We just purchased a beautiful low-mileage 2017 Grand Cherokee to pull behind our '98 U295. We didn't tow it 300 miles before experiencing the dreaded death-wobble for the first time. Had to come to a complete stop for things to reset. There are many, many posts online about this, but I cannot find one that indicates there is a resolution to this known issue. (The fix for the Cherokee does not apply to the Grand Cherokee.) Does anyone here know of a fix for the Grand?
Did some searching on line and found this.
CURT® 58907 - Towed-Vehicle RV Harness (https://www.carid.com/curt/towed-vehicle-rv-harness-mpn-58907.html?singleid=625488424&url=88908078)
There is also an instruction manual you can download for this harness.
As always, check to make sure it fits your application and that there are any places you can get it cheaper.
Check to make sure the track bar on the front suspension (bar that goes from frame to axle to keep axle centered) is tight and the bushings do not have play. I had a 2004 GC that had the death wobble while driving it, scared the crap out of me. The track bar bushing were bad, replaced track bar and never had a problem with the death wobble again. If it isn't the track bar check other steering/ suspension components for bad or loose parts as this is usually the cause of death wobble. If all else fails you could try a stronger steering dampener (it looks like a shock but is attached to steering components).
The easiest solution is to take your Jeep Grand Cherokee to a front end alignment shop that you trust, open your wallet and repeat after me: "Please help yourself."
Seriously, front end shimmy is due to loose steering system components. If you want to go belt and suspenders, while they are in there ask them to install an aftermarket steering damper. If the Jeep has been driven enough with worn components the shop may ask you to install new front tires before they can finish the work.
Art Joly
I've done some looking into Jeep death wobbles, and the FCA take is its only an issue on 2015-17 Cherokees with electric steering, and they fixed that with a wiring harness and later some factory fix. But never a problem with same vintage Grand Cherokee's with the same steering.
I don't know who to believe, but need to know as I'm thinking of getting a 2018 or later JGC.
I'm hoping this turns out to be a simple alignment issue.
That is what I know as well. I have not heard of it in the Grand Cherokee. A simple wiring harness and a switch leaves power on the the steering while towing our our 2014 Cherokee which for us resolved the problem. We experienced the wobble twice at low speeds, once crossing a set of railroad tracks In Arkansas and the other time on a rough curvy section (common) on US 101 in Oregon.
We compared the 2014 models of the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and the thought the Cherokee was more comfortable and with much better amenities for similarly priced choices. It is a very nice tow vehicle.
I guess I have been lucky for I have a 2015 Grand Cherokee and have never had an issue and I have towed it around 60,000 miles.
I've towed our 2018 JGC for a couple of years now, and have never experienced the death wobble. So hopefully they fixed it in the 18's.
The wiring harness from the coach to the Jeep is correct. The 2017 Grand Cherokees got a new version of electric steering and that is the problem. As I understand it, prior "fixes" do not apply to the 2017/2018 models. The problem was fixed on earlier model Cherokees (not Grand Cherokee) through this fix: TSB #08-029-16 REV. A
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Steering related problems (https://www.carproblemzoo.com/jeep/grandcherokee/2017/2017-jeep-grandcherokee-steering-problems.php)
An interesting read. Appears the death wobble does exist on 2017 Grand Cherokees.
I might need to rethink JGC as my next dinghy.
2018 too.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Steering related problems (https://www.carproblemzoo.com/jeep/grandcherokee/2018/2018-jeep-grandcherokee-steering-problems.php)
From the link "the steering wheels on the Jeep begin rapidly turning from left to right and back again."
In the motorcycle world this is called a "tank slapper" and there are no electric power steering mechanisms involved. Some racing bike require a steering dampener. Most bike need proper tire pressure and bearing pre-load on the stem bearings. My daily driver developed a tendency to "wobble" at high speeds and I cured this with new stem bearings and pre-load.
I'm going to repeat what I wrote on Facebook with some additions.
"I" would take my Jeep Grand Cherokee to an independent front end alignment shop and tell them what is happening. All the Chrysler-Fiat dealership technicians can do is set everything to "factory." A good alignment shop will inspect everything from tie rod ends to tires and can tweak the caster, camber and toe settings to make the suspension inherently more stable.
FWIW, for handling purposes superbikes* are susceptible to high speed wobbles. Here's one from the driver's perspective.
https://youtu.be/zSn84E7eIZg
*I suspect that front suspension design decisions made for easier rolling are leading to death wobbles during non-standard use of Jeep vehicles.
If it's true that nothing steering-related was changed, the fact that only a handful of problems were reported, and only with 2017-18 models, says a lot. It points to something rare and vehicle specific. Maybe even within spec by a hair.
Maybe tires.
Are you a betting man Mr. Lang? ;)
I don't have a dog in this fight Yet.
Dan,
Do you have the same problem when you drive the car or is it only when you are towing?
Before you find and fix the problem, a temporary solution might be to use bungee cords to exert pressure on the steering wheel to center it after a large swing. I did this on our 2014 Cherokee before the electrical harness fix was released and it eliminated the wobble.
I put one end of a cord around the wheel at the 3 o'clock position, around the back of the seat and then around the 9 o'clock position. You probably have to experiment to find out how much pull and where it should be applied.
The Jeep is fairly new to us. Bought it to replace the Land Cruiser which is not flat-towable. In the 2,000 miles we've driven it we've not experienced the death wobble, only when towing it.
I'm wondering whether installing a Safe-T-Plus (http://www.safe-t-plus.com/) on the Jeep would help alleviate this problem. Any thoughts?
Yes, but it may be as though you are putting a BandAid on an underlying problem. An inspection by an alignment mechanic is cheap insurance, plus while you're there he can install the steering stabilizer.
It has something to do with the electric power steering. I get the same problem on my GMC Terrain. It doesn't happen all of the time. Wondering if you disconnect your battery will it help in any way.
John M.
As Roger stated above the simple wire harness solves the problem. I had it installed before we ever towed the Cherokee. Service rep at dealer ask if I had a problem and I explained I didn't want to have the problem and I sure didn't want the problem to arise while we were on the road-- they put the harness on--and again as was stated before use the extra wire in the 7 blade taillight harness to run 12v to the battery from coach
Chris
John when key is off there is no power to steering with the added wire harness it gives power to steering.
Chris
You know, we had to do the same thing with the geo tracker we pulled. Something about the geometry of the tow bar overcoming the wheels tendency to return to center after a turn. Sure worked well, bungee cord around center spoke of wheel on bottom, clipped to underside of seat.
Dan,
When you have the car hooked up to the coach is the tow bar level or rising up from the car to the coach?
It should be level.
If it's rising you are lifting some weight off the cars front wheels when towing which may effect how the car behaves and how your cars tires wear.
You could use a drop hitch to level the tow bar to see if it helps.
The tow bar is level. Definitely one of the thing I checked when having it installed.
Lot's of people stating they had the wiring harness installed. That's exactly the fix I'm looking for. No one though is telling me the specific part number or the Jeep technical service bulletin that references this problem for the 2017 Grand Cherokee.
Here is a sample of what can be found online for the earlier models with this problem, but there are tons of posts out there stating that this fix does not apply to 2017 Grand Cherokees.
"The specific issue is the new Electronic Power Steering System (EPS), that does not work with the ignition off. The "death wobble" issue was the result, and FCA finally issued a recall notice for 2014-2016 model years of the Cherokee. I found out because I just purchased a 2017 Cherokee Trailhawk and the owners manual still has the warning although it is not part of the recall "fix". Owners now must purchase (at their own expense) a wiring kit and have it installed that is basically a fuse and switch you must flip "on" when flat towing to provide power to the EPS. The part number is: 68321424AB and must be ordered at a dealership, not online.
FCMA has a lengthy thread on this, unfortunately I (and others) have no knowledge of this when looking for 2017 dingy tows as the 2017 Guide to Dingy Towing from MotorHome Magazine | RV Reviews, Dinghy Towing, RV How-To (http://www.motorhome.com) makes no mention of this requirement at all.
The uproar in the Jeep community is that Jeep promotional material (sales) also makes no disclaimer that the Cherokee is not flat-tow ready without the add-on wiring harness purchased separately.
This is coming to the Grand Cherokees as well, since they are going to the EPS system also."
Here is an excellent example from the FMCA forum of people experiencing the same problem. They tried very hard working with Jeep back in 2017 and eventually gave up. I'm hoping that someone here has found a fix in the 4 years since this post. (Ignore the first posts and skip down to nelsons1948 on Sept 9, then keep going, especially to Rewillia on Oct 4.)
Info Needed On Toad: Grand Cherokee? - Toads-Towed Behind Motorhome - FMCA... (https://community.fmca.com/topic/10445-info-needed-on-toad-grand-cherokee/)
I have a 2021 Grand Cherokee 80th anniversary model, which is based on the limited GC.
No death wobble, but a different issue with EPS steering system.
Anytime I put the transfer case in neutral, the EPS is disabled so very hard to turn the steering wheel. After taking tansfer case OUT of neutral, the EPS is STILL disabled.
I "think" it resets after around 5 minutes. I have done multiple restarts after transfer engaged again - but that does not help. Changing EPS assist level in the screen also does not help.
Today was our first time towing, and after disconnecting and transfer case back in gear very difficult to steer.
Since this first episode I have tested it 8 times in the campground with jeep not hooked to motorhome. Same result every time after transfer cas has been in neutral.
I will be contacting Jeep, but has anyone here exeperienced this? Or is it a new issue no one else has seen? I also posted to the IRV forums where there are extensive posts about Jeep EPS steering systems.
Full thread at IRV forum: Jeep GRAND Cherokee death wobble! - Page 22 - iRV2 Forums (https://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/jeep-grand-cherokee-death-wobble-339594-22.html#post5629289)
I resolved the no power to the steering issue (EPS) after transfer case neutral.
Once the transfer case is re-engaged and in gear, and the vehicle is turned off, power is still showing on the transmission lights by the shifter for a time. This tells the EPS to not enage steering assist (EPS thinks transfer case is still in neutral).
If on the "radio" head unit, under key off options, key off power delay and headlights off delay are enabled, add that time to key off (unless you open door to kill the delay time). In addition another 15 to 30 seconds of key off still required before lights on transmission display are off.
By setting the head unit key off options, key off power delay and headlight off power delay, to zero seconds, then 15 to 30 seconds of key off is enough time for the lights on the trans display to go out. At that point restarting the vehicle, EPS power steering works correctly.
So it is a timing issue of how long the Jeep must have no power before EPS steering assist works again.
Multiple restarts do not work to reset the EPS unless the total time off is met first.