Having a shaky vehicle is dangerous, especially if you're driving on the highway—it can cause you to lose focus or control. The cars made by Jeep being pretty big and tall makes it all the more daunting. But worry no more! We've consulted automotive experts on the possible reasons why the Jeep Cherokee shakes, and here's what we got from them.
Your Jeep Cherokee might be shaking due to any of these conditions:
- Misfire
- Broken or worn engine mounts
- Failing fuel pump
- Worn or unbalanced tires
- Death wobble (suspension issues)
- Low fluids
A little bit of shaking is still manageable but still needs to be fixed in the near future, while excessive shaking must be dealt with immediately since this can be a hazard to you and other motorists. For more information about the Jeep Cherokee, keep reading below.
Reasons Why Your Jeep Cherokee Is Shaking
Having a shaky vehicle can be an annoying problem to deal with, especially if you don't know where it's coming from. Larger and taller vehicles such as the Jeep Cherokee can be dangerous to drive when shaking.
You will either be distracted by all the shaking or you won't be able to control your vehicle properly because of a failing component that's causing the car to shake. The common reasons why your Jeep Cherokee is shaking include any of the following:
Misfire
A misfire is when one or more cylinders don't make any power. Misfires are most commonly caused by having dirty or burnt-out sparkplugs.
Having bad ignition coils can also cause misfires. With a misfire, you will experience jerks, shakes, and loss of power since your engine is not combusting properly.
If a misfire is the only cause of your vehicle's shakes, replacing all of its engine's sparkplugs may fix your problem. Though you can drive with a misfire since some cars will put you in limp mode, it's best to avoid any damage to your engine.
Broken Or Worn Engine Mounts
This issue can also be the cause of your vehicle shaking, especially if you put your car in drive, and it begins to shake.
A vehicle normally shakes, that's why you have engine mounts on your car to dampen the vibrations from the engine so that you'll have a smoother ride. Every time you put your vehicle in drive, your vehicle will apply a bit of torque to your mounts.
It's the force of the torque that shakes the mounts, and if they are worn or broken, you will definitely feel a lot of the vibration every time you accelerate. Once you start to feel excessive shaking, it's best to take your vehicle to the mechanics to have the mounts fixed or replaced.
Failing Fuel Pump
Shaking caused by a failing fuel pump is because the engine is not getting enough fuel, thus the car starts to jerk and shake. A good fuel pump should last you around 100,000 miles, so if your car's mileage is lower than that, your fuel may be contaminated.
If the gas you put in your vehicle is contaminated, this can build up on the bottom of your tank, and your fuel pump may suck it up, causing it to clog up. All those contaminants can gather on your pump's filter which will deprive your engine of gasoline.
Once this happens, you'll have to purchase a replacement pump and have a mechanic install it for you. Though it's most likely that the pump may fail before its filter gets completely clogged up.
Worn Or Unbalanced Tires
A vehicle's wheel or tire is not always made perfectly. The rubber of the tire may be thicker on one side, wires inside the tires could be on another side, and also, the rim itself may not be balanced when it was made.
When inspecting your tire, you may notice small metal weights placed on the outer side of the rim or placed flat on the inside of the tire. These weights help balance your tire. Your tire may have loose some of these weights, thus causing your tire and vehicle to shake.
Similar to unbalanced tires, worn tires can cause your vehicle to shake. Worn tires can either be very low on thread life or their wear is uneven. Typically you'll want to replace your tires with a new set every six years.
When replacing your tires, it's best to replace all four tires, so that they may wear off all at the same time. Inspecting your tire regularly is also a good practice since a tire could wear faster depending on what surface you're driving in.
Death Wobble (Suspension Issues)
A death wobble is one of the scariest things you can experience when driving or riding a Jeep. A death wobble is when the whole Jeep shakes uncontrollably and only stops when you lower the car's speed or come to a complete stop.
The difference between a normal wobble and a death wobble is that a normal one will be a loose feeling in your steering while a death wobble is a very aggressive oscillation of the tires that causes the vehicle to shake violently. It will almost make the car uncontrollable.
Typically, a death wobble is caused by worn-out steering or suspension parts. Other problems that can contribute to the death wobble are unbalanced wheels, loose wheel bearings, and bent tie rods.
When you experience a death wobble, you should try to drive at lower speeds or don't drive your vehicle at all. Have your car checked by a mechanic right away and have all parts that need to be repaired or replaced get installed properly.
Low Fluids
Low fluids such as fuel and oil can also cause shaking. With fuel, your engine won't have enough gas to power the engine, causing the vehicle to shake. Lack of fuel can also cause your vehicle to completely stall out.
The lack of oil can cause your vehicle's metal components to grind against each other, causing your vehicle's shaking. It's important that you always keep your vehicle's fuel in check since this also helps lubricate components and reduce heat.
Is The Jeep Cherokee A Good Car?
Jeep has been in the automotive business for over 80 years; they have been producing quality off-road vehicles that even to this day can be seen on the road. More modern Jeep models such as the Cherokee have balanced off-road and comfortability balance.
As for older Jeep Cherokees, they are amazing vehicles and are great to use off-road, they are also built really strong and can last about 20 years with proper care. Note that not all models are made the same, and some older models may have more problems.
With newer models, such as the 2022 Jeep Cherokee, you get a new design with all the modern technology. The 5th generation of the Jeep Cherokee has a very sleek design that still has a hint of the older models.
For the engine, you get pretty powerful naturally aspirated V8 and V6 engines. Jeep has used aluminum for its engine parts which is a good thing since this helps keep down weight. You also have two drivetrains FWD and AWD.
For the interior of the Cherokee, you get comfortable seating and easy-to-use controls for the driver and the passengers. Though it is comfortable to sit inside the Cherokee, it has less room than its competitors, and the design of its windows may make your feel a bit confined.
Overall, the Jeep Cherokee is a great car to own. It's powerful, practical, and comfortable. This car best suits people who are more adventurous but also need a vehicle for everyday living.
In Closing
When you experience shaking on your Jeep Cherokee, there are a few things you can check yourself, such as its wheels, engine movement, and fluids. But to accurately pinpoint the issues, it's best to bring your vehicle to a mechanic.
A mechanic can tell what is wrong and from there tell you what parts need to be replaced or repaired. With proper care and regular maintenance, the Jeep Cherokee is a great vehicle to own, it is both a great daily and weekend car.
For more automotive topics and tips, check out the following posts:
Do Jeep Dealerships Install Lift Kits? [And What Could It Cost?]
Jeep Wrangler Won't Start (And No Click) - What Could Be Wrong?