BOLTS AND TACK WELDING THE BOLT TO BRACKET TO STOP THE HOLE FROM BEING WADDLED OUT. MY FAMILY IS RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN LOSS OF LIFE AS YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695246

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

207,057 mi

WHEN DRIVING MY 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT AT 45-50 MILES AN HOUR THE JEEP VIOLENTLY SHAKES FROM THE FRONT END. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND COME TO FIND OUT ITS CALLED A "DEATH WOBBLE" AMONG MANY JEEP OWNERS. THIS IS A SCARY PHENOMENA AS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOBBLES BACK AND FORTH AND VIOLENTLY SHAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587955

Incident

May 13, 2014

Mileage

41,900 mi

MY JEEP FIRST STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN I WAS EXITING ONTO AN OFF-RAMP. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD; IT WAS AWFUL. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER, AS TIME WENT ON IT DID. IT NOW HAPPENS RATHER FREQUENTLY AND IT IS TERRIFYING EVERY TIME. I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED (NEW TRACK BAR) BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. PLEASE HELP! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. BY THE TIME ONE IS, DUE TO ACCIDENTS, I WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE MINE FIXED. THEREFORE, THIS COMPLAINT IS MY PLEA ON BEHALF OF OTHER JEEP OWNERS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT HONESTLY FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS WILL LIKELY FLY OFF; IT'S RATHER DISTURBING FOR THOSE IN THE VEHICLE AND THOSE DRIVING NEARBY IN OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478404

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

123,400 mi

I HAVE A 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT 4X4 WITH NO LIFT KITS, ETC. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD IT GOES INTO WHAT IS TERMED A "DEATH WOBBLE." THIS IS VERY SEARCHABLE ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE WILL SO VIOLENTLY SHAKE IN THE FRONT END IT IS HARD TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD AND NOT ROLL THE VEHICLE BEFORE I'M ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH FOR IT TO REBALANCE ITSELF. IT IS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING. I'VE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED THINKING I MIGHT HAVE LOST A WHEEL WEIGHT OR SOMETHING BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TODAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD STEERING DAMPER. BUT FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED, OTHERS HAVE HAD THESE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WILL COME UP AGAIN. JEEP/CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET I'D BE SURPRISED. I DID HAVE THE STEERING DAMPER REPLACED TODAY BUT AM SCARED I WILL EXPERIENCE THIS AGAIN AND EITHER WIND UP KILLING MYSELF OR SOME OTHER MOTORIST. *JS

NHTSA ID

10464015

Incident

Jun 29, 2012

Mileage

98,518 mi

I HAVE A 200 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT, 4WD. I ALSO HAD A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT, 4WD. BOTH HAVE THE SAME 2 PROBLEMS. #1 IS A BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT. THE BRACKET IS TOO SMALL AND SPLITS NEAR THE BOLT HOLES. YOU CAN'T DRIVE LIKE THIS, THE CURRENT ONE (2000) STARTED WITH A SMALL NOISE WHEN I WAS EXITING THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY IT LET LOOSE ON A BUMPY ROAD ON A CORNER. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT THE FIRST TIME WITH THE 1996, WHICH I TRADED FOR THE 2000, BUT SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I STUMBLED ONTO THIS SITE: HTTP://VLANE.COM/POLL/30/2001-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-HAS-YOUR-DRIVER-SIDE-FRONT-SEAT-BROKEN-ON-THIS-JEEP PROBLEM #2, AND MORE SERIOUS IS A HUGE WOBBLE, SHIMMY, SHAKE PROBLEM AT AROUND 50 MPH. SO MUCH SO THAT YOU FEEL AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO BE THROWN OFF THE ROAD OR FLIP. ALSO THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON MY 96 JEEP BEFORE I TRADED IT FOR THIS ONE, AND NOW HAS STARTED ON THIS 200 JEEP, SO AGAIN SEEING A PATTERN, I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HERE IS JUST ONE SITE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0E6F51/0 PLEASE HELP! THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAWS THAT ARE COSTLY TO REPAIR. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273576

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

71,000 mi

I HAD SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE JEEP. I PURCHASED THE JEEP ON JULY 26, 2000 NEW. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THE VEHICLE, HAVE IT CHECKED AND OIL CHANGED EVERY 2500 MILES. BEFORE THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP I HAD A TOTAL OF 15,000 MILES ON IT. I COMPLAINED OF IT SHIMMYING AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE BACK, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A THING WRONG. IN FEBRUARY HAVING ABOUT $18,000 MILES ON IT THAT I NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP - $900.00 WORTH. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN DOWN HILL. I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE DAY ONE THAT MY VEHICLE SHIMMIES OUT OF CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY, AND NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST PUT NEW CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS ON IT AND, STEERING PINION, TIGHT STEERING, AND A HOST OF OTHER SUCH REMEDIES, TO NO AVAIL. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS ALMOST IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 94, AS I DID GO OUT OF TOWN, AFTER THE ABOVE WAS FIXED, BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T HELP AS MY VEHICLE SHOOK ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. I PUT ON MY BREAKS IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I STOPPED, SAT FOR A WHILE, AND THEN DROVE OFF, AND IT WAS OKAY FOR A WHILE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, A DRIVER FROM BEHIND ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I HAD TO PUT MY BREAKS ON TO TRY TO CONTROL IT SOME. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED YEARS AGO. I WROTE DAIMLER CHRYSLER A LETTER REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE COMPANY DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND. IN THE MEANTIME, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I WANT TO TRADE IT IN, BUT FEEL I WAS SOLD A REAL LEMON AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE HASSLES, REPAIR COSTS, ETC. OF WHAT I WAS HOPING WOULD NOT HAPPEN WHEN BUYING A NEW VEHICLE, AND THE WAY I TAKE CARE OF IT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER BRAND NEW ONE, BUT DO FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE CALLED THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM THE ONSET, AS IT HAS BEEN A LEMON, OF WHICH I HAVE EXPRESSED MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195573

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

Mileage

150 mi

DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH LOST STEERING CONTROL. HE JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STARTING TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPIN FREELY INTO CIRCLES. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPRESSION BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPINDLE TOGETHER CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING. THE REPAIR SHOP TIGHTENED THE BOLT. DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137859

Incident

Sep 27, 2005

Mileage

84,500 mi

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN ,THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT COME BACK AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER HAD DONE EVERYTHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER SAID TO DO IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10038444

SEVERE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE. *MR THERE WAS AN ONGOING BRAKING PROBLEM AND DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE ROTORS WHICH WERE CUT AND REPLACED (THE FRONT PADS). THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THEN THE FRONT ROTORS WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING WARPED AND THE BRAKES WERE 50% WORN. THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE IN THE SHIFTING AREA AS WELL AS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COMES AND GOES. (UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE) THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSE AS THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS BEING OUT OF ROUND. THE WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE THERMOSTAT. THE COMSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022544

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

Mileage

17,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5 MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER , BOLTS ON SPACER BY GEARBOX BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014314

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. CLAIM NUMBER 20-5238-487. *YH

NHTSA ID

6900929

Incident

May 23, 2000

TEMPERATURE INTO RED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND LOWERS WHEN HEAT TURNED ON. OIL PRESSURE TO ZERO AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING AT RANGE OF SPEEDS.ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. BEEN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES. HAVE BEEN TOLD RACK AND PINION LEAKING, NEEDS NEW SHORT BLOCK, GAUGE PANEL FAULTY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND AGAIN NEW SHORT BLOCK NEEDED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

NHTSA ID

755609

Incident

Oct 14, 2001

THE STEERING HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND RELEASE IT AND IT CONTINUES TO TURN UNTIL LOCKED. WHEELS WILL NOT CENTER THEMSELVES WITH VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK

NHTSA ID

753280

Incident

Sep 16, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT 40MPH SWITCH FROM ASPHALT TO PAVEMENT WOULD CAUSE STEERING COLUMN TO SHIMMY VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE WOULD THEN SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ENTIRE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE. BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND STEERING LINKAGE WAS REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

893992

Incident

May 9, 2001

NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REALIGNED STEERING HOSE. IF PROBLEM REOCCURRED, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF REPLACING GEAR BOX. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

892702

Incident

Jul 5, 2001

THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL/ PREVENT VEHICLE FROM WANDERING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT SIDE, AND PINION BEARINGS TWICE. ALSO, REPLACED STEERING DAMPNER. PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN, AND DEALERSHIP IS NOT PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

889251

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

SQUEAL IN POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, PROBLEM CORRECTED BY DEALERSHIP AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS, ENTIRE STEERING GEAR HOUSING REPLACED ON 10/09/00. CJ

NHTSA ID

559524

Incident

May 31, 2000

CHRYSLER PUT STEERING WHEELS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR POST OFFICE USE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER PROPERLY. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRE WEARING DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT. *YH

NHTSA ID

867343

Incident

Aug 2, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHEROKEE PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH NEW BALL JOINTS. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

864862

Incident

Dec 12, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP, CLAIM 20-5238-487. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900597

Incident

May 23, 2000

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF 15 MPH WHEEL STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID

848238

Incident

Sep 14, 1999