New Plan - Jeep Grand Cherokee EPS Wobble

[lass]

As many are aware, it took Jeep nearly 2 years to solve the Cherokee front end "Death Wobble" and now the problem has expanded to the current model Grand Cherokee. So if we're looking for a solution, I think that we start sooner rather than later.

The go forward plan is to gain the help of FMCA and to accumulate the necessary information which can be submitted to FCA for action and if you are a current owner of a 2016 / 2017 / 2018 Grand Cherokee, I'm asking the following.

Log Into Jeep.com
Select Contact
Select Email

You will be asked to provide your contact information; VIN #; Message Title; and to list your concerns. within a few minutes, you will receive a "No Response" email with an 8 digit Reference number. This is what we need.

If you are willing to share the information with me, Big_Dog and I will summarize the details and provide it to FMCA National.

The spread sheet will show:
Your 8 digit Reference number
Your avatar
Name - optional
Model year Grand Cherokee
Have you experience the wobble while towing or just concerned that you may.

Should we also list the towing package. i.e. Blue Ox, Roadmaster, etc.

We need to start somewhere and thanks for sharing

Las Kovacs

[PeteandDeb]

Reference 32475337
PeteandDeb
Peter Dahl
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3145 miles
Experienced death wobble at 1500 miles - usual circumstances - hard right turn with broken pavement. Solved by stopping.
Roadmasterinc brackets and Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain towbar

[lass]

Thanks Pete, this is what we are looking for. I'll add your details to the spread sheet.

[gregorys50325]

I am a little puzzled here so this response will not be what you are looking for.

Some Jeeps have a known 'wobble' problem. Their owners manuals detail the problem and explain its 'fix'. The 'fix' is not installed at the factory on all vehicles since not all vehicles are not towed.

The known 'wobble' problem happens under the same circumstances (listed above).

Jeep has a known fix for the 'wobble' problem which is a $125 part with about 2 hours of labor for installation.

Why does this problem - solution need to be beat up again ???

[lass]

Gregorys50335. You are correct that there is a known problem and fix for the smaller Jeep Cherokee, but we are now seeing the same wobble in the larger Grand Cherokee. Jeep does not have a solution for the GC and have not acknowledged the issue.

Just want to bring attention to this.

[mhudson]

Reference # 32474504
mhudson
Mike Hudson (Francis Hudson to FCA)
2016 Grand Cherokee summit 21900mi.

Death wobble on 10-01-16 with less than 20 towed miles. Had vehicle for less than a month, first time towing had wobble about 20 miles into trip. Hard left turn uphill. Less than 2000 miles on Jeep. Dealer response "no problem found".

Twice again on 4-16-17. Normal left turn with flat pavement both times. Dealer response "Checked and reset tire pressure and front end alignment". Non warranty, normal wear. (Probably from having the front end violently shaken!)

Again 9-11-17. Normal right turn. Dealer appointment on 9-29-17. I think I know what the outcome will be, just documenting.

Roadmaster Sterling towbar.
Roadmaster Blackhawk towbar.
Has happened with both towbars.
Roadmaster baseplate
Level within less than an inch.

Big Boy has my VIN number in a private msg.

[lass]

Thanks Mike, since you had to submit the VIN in order to get the Ref. #, we are not going use the Vin in communication.

Las

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by gregorys50325

I am a little puzzled here so this response will not be what you are looking for.
Some Jeeps have a known 'wobble' problem. Their owners manuals detail the problem and explain its 'fix'. The 'fix' is not installed at the factory on all vehicles since not all vehicles are not towed.
The known 'wobble' problem happens under the same circumstances (listed above).
Jeep has a known fix for the 'wobble' problem which is a $125 part with about 2 hours of labor for installation.
Why does this problem - solution need to be beat up again ???

Originally Posted by lass

Gregorys50335. You are correct that there is a known problem and fix for the smaller Jeep Cherokee, but we are now seeing the same wobble in the larger Grand Cherokee. Jeep does not have a solution for the GC and have not acknowledged the issue.
Just want to bring attention to this.

A few points should be made here:
(1) Knowing how closely the 2016+ GC EPS system is to that of the KL Cherokee will substantially affect the solution.
(2) If the GC's EPS is of the same design, an adaptation of the Cherokee harness design may be possible, and fairly quick. It's highly doubtful that the same harness would work.
(3) If the GC' steering and suspension design are significantly different then the solution will be likewise... and slower to implement.

It's good that the help of FMCA is being sought, reports to NHTSA would also help. Read through the Cherokee forums and see the missteps and disinformation which delayed identification of the true cause. Perhaps that will help you all get to the bottom of this quicker. Make no mistake, this "wobble event" can be disastrous; please be careful.

[If it can be found out whether the EPS design in the Grand Cherokee also uses the patented (Active shimmy mitigation algorithm) then it's pretty clear it's the same problem over again. This was a patent filed in 2010 by Chrysler Group LLC. Many at FCA engineering know about it and surely many in the Jeep division know if this algorithm is used in the EPS computer pof the 2016+ GC.]

[lass]

Rick. Thanks for the insight from the technical side of the EPS and I can honestly say that I do not know what the design is. We're just trying to get members to log a complaint and get a reference number which can be forwarded to FMCA for action. Thanks

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by lass

Rick. Thanks for the insight from the technical side of the EPS and I can honestly say that I do not know what the design is. We're just trying to get members to log a complaint and get a reference number which can be forwarded to FMCA for action. Thanks

Don't want you all to have to go thru what we Cherokee owners did, especially if Jeep already knows what's wrong. (And I almost bought a GC myself recently)

[Ol_Opa]

Las,
I've had the wobble about 6 times in 4200 miles. My GC is a hemi powered '17 TrailHawk. The typical scenario is similar to others: Sharp left turn from a dead stop, roll over some minor pavement dip or hump (once over a railroad crossing) then immediately after straightening out the wobble starts and the only way to stop it is come to a full stop, then start off again.

My tow set up is: Demco Dominator tow bar, Blue Ox baseplate, Air Force 1. Towing with '14 Allegro Bus 45LP.

FCA Ref No.: 32478077

[OakHillFarm]

We do own a 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland, but as of yet have not towed it. The main reason is that I saw the other thread on here about a death wobble issue beginning to show its head. I will be watching this with great interest. Fortunately (actually unfortunately) for us it is near the end of our RV season. Hope a solution is found before next spring.

[lass]

Originally Posted by OakHillFarm

We do own a 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland, but as of yet have not towed it. The main reason is that I saw the other thread on here about a death wobble issue beginning to show its head. I will be watching this with great interest. Fortunately (actually unfortunately) for us it is near the end of our RV season. Hope a solution is found before next spring.

I'm in the same position as you are and having traded a perfectly good Honda CRV for the GC Summit, I feel that Jeep owes me a solution to this wobble problem. I explained this on Jeep.com and asked if they recommend that I not tow the vehicle. Also asked them if I made $50K ++ mistake. Still waiting for their response.

I feel a need to be proactive with this and ask for your help in securing a case reference number.

Thanks Las.

[hdridermlb]

A few days after we bought our 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland November 2016, I was looking in the engine compartment and noticed no hydraulic steering pump and thought OH NO! We have the V6.

So I called Jeep and was assigned a case number and was sent an email assuring me that even though the Grand Cherokee had electric steering as of the 2016 model, there would not be the same wobble issues as the Cherokee. I have that email. Case Number 30485487

I didn't install tow brackets until March, 2017.

April 2017, I experienced the death wobble making hard left turn from dead stop at an intersection that has dips in the roadway.

May 4, 2017 I took it to the dealer and they said they have no way of testing for this and the problem didn't exist. They would not write up a service order until I demanded to talk to service manager and he reluctantly wrote up a work order which is on file. It seemed like he was annoyed with me demanding this be documented.

September 24 2017 I called Jeep customer care and complained that it was still happening. I was assigned a case manager. I have to take it back to the dealer again in a few weeks and I expect the same result. The case manager assured me that if that happens, there will be a technical team that will contact me.

I got a call from my case manager to introduce herself. I explained to her going to the dealer was a waste of time and I had her look online at my previous visit to dealer and she said I have to go back to the dealer to kick off this process so that it will be elevated within Jeep. I mentioned the issue with the Cherokee while being towed and she was not aware of that issue and said her focus is on getting resolution to my problem.

The wobble has only happened from a dead stop and making a hard left or right turn and roadway is uneven. Never have a problem if it's a "sweeping " left or right turn on uneven roadway. Never a problem at speed in construction zones where there are quick lane shifts and uneven roadways where we go up and then down.

Roadmaster EZ4 tow bracket and roadmaster Blackhawk 2 10,000 pound tow bar. Perfectly level with Jeep at normal ride height position. I have QuadraLift.

To be continued...