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 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The ignition I believe lost connection with the key fob. Multiple times while driving the vehicle will randomly just die. An when trying to start sometimes it does nothing unless you push key in a certain way.
I was traveling to my daughters when the Jeep suddenly veered to the left. Crossed center line, hit guard rail and rolled three times down the highway. Luckily no cars were coming. My front drivers side fire was wedged in the guard rail. I was upside down and managed to undo my seat belt and crawl out back broken window. The man behind me wrote a letter telling me how he was just following me and I just lost control, he's the one who called 911 and said he was checking for "survivors". This was a sunny June morning, nothing on the road. Its like the Jeep had a mind of its own. After surgery on my shoulder and trying to get back to work, I was forced to go on disability. I wish I would have known about this recall years ago. My life has changed because of it. The Jeep was a total loss of course.this accident happened about 10 miles west of iron river, mi on us-2. …
While driving Jeep lost all power this has happened 4 times I took it back to dealer but they didn't find any thing this last time it was in a rear end accident so Chrysler took it back to investigate the problem the dealer has had for a total of over 9 weeks and still don't have a answer for it I don't know what to do know can you help.
My car ignition inadvertently turned off and disabling power steering, brake etc. This resulted in the driver not being able to control the keep. The Jeep rolled down the hill and hit the car behind and damaging both the cars and injuring one of the passengers in the car behind.
I was driving to work down an incline/hill on 9/2, there was traffic ahead, the engine shut off and the breaks locked. I pulled the e-break and swerved off the side of the road, luckily without any crash. I was able to restart the vehicle but had a tow truck tow it to my local mechanic who verified there was no problem with the breaks, and notified me of the recall p41 on the ignition switch which can cause the engine to shut off and power steering and breaks to lock while driving. The Jeep dealership told me not only are the parts not available but they don't know when they will be available and they can't diagnose this as the problem without replicating the problem. This is a known issue so it is unclear to me why the issue would have to be replicated. …
I have been dealing with this Jeep Grand Cherokee issue for years now. At one point there was a recall on the ignition switch and it was replaced at the local Chrysler dealer. The issue I have is identical to the one in the link attached. Up until a few weeks ago, I lived with it. Now the issue has turned dangerous because it also affects the ability to brake and turn. When the brakes seemed compromised, I took the Jeep in for repair but they were not able to duplicate the issue. I picked it up last week from the repair shop and today it was the power steering that went out along with the usual dash panel function going out. I realize that this is an older Jeep but it seems Chrysler should still be responsible for the vehicle safety. …
I have a 2006 Grand Cherokee with 30,000 miles. While driving on a residential road, the steering gave out and the vehicle crashed into cars on the right - the vehicle was going around 15mps. Upon inspection the actual inner ball joint that threads into the power steering unit broke free causing the front right wheel to cut loose. The threads were stripped off of the ball joint that connects the rod into the power steering unit. My insurance adjusters quote did not include the steering rack/rod as he did not believe it broke due to the impact in the accident. The threads in the power steering unit are fine. Chrysler's investigation determined are not responsible and there was no component failure. The damage on the vehicle was all front end (bumper, grill, etc) and there is no damage on any of the steering components, just the failed threads. …
I bought my 06 Jeep in March of 2015 and had problems with it ever since. First incident happend right after I bought car. Pulled in to mcdonalds drive through and steering wheel locked up on me and dashboard lights lite up all of them. Scared the crap out of me. Same things happened at least 6 other times where the steering wheel would lock up and truck would shut off. I was sitting at a stop light when the dashboard lights lit up and then truck died. Truck will appear to be racing at times when I barly hit gas.I had my 5 year old granddaught with me and the truck shut off while I was driving going about 45 miles. I never was so scared in my life. All I could image was me and my precious granddaughter dying. I was so scared, I could not drive for a day or two to settle my nerves. Please help !!!!!. …
I got in a head on collision on July 11 in the city of paramount . I was at a red light making a left as soon as it turn green I went into motion lost control making a wide left turn and went into the side walk. I hit a cement trash can and a cement wall as well none of my air bags came out . Both insurance and the body shop where the Jeep is now stated that it was odd the air bags didn't come out . They stated that the hit was big and the bags should have came out . I hit front on my whole front end was damaged bumper, lights , grill .I hit my face in the steering wheel causing my lip to bust open and I hit my head as well in the top left side handle. …
I bought my vehical used in June. (2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited with 160,000 miles) I took it back to dealer where they told me the battery had issues and they "fixed" the problem. I'd be driving and if I came to a stop I would lose all power and my engine would turn off. At a drive through, it would die, at a stop light, die. In October my issues started up again. Now the same things are happening but every light on the dash lights up, flashes/flutter/flickers, headlights shut off, radio shuts off, HVAC system shuts off, but engine will run for about 20min then I lose all power where ever I am, I'll be driving down the highway going 55mph and the engine shuts off. Pulling into the store engine shuts off. On my way to work engine just shut off while going down the highway. Coasted as far as I could to get to a safe place to stop. Now it won't start again.
Steering complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the steering of the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3% of the model year's 1,280 complaints. The component named most often is electric power assist system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.