We were driving at approx 55 MPH (not braking or turning) when suddenly the vehicle lost all acceleration, the gas and MPH as well as directional and temperature gauges went dark/dropped to zero, then the car lost power steering. We were able to pull off the side of the road, place the car into park, removed the key, and then returned the key and restarted the car. The car then started normally.…
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 11 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee report five distinct steering-system failures, with random engine stalls and loss of power steering being the dominant complaint across this cluster.
The most dangerous and frequent issue: the engine shuts off without warning while driving—at speeds from 35 to 65 mph—taking out power steering, power brakes, all gauges, and electrical systems. Owners restart after a few seconds, but one vehicle was serviced eight times without resolution, and dealerships cannot reproduce the problem during diagnosis. Chrysler has no recall or acknowledged fix.
Power steering pump and line failures also occur: one owner's pressurized line failed, leaked fluid, and failed again identically two years after the first replacement. Another replaced a power steering pump in January and faced the same failure by May.
A second pattern: rack-and-pinion units fail repeatedly. One owner replaced the assembly three times under warranty, with each unit lasting only 20,000 miles before steering became loose and unpredictable. The manufacturer reportedly refuses to address the root cause.
A third issue: while driving, the car loses steering and drops into neutral randomly, with dealerships unable to reproduce it for diagnosis. Owners uniformly cite this as a loss-of-control hazard with no permanent fix.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering line and hose leaks
Pressurized power steering lines develop holes or fail, allowing fluid to escape. Owners report the lines need replacement; one owner had the same failure recur within two years of the initial repair. The high pressure in the system makes these failures a fire hazard.
When: Low mileage reported in one case (2009 purchase, issue by 2012); another owner experienced recurrence at higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leaking from lines; Visible hole in power steering line; Fire hazard risk
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering line replacement; high repair cost reported by owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA investigation PE 12-020 referenced by owner; no formal manufacturer response or recall noted in narratives
Rack and pinion unit failure
The steering rack and pinion assembly fails prematurely and repeatedly. One owner replaced the unit three times under warranty, with each replacement lasting about 20,000 miles before failing again. Loose, unpredictable steering results, creating a loss-of-control hazard.
When: Under 65,000 miles total; failures occurring approximately every 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loose steering; Unpredictable steering response; Potential for loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion unit replaced under warranty multiple times; no permanent fix provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer refuses to address the root cause or acknowledge the pattern
Random engine stall with loss of power steering
The engine cuts out unexpectedly while driving, causing immediate loss of power steering assistance and power brakes. The vehicle can be restarted after a brief delay, but the stalling occurs without warning and at various speeds. This is the most frequently reported failure across the complaint set and represents a serious safety hazard.
When: Random occurrence at any speed; reported at 35 mph, 55 mph, 60 mph, and 65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off while driving; Loss of power steering immediately upon stall; Loss of power brakes; Loss of acceleration; Instrument gauges drop to zero or go dark; Radio and electrical systems go out; Clicking sound sometimes heard before shutdown; Vehicle can be restarted after waiting a few seconds
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle serviced 8 times without resolution; dealerships unable to reproduce the issue during diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or fixes available; manufacturer not recognizing this as a safety issue per owner reports
Power steering pump failure
The power steering pump fails, requiring replacement. One owner reported the pump was replaced in January; the same problem recurred in May when exiting a highway ramp.
When: January to May window for recurrence reported
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replacement performed; recurrence suggests underlying issue not addressed
Loss of steering and neutral engagement during driving
While driving, the car loses steering ability and drops into neutral. The issue occurs randomly and the dealership cannot reproduce it during diagnostic attempts, complicating troubleshooting.
When: Random occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of steering control; Transmission drops to neutral unexpectedly; Issue occurs without initiating event
Repairs/costs cited: Unable to diagnose; dealership unable to reproduce the problem
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My vehicle has stopped 3 times this year without warning. Twice while I was driving and once while my daughter was driving. There is a click sound and the radio and everything on in the vehicle goes. The vehicle begins to slow down. Luckly when this happened there were no cars around so each time we are able to stop the vehicle wait a second and start the vehicle without an issue. This is a very…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 51,000 and 77,723 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 77,723. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Jeep/Grand Cherokee.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.