NHTSA Complaint #11258374 — 2019 JEEP CHEROKEE

AFTER DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 60-70 MPH, THE STEERING BEGINS TO PULL TO THE RIGHT CONTINUOUSLY. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, IT WILL SUDDENLY PULL TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO WOBBLE AND SHIMMY AND A SENSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS FELT. THE ENTIRE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE. ALSO, AT THE TIME THIS IS OCCURRING, THE ODOR OF HOT OIL PERMEATES THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR OVER AN HOUR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. ONCE, WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT FRONT CV JOINT SEIZED CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO COME OFF THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT DAMAGING THE PTU OUTPUT SHAFT. THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED NEW, HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM (IT IS THERE NOW). IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN IN THAT SHOP 65 DAYS (SO FAR). THEY HAVE REPLACED THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT TWICE, THE FRONT CV JOINT AND STEERING GEAR SHIELD. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ONE AFFECTING THE 2018 AND 2019 JEEP WRANGLER WHERE THE STEERING ISSUES INCLUDE SHIMMYING, WOBBLING, LOOSENESS, AND LOCKING UP. THE JEEP DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND REPAIRS ATTEMPTED IS DICK HANNAH JEEP, 3517 NE AUTO MALL DRIVE, VANCOUVER, WA 98668.*DT*JB