39 of the 775 complaints about the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 146,000 miles.
39
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
EXPERIENCED 'DEATH WOBBLE' AT HIGH SPEED AFTER CONTACTING HIGHWAY "RUMBLE STRIPS"
NHTSA complaint #11019917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE DAY. HAD OCCURRED BEFORE, BUT VERY INFREQUENTLY. DRIVING AROUND 66 MILES PER HOUR ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND BEGAN TO SHAKE, VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES SO SEVERELY THAT I AM FORCED TO SLOW DOWN TO UNDER 15 MPH TO STOP IT. THE PROBLEM AGAIN OCCURRED LATER THAT SAME DAY, ON A DIFFERENT ROAD (A MAJOR U.S INTERSTATE), TRAVELING AT ABOUT THE SAME OR PERHAPS SLIGHTLY GREATER SPEED. THE BUMP THAT I HIT WAS VERY SMALL, BUT THE SHAKING THAT CAME AFTER CAUSED ME TO SHIFT LANES AND PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE TO MAKE IT STOP. ALL TOGETHER, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH MY VEHICLE ABOUT 8 OR 9 TIMES, BUT WAS THOUGHT TO BE FIXED SEVERAL YEARS AGO (BY A MECHANIC ADMITTEDLY NOT ASSOCIATED WITH JEEP). THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT IS OBVIOUSLY RETURNING AND GETTING WORSE. SOME OTHER JEEP OWNERS REFER TO IT AS THE DEATH-WOBBLE, DO TO THE VIOLENT AND ALARMING NATURE OF THE SHAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10693679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE UNAWARE OF RECALL/DEFECT. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING BOX BREAKING SINCE PURCHASE. VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOOK TO CHRYSLER TODAY 10/29/2012 WILL NOT FIX SINCE CHRYSLER DID NOT RECALL VEHICLE. NHTSA RECALL ID#97VO69000 PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10482548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE UNAWARE OF RECALL/DEFECT. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING BOX BREAKING SINCE PURCHASE. VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOOK TO CHRYSLER TODAY 10/29/2012 WILL NOT FIX SINCE CHRYSLER DID NOT RECALL VEHICLE. NHTSA RECALL ID#97VO69000 PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10482548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SPIN. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A DISCONNECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A PLASTIC PEN SHEARING OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
NHTSA complaint #10398171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE PARKING THE STEERING GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. . THE FAILURE MILEAGE 176,000.
NHTSA complaint #10297302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 318 C.I. STEERING BOX BROKE OFF THE FRAME! MY FAMILY ALMOST CROSSED OVER THE CENTER MEDIUM OF THE ROAD! JEEP NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS!! ASAP WE HAVE HAD 3 PEOPLE ON OUR INTERNET CLUB WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS HAVE THIS HAPPEN!
NHTSA complaint #10238953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ONE OF THE BOLTS ON THE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED. A SECOND BOLT FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOAD THE VEHICLE ONTO A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.
NHTSA complaint #10215679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
BACKED UP, STEERED HARD TO RIGHT, SHIFTED TO FORWARD, STEERED HARD TO LEFT. HEARD A BANG. STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THIS COULD'VE BEEN REALLY BAD IF I HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC! FOUND A SEVERED BOLT ABOUT 4" LONG UNDER THE VEHICLE. JUDGING BY THE BOLT HEAD MARKINGS, I'D GUESS IT WERE GRADE 8.2 OR GREATER. ( SURISE HORIZON 6 MARKS... SIDE MARKS WERE +'S. )
NHTSA complaint #10191871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. ( FAILED) WILE WE WERE DRIVING. THANK GOODNESS WE WERE DRIVING SLOW. NOTE; I FOUND 2500 OTHER JEEPS ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10069341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WANDERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD VEHICLE JUMPED OVER TO THE NEXT LANE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE BALL JOINTS BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10065377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH STEERING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE USING THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER HAD TO SCRAPE DOWN A RETAINING WALL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT A BOLT IN THE GEAR BOX WAS LOOSE. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. THREE YEARS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME THE BOLT SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10057507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A GEAR BOX PROBLEM. THE SCREW KEPT COMING OUT. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER.
NHTSA complaint #10057480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT DRIVER HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE. DRIVER GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. THERE WAS A BOLT UNDER THE VEHICLE. BOLT BROKE OFF THAT CONTROLS THE STEERING WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10024506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL MAKES A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND VEERS EXCESSIVELY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CONSUMER FEELS AS IF GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. MR
NHTSA complaint #8022274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRAC BAR WAS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #564818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
STEERING KNUCKLE WAS LOOSE AND THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND MAKE EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #564097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
CAR STOPS WHILE FOOT IS ON GAS, THEN LURCHES FORWARD; CAR ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN IN PARK OR DRIVE; CAR DIES IN TRAFFIC WHILE IDLING; STEERING KNUCKLE BOLTS STRIPPED, HAD TO BE REPLACED, HAD TO REPLACE TIRES TWICE, HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES REPEATEDLY, WORN TO ROTORS, CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, INTERMITTENT, HARD TO RECREATE AT MECHANIC, BUT OCCUR IN TRAFFIC, CREATING SAFETY HAZARD. BPRAVE HA.
NHTSA complaint #754324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRESIZE: 16)
NHTSA complaint #747081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN, ENGINE QUITS AT ALL SPEEDS, THEN WILL NOT START TILL I SET OFF ALARM SYSTEM OR LOCK DOORS AND UNLOCK WITH KEY FROM OUTSIDE . THE ALARM OFTEN GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE HAS QUIT RUNNING WHILE I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF TRAFFIC. HAVE TO COAST TO SIDE OR COME TO COMPLETE STOP.
NHTSA complaint #743314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE VISCOUS COUPLER IN THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS REPLACED, DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #784414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE PULLING OUT INTO STREET HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE. GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE AUTOMOBILE, AND FOUND BOLT ON GROUND AND BROKEN IN HALF.
NHTSA complaint #863107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT INTO THE STREET AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT, LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE, AND FOUND THE BOLT LAYING IN STREET BROKEN IN HALF.
NHTSA complaint #863108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE STREET HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE. GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND A BOLT LAYING ON THE GROUND BROKEN IN HALF.
NHTSA complaint #863109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN SMOKE CAME BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER POPPING THE HOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL, ALSO NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS OFF. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET VEHICLE FIXED, SPENT APPROX $900 TO HAVE A NEW POWERSTEERING PUMP AND GEAR BOX ASSEMBLEY, MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEAR BOX HOUSING HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE PART TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #716574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VISCOUS COUPLING FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING EXTREME VIBRATION AND SKIPPING OF THE WHEELS WHEN TURNING SLOWLY. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN COUPLING FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VISCOUS COUPLING IS WHAT FAILED, TWICE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. THE FRONT WHEELS BIND AND VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIDING.
NHTSA complaint #845450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, WHEN MAKING TURNS, WHEELS CLUNK AND CAR SHUTTERS AND SKIPS FORWARD, MAKING IT IMPOSABLE TO STEER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #710149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 32 TIMES FOR A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS/TIE RODS/WATER PUMP AND BRAKES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #837775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING OVER 25 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES VERY BADLY DUE TO THE DAMPERIN THE STEERING COLUMN LOSING ALL OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID. VEHICLE ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL, BARLEY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #837285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.