2001 Jeep Cherokee Brakes Problems

THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR 'DEATH WOBBLE'. I HAVE HAD MY JEEP TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE MECHANICS DIDN'T BELIEVE ME OR JUST DIDN'T SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I SHOULD HAVE USED THE LA LEMON LAW STATUTES TO RETURN MY CAR BUT DIDN'T KNOW THAT BACK THEN. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD 45-70 MPH AND EITHER HITTING A BUMP OR GOING AROUND 70 MPH YOUR WHOLE FRONT END WILL "SHIMMY/SHAKE/WOBBLE" MAKING IT FEEL LIKE A GIANT EARTHQUAKE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THIS AS I FIND SEVERAL WEBSITES/FORUMS/CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. RIGHT WHEN IT SHAKES YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BELOW 40 MPH - SOMETIMES ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS FOR A COLLISION! IF YOU WANT JUST SEARCH FOR 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND YOU WILL SEE A WHOLE NEW WORLD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS TO HIT THE BRAKES. PARTS REPLACED HAVE BEEN BRAKE ROTORS/PADS, STEERING DAMPENER, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND TIRES. IT STILL DOES IT TO THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408655

Incident

Jun 22, 2011

Mileage

107,000 mi

DON'T BUY A JEEP! PIECE OF JUNK. SINCE I HAVE OWNED MINE THE FOLLOWING HAS BROKE RADIATOR, SEAT TRACK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, BRAKES, BLOWOUT, TRANSMISSION, HEADLIGHT COVERS DULLED, MULTIPLE REAR LIGHT OUTAGES, INSIDE LIGHTS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282023

Incident

Nov 21, 2001

AT 20,000 MILES MY JEEP CHEROKEE SHUTTERED WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WAS SO VIOLENT IT ALMOST THREW MY JEEP INTO THE DIVIDING WALL. I TOOK THIS TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A $700 REPAIR TO REPLACE MY ROTORS AND BREAK PADS. THIS IS COVERED UNDER A JEEP SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WAS NOT A RECALL. JEEP KNEW BEFORE MY VEHICLE ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED UNDER CONDITIONS OF HIGH HEAT OR THE USE OF SALT ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS DUE TO THE COMPOSITE METAL OF THE ROTOR. I THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HAD THE ROTORS REPLACE WITH CHRYSLER PARTS. ONCE AGAIN I AM EXPERIENCING THE VIBRATION AT 54,000. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. I AM NOW KEEPING A COLLECTION OF WARPED JEEP ROTORS IN HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178085

Incident

Jan 5, 2007

Mileage

54,427 mi

2001 JEEP CHEROKEE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED. *MR THE ROTORS ALSO FLAKED CREATING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED STANDING WATER IN THE FOOT WELLS, A/C FAILURE, FAN FAILURE AND THE DOORS NOT BEING ALIGNED PROPERLY. THERE IS A BRAKE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE RECALL NUMBER WAS NOT GIVEN. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10119305

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

CONSUMER CONCERN ABOUT BRAKES ON 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE LAREDO. *BF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TOT HE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RESURFACES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10114976

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I HAVE HAD A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES SINCE I BROUGHT IT. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 9012 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THEN AT 18811 MILES DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. AT 24,806 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS. CURRENTLY, AT 32,000 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP, AND OTHER JEEP OWNERS INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT OCCURRED IN THE EARLIER AND SOME LATER MODEL JEEPS, BUT HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN 2005 MODEL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ONE WEEK. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED (COLD) AND GOES OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM. *TC

NHTSA ID

10103957

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

Mileage

9,012 mi

HAD PROBLEMS W/ FRONT END SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP, CHANGED LANES OR PUT ON THE BRAKES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKES OR ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, BUT AFTER HAVING BRAKES REPLACED AND THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED, I RESORTED TO GOING TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP. AFTER DEALER REPLICATED THE SYMPTOMS, INFORMED ME OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM LAST YEAR AND THEN REPLACED THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. (NOTE: THE CAR HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.) THE SYMPTOMS ARE RETURNING LESS THAN A YEAR LATER. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102845

Incident

Nov 15, 2004

Mileage

21,500 mi

DEFECTIVE BRAKE, THERE IS A PULSATION FELT THROUGH BRAKE PEDAL WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP.BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES AND HAD RELEASED A TSB ON THE ISSUE AND THEY REPLACED BRAKE PARTS. *TC

NHTSA ID

10101043

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH STANDING WATER IN THE FOOTWELL, FAILED AIR CONDITIONER, RUBBING FAN AND DOOR ADJUSTMENTS. *MR THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE PASSENGER FOOT WELL. THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW BRAKES DUE TO RUSTED ROTORS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10090279

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

BRAKES ON A JEEP CHEROKEE. THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE HAVE STARTED SHAKING THE CAR RAPPIDLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. I ALSO CALLED A LOCAL MEINEKE LOCATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MOST CHEROKEE'S. THE RESULT IS THAT THIS WILL COST ME $300 FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082535

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT JEEP KNOWS ABOUT, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" -- AND I GATHER THAT IT MIGHT BE MORE COMMON AMONGST JEEPS THAT ARE LIFTED, THOUGH MINE HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2004. DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. VEERED INTO LEFT LANE TO AVOID CARS THAT WERE SLOWING IN MY LANE. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AS I MOVED INTO THE LEFT LANE. STEERING WHEEL AND WHOLE FRONT OF CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT IT FELT THAT IT WAS GOING TO FALL APART. TOOK FOOT OFF GAS/BRAKE AND AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN IT STOPPED SHAKING AFTER ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS. PULLED INTO FAR LEFT SHOULDER B/C I WAS SHAKEN UP, THEN PROCEEDED HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO A BRAKE SHOP. MY CAR HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT AND YET THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, SO I HAD THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2004. SAME FREEWAY INCIDENT FROM ABOVE OCCURRED. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND QUICKLY FOUND "DEATH WOBBLE," ON A VARIETY OF SITES ABOUT JEEPS. DISCOVERED PROBLEM MIGHT BE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, SO I HAD MY CAR ALIGNED AND THE TIRES BALANCED. SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2004. CAR SHOOK AGAIN ON FREEWAY. HAD BEEN TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT MIGHT STOP THE SHAKING. I DID THIS AND THE SHAKING STOPPED. SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2004. CAR SHOOK WHILE GOING THROUGH 9TH ST. TUNNEL IN WASHINGTON DC. TOOK CAR TO ROSENTHAL JEEP. WROTE LENGTHLY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ON THE DROP-OFF ENVELOPE. ASKED THAT THEY CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR. JEEP REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER -- WHICH WAS "LEAKING." SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2004. CAR SHOOK ON FREEWAY. CALLED ROSENTHAL JEEP AT 2:57PM. A WOMAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LISTENED TO MY PROBLEM, PUT ME ON HOLD AND THEN PUT ME INTO A MALE'S VOICEMAIL. HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RETURN PHONE CALL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080823

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

18,200 mi

PURCHASED A NEW 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. WHEN BRAKES APPLIED CAR WEAVED OR PULLED TO THE LEFT. (2) EMERGENCEY STOP ON MAJOR HWY. 2 AM FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND PULLED MY CAR ONTO THE CENTER GRASS DIVIDER.(3) RETURNED JEEP TO DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. BROUGHT CAR TO INDEPENDENT BRAKE REPAIR SHOP. REPLACED PADS, AND INSTALLED NEW ROTORS. TWO DAYS LATER CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY UPON BRAKING AT 45MPH. RETURNED TO LITHIA COLORADO JEEP DEALER. STATED WARPED ROTORS. REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS. PROBLEM IS ON GOING AND WILL NOW NEED TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE A THIRD TIME IN 24.000 MILES. GENERAL MANAGER OF LITHIA STATES HE CAN REPAIR BRAKES BUT NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE BOTH HE AND CHRYSLER KNOW THE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE THEY SIMPLY REPLACE THE OLD ROTORS WITH NEW DEFECTIVE ROTORS. 35 EXACT PROBLEMS REPORTED ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075008

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

3,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT END SHOOK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS EIGHT TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THE ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE ROTORS COULD NOT BE FIXED PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANDARD PARTS CHRYSLER USED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RIDE ROUGH AND THE BRAKES SEEMED TO SQUEAK ONLY WHEN IT RAINED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10063312

Mileage

10,000 mi

I USUALLY DRIVE BACK ROADS UNDER 50 MILES PER HOUR. MY HUSBAND HAD TAKEN MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT ON THE INTERSTATE AND A CAR SWITCHED LANES INFRONT OF US CAUSING HIM TO HAVE TO BRAKE QUICKLY. THE FRONT OF MY CAR SHOOK SO HARD WE ALMOST WENT INTO A JERSEY WALL. UNTIL THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDER 40 MILES PER HOUR THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY IT WAS BARELY CONTROLABLE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT MAY VERY WELL HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN 0500401. WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WAS NOT MINOR PULSATION. THE FRONT ROTOR WAS VISIBLY WARPED! WHEN I CALLED JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WOULD WARP UNDER CONDITIONS OF HIGH HEAT OR HIGH ROAD SALT USE. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL NOR DID THEY OFFER TO MEET PART OF THE COST OF REPAIR ($700). BUT THE COMPOSITE OF THE BRAKE ROTOR HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED SO THAT THIS PROBLEM NO LONGER HAPPENS. WE WERE LUCKY TO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE IN THE LANE NEXT TO US AND WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HIT THE JERSEY WALL. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.

NHTSA ID

10068393

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

Mileage

26,521 mi

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE FRONT END VIBRATED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE WARPED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059843

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

Mileage

26,600 mi

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHAKES, AND DRIVER CAN HEAR METAL GRINDING. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053794

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050253

Incident

Dec 8, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE AND ROLE THREE TIMES. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050013

Incident

Dec 3, 2003

ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10022598

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

12,847 mi

THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WORN WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR HAD DISINTEGRATED. THE BRAKE PADS ONLY MADE CONTACT WITH 75 PERCENT OF THE ROTORS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10020241

Incident

May 17, 2003

Mileage

40,125 mi

THE BRAKES SHIMMIED AND SHUDDERED EXCESSIVELY WHEN APPLIED, SINCE THE VEHICLE PURCHASED. DEALER DIAGNOSED CAUSE AS DEFECTIVE ROTORS.*AK *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10022728

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024259

Mileage

107,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. ALSO S WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NO WORK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES GOT TOO HOT AND THAT THEY COULD'N DO ANY THING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021943

Incident

May 26, 2003

Mileage

23,400 mi

THE ROTORS ARE WARPED ON MY JEEP AFTER LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF. TOO BAD THEY WON'T ADMIT IT. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE BECOME A RECALL. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018807

Incident

May 16, 2001

Mileage

19,800 mi

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO ROTATE A FEW DEGREES LEFT AND RIGHT DURING BRAKING. JEEP'S WARRANTY SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES BRAKE ROTORS AFTER 12,000 MILES, LEADING ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN OR MATERIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS. ROTORS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THE BRAKE PADS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018791

Incident

May 16, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi