2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited Leather 4WD from North America - Comments

Because of the great 7-year 100,000 mile extra warranty I bought minor problems like "Check Engine," exhaust system noise, etc. have been fixed immediately, professionally, and at no cost to me. I recently had one really, really scary thing happen recently, however -- the steering gave way completely. I mean, how would you like to be cruising down the interstate, listening to a great CD, be sandwiched between large semis front and rear with two more semis whizzing by you in the passing lane when...surprise, surprise, you cannot steer anymore? Fortunately the steering column broke while I was moving slowly through a mall parking lot and not during such an interstate scenario, but 10 minutes later and that's where I might have been, and I absolutely shudder at exactly what might have been.

The dealer chief mechanic (following several generations of the same family with the same dealer) is a trusted professional. He has quickly analyzed and fixed all problems, and even though the recent near-disaster steering column break is very scary, I am sure he can return my comfort level with the vehicle. I love the rugged (and generally "reliable" too) feel of the standard Cherokee Limited, and I have one of the last of the breed, having been very satisfied with a 1990 model of the very same.

The review writer is back with an update on the broken steering: The dealer chief mechanic (only one of two mechanics in the world I completely trust) diagnosed the failure to improper work during the factory installation. Where two parts of the column come together with a spline connection, there is a bolt that is supposed to both lock the pieces together and pinch the joint tight. The bolt had been improperly placed by a factory worker and it was not locking the connection at all, only pinching it. It was a potentially-lethal time bomb waiting to explode. The mechanic agreed that my wife and I were extremely lucky that the pinch-only connection slipped loose during slow speed. He and the other dealer mechanics had never seen such a factory error and he personally made sure the new connection parts were correctly installed this time. I was afraid it was a design mistake that could cause this problem again, but I am comfortable that the issue is resolved. I filed a complaint with Daimler-Chrysler, who seemed concerned, and I hope they go back to find who made the improper connection at the factory and make an attempt to check some of his/her other workmanship that could be latent hazards cruising the roads. Chrysler-Jeep indicated they might initiate their own recall if they receive about 20 complaints like mine. I welcome anyone else's comments on how they might have reacted to losing steering completely. Thanks.

Not sure if I have the same problem or not, but I recently bought a 2000 limited cherokee. My husband thinks it steers funny. This is my first 4x4, so not sure how they are supposed to turn. I do know that I am having problems with putting my jeep back in 2wd after being in 4wd. I am curious if anyone else is having this problem also.