1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, WATER SPILLED FROM THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE), THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRE AND RIM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,501.

DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH AND THE FRONT END FELT LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. STEERING WHEEL SHAKING BAD AND WHEELS FELT WOBBLY. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND NOTICEABLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT OR ABOVE 45MPH. WHAT SCARED ME THE MOST I WAS COMING UP ON TRAFFIC AND HAD TO BRAKE. BRAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS WOBBLY IS VERY SCARY AND FEELS AS IF THE WHOLE THING IS COMING APART.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A VIOLENT SHAKING AND VIBRATION THAT WAS PROGRESSING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH EXTREME WOBBLING AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL AND THEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TECHNICIAN DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME CASE OF WOBBLING AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I HIT A BUMP AND MY JEEP STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE IT STOP. EVERY TIME I HIT A SMALL BUMP THIS HAPPENS ONLY GOING ABOVE 55. HITTING THE BRAKES DOES NOT WORK, YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40 TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS IS UNSAFE WHEN YOU ARE ON A HIGHWAY AND THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 OR 70.

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED A TOTAL/VIOLENT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OCCURRED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO THE LEFT GUARD RAIL AND SPIN OUT. ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE ALSO GONE OUT ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSING ANOTHER ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND HAS BEEN EXPENSIVELY REPLACED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS LEMON.

I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP TO WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BUCKED AND BACKED FIRED 2 TIMES AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD RESTARTED GOT IT BACK HOME THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES CANT COUNT HOW MANY TIMES, I HAVE HAD IT TOWED HOME 4 TIMES THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND COULDNT RESTART SOMETIMES IT BUCKS AND FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO SHUT DOWN BUT RESTARTS BY ITS SELF WITHOUT TURNING KEY THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED CHANGED TPS, CRANK SENSOR, STARTER, FUEL PUMP, PICK UP COIL,DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR PLUGS AND WIRE, ALTERNATOR NOW INSIDE DASH LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO FLASH DIM AND BRIGHT. I BOUGHT IT 2009 USED WITH A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES RAN GREAT BUT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS SITUATION EVERY TIME I CHANGE THINGS IT WILL WORK...

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER THE STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. DISPLAY PANEL SAID "CHECK BATTERY". SLOWED DOWN AND FINALLY PULLED OVER. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT WAS FINE. WENT DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN AND HIT A BIG PUDDLE. STEERING AGAIN BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. LUCKILY NOT MANY CARS AROUND AND I WAS ON A SIDE STREET. MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RAIN LATELY TO TRY AND DUPLICATE. I FEAR A MAJOR OR FATAL ACCIDENT IS FORTH COMING. *TR

I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE BEFORE FOLLOWING THE JAN. 24, 2014 CRASH THAT TOOK MY WIFE'S LIFE, ON THE VEHICLE INDICATED, IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES NOTED DURING THE PERIOD BEFORE THE RECALL THIS YEAR. I HAD CONTACTED YOU EARLIER ABOUT THE AIR BAGS ON A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE THAT FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THIS CRASH. COULD YOU PLEASE GET BACK TO ME TO DISCUSS THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF MY WIFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WAS DRIVING AT RELATIVELY LOW HIGHWAY SPEED (50MPH) UP A SMALL INCLINE. LOW RPM (1200RPM). WITH SHARP HIGHWAY CURVE COMING UP, VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON. STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. TURNED KEY OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO TURN STEERING TO FOLLOW CURVE. LUCKILY SUNDAY NIGHT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT OR COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. ENGINE FINALLY STARTED UP AND STEERING PRESSURE WAS RESTORED. KEPT RPM OVER 2500RPM FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND CAR BUCKED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE FIRST 5 OR SO MINUTES. RAN SMOOTHLY AFTERWARDS WITH ENGINE RPM KEPT HIGHER (2500+). HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND FOLLOW SIDE STREETS TO GET HOME. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 3000-4000 MILES AND I'VE HAD NEARLY EVERYTHING REPLACED, COIL, SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, STARTING ON SENSORS NOW. *TR

TURNED STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO STOP IN PREPARATION FOR LEAVING PARKING SPACE. HEARD LOUD BREAK/SNAP SOUND AND FELT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL TENSION. REALIZED A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. SAW SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF FLUID ON GROUND. REVIEW BY MECHANIC FOUND STEERING BOX MOUNT BOLTS HAD SHEARED/FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

ENGINE STALLS EITHER AT SPEED OR DURING IDLE AFTER 20 MINUTES. WILL CONTINUE TO STALL FOR ABOUT 4 MINUTES, SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO START DURING THIS TIME. THEN VEHICLE WILL RUN FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE NEXT DAY, OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE PROCESS WILL START AGAIN. EVERY DAY IT WILL STALL AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES - SOMETIMES WHILE TURNING, WHICH WILL CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, OR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, OR WHILE AT A RED LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. I NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT STALLED AND A BIG RIG ALMOST SLAMMED INTO ME. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, SOMETIMES IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND BACKFIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BLOW OUT. NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLES AND CAUSED MY EMISSIONS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX FAILED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND OUR 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEERED TO RIGHT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. OUR CAR HIT ANOTHER CAR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE PARKED CAR AND TOTALLING OUR CAR. UPON INSPECTION, THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND SPINDLE HAD BROKE. *TR

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER TO THE LEFT. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING PULLEY AND SHAFT DICONNECTED FROM POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. *AK *YH

THE STEERING DAMPER, PINION SEAL , AND CRUSH SLEEVE WERE REPLACED.*JB

VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BY A MOTORHOME, ONCE STOPPED CONSUMER NOTICED STEERING HAD LOCKED UP AND DESTROYED TIRES. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT.

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED FLUID AND THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE (EVEN AFTER REPAIR).

THE PROBLEM IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE RIGHT WHEELS DRIVE OVER PERIODICALLY SPACED BUMPS IN ROAD (LIKE ROAD REPAIRS) AT 55 MPH. WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKES IN AN INCREASINGLY STRONGER HARMONIC, UNTIL DRIVER BRAKES TO ABOUT 20 MPH. THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT 40 MPH, AND NO PROBLEM WITH ROAD REPAIR THAT ARE NOT PERIODICALLY SPACED. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN SAME ROAD SECTION, AND THE EFFECT VERIFIED BY AN ENGINEER. JEEP CONTACTED - THEY REFUSED TO TAKE A REPORT (BUT I WILL TRY AGAIN IN WRITING). THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD. WE SPECULATE THE PROBLEM MAY BE IN THE ABS FAULTY SLIP SENSING, DIFFERENTIAL SLIP TRANSMISSION CONTROL, OR STEERING SYSTEM.

TRANSMISSION/ABS BRAKES/SUSPENSION AND STEERING FAILED.