Performance Issues

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Jeep Cherokee. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

CONDITION	POSSIBLE CAUSES	EVALUATION/CORRECTION
STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER	1. Front toe is out of adjustment.	1. Perform wheel alignment. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE .
VEHICLE PULLS LEFT OR RIGHT	1. The center position of the column does not match the center position of the vehicle alignment.	1. Perform wheel alignment. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE .
	2. Suspension components are bent and/or damaged.	2. Inspect suspension components for damage.
STEERING WHEEL OR COLUMN HAS FREE-PLAY/LASH/LOOSENESS (CLUNKING OR RATTLING)	1. Loose coupling pinch bolt at gear input shaft.	1. Check pinch bolt torque. Replace pinch bolt with thread locker patch and tighten to specifications.
	2. Steering gear loose on cradle/crossmember.	2. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications.
	3. Excessive free-play or noise from steering column bearings.	3. Replace steering column. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .
	4. Excessive intermediate (steering) shaft coupling U-joint free-play.	4. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while watching coupling. Observe for free-play. Replace the column as necessary. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .
	5. Loose or worn inner tie rod or outer tie rod.	5. For evaluation and correction. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
	6. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged.	6. Test and replace ball joint as necessary.
	7. Excessive lash inside steering gear.	7. Disconnect intermediate shaft and turn steering gear input shaft. Observe for any movement without a corresponding tire movement. Replace steering gear as necessary.
STEERING WHEEL HAS FORE AND AFT LOOSENESS	1. Steering wheel retaining bolt loose.	1. Check steering wheel retaining bolt torque and tighten to specifications as necessary.
	2. Loose steering column to instrument panel fasteners.	2. Check steering column to instrument panel fastener torque and tighten to specifications as necessary.
STEERING WHEEL, DASH OR VEHICLE VIBRATES DURING STEERING MANEUVERS (ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED OR STANDSTILL)	1. Tire(s) not properly inflated.	1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure.
	2. Excessive engine vibration.	2. Ensure that the engine is tuned properly.
	3. Loose tie rod end jam nut.	3. Check torque and tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to specifications.
	4. Grounded, damaged or loose engine mount.	4. Visually inspect for damaged or misaligned mounts. Check fastener torque. Replace or realign as necessary.
	5. Loose or worn outer tie rod.	5. For evaluation and correction. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
	6. Steering gear noisy.	6. During a parking event at 0 mph, verify there is vibration only with steering. Steer in both directions and verify that the noise follows the steering input. Check TSBs for any known issues. Replace steering gear as necessary.
	7. Steering gear has instability, shudder, etc.	7. Perform EPS calibration procedures. If this does not fix the issue, replace the steering gear.
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT/STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION	1. Tire(s) not properly inflated.	1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure.
	2. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged.	2. Test and replace ball joint as necessary.
	3. Steering knuckle binding.	3. Disconnect the outer tie rod end from knuckle and then rotate knuckle. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, REMOVAL . If the knuckle does not rotate freely separate the strut from the knuckle to determine if the ball joint or strut mount bearing is the cause of the binding and replace components as necessary. Refer to STRUT, SUSPENSION, ASSEMBLY, REMOVAL or refer to ARM, LOWER CONTROL, REMOVAL .
	4. EPS steering not functioning.	4. Perform EPS calibration procedures. If this does not fix the issue, replace the steering gear.
	5. Steering column internal issue.	Do not turn past two revolutions. Damage to the clockspring may occur. Always rotate steering column back to initial position. Steering column is equipped with an absolute position sensor that has a unique zero position. 5. Disconnect the intermediate shaft and rotate steering column. If condition is still present, replace steering column. Refer to COLUMN, INSTALLATION .
	6. Binding outer tie rod.	6. For evaluation and correction. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
	7. Improper front wheel alignment.	7. Check and adjust wheel alignment as necessary.
EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL KICKBACK FROM ROAD INPUTS	1. Steering gear loose on cradle/crossmember.	1. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications.
	2. Steering column, coupling or intermediate shaft worn or loose.	2. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while inspecting intermediate shaft going into steering gear. Look for excessive free-play. Retighten if loose bolt is found. Replace steering column if necessary. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .