2001 Jeep Cherokee Suspension 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

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

2001 JEEP CHEROKEE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL/TIRE BROKE FREE FROM HUB ROLLING OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF ROAD. UNIT 1 COASTED TO OUTSIDE BERM. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, 1 OF 5 BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT HUB, 1 OF 5 STUD BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS BALD AND EXPOSING STEEL BELTS. THE FIVE STUD BOLT HOLES IN THE RIM WERE SEVERELY WORN. IT WAS ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT WAS BAD. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0864-90) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10381789

Incident

Dec 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE SHOOK DRASTICALLY. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AXLE SHEARED AND THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10230841

Incident

Jun 11, 2008

Mileage

42,000 mi

PURCHASED A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT IN NOVEMBER, 2004. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS, I EXPERIENCED A SEVERE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE; MOST OFTEN AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. KEPT HAPPENING, AT SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH. DIAGNOSED AT BELLE TIRE AS A BAD TRACK BAR.TOOK IIT TO ANOTHER JEEP DEALERSHIP; TRACK BAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. SAID PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT 2 DAYS LATER, WHILE ON FREEWAY (65 MPH) IN RIGHT-HAND LANE, EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURRED. I BARELY GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE, BECAUSE THE STEERING WASS UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HAD I BEEN IN ANY BUT THE RIGHT HAND LANE, I WOULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE RIGHT HAND LANE BUT KEPT MY SPEED AT 35 MPH AND EXITED IMMEDIATELY. CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID IT COULD BE CAUSED BY 10-15 DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING, STARTING WITH STEERING DAMPNER (NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) BUT HAD NO IDEA IF THAT WOULD FIX IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAVE ALREADY SPENT ALMOST $1,000 ON TRYING TO HAVE IT FIXED (INCLUDING NEW TIRES AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT). THE DEALER WAS COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID IT WOULD COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE EVERYTHING REPLACED, AND EVEN THEN, COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THESE EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY THE ONE ON THE FREEWAY, WHICH I WOULD RATE A 10 ON A SCALE OF 1-10 (THE OTHERS RANGING FROM 1-4), HAVE SHAKEN ME TO THE VERY CORE; I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I CAN NEVER AGAIN DRIVE THAT CAR AND FEEL SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 38,000 WEBSITES DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM; PREVALENT IN JEEPS. THE PROBLEM IS APTLY DUBBED "DEATH WOBBLE".

NHTSA ID

10126914

Incident

Jun 18, 2005

Mileage

34,975 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

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A HEAVY VIBRATION. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT YET THE VIBRATION STILL OCCURRED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019349

Incident

May 7, 2003

FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DRIVER MUST COME TO A NEARLY COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO SEVERAL DEALERS, UNDERGOING OVER $1,000 IN REPAIRS, BUT NOTHING HAS SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. BEGAN AT 18,000 MILES AND CONTINUING NOW AT 58,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017034

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE AXLES MAKE NOISE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10001184

Incident

Jan 11, 2002

THE CONSUMER HAS A UP LIFT SUSPENSION PACKAGE CAUSING THE FRONT END TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATES PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10001090

Incident

Sep 10, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

567902

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

FRONT ROTORS AND THE PADS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED TWICE, AND REPLACED ONCE. BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS FROM 15.000 MILES TO PRESENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING AND FRONT END SHAKES. *YH

NHTSA ID

8017384

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

CONSUMER STATES FRONT ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP AFTER (2) REPLACEMENTS. WHEN EVER THE TRUCK HITS A BUMP WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH OR ABOVE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. OWNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT CONTROLLING THE TRUCK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *JB ALSO THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE WHICH WAS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS LOOSE, THE GASKET AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK, CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE AIR CONDITION AND HEATER ONLY BLOWS AT DEFROST VENTS, THE REAR LUGGAGE RAIL CAME OUT.*JB

NHTSA ID

8014796

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

AT HIGH SPEEDS STEERING WHEELVIBRATES AND LOSES STEERING CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012714

Incident

Jun 12, 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

THE SHAKING IS GETTING WORST EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS GOING TO THE CAR DEALER IN MY AREA TO HAVE IT FIX, I WANT THIS TO BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAVE ONLY OWE THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

750748

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

JEEP PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. IT DOESN'T DRIVE RIGHT AND VIBRATES. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NOT RIGHT. CHECK BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. JEEP IS HAZARDOUS ON THE ROAD WITH THE WAY IT DRIVES AND PULLS. ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID A BELT WAS BROKE IN THE RIGHT TIRE

NHTSA ID

9003350

FRONT END PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL AT ANY SPEEDS SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT OR HARD TO THE LEFT, POSSIBLY DUE TO OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX 3-4 TIMES, BUT CANNOT FIX DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

888169

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

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING ONE INJURY, UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EXPERIENCE DEPLOYMENT, CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO TAILLIGHTS INOPERABLE AND HEADLAMPS INOPERABLE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, DEALER REPLACED FUSES AND FOUND CONNECTOR'S LOOSE. CONSUMER STATES FRONT END PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES ON NORMAL BRAKING, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND DURING ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING A BLOCK OF SKID MARKS, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT WHEN DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH ABS OR HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON 2 OCCASIONS AT STOPS, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM AND 3000 MILES LATER THE STALLING OCCURRED AGAIN, HOWEVER DEALER STILL COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

883914

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK, CONSTANTLY PULLS RIGHT, DEALER ADDRESSED AND IT STILL PULLS RIGHT. VIBRATION FELT BETWEEN 35-50 MPH FROM REAR, DEALER REPLACED MANY AXLE PARTS, VIBRATION STILL FELT*AK

NHTSA ID

742208

Incident

Feb 22, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH VEHICLE STARTED WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE UNTIL LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT OFF, AND AVOIDED CRASHING. THEN, DEALER HAD CHECKED BRAKES, BUT DID NOT FOUND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

874068

Incident

Oct 23, 2000