LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Jeep Cherokee suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee have filed 49 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 25,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
49
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Cherokee (this page) | 49 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 32 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 14 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 13 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 6 |
4crashes
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Jeep Cherokee we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 49.
Owners have filed 49 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Air Suspension Components Star Parts Catalog has been updated to show individual service parts for the compressor assembly. This will allow service technicians to repair the root cause without over repairing the system. Replace only the part deemed failed by the diagnostics performed. Individual parts include: - Compressor - Valve block - Individual hoses - Temp sensor - Shield - Air line clips NOTE: in most situations when a new compressor is needed, the compressor as a separate part is the correct repair, and the assembly would not be required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Front Of Vehicle Lateral Vibration During Low Speed Acceleration This bulletin involves replacing both front half shafts. The customer may describe a lateral wiggle, wobble, shake, shimmy, or shudder type vibration in the vehicle while accelerating at low speeds, typically between 16-32 kph (10-20 mph).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Rear trailing arm/link. Customer noise issue due to loose trailing link If a trailing link is damaged or noisy, please call Steve Lin at Cell 909-569-5117 prior to removing the part. If you do not hear from us within 15 minutes please continue with the repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Rear trailing arm/link.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Cherokee suspension shows a dominant pattern: front-end wobble and shimmy on acceleration from a stop or during low-speed gear transitions, especially turning. This occurs as early as 1,300 miles and persists even after dealers replace axles, control arms, engine mounts, and transmission computers. Dealers sometimes claim the wobble is normal for the model; one owner at a lemon-law hearing was told all 2014 Cherokees on the dealer lot have it.
Owners who tow flat behind motorhomes report violent, uncontrollable death wobble and side-to-side veering at any speed, creating safety hazards. One owner's aluminum frame welds—where the tow bar attaches—completely failed after 40 miles of towing, a critical structural defect.
Suspension hardware fractures without warning: control arms and lower ball joints fail, in one case causing complete front suspension disconnection while driving at normal highway speed. One owner's rear tire lost traction during a parking maneuver, causing involuntary sideways slide and crash.
Transmission issues dominate early mileage, with hesitation, grinding, hard shifts, and complete power loss requiring replacement by 30,000–44,000 miles. Even replaced transmissions slip, burn smell, leak fluid, or catch fire. A suspension recall (14V392000) sat incomplete for months in multiple cases because parts were unavailable.
Alignment goes out repeatedly, forcing four-wheel alignment at each oil change; one owner wore two complete tire sets in a single year. Strut bushings crack and dry, producing noise on turns.
Same Jeep Cherokee suspension reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Front-end wobble/shimmy on acceleration and low-speed starts
Owners report a pronounced wobble, shimmy, or vibration in the front end occurring when accelerating from a stop, during first-to-second gear transitions, or turning at low speeds. The issue persists or recurs even after axle and suspension component replacement. One dealer told owners this is normal for the model; another said all 2014 Cherokees on their lot have it.
When: Most common at 1,300–6,000 miles; some reports at higher mileage during towing. Typically occurs when shifting into lower gears or accelerating from standstill.
Symptoms owners cite: Front-end wobble/shimmy on acceleration from stop; Vibration felt in steering wheel and floor/gas pedal; Wobble worsens or continues after component replacement; Hard clunk or jerky sensation during gear transitions; Wobble stops after shifting into 3rd gear or reaching ~20 mph
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light (unspecified codes), Service Transmission Light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced front axles (both sides on some vehicles), rear axles, rear engine mount (torque strut), CV shafts, isolator bushings, transmission wiring harness, and transmission computer without resolving the issue. Multiple reprogramming attempts also failed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some dealers claimed the wobble is normal operating characteristic of the 2014 model. Chrysler regional rep reportedly told owner to change driving habits. No permanent fix or recall issued for this specific symptom.
Death wobble during towing
Owners who tow the vehicle flat behind a motorhome report severe, uncontrollable vibration or violent side-to-side sway. Veering occurs at any towing speed and is described as a safety hazard with potential for serious injury or death. The vehicle must come to a complete stop for the motion to cease.
When: Occurs while vehicle is being flat-towed; some reports describe it starting immediately, others after the vehicle has been warmed up.
Symptoms owners cite: Severe front-end wobble while towed; Violent side-to-side veering/swaying while towed; Veering stops only when vehicle comes to complete stop; Uncontrollable vibration at any towing speed
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported transmission wiring harness replacement with updated wiring and transmission computer resolved limp-mode and warning lights, though wobble may have persisted. Other cases noted dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep notified in multiple cases but took no corrective action. One case notes manufacturer stated they would research the concern but no resolution documented.
Structural/frame failure on towing
An owner discovered that after towing the vehicle 40 miles behind a motorhome, the aluminum frame welds to which the tow bar attaches had completely failed on both sides. This represents a critical safety issue as the vehicle could have separated during highway towing with little warning.
When: Discovered after 40-mile tow; vehicle had been stopped when problem was found.
Symptoms owners cite: Broken welds on aluminum frame (both sides where tow bar attaches); Frame pieces separated at weld points; No audible warning before catastrophic failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided; owner documented with photographs and reports a PDF attachment detailing the defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes the front-wheel wobble (death wobble) may have contributed to frame failure as a secondary design flaw.
Suspension component fracture/disconnection
Owners experience sudden failure of suspension components including control arms and lower control arm bushings fracturing, and one case of complete front suspension disconnection while driving, causing loss of power and the vehicle to become stuck in gear.
When: Reports range from 56,000 to 180,000 miles. One occurred while turning left at a stop light; another during normal highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Control arm fractures during turning; Driver-side front wheel turned completely to the left involuntarily; Complete front suspension disconnection; Loss of motive power; Vehicle stuck in gear; Rattling in front end over bumps; Lower ball joint failure
Repairs/costs cited: Control arm fracture case was towed but not diagnosed or repaired by dealer. Lower ball joint failures mentioned; one owner cited 56,000 miles as failure point and took vehicle to Jeep dealer for diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented in provided narratives.
Wheel/tire traction loss and unintended vehicle motion
One owner backing into a parking space experienced rear-left tire loss of traction, causing the vehicle to slide sideways and strike a parked car. Subsequent investigation suggested a possible Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system flaw. Another report describes the vehicle starting to roll backward unintentionally on a hill.
When: During parking maneuver on slightly inclined street and during hill stop; one instance of car rolling backward after stalling.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear tire loses traction during backing/low-speed maneuver; Vehicle slides sideways involuntarily; ESC light illuminates and remains on after incident; Steering wheel becomes more crooked post-incident; Rear left wheel appears bent
Codes mentioned: ESC Light (illuminated, does not extinguish)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported rubbing noise and steering wheel play to dealer prior; dealer fixed steering wheel but issues persisted. Rear left wheel appeared bent. Vehicle towed to dealer but they refused to inspect until accident damage was repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Transmission failure and post-replacement malfunction
Multiple owners experience transmission failures with hesitation, hard shifts, jerking, grinding, inability to shift properly, or complete power loss. Even after dealership transmission replacement, new transmissions exhibit slipping, improper shifting, or burning smell. In one extreme case, a replaced transmission caught fire.
When: Early in vehicle ownership (30,000 miles and lower in multiple cases); failures also reported at 44,000 miles and higher mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission hesitation when accelerating; Hard, loud, or grinding shifts; Inability to upshift/downshift appropriately; Transmission slipping after replacement; Burning smell from transmission; Smoke/flame from engine compartment after new transmission installed; Transmission fluid leak (tight transmission lines); Vehicle limps or enters limp mode; Jerky acceleration or sudden jolts into gear
Codes mentioned: Service Transmission Light, Check Engine Light, TCM (Transmission Control Module) fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced transmissions multiple times in some vehicles (2–3 replacements); reprogrammed TCM 3–4 times. One owner attempted self-repair by tightening transmission lines after manufacturer refused service for 15 days. Post-replacement transmissions exhibited same or worse symptoms; one caught fire requiring extinguishing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler corporate stated owner could not drive vehicle after transmission fire and told owner to leave it untouched. Case pushed to legal department; no loaner vehicle or timeline provided. Some owners report Chrysler closed cases without solutions citing recalls already completed despite ongoing issues.
Vibration and shaking during normal driving
Owners report vibrations and shaking while accelerating, at highway speeds, in traffic, and during various driving conditions. Multiple reports describe the vehicle as feeling unsafe or like it may leave them stranded.
When: Reported at low mileage and throughout vehicle ownership; some triggered at 15–20 mph, others at 25–65 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration/shaking on acceleration from stop; Highway vibration/instability; Vibration while turning; Vibration while towing; Severe vibration on uneven road surfaces; Overall unstable highway feel, swaying side-to-side
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light, Service Transmission Light
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers unable to diagnose root cause in several cases. Some owners received software updates with no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some cases noted manufacturer was notified but took no action. One regional Chrysler representative drove vehicle and hung up on owner, stating vibration is normal.
Axle boot leak and damaged axles
Front-end axle boots leak, and owners report subsequent shake/vibration on acceleration and turning. Even after replacement of both front axles, vibration persists.
When: Early in ownership in some cases; described with transmission limp-mode occurring at low speeds.
Symptoms owners cite: Front-end axle boot leak; Shake/vibration on acceleration; Shake/vibration on right turns; Transmission enters limp mode; Check Engine and Service Transmission lights illuminate; Shake persists even after both axles replaced
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light, Service Transmission Light
Repairs/costs cited: Both front axles replaced; shake continued. Transmission wiring harness and transmission computer subsequently replaced, resolving limp-mode and warning lights but shake may have persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed shake is a characteristic of 2014 model Cherokee ('all of them have it on their lot'), refusing to fix. Customer engaged lemon law action.
Recall unavailability and delay (14V392000 suspension recall)
Multiple owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 14V392000 (Suspension) but were unable to have repairs completed for extended periods because parts were unavailable. Dealers offered no timeline for parts arrival, and manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframes.
When: Recall notices sent September 2014 and later; delays extending 5+ months in documented cases.
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to schedule or complete recall repair; No parts available; No estimated parts arrival timeframe provided; No failure experienced but repair cannot be completed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers ordered parts but none arrived. Multiple owner contacts to manufacturer and dealers yielded no resolution or timeline.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V392000 (Suspension); no parts available for repair. Manufacturer did not provide timeline or alternative support.
Alignment and tire wear
Owner reports excessive and rapid tire wear, requiring new tires twice in one year (2018), and needing four-wheel alignment at every oil change. Dealership service advisor notes this is abnormal.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership; two complete tire sets worn in 2018 alone.
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive tire wear; Frequent loss of rear wheel alignment; Rear alignment goes out repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Requires four-wheel alignment with each oil change; two tire replacements in single year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; dealership service advisor noted excessive wear is abnormal.
Strut bushing deterioration
Front strut bushings dry up and begin to fail, producing noise when turning. Owner concerned about safety of family.
When: Early in vehicle operation on city roads.
Symptoms owners cite: Noise when turning; Front strut bushings drying up; Cracked bushings
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Four-wheel drive system inoperative
Four-wheel drive selection system becomes completely inoperative on at least one vehicle.
When: Condition present at time of report.
Symptoms owners cite: Four-wheel drive selection system inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Transmission fails to shift into 9th gear
Nine-speed automatic transmission does not shift into 9th gear automatically or in manual mode; tachometer does not drop to indicate higher gear ratio despite manual selection.
When: Condition present during operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fails to shift into 9th gear automatically; Manual 9th gear selection does not function; Tachometer does not indicate gear change in 9th
Codes mentioned: #RRT14-040
Repairs/costs cited: Software flashed twice; no improvement. Code reader shows same problem even after update completion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software update attempted (RRT14-040 flash) twice without resolution.
Synthesized from 49 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2014 Jeep 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 suspension problem on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 49 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 6,184 and 56,000 miles, with the median around 25,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,184; a quarter make it past 56,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2014/Jeep/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.