2001 Jeep Cherokee Steering Problems

I HAVE A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE AND BEGAN TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM TOWARD THE END OF 2012 OR FIRST OF 2013. WHEN I WOULD REACH A SPEED OF AROUND 55 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS/STEERING WHEEL WOULD BEGIN TO VIBRATE, SHAKE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT IS A VIOLENT VIBRATION THAT IS PRETTY SCARY AND FEELS LIKE YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT SUBSIDES IF YOU IMMEDIATELY SLOW WAY DOWN. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT NOW WOULD START AROUND 45 MILES AN HOUR OR SO, DEPENDING ON HOW SMOOTH OR BUMPY THE ROAD IS. THE BUMPIER, THE MORE EASILY IN BEGINS THE WOBBLE. WHEN I RECENTLY RESEARCHED IT ONLINE, IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE NEVER PUT IN "NON-CONFORMING" PARTS, NOR HAVE I USED MY VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR ABUSED IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS ABOUT 160,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD JUST TAKEN IT IN TO SEE IF THE SHAKING CAN BE REPAIRED, AND THE PERSON WORKING ON IT, REPLACED ALMOST EVERY PART ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION ETC. IN WHAT HE THOUGHT HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, IT HAS ONLY MODERATELY REDUCED THE SYMPTOMS. SO FAR, ABOUT $800.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS THAT HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I WANT ANY OF MY TAX DOLLARS TO BAIL OUT CHRYSLER CORPORATION IF THEY DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I SAW THEIR FORCED "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT" OF THE PROBLEM AND I ALSO SAW THAT THEY WILL NOT PICK UP THE COST OF TRYING TO FIX THE DEFECT. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508571

Incident

Jan 10, 2013

Mileage

156,000 mi

DEATH WOBBLE. I'VE ROTATED THE TIRES, I'VE HAD THE WHEELS BALANCED, I'VE HAD THE TIE-RODS REPLACED AND "UNPREDITABLE" DEATH WOBBLE CONTINUES. I WAS LITERALLY INCHES AWAY FROM BEING REAR ENDED AND CAUSING A MULTICAR WRECK TODAY ON THE 22 FREEWAY IN SANTA ANA, CA WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE ON THE FREEWAY TO STOP THE VIOLENT WOBBLE. THIS IS A MFG DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED (AND LIABILITY ASSUMED) BY THE MFG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471468

Incident

Aug 19, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHE HEARD A NOISE AS IF PLASTIC WAS BROKEN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN, THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,100.

NHTSA ID

10377078

Incident

Jan 13, 2011

Mileage

138,000 mi

CONSUMER MOVED STEERING WHEEL FORWARD UPON EXITING 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. *KB WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED FORWARD THE CONSUMER HEARD A FUNNY NOISE. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE MOVED BACK TO IT'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WA GIVEN THE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164759

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

59,650 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHILE TURNING. THE TILT STEERING WHEEL THEN LOCKED IN THE FORWARD POSITION. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONSULTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED.

NHTSA ID

10162377

Incident

Jul 8, 2006

Mileage

59,650 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL "SHIMMERS" EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER DIAGNOSED CRACKED STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032055

Mileage

6,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH THE BOLTS OF THE GEAR BOX OF THE POWER STEERING BROKE AND CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION . TS

NHTSA ID

8023547

Incident

Dec 2, 2002

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING PUMP. ALSO STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN REPLACE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND NOW IT IS HAPPEND AGAIN FOR THE FORTH TIME. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE LEMON LAW WILL ONLY COVER THREE TIMES AND NOTHING ELSE. TS

NHTSA ID

8023488

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP SUDDENLY. *YH *DT

NHTSA ID

567902

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR BRAKE SERVICE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TIE ROD SLEEVE WAS DISCONNECTING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011013

Incident

May 31, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE OVERSTEERED TO THE RIGHT, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND OVERTURNED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK VEHICLE WAS ANALYZED AND WAS FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED ADJUSTING COLLAR ON THE DRAG LINK, THIS CAUSED THE EXTRA EFFORT HAVING TO BE APPLIED BY THE OPERATOR TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT THE EXCESSIVE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE ADJUSTING COLLAR FINALLY MOVED, IT CREATED THE ABRUPT MANEUVER THAT RESULTED IN THE OVERTURNING OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8007775

Incident

Apr 16, 2002

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DISCOVERED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE WHEEL.*AK. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DEALER THAT THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THE BOLT WAS NOT TIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING, ALSO THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LEVEL WAS VIBRATING AND NOISY.*JB

NHTSA ID

8007523

Incident

Jan 30, 2002

THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. GEARS ARE STUCK WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK. CONSUMER FEELS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, PASSENGER DOOR, GEAR SHIFT, AND PASSENGER SEAT, CONSUMER HEARS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE RIMS. AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH NEEDED RESET. HOOD IS OUT OF LINE, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL NEEDS REPLACING AND THERE IS A GAP AT THE TOP OF THE OUTSIDE. ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. GLOVE BOX LIGHT WENT OUT. UPPER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

8002974

Incident

Sep 20, 2001

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE VIBRATES. DEALER HAD SURFACED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK HUMMING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS. FRONT WINDOW SKIPS WHEN PUTTING WINDOW DOWN WITH AUTO, DEALER LUBED WINDOW TRACKS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

889783

Incident

May 15, 2001

STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH IS RUSTING OUT. ALSO, BRAKE LINE IS CORRODED/ EXHAUST IS PITTED, AND STEERING SPINDLE RUSTED AND CORRODED. FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ARE CORRODED ALSO. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884378

Incident

Mar 6, 2001