33 of the 1,349 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the suspension — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 124,994 miles.
33
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10992102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TIRES WEAR OUT FAST MICHELLEN.
NHTSA complaint #10823781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10758792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10744235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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!
NHTSA complaint #10568664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10461542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
FRONT END POPS WHEN MAKING A TIGHT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. HAD THE FRONT AXLE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL, ITS DOING IT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10245341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10102698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
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 .
NHTSA complaint #10025758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10005301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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).
NHTSA complaint #768658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY AT 60 MPH, 3 OUT OF THE 4 GOODYEAR EAGLE GA TIRES (P225/70R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY AGAIN AND THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A CLICKING IN THE FRONT END. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #784356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
STEERING STABILIZER AND TRAC BAR REPLACED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
STEERING STABILIZER AND TRAC BAR REPLACED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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.
NHTSA complaint #866613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #863419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #861347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #720603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING UNNECESSARY NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR; REAR END DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #857442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
UPPER CONTROL ARM LOOSE CAUSING NOISE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #606445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES THE WHOLE FRONT END STARTS SHAKING. THIS CAUSES THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #852107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
REAR AXLE BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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.
NHTSA complaint #846219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #706212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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.
NHTSA complaint #702476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICULE PULL TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN DRIVING, DEALER CHANGE 2 FRONT TIRES, REPAIR TERMINALS AND ALIGN WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. YG( DOT NUMBER: )
NHTSA complaint #701577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND GRINDS WHEN DRIVING DOWN A BUMPY ROAD OR MAKING A TURN. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. STATED MOTOR MOUNTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. ALSO, SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WILL BACK ORDER PART AND REPLACE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #828582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE VIBRATES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #540163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.