Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
I was driving in a mall parking lot looking for a parking space. I was turning the corner to go down the next aisle and all of a sudden I had no control of the Jeep. As I turned to the left to continue looking for a park, the Jeep was speeding out of control and I was slamming on the brake with both feet and the Jeep just kept accelerating! I was unable to steer away from the vehicles I was heading towards. As I was heading towards the first vehicle that I hit, I was trying to steer away from it and then the Jeep turned to the right and kept accelerating. I ended up hitting four other vehicles ( 5 vehicles total) and finally came to a complete stop after hitting the last vehicle. There is extensive damage to my Jeep and to the other vehicles involved. We have not had the damage accessed yet, so we do not know how much this will cost to fix. I believe my Jeep is totaled. …
When driving at 45 to 50 MPH the front end starts to vibriate and starts to shake uncontrollably,what's really bad is that you don't know when it will happen.I drove from savannah to michigan and back with no problems than when you least expect it than it happens ! It shakes so bad you can't drive so you have to pull off the road and stop and it seems to go away but it May return after another one or two thousand miles. I have brought to shops and have replaced front end parts,brakes,tires etc. They can't find the problem.I have read that it's a disign flaw with the coil springs being in a bad position. Google Jeep death wobble.you will find. I won't sell the car because I wouldnt want to put someone in danger.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While pulling into the driveway, the vehicle failed to reverse. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the front wheels were pointing in two different directions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tube that connected the tie rod to the front end by the driver and passenger side wheels was rusted and fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue the failure mileage was 196,000. Updated 07/12/17
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was turned off. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normally. The failure recurred a second time. On a separate occasion, the vehicle stalled without warning and restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,550.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel and the front end of the vehicle began to shake without warning. The dealer stated that the tires needed to be rotated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who rotated the tires and replaced the two front tires. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and required excessive force in order to drive. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Extreme wobble in front end happens when there is a bump in the road. Happens at various speeds. Violent front wheel wobble. Spent $1600 in repairs and $600 on new tires. The issue is still there. I talked to a man today with a Jeep the same model and year as mine and he has had the same problem. I was following him at 45mph and his right front wheel started the wobble and he pulled off the road and I stopped and talked to him about it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The contact had to apply extreme force to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 01V007000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
Jeep had the dreaded "death wobble" many parts failed and needed replaced multiple times within 30,000 miles of highway driving at safe speeds. Tires were properly inflated and alignment was correct.
Related recalls
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. An internal nut in the steering gear assembly could loosen and cause the steering gear to lock up.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly. Owner notification began December 27, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Steering complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4% of the model year's 883 complaints. The component named most often is gear box (other than rack and pinion) (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-007 (gear box (other than rack and pinion), Jan 5, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.