1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems

“The contact owns a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front tires started shaking violently to the right and left while the steering wheel followed the rapid jerking movements from right to left. The contact slowed the vehicle to 40 MPH and was able to proceed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local independent mechanic who determined that burned lower track arm bearings on the steering arms left and right needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure still occurred intermittently. The vehicle was towed to a second independent mechanic but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”

“I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD IN THE BACK WHEN MY CAR STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE! IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL WERE GOING TO ALL FALL OFF! I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE SCARED IN MY LIFE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SLOW IT DOWN AND PULL OVER TO A BREAKDOWN LANE SO I COULD STOP . I WAS EVEN GOING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THIS HAPPENED”

“MY JEEP HAS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN HITTING A BUMP (BRIDGE, POTHOLE, ETC.) GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END STARTS TO BOUNCE AROUND AND BECOMES UNSTABLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. I HAVE TO COME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP THE GET IT TO QUIT SHAKING. STEERING AND BRAKING ARE AFFECTED. TIRES CHIRP WHEN TRYING TO STOP BECAUSE ONE OR BOTH FRONT TIRES LEAVE THE GROUND. NEW TIRES, BRAKES (BOTH PADS AND ROTORS), AND SWAY BAR LINKS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. JUST HAD A STATE INSPECTION DONE AND HAD THEM CHECK VERY CAREFULLY THE FRONT END COMPONENTS SUCH AS BALL JOINTS. ALL SEEMED TO BE OK.”

“MY NAME IS [XXX]....BOUGHT A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE LIMITED APPROX. 2001 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER...FROM NORTHBORO MA.....MINT CONDITION...ONLY 11,000 MI. ....OWNER TOLD ME HE BOUGHT IT FOR HIS WIFE SO SHE COULD PLOW THEIR QUARTER MILE LONG DRIVEWAY.....HE INSTALLED A SMALL PLOW ASSEMBLY ON JEEP....WHEN ASKED WHY HE WAS SELLING HE TOLD ME IT WASN'T ENOUGH TRUCK TO GET THE JOB DONE.....DRIVEWAY HAD MULTIPLE SHARP CURVES AND A SIGNIFICANT INCLINE....I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY WIFE TO RUN LOCAL....GROC, SCHOOL, ETC.....SHE LOVED IT.....NEVER ONCE HAD IT ON THE FREEWAY.....I TOOK IT ONE DAY ON THE I-495....HIT A DIP WHERE THERE WAS A BRIDGE...GOING ABOUT 65....THIS VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO LITERALLY FALL APART AROUND ME.....VERY SCARY [XXX]....SUBSEQUENTLY HAD THE FRONT END LOOKED AT.....FOUND SOME LOOSE [XXX]....SOLID....WIFE NEVER HAD IT ON HWY....I TOOK IT AGAIN A YR LATER....SAME [XXX] THING....I THOUGHT MAYBE THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID SOME DAMAGE INSTALLING THE PLOW ASSEMBLY.....SOLD IT AS-IS WITH VERY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE FRONT END TO THE BUYER......WHAT DO I DO.....I BUY A 2001 CHEROKEE SPORT....MY WIFE LOVED HER JEEP...."I WANT…”

“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*LJ”

“ENGINE NEVER STALLS BUT POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AND VEHICLE LOOSES ABILITY TO STEER AND NEGOTIATE A INTERSECTION TURN ALL THE TIME. ENGINE NEVER STALLS BUT ENGINE SPEED SURGES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER CAR FIRST STARTS AND FOR FIRST 2 MINUTES OF RUNNING. ON SAFETY RECALL FOR GAS TANK DEFECT AND HITCH INSTALL. (N45) DEALER DID NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX BOLTS OR INSTALL HITCH OR OFFER COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, ONLY TOOK UNAUTHORIZED PICTURES OF VEHICLE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE AND STATED BOLTS WERE ELONGATED AND LOOKED RUSTY. *TR”