Gain Insight Into Grand Cherokee Shaking Issues

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee has been a popular SUV choice for many years due to its styling, practicality, and the brand associated with the vehicle’s longevity. However, in recent years these vehicles have reported more issues, and their durability has come into question. One issue which Grand Cherokee owners often report is a vibration or shaking at higher speeds. While someone might expect a bit of a vibration in a Jeep Wrangler on the interstate, when a Grand Cherokee shakes at highway speeds, there is a problem which needs to be addressed. If you are having an issue with your Jeep, our experienced team of automotive experts can help. We’re based in San Jose and we have technicians who have years of experience working with Grand Cherokees of all trim levels and year models. In the sections to follow, we will cover a few reasons why your vehicle might be shaking on the highway, and how we can help. Improper Alignment or Uneven Wear When you experience a vibration issue in your vehicle, the first logical place to check is the tires and wheels. If you haven’t been getting your tires rotated regularly (or if you have and it has been done improperly), the tread on the tires will wear unevenly. Over time, this uneven wear can present itself with shaking at higher speeds. A related issue stems from improper alignment. If a vehicle is out of line, it can veer to one side or the other while driving. This contributes to uneven wear, and can amplify the problem. Brake Rotor Damage/Misalignment If the tires are not unevenly worn and the vehicle is in line, another culprit can be the brake rotors. Brake rotors can become dirty, damaged, bent, or warped, and when they do they can put pressure on the wheels. Even if a brake rotor is off by a fraction of an inch, this can cause shaking, especially when the vehicle reaches higher speeds. When we check brake rotors, we can clean them and determine if the issue is due to damage or debris, and base our repair on the root cause. Electronic Stability Control Problems The two issues we mentioned, tire/alignment problems and brake rotor issues, both contribute to the root cause of shaking during high speed in the Grand Cherokee: issues with the vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. This electronic system is put in place to keep the vehicle running smoothly, however it often has the opposite effect. When you feel a vibration, sometimes it’s due to the ESC system taking over. Uneven wear or rotor issues often trigger the ESC to activate, which causes the shaking. Our Team Can Help Luckily, when the underlying issues are diagnosed and repaired by a trained professional, the ESC system can begin to work as intended again and the shaking can be limited or removed completely. If your Grand Cherokee is shaking at high speeds, come see us today for expert diagnosis, a complete repair, and friendly service along the way.