Vehicle began to shake severely and pull to the right slightly.
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee suspension complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 50, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1996 jeep grand cherokee. Consumer writes in regards to not being notified about several recall notices.
1996 jeep grand cherokee has the death wobble when you get up to 50 MPH and hit a bump the front end starts shaking so bad it feels like you are about to loose control the only way to stop it is to slow down to about 20 or 30 MPH.
I have a 96 grand cherokee ltd 4x4 with 115k miles. Since it turned 65k miles I have replaced the brake pads and drums 3 times. I have water leaks in the seat belt wells, the passenger side window, and the belts are wet when it rains. Today, water is pooling in the floor of the driver's side. Water pours from just above the accelerator. Must be from A/C?the rear door hatch has jammed in lock position. The electronic mileage/ fuel readout (on ceiling module) fluctuates wildly and is inaccurate. The catalytic converter went out at 64,975 miles. Now have a crack in the exhaust manifold, quoted $1200 by dealer to repair. I have gone through stock 3 radios, tuner problems. Massive A/C problems in past. I paid a non dealer to repair it, the repairs held for 30 days and same problem started again. Then had dealer repair and it was a recall item so was covered after I'd paid for 2 prev repair jobs at $1100 total. The power steering pump went out at 90k miles. Replaced so many other parts, I'd have to refer to the service records for more details. This list is only from memory. Total cost over 3 yrs....around $4000! Oh, and the rear hatch/door paint is faded and dull, totally different from the rest of the car. All black metal painted parts paint is coming off. Has been for couple of years. Also the roof rattle really loud at over 50mph. The power outlet came apart still attached to my phone cord one day. Finally, the front end has some problem with the axle? And will cost approx $700 to repair. I thought I had a lemon until I talked with 3 other jeep owners, they've had similar problems. Do we have any recourse with chrysler over these vehicles...I am considering involving an attny.
While driving on smooth pavement the vehicle has a very violent shake, consumer states pulled over and shut off engine, then restarted. Cause is unknown. Please provide any further information.
I bought this grand cherokee from san jose dodge as a lease-back vehicle with 27,000 miles on it. At 51 MPH, the right front tire vibrated severely, especially when entering a left curve; however at this speed the vibration is always noticeable. The vehicle also pulls to the right at all times. I took the vehicle back to san jose dodge, where I purchased it, and they replaced the steering dampener. This did not solve the problem. I had new tires placed on the vehicle in mid 2000, and had the front end aligned. This minimized the vibration, but it was still noticeable. As the tires have worn down, the vibration has gotten worse. I've since relocated to connecticut. I took the vehicle to capitol chrysler dodge jeep and asked them to check the front end for this problem. The technician, joseph e. Paradis, says that the tires are "out of round". I've had two sets of tires on this vehicle, and the problem is only in the front right side. I think there is a mechanical defect that neither dealer is either admitting to, or knowledgable about.
Vehicle shut down without prior warning steering wheel locked up. Back wheel bearing were still rubbiing, and headlights go on and off. Dealership is aware of problems.
Replaced right front sway bar link,/ axel assembly2-6-2001/ pinion seal 10-25-00.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle has extended braking distance, mechanic noticed the rear rotors were disintegrating. Front rotors had to be replaced for the same problem 2 years ago.*ak front stabilizer defective.
I was driving on a rural road at about 50 MPH when the car began shaking and the steering wheel jerked back and forth. The shaking became very violent and the wheel began traveling back and forth a good 12 - 14 inches. The car was bouncing up and down and shaking I tried to apply the brakes but the shaking was too rough and I lost control of the steering wheel. The car was all over the road and began going toward the right side and then went off the road. The shaking stopped and we rolled to a stop. If we had been in traffic I would have hit someone and if I were on the freeway the car would have rolled ! This happened suddenly. I take my jeep in for all reguler and scheduled maintenance. I didn't have any warning the part was going to break and at the ted miles jeep dealer where I take the car for service they said there is about a 10% failure on this part but they had not actually had one break suddenly before! I could have lost my life and others could have been injured . The shaking was so violent that the seams on the radiator were split and I had to buy a new radiator also. Since the shear force was so great I am left wondering if other parts of the front end and car in general are somehow damaged or weakened. I contacted chrysler-damion corp. And they took the report on july 27th. I have medical injuries as a result of trying to control the steering wheel and being shook back and forth. I hope this gets addressed as a recal issue because they know it is a proplem but have done nothing about it!!!
Consumer was traveling about 20mph on a side street and heard a metal noise. Then, power steering went out. Dealership was aware of problem.*ak consumer was unable to steer, consumre was told by dealer that this type of vehicle where the brackets bolts fall out are common.
There is an uncontrollable vibration at 45mph and higher. Dealer has replaced the struts; however, vehicle still vibrates at highway speeds.
Vehicle experienced problems with pulling which caused the tires to wear prematurely.
Steel leaf springs on both sides of the vehicle started breaking.
Defective steering box have been replaced twice within 1 month which is causing failure of sway bar.please provide further information.
Consumer was pulling out at 30-35mph and steered to the right. Tires went into a ditch off the road & vehicle flipped 2 times, ending on right side up, perpendicular to the road. Consumer would be calling the manufacturer.
Low rythmatic droning noise when driving down the highway. Delar says this is typical for jeep grand cherokees.
Vehicle swerved and rolled over due to a ball joint coming out of socket. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Spindle and ball joints on the driver side are very loose and about to break which may cause loss of vehicle control and crash. Please provide further information.
My son was involved in a roll over accident while swerving to avoid a deer. The jeep did a slow roll onto its roof. The speed involved was not very high because the jeep did not slide for any distance on the roof. All repairs had been completed when we notice a thumping noise in the left front of the jeep while driving over bumps. It took a number of months to determine that the noise was coming from the left front sway bar link. The link has a ball joint protected by a rubber boot. The boot hid the fact that the ball was loose from the socket and the noise was the ball slamming in and out of the socket. I personally replaced the link not making the connection to the roll over accident untill some time later. During a discussion with my insurance company it dawned on me that the link may have contributed to the roll over. The jeep rolled to the right. If the ball joint on the left front sway bar separated during my son's attempt to avoid the deer then a significantly larger body roll angle would have been allowed without the countering effects of the swaybar. I feel this problem has a significant effect on the vehicles capability to limit body roll during an attempt to swerve and avoid a road hazard of any kind. Jeep has completely redisigned the swaybar link on newer grand cherokees. The ball joint swaybar link on the 1996 model has not been replaced by another part and is still out there on all 1996 grand cherokees. I feel that this is a significant safety hazard and am thank full that my son was not traveling at a higher speed when the roll over occurred.
Front sway bar link and bushing failed. Also, rear windshield wiper motor failed.
On august 28, 1999, while driving, the steering wheel and front tires began shaking violently, the vehicle went out of control and jumpbed the curb on the highway, there was no damage done to the vehicle, however the driver who is pregnant experienced cramping in the stomach and was ordered by her doctor to spend the weekend in bed. The dealer stated that the steering gear was worn, the center link needed repair, and that both tie rods needed replaced. On october 9, 1999, the vehicle hit a sink hole causing it to shake violently and for the front end to wobble, the vehicle hit a guardrail and damage was done to the vechile. The cruise control didn't work properly. The airbag light was illuminated.
Vehicle has excessive and violant vibrations at 65-70 MPH, loud roaring noise. Two chrysler 5 star dealership has serviced vehicle on numerous occasions including a factory zone rep analysis. Currently the vehicle has been serviced with a new gear shift differential, transfer case and drive shaft, 4 new tires and shocks with no improvements resulting in $3000 in service cost. No resolution.... Vehicle is extremely dangerous with extreme violant shaking. Chrysler is contending that the vehicle has high mileage and is not under manufacture warranty and is not liable. I have researched other similar conditions with the same consumer complaints. Many were accident related.
On several occasions the front suspension experienced failure, resulting in extreme vibration & loss of control.
No summary
Dealer has looked at the vehicle, and found no problems, however, it still doesn't work correctly. As well, the passenger front door panel came a part, the tail pipe rattles, the front right shock bushing failed, the panic alarm sometimes will not disenguage, there is a vibration at 55mph, the front left speaker has come loose and makes a rattle, the cruise control over/under accels/decels, and the headlights will sometimes stay on after you turn them off.
Unable to maintain alignment, dealer will not align vehicle under warranty,
Alignment can not be maintained, causing wear of tires,vibration and hard shifting.
When turning the wheel left or right there is a grinding noise toward the front underbody. Taken to dealership 3 to 4 times for this problem. The last time, the dealership replaced the drivetrain, front axle and brakes. Consumer still experiencing a minor problem.
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