The defect
DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE FRAME, A FILLET WELD THAT JOINS THE INNER STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT TO THE FRAME RAIL, WAS OMITTED.
The risk
DUE TO HIGH STEERING LOAD EVENTS, VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT BROKEN STEERING GEAR ATTACHING BOLTS OR FRAME RAIL CRACKING AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHING POINT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR CRACKS IN THE FRAME RAIL. VEHICLES THAT SHOW CRACKS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH REINFORCEMENT PLATES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO BE FREE OF CRACKS WILL HAVE A SLOT CUT IN THE CROSS MEMBER AND THE FILLET WELD WILL BE ADDED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Jeep Cherokee | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Cherokee | 1993 | 418 | 3 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 1994 | 519 | 5 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 1995 | 608 | 6 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 1996 | 447 | 6 |
Other steering recalls in 1997
14 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the steering; CHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 640 campaigns in all.
| 97V191000 1 Nov 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V181000 20 Oct 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V177000 20 Oct 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 97V169000 7 Oct 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 97V165000 30 Sept 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V154000 12 Sept 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 97V138000 29 Aug 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V142000 29 Aug 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997