Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
97V069000CHRYSLER CORPORATIONfrom 07/01/1992 to 10/15/1996V (Vehicle)250006/20/1997MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC04/28/199705/01/1997
Defect SummaryDuring assembly of the frame, a fillet weld that joins the inner steering gear attachment reinforcement to the frame rail, was omitted.
Consequence SummaryDue to high steering load events, vehicles can exhibit broken steering gear attaching bolts or frame rail cracking at the steering gear attaching point increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will inspect the vehicles for cracks in the frame rail. vehicles that show cracks will be equipped with reinforcement plates. vehicles that are found to be free of cracks will have a slot cut in the cross member and the fillet weld will be added.
NotesOwner notification:owner notification is expected to begin during may 1997. note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STEERING
01/03/20091515001
 1. early this year, just after the new year holiday, '09, our '96 jeep cherokee (152k in excellent condition) began shaking or wobbling violently at speeds between 52 to 56 mph. on inquiring in a handful of web sites on the internet about this problem i learned that this is an extremely common problem with a tremendous amount of jeep cherokee owners and owners of other jeep models in a broad range of manufacture dates between '86 and as recent as '05. also learned that this dangerous condition is commonly referred to as the death wobble or death shake. additionally, in my internet research, many jeep owners attempting to remedy this problem have taken their vehicles to professional mechanics including chrysler-jeep dealer/service centers to have the problem resolved, spend hundreds, in some cases well over a thousand $, only to have their vehicle returned with no improvement in the wobble condition. 2. with our jeep, this wobble has not subsided. it happens on every occasion when driving on the highways while merging into traffic as we accelerate up to the 55 mph range. upon acceleration, at approximately 51 to 52 mph a vibration begins, then upon accelerating at 53 to 55 mph the vibration becomes a violent wobble to the extreme that we have had instances when we had to decelerate down to approximately 35 mph or less in order to regain control while on the highway. if there is a saving grace out of this problem, it is that we can accelerate out of the wobble by getting beyond 55 mph as quickly as possible, but in phoenix highway driving, this is not always a possibility. though' not in every instance as during acceleration, the same condition exists @ 55 during deceleration as we exit the hi-way. 3. thus far, as we've read and heard of so many jeep owners spending hundreds of dollars at a prof. auto repair center with no resolution, the possible remedy, and avoiding highway driving as much as possible. *tr
08/17/20081164171
 The steering gear to my 1996 jeep cherokee completely came off the frame rail while my wife was driving. luckily she was only going about five miles per hour. what had happen is that the three bolts that hold the steering gear to the frame rail broke off. *tr
10/16/20041144091
 While traveling a bolt from the steering box sheared off. *ak the steering box fell causing the vehicle to lose all steering. due to the fact that there was no restraint on the steering gear, the steering wheel turned too far, breaking the clock spring which caused a total failure of the cruise control and the air bags. *sc
04/15/20031
 The steering wheel locked up while driving. *nlm
05/01/1998107/20/1996
 Steering box leak.
05/01/1998107/20/1996
 Front coil springs weak.
STEERING - COLUMN
07/19/2005104/10/2001
 Universal column was cracked. repair shop (monro brakes & mufflers) said this was a common problem for 1996 jeep. i looked up on this web site http://www.automotive.com/1996/12/jeep/cherokee/recalls/index.html.
STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
02/23/20082
 1996 jeep cherokee steering gear failure. consumer states that the steering gear failed while making a turn. consumer states that she had to pay out of pocket a second time to get this same problem repaired. *kb the consumer stated the problem she experienced was listed as a recall. *jb
08/09/2005103000303/01/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 jeep cherokee. the contact stated that the steering gear box failed on numerous occasions. it was discovered that the frame was cracked. the manufacturer stated that only one of four recalls were found in their system that were comparable to their recalls. while turning the vehicle at an unknown speed, the contact heard a loud pop. she has replaced this unit three times, totaling $1,000. the manufacturer has not offered any assistance with the repair costs and stated that they do not honor the recall. the nhtsa campaign id number is 97v069000 (steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)). the failure mileage was 103,000 and current mileage was 106,797. updated 03/06/08. *lj
08/09/2004214000212/01/1997
 While driving, the steering wheel vibrated on its own. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic determined that the steering box gear on the driver's side cracked and needed to be replaced. *ak the consumer stated he discovered new cracks in the frame since the dealer performed the repair last year. after the vehicle was towed for the second time because of the steering bolts breaking, the consumer was informed there was a recall regarding the problem, however the dealer stated the consumers vehicle identification number was not included. the recall was for specific right hand jeep models and the consumers vehicle was a left hand jeep model. *jb
06/18/20031
 Consumer stated the vehicle experience the same problem as stated in recall 97069000 concerning steering gear box. dealer will not repair because the vehicle identification number was not included. consumer had to pay $170.00 in repairs. *ak *cb *jb
07/03/2000
 Vehicle was a part of manufacturer's recall 8125/ steering gear cracked. vehcle has been at the dealership for more than two weeks awaiting for recall parts from manufacturer. vehicle was undriveable unitl it would be fixed. consumer has contacted manufacturer, who has not given the consumer any additional service.*ak
06/01/1998
 Steering gear box shaft wobbles, causing the vehicle to wonder while driving. the dealer and manufacturer have been notified. *ak
06/12/1997
 Received recall notice for the steering gear and contacted the dealer, and they said that parts will be ready in 3 weeks; they werenot ready, so contacted the dealer again and they said that the parts were on back order. ( 97v 069000). *ak
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP
10/02/19972
 Transmission has been slipping while driving. the compression fittings melted and the transmission caught on fire. the motor mounts were replaced and the computer to the transmission was also replaced. owner has had vehicle into the dealer for repair on eight occasions. *ak since time of repair, 1 of the compression fittings snapped off, hose was held in place by a screw clamp. power steering pump failed and was replaced. consumer is requesting a replacement vehicle. *slc
1
 Power steering pump failed.
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
10/01/2002
 Consumer states power steering bearing fails intermittenly resulting in loss of power steering function. ts
08/13/2000107/01/1999
 Power steering failed due to bracket holding the hydraulic pump assembly failing. bracket broke and caused belt and belt to be thrown into radiator. this caused steering to lock-up and car coming to stop in a flower bed at apartment complex. this could have resulted in severe injury, property damage or a fatality. bracket and mounting bolt failed for no aparent reason. i had the car towed to local repair mechanic who ordered the parts and repaired the damage at a very reasonable cost. mechanic told me that when he ordered the part from chrysler he was told that this was something they had been replacing at fairly high rate. this is not a part that should fail. something is wrong here. please investigate.
 At 68,000 miles power steering broke off the housing pump, causing total loss of power steering which also caused the vehicle to shut down. *ak
10/15/199708/01/1995
 While coming to a stop the vehicle lost its brakes and power steering, causing the vehicle to go into a spin. the vehicle has severe damage. the manufacturer sent an investigator out, and determined that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. *ak
09/28/19981
 While driving approximately 45mph the power steering bracket sheared off. had no control of vehicle. managed to steer to side of road. had vehicle towed to dealer. *ak
08/03/1998
 While traveling the battery light and water light came on. consumer lost power steering and the engine shut down. please provide further detail. *ak
01/24/1998
 The defective bracket that holds the power steering system sheared off, causing loss of vehicle control and vehicle stalled. *ak
10/21/1997110/30/1995
 Power steering failure, causing loss of accesory belt causing overheat, battery running low bracket broke in half.
10/12/1996206/19/1996
 While driving the vehicle lost all power assist due to a blown fuse. *ak
STEERING - LINKAGES
10/20/19991
 Steering dampner linkage failure causing leakage. *mjs
STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
04/08/2000303/01/2000
 Water pump went, causing the engine coolant sensor to go, tire rod needs to be replaced. told this wasn't usual unless a lot of mileage. could the mileage been altered? was this vehicle in an accident before i purchased it?
 While driving30 mph or above the vehicle severely pulls to the right, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
10/01/2001104/01/1996
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
102/01/1999
 Since purchase of vehicle, consumer stated that steering column failed, dealer replaced new steering column. *tt
103/01/1996
 Steering wheel assembly loose.
10/28/19961
 Steering wheel noise.