Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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 32, in the owner's own words
IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP AND IT BEGINS TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY. I LET OFF THE GAS AND IT SETTLES DOWN. THIS IS VERY VIOLENT SHAKING.LIKE THE VEHICLE IS COMING APART.
TIRES WEAR OUT FAST MICHELLEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH AND THEN A TELEPHONE POLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND THE RIGHT SHOULDER THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, HIT A BIG BUMP IN ROAD AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT AFTER SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHAKING AND COULD DRIVE NORMALLY. THAT WAS FIRST INCIDENT, SINCE THEN I'VE HAD 8 INCIDENTS WHERE THE SAME THING HAPPENS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN ROAD. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF ANY ONE ELSE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS DEATH WOBBLE ON THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LARADO AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND MIND NUMBING EXPERIENCE. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE SELLER WHO CAUTIONED ME ABOUT A SUPPOSED 'DEATH WOBBLE' AS I NOW KNOW IT WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON MY FIRST TAKE ON THE HIGHWAY, I HIT A SMALL BUMP GOING 65 AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BREAK UP INTO PIECES. TRAFFIC SWERVED AROUND ME AS I VEERED MY CAR TO MY LEFT INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL EXPERTS OBSERVE THE FRONT END AND REPLACE PARTS AND SUGGEST OTHER PARTS TO REPLACE IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE SITUATION BUT NO FIX HAS RESOLVED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE.' MANY OF THESE EXPERTS HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND EVEN TOLD ME NOT TO BOTHER SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT BECAUSE I WOULD BE, 'THROWING MONEY INTO A BOTTOMLESS PIT.' PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW AND NOT A THING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CHRYSLER SHOULD BE SLAMMED FOR THIS! *TR
DEATH WOBBLE: STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR SHAKES OR OSCILLATES VERY BADLY WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 50 MPH AND HITTING A BUMP OR RUT IN THE ROAD. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING CONTINUES UNTIL THE SPEED IS REDUCED. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 20 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ACCORDING TO MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, THE BAD COMPONENTS ARE THE FRONT TRACK ARM OR BAR AND THE STEERING DAMPER.
FRONT END POPS WHEN MAKING A TIGHT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. HAD THE FRONT AXLE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL, ITS DOING IT AGAIN. *TR
THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED ON THE DODGE DURANGO ARE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY 98 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH ONLY 55,770 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WAS SO SLOPPY AND THE VEHICLE LEANED VERY HARD AND EASILY THAT ON A TURN, IT FELT VERY VERY DANGEROUS. I GOT QUOTES AT THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WERE ASTRONOMICAL, SO I DECIDED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. FEARING ROLL OVER DANGERS ON THIS VEHICLE, I DECIDED TO GET SOME FRONT AND REAR ADDCO SWAY BARS, WHICH AT THE TIME WERE THE STRONGEST SWAY BARS. AFTER GETTING THE SWAY BARS VIA COURIER, I PRICED AROUND AND TOOK THEM TO FOUR WHEEL PARTS LOCATED AT 2500 MARINE AVE. #1, REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS TO THEM. I EXPLAINED THAT I WANTED SAFER SHOCKS AND I DIDN'T WANT THE VEHICLE TO ROLL-OVER, SO THEY TOOK THINGS APART AND FOUND THAT THE TIE RODS WERE JUNK. THEY REPAIRED EVERYTHING AND CHARGED ME $2536.44 ON 05/07/03, INVOICE # 42-045575, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PRICE OF THE SWAY BARS. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A LOT TIGHTER TURNING RADIUS AND IT DOESN'T DRIFT OR PUSH INTO THE NEXT LANE IN A TURN ANY MORE. BASICALLY, IT FELT LIKE A BRAND-NEW VEHICLE AND I PAID THE BILL TO PROVE IT. I HAVE THE ENTIRE WORK ORDER IN FRONT OF ME. *JB
ELETRICAL, AIR CONDITION, BODY NOISE OVER ALL UNHAPPY WITH VICIAL EVAPORATOR CORE $1000.00 TO REPAIR LIGHTS AND DASH GAGES DO NOT FUCTION PROPERLY SUSPICION SQEAKS HAD OILED HELPED FOR A DAY BRAKES WERE VERY QUICK WILL NOT LINE UP IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL IT GOES STRAIGHT OFF THE ROAD RADIO CAN NOT BE TRUNED UP DOOR PANILES VIBRATE LEFT TURN LIGHT STAYS ON ON THE DASH AT ALL TIMES FUEL GAGE REEDS EMEPTY EVEN WHEN FULL AN LIGHT IS ON .*AK
VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. NOISE APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM AREA OF FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AREA....MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT STRAP AND TRACK BAR BUSHINGS....THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP IN NORTH CHARLESTON, SC HAS REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BASICALLY REBUILT THE REAR END....STILL KNOCKING PERSISTS. JEEP ADVISES NOISE IS NORMAL...I DISAGREE. JEEP WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO...MY MECHANIC IN JANUARY OF 2003. KNOCKING ONLY OCCURS OVER LIGHT BUMPS, ROUGHNESS IN ROAD...OR ON DIRT ROADS. KNOCKING ESPECIALLY LOUD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. ALSO, IN MORNINGS ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD OUTSIDE WHEN YOU PUT JEEP INTO REVERSE A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, BUT DID NOT HELP.
THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK (OR SO I THOUGHT) AND IDLED BACKWARDS OVER A MEDICAN IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THEIR SEATS. FORTUNATELY, I CAUGHT UP TO THE VEHICLE, JUMPED IN AND PUT MY HAND ON THE BRAKE. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN MARCH FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WOULD BE RECALLING THE JEEP WHEN THE PARTS WERE MADE AVAILABLE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE NEAREST JEEP DEALER AND NEITHER WERE HELPFUL IN GUIDING ME TO GETTING THIS ALREADY IDENTIFIED PROBLEM. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN FORMALLY RECALLED, I WAS TOLD. THE PROBLEM IS, MY VEHICLE DID ROLL BACKWARDS WITH TWO CHILDREN IN IT AND FOR A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO OCCUR IS OBVIOUSLY PREVENTABLE IF SOMEONE WOULD MAKE THE PARTS ACCESSIBLE AND THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE. I AM UNABLE TO GET ANYWHERE ON MY OWN. SO I WAS HOPING I COULD GET SOME HELP THIS WAY. THANK YOU, [XXX]. DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
THE DRIVER'S WINDOW REFUSED TO CLOSE AND THE PASSENGER WINDOW SLIDES DOWN THE DOOR PANEL. *SLC
OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR REPLACED, CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSFER CASE THREE TIMES WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD A WHIRPING SOUND LIKE A WINDOW WAS OPEN. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER'S ROTORS. STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, AND CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON ACCELERATION CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VIBRATION, ROARING & REAR END NOISE FIVE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 4941 MILES. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND THE AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT 13947 MILES. REAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN TWO MONTHS LATER AT 16387 MILES. REAR END / SCRAPING NOISE AND ROARING REAPPEARED. METAL FOUND INSIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PAN AND SIDE BERRING RACE DAMAGED. THE ENTIRE REAR END UNIT WAS REPLACED AT 28844 MILES. PRIOR TO THE JEEP BEING REPAIRED ON THE PREVIOUS DATES INDICATED, IT WAS ALSO BROUGHT IN FOR SIMILAR TYPE PROBLEMS ON 11/12/99 AT 25775 MILES AND 1/24/00 AT 28323 MILES BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED ON 2/9/00, THE JEEP WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THREE DAYS AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, AFTER DEMANDING THAT THE REAR END BE CHECKED, THEY FOUND METAL INSIDE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PAN AND THAT THE SIDE BERRING RACE WAS DAMAGED. *AK
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING UNNECESSARY NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR; REAR END DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
THE DOOR LOCKS INSIDE THE DOOR FELL APART. *SLC
WHEN CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES THE WHOLE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING. THIS CAUSES THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH OR ABOVE FRONT END VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT CONSUMER COULD LOSE CONTROL. TO STOP CONSUMER HASTO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINING NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, REAR END REPLACED, FRONT END REPLACED, TRANSFER CASE REPLACED, TRANSMISSION TAKEN COMPLETELY APART AND NO REPAIR. SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR. *AK
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED. *YC
REAR AXLE BEARING FAILED. *YC
PROBLEM IS A VIBRATION THAT COMES IN AT 62-67 MPH, LOCAL DEALERSHIP AGREE'S,BUT CHRYSLER DENIES PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WHEELS LOCKING UP AT 60 OR 70MPH. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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