1996 Jeep Cherokee Suspension Problems

Your Jeep shakes severely when you hit bumps. After driving about 10 miles and coming to a stop, the engine won't restart for roughly 20 minutes — though rocking the car side to side sometimes gets it to start again. Your steering column feels loose, and your shocks appear to have little or no dampening effect.

While driving at 65 mph over a bump, your steering wheel and vehicle suddenly jerked violently — a problem known as 'death wobble.' An independent mechanic identified that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment, though the vehicle hasn't been repaired yet. Fixing this will likely involve realigning your front wheels and possibly inspecting suspension components for wear.

While driving at 70 mph on uneven pavement, your Cherokee started vibrating severely. The vibration stopped when you slowed down to lower speeds. This type of problem on a vehicle with 180,000 miles often involves worn suspension or steering components that need inspection and potential replacement.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE FRONT AXLE IN PLACE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD NO BUMPER AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES IF THERE WAS A CRASH. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT ARMS FOR THE AXLE WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE FRONT AXLE BRACKETS, SUPPORT ARMS, AND INSTALL A NEW BUMPER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SWAYED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE COLLISION CENTER AND WAS LABELED AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE UPPER AND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SHAKING HAD BECOME WORSE AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB

THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AT THE ADVICE OF JEEP SERVICE. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WOULD NOT NOT SEAT IN THE AXLE AS THE "RACES" WERE WORN BEYOND THE POINT OF HOLDING THEM IN. BECAUSE I NEEDED THE VEHICLE FOR MY BUSINESS, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT WHILE THEY HAD IT APART AS I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO THE JOB MYSELF. IT WAS A THREE WEEK WAIT FOR PARTS AS IT WAS. THEN I NOTICED THE "MUSTY" SMELL. UPON FUTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE JEEP WAS SATURATED UNDER THE CARPETS ON BOTH SIDES. MOLD EVERYWHERE. NO WONDER MY ALLERGIES WERE KILLING ME. I'VE SINCE GUTTED THE VEHICLE AND BLEACHED THE ENTIRE FLOOR AREAS. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM SO I CAN PASS IT ON TO OTHER JEEP OWNERS. CHRYSLER HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON A PROCEDEURE TO CLEAN THE A/C DRAIN BUT IT DOES NOT WORK AS IT COMES BACK EACH YEAR. I'VE FOUND THAT GLUING NYLON SCREENING IN THE AIR INTAKE UNDER THE HOOD KEEPS ALL OF THE DEBRIS THAT CLOGS THIS DRAIN TUBE OUT OF THE HEATER BOX. NOW I AM WORKING ON A WAY TO STOP THE WATER FROM RUNNING BACK INTO THE DASH AREA THROUGH THE FIREWALL WHERE IT DRAINS OUT INTO THE FRAME. NOT ONE DEALERSHIP WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THE BULLETIN. ALSO, I FOUND THAT THE "VENTS" BEHIND THE REAR FIXED GLASS ON THE CHEROKEE HAVE A SMALL HOLDING CUP AND A TUBE WHICH THE WATER THAT ENTERS THAT AREA DRAINS INTO, WHAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE WAS THAT IT DRAINS INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, INSIDE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECOMING WET UNDER THE REAR RUG. THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED BY PUNCHING A HOLE THROUGH THE FLOOR AND EXTENDING THE FACTOY DRAIN TUBE THROUGH THE FLOOR SO THE WATER DRAINS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHERE IT BELONGS. I AM A CAR BUFF AND PRETTY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT REPAIRS AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I SAW THESE DESIGN FLAWS. THEY ARE BLATANTLY OBVIOUS.

WHEN DRIVING, IF VEHICLE EXCEEDED OVER THE SPEED OF 50 MPH AND I RAN INTO THE LITTLEST BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK WILL BE SHAKING, NONE STOP UNTIL I SLOW DOWN BELOW 25 MPH OR IT WILL KEEP SHAKING BADLY. ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769316. *AK *JB

1. ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER LEFT SIDE DASH, MAIN WIRE BUNDLE GOING TO FUSE BOX RUBBED AGAINST BOLT AND WORE THROUGH WIRE CAUSING A SHORT. 2. NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH GONE BAD. 3. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RAIL BROKE SOMEWHERE AND SEAT ROCKS AROUND. 4. REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE A NEGATIVE ARCH IN THEM CAUSING REAR TO SAG AND WHEELS TO RUB WITH MINIMUM WEIGHT IN VEHICLE. DT

THE LEFT FRONT BEARING AND HUB FAILED. NLM

THE LEFT FRONT BEARING AND HUB FAILED. NLM

STABILIZER CONNECTING RODS FAILED LEAVING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *AK

HEARD A SNAP AND AUTOMOBILE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, AND LOST CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. *AK

WHENEVER DRIVING BETWEEN 40-50MPH VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 15 TIMES FOR VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED VEHICLE JUST PULSATED. VEHICLE ACTUALLY SHOOK HARD. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

REAR END SHAKES WHILE IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

REAR SUSPENSION EXPERIENCES EXTREME VIBRATION.

WHILE GOING IN REVERSE NOTICED RUBBING GRINDING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BUT NOISE CONTINUED.

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN AFTER REPAIRS.

WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES.

VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 45 MPH TO 55 MPH. *AK

REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED.

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. DEALER CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE MISALIGNED.

PURCHASED JEEP NEW, WHEN DRIVING THE FRONT END PULLS TO THE RIGHT . *AK *SLC

WHEN APPLYING VEHICLE'S BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT. *AK

REAR END SHIMMIES AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER. *AK

REAR END SHIMMIES AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER. *AK

REAR END SHIMMIES AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER.