1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, he researched online and became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V006000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and the contact was informed that the responsibility was on the consumer and the call was disconnected. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11523526

Incident

Apr 12, 2023

EXPERIENCED DEATH WOBBLE ON FREEWAY AT 45-55 AND TO REGAIN CONTROL HAVE T0 APPLY BRAKES AND ALMOST COME TO A DEAD STOP. SIX MONTHS AFTER, THE STEERING HOUSING CRACKED FOUND TWO OUT OF THE THREE BOLTS HAD SNAPED THE BOLT CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL HAD THE BROKEN CASTING STILL TOURQE TO THE FRAME. I LOST THE STEERING ON A TURN IN A 15 MPH ZONE

NHTSA ID

11020328

Incident

Dec 19, 2016

I HAD MY POWER STEERING BRACKET BREAK INTO 3 PIECES, CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH 2 PULLEYS AND 4 SERPENTINE BELTS BEFORE FIGURING OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" A FEW TIMES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. IT IS VERY DISTURBING AND SCARY AND FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY TO GET IT TO STOP.

NHTSA ID

10983935

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

142,000 mi

FAMILY OWNERSHIP SINCE NEW. RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING THE "DEATH WOBBLE." JEEP TRAVELING ON A HIGH SPEED (ABOVE 60) ROAD STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND IS DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OR MANEUVER. JEEP FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL APART. HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TO STOP OR SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW DOWN BEFORE SHAKING STOPS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

10969917

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450,000. UPDATED 12/01/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10908127

Incident

Sep 18, 2016

Mileage

450,000 mi

DRIVING AT NEARLY 45-50 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL I SLOWED TO A NEAR STOP. THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH MORE AND MORE UNTIL I WAS GOING ABOUT 15-20 MPH. I WAS NOT IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING NOR HAD I JUST COMPLETED A TURN. THERE WERE NO BUMPS TO MENTION EITHER.

NHTSA ID

10863223

Incident

May 4, 2016

Mileage

207,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED A "DEATH WOBBLE" IN MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. IT WAS SO BAD THAT IT BROKE THE GEARS IN THE STEERING BOX AND MADE ME LOSE THE STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLE OCCURRING MULTIPLE TIMES. HAVE REPLACED ALL RECOMMENDED PARTS AND EVERYTHING LOOKS AND FEELS TIGHT IN REGARDS TO THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

10747177

Incident

Aug 15, 2013

Mileage

192,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILIZER ARM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID

10743897

Incident

Aug 6, 2013

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH, HIT A SMALL POT HOLE IN ROAD WITH RIGHT TIRE. FRONT END OF VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITH FRONT END WOBBLING AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKING BADLY. IT SEEMED LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO FALL APART. BY SLOWING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, IT STOPPED THE SITUATION FROM OCCURRING. IT WAS QUITE JARRING AND VERY DISTURBING. DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THIS IS KNOWN AS THE ?JEEP DEATH WOBBLE?. QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID

10743253

Incident

Jul 21, 2015

DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH JEEP GOES INTO A DEATH WOBBLE.. VEHICLE SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY IT ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651191

Incident

Oct 21, 2014

Mileage

189,000 mi

VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND PULL TO THE RIGHT SLIGHTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546044

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

199,250 mi

1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NOT BEING NOTIFIED ABOUT SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10536646

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN YOU GET UP TO 50 MPH AND HIT A BUMP THE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOOSE CONTROL THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 20 OR 30 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360002

Incident

Oct 2, 2010

Mileage

190,000 mi

I HAVE A 96 GRAND CHEROKEE LTD 4X4 WITH 115K MILES. SINCE IT TURNED 65K MILES I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND DRUMS 3 TIMES. I HAVE WATER LEAKS IN THE SEAT BELT WELLS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, AND THE BELTS ARE WET WHEN IT RAINS. TODAY, WATER IS POOLING IN THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WATER POURS FROM JUST ABOVE THE ACCELERATOR. MUST BE FROM A/C?THE REAR DOOR HATCH HAS JAMMED IN LOCK POSITION. THE ELECTRONIC MILEAGE/ FUEL READOUT (ON CEILING MODULE) FLUCTUATES WILDLY AND IS INACCURATE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT AT 64,975 MILES. NOW HAVE A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, QUOTED $1200 BY DEALER TO REPAIR. I HAVE GONE THROUGH STOCK 3 RADIOS, TUNER PROBLEMS. MASSIVE A/C PROBLEMS IN PAST. I PAID A NON DEALER TO REPAIR IT, THE REPAIRS HELD FOR 30 DAYS AND SAME PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THEN HAD DEALER REPAIR AND IT WAS A RECALL ITEM SO WAS COVERED AFTER I'D PAID FOR 2 PREV REPAIR JOBS AT $1100 TOTAL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT AT 90K MILES. REPLACED SO MANY OTHER PARTS, I'D HAVE TO REFER TO THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR MORE DETAILS. THIS LIST IS ONLY FROM MEMORY. TOTAL COST OVER 3 YRS....AROUND $4000! OH, AND THE REAR HATCH/DOOR PAINT IS FADED AND DULL, TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE CAR. ALL BLACK METAL PAINTED PARTS PAINT IS COMING OFF. HAS BEEN FOR COUPLE OF YEARS. ALSO THE ROOF RATTLE REALLY LOUD AT OVER 50MPH. THE POWER OUTLET CAME APART STILL ATTACHED TO MY PHONE CORD ONE DAY. FINALLY, THE FRONT END HAS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE? AND WILL COST APPROX $700 TO REPAIR. I THOUGHT I HAD A LEMON UNTIL I TALKED WITH 3 OTHER JEEP OWNERS, THEY'VE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH CHRYSLER OVER THESE VEHICLES...I AM CONSIDERING INVOLVING AN ATTNY.

NHTSA ID

10096135

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

Mileage

64,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY VIOLENT SHAKE, CONSUMER STATES PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE, THEN RESTARTED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10031532

Mileage

66,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS GRAND CHEROKEE FROM SAN JOSE DODGE AS A LEASE-BACK VEHICLE WITH 27,000 MILES ON IT. AT 51 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE VIBRATED SEVERELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENTERING A LEFT CURVE; HOWEVER AT THIS SPEED THE VIBRATION IS ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SAN JOSE DODGE, WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPENER. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAD NEW TIRES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE IN MID 2000, AND HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED. THIS MINIMIZED THE VIBRATION, BUT IT WAS STILL NOTICEABLE. AS THE TIRES HAVE WORN DOWN, THE VIBRATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I'VE SINCE RELOCATED TO CONNECTICUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CAPITOL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE FRONT END FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN, JOSEPH E. PARADIS, SAYS THAT THE TIRES ARE "OUT OF ROUND". I'VE HAD TWO SETS OF TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM IS ONLY IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. I THINK THERE IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT NEITHER DEALER IS EITHER ADMITTING TO, OR KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

756466

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. BACK WHEEL BEARING WERE STILL RUBBIING, AND HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001225

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK,/ AXEL ASSEMBLY2-6-2001/ PINION SEAL 10-25-00. *AK

NHTSA ID

755274

REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED AT 15883 MILES AND AGAIN AT 62572 MILES, CONSUMER FINDS THIS FAILURE OF THE BEARINGS UNUSUAL, TRANSFER CASE ADAPTER SEALS WERE LEAKING, FRONT PINION SEAL LEAKING. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER FOUND ABS SENSOR AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL FAILED, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

750219

Incident

Jun 5, 1998

VEHICLE HAS EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE, MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR ROTORS WERE DISINTEGRATING. FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 2 YEARS AGO.*AK FRONT STABILIZER DEFECTIVE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

893808

Incident

Aug 7, 2001

I WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK AND FORTH. THE SHAKING BECAME VERY VIOLENT AND THE WHEEL BEGAN TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH A GOOD 12 - 14 INCHES. THE CAR WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE SHAKING WAS TOO ROUGH AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND BEGAN GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE AND THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE SHAKING STOPPED AND WE ROLLED TO A STOP. IF WE HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE AND IF I WERE ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED ! THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY. I TAKE MY JEEP IN FOR ALL REGULER AND SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WARNING THE PART WAS GOING TO BREAK AND AT THE TED MILES JEEP DEALER WHERE I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE THEY SAID THERE IS ABOUT A 10% FAILURE ON THIS PART BUT THEY HAD NOT ACTUALLY HAD ONE BREAK SUDDENLY BEFORE! I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED . THE SHAKING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE SEAMS ON THE RADIATOR WERE SPLIT AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR ALSO. SINCE THE SHEAR FORCE WAS SO GREAT I AM LEFT WONDERING IF OTHER PARTS OF THE FRONT END AND CAR IN GENERAL ARE SOMEHOW DAMAGED OR WEAKENED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER-DAMION CORP. AND THEY TOOK THE REPORT ON JULY 27TH. I HAVE MEDICAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF TRYING TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND BEING SHOOK BACK AND FORTH. I HOPE THIS GETS ADDRESSED AS A RECAL ISSUE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS A PROPLEM BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

749661

Incident

Jul 24, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND HEARD A METAL NOISE. THEN, POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER, CONSUMRE WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WHERE THE BRACKETS BOLTS FALL OUT ARE COMMON.*JB

NHTSA ID

888985

Incident

May 15, 2001

THERE IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION AT 45MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STRUTS; HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

884003

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH PULLING WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553328

Incident

Feb 24, 2000

STEEL LEAF SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE STARTED BREAKING. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553244