Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 44, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT UPPER ARM BUSHINGS AND SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SPEED INCREASED OVER 60 MPH THE VIBRATION STOPS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WE FINALLY GOT OUR N45 RECALL DONE. EACH TIME WE CALLED CHRYSLER, WE GOT DIFFERENT INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION. THEY SEEM TO TELL ONE ANYTHING JUST TO GET ONE TO HAVE IT DONE, THEN THEY GO BACK ON WHAT THEY SAID. I WAS TOLD THE JEEP WOULD BE INSPECTED FIRST TO SEE IF IT WAS SAFE. MY JEEP WAS NOT INSPECTED, THE TRAILER HITCH WAS REPLACED. THE BALL MOUNT WHICH WE HAVE DOES NOT FIT THE REPLACEMENT. THE ONUS SHOULD NOT BE UPON US TO SHOP AND PAY FOR A NEW BALL MOUNT IN SUMMATION: HOW CAN WE GET THEM TO SEND OR DELIVER TO US A BALL MOUNT WHICH FITS TRAILER HITCH THEY INSTALLED, OR AT LEAST RE-IMBURSE US IF WE HAVE TO BUY ONE ? I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO EACH OF THE MANY PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO AT CHRYSLER (WHEN I COULD GET THROUGH AFTER WAITING A VERY LONG TIME) THEIR ANSWER TO THIS WAS "WE ARE NOT INTO TOWING WE ARE INTO SAFETY". *TR
I PURCHASED A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM MEEKER HILLS AUTO W215N11251 APPLETON AVE GERMANTOWN, WI 53022. THE DEALERS SAFETY CHECKLIST INDICATED THAT ALL WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE. AT THE TIME OF SALE, THE SALESMAN "CHAD" STATED TO MYSELF AND MY RELATIVE THAT IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY. 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I CALLED TO ALERT THEM OF SOME PROBLEMS, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK ON 4 OCCASIONS ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, FINALLY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (MATC) AND HAD THE INSTRUCTOR TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE LOTS OF REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT I CAN TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PAY THE DIFFERENCE. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR ANYTHING. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT MATC AT A COST OF $750.00 PARTS ONLY. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I MUST DO FURTHER. THANKS *TR
[1] AT 128,000 PLUS MILES I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR [2] THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE VEHICLE FOUND THAT ALL THE BEARINGS BOTH FRONT AND REAR WERE WORN OR CORRODED ALONG WITH SPACING RINGS ON THE REAR AXEL. HE INDICATED THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, THAT BEARINGS DO NOT CORRODE OR WEAR OUT WITH THE MILEAGE THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN. [3] ALL THE BEARINGS AND SPACERS REQUIRED REPLACING. *NM
1997 CHRYSLER GRAND CHEROKEE REAR OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED, THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN OVERHEATED WHEEL BEARING. *JB
THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS SITUATION. *NM
WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE BACK INTO TRAFFIC, STRIKING A GUARD RAIL AND ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK *SC *JB
1) MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED WITH 59,000 MILES BEGAN MAKING AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE SOUND WAS CONSTANT AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, MICKEY'S GOODYEAR OF ROMEOVILLE, IL. *AK 2) THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE NOISE WAS DETEMINED TO BE FAILURE OF THE AXLE BEARINGS AND DIFFERENTIAL GEAR BEARINGS. THE FAILURE OF THIS TYPE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE LOW MILAGE OF THE VEHICLE. AN INTERNET SEARCH USING GOOGLE WILL YIELD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS OF SIMILAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE SELLING DEALER AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION DENY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAN BE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION IF THE FAILED PARTS WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR DRIVETRAIN TO LOCKUP. 3) THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON TO REPLACE BOTH AXLE SHAFTS AND ALL ASSOCIATED BEARINGS AT A REPLACEMENT COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF ALL FAILED COMPONENTS. A REQUEST TO RETAIN ALL OLD PARTS. I HAVE REQUESTED 100% REIMBURSEMENT FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND I AM ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS.
PAINT ON VEHICLE APPEARS BUBBLY. POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING-REPLACED MOTOR REAR END HAS NOISE LIKE A ROAR-DIAGNOSED WITH BAD REAR END TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD-DIAGNOSED AS BAD BRAKES GROWLING-
VEHICLE DRIVEN AT 60-65MPH ON FREEWAY, HIT SEVERAL BUMPS IN ROAD. VEHICLE FRONT RIGHT END BEGAN SHAKING LIKE HAD A BLOWN OUT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, CHECKED OUT, TOLD STEERING DAMPNER NEEDED REPLACED. REPLACED DAMPNER. DROVE 20 MILES, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK
RATTLING IN FRONT END OVER MINOR BUMPS. SHOCKS ALREADY REPLACED, FRONT-END CHECKS OUT BY MECHANIC. ALSO, POPPING AND SLIPPING OF FRONT-END INTO TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND RIGHT AFTER A TURN. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUSLY LIKE FRONT-END IS GOING TO FALL APART. I HEARD IT'S EXPENSIVE AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT SO I DESPERATELY NEED HELP BEFORE I DISCARD THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER.*AK
VEHICLE WANDERS UNCONTROLLABLY AND HAS TOO MUCH EMPHASIS WHEN TURNING CORNERS, AND THERE US A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. SWAY BAR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY ROLL OVER.*AK
REAR END WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. REAR END HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY.*AK KEYLESS REMOTE FAILED. FUEL GAUGE FAILED. BUZZING NOISE WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOORS. TRANSFER CASE LEAKING. REAR END MAKES NOISE, DEALER REBUILT DIFFERENTIAL. LEFT FRONT WHEEL MAKES NOISE. *YH
ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*JB
JEEP WAS DRAGGING IN DRIVETRAIN LIKE VEHICLE WAS PULLING SOMETHING. CROSS PIN IN DIFFERENTIAL WAS WALKING IN THE CASE BECAUSE IT WAS ELONGATING, CAUSING SCREW THAT HOLDS CROSS PIN TO BREAK. MECHANIC ORDERED PARTS FROM CHRYSLER, WHO HAS BEEN REPAIRING A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK *SLC
NOTICED RATTLE IN FRONT SOMEWHERE. TOOK JEEP TO DEALER AT 54,358 MILES. THEY STATED THAT SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. LATER, WAS ON A TRIP AND NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROAD. ENTIRE FRONT END STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND I THOUGHT A WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF. GOT VEHICLE STOPPED. THEN IT SEEMED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. I CHECKED TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS BROKEN AND FOUND NOTHING. NEXT MORNING TOOK TO DEALER IN NEW BRITAIN, CT AND THEY STATED THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED, NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW SEEMS FINE. I WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR AND MATERIAL - NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT I PURCHASED. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, IF YOU ARE APT TO LOSE CONTROL.*AK
IGNITION IMPOSSIBLE, KEY NOT WORKING AND NO CONTACT AVAILABLE, EVEN IF NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. PRACTICALLY A DEAD CAR. POWER TRAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED IN MOMENTS OF STEERING WHEEL DRIVE ,WHEN THE SYSTEM EXPECIALLY AT MODERATE SPEED PRATICALLY DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION AND HELP WHICH COULD BE OFFERED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD BUCK FORWARD AND BACKWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT.*YH
REFER TO MFG. BULLETIN # 03-03-98, SUBJECT: REAR AXLE CARRIER BEARING GROWL, REPLACEMENT PARTS R4886321( REMANUFACTURED REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY)
SOMETHING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE IS CAUSING NOISE, DEALER STATED POSSIBLY A DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM, BUT CONSUMER COULD DRIVE AN ADDITIONAL 6000 MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPAIRS, HOWEVER HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR A DEFECTIVE BEARING TO FREEZE WHILE DRIVING. SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY, DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS. *SLC
VEHICLE HAS BEEN VIBRATING SINCE 1998. TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 1 YEAR AGO THEN RECEIVED RECALL, WINSHIELD WASHER MOTOR FAILED,POWER WINDOWS FAILED. POOR BRAKING AND VIBRATION IN PEDAL SCRAPING NOISE FROM BACK END - REAR BEARINGS, DIFFERENTIAL, BRAKES AND ROTORS NEED REPLACEMENT. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-136, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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