Problems · by component

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee suspension problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite suspension, 3% of all 1,429 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
46
3% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2017SuspensionODI 10992102
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, MULTIPLE GAUGES, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2017Suspension, Electrical system, EngineODI 10956533
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2015Steering, SuspensionODI 10761993
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2015SuspensionCrash reportedODI 10758792
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2015Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 10744235
“AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH VEHICLE BEGAN WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY OTHER JEEP OWNERS AS "DEATH WOBBLE', A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT ONLY GOES AWAY AFTER SLOWING DOWN. I DON'T RECALL HITTING ANY HEAVY BUMPS, JUST THE USUAL ROAD CRACKS COMMON ON HIGHWAYS IN SOUTHERN OREGON. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURANCE, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE REACHES APPROX. 55MPH THE SHAKING REOCCURS.I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY POORLY DESIGNED COMPONENTS IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE CHEROKEE (XJ) MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER JEEP MODELS USING THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS VERY COMMON, AND THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS LONG AGO, BUT DID NOT. WHEN WILL THEY FINALLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2015SuspensionODI 10721230

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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