Problems · by component

1996 Jeep Cherokee suspension problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee cite suspension, 6% of all 450 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
6% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE JEEP WILL START TO SHAKE WHENEVER YOU HIT A BUMP REALLY BAD SHAKING . ALSO WHENEVER YOU COME TO A STOP AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES THE MOST , THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON AGAIN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. AT SOME POINT I ROCKED THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND AFTER THAT IT WILL START. ALSO TOO THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS LOOSE . MY SHOCKS LIKE IT DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2020Suspension, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11317447
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE JERKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2018Suspension, WheelsODI 11152942
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VIBRATION STOPPED WHEN DECELERATING TO LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2018SuspensionODI 11152494
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THEN BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER STEERING GAUGE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WERE NEEDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2018Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11090348
“CHEROKEE BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS RECENTLY AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS AT 55 MPH. SHAKING WOULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SUBSIDE UNTIL CAR WAS PULLED OVER. SHAKING SO VIOLENT IT CAUSED AN EXHAUST LEAK. NEVER AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY - SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2013Steering, SuspensionODI 10542606
“ALL OF A SUDEN THIS VERY BAD SHAKING PROBLEM HAS OCCURED AT ABOUT 50 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. MY CETIFIED ASE MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A WEEK NOW - NO LUCK SO FAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2013Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10513044

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.