[Art]

This is another follow up outlining additional frustrations. Just when I think I have it all figured out I realize I do not. Additionally I know for certain that Jeep customer service knows less about my questions than I do. On top of that the dealer is struggling to find anyone, either in their store or at Jeep Chrysler that can provide answers.

The mechanical aspects of towing are done, work as intended, and are not an issue. What is an issue and what presents conflicting information is everything from various RV forums, to the Jeep/Chrysler owner’s manual to the instructions with the electronic power steering towing kit.

I was unaware when the kit is installed and operating properly the power steering is active and working. I was told by the dealer it only works as needed in response to sensor inputs to the wheels and various accelerometers. The intent is that when it is engaged, with the Jeep transfer case in neutral and ready to tow, the power steering works even with the engine off. Mine does not, despite explicitly following the kit instructions and my concern is if it is working I should be able to easily turn the wheel. Various internet RV sites offer opinions on how to get the power steering kit working for towing and those opinions vary and are in conflict with what the Jeep Chrysler instructions say.

The number of death wobble incidents continue to be reported, including some that describe serious damage to the RV and the Jeep GC if the rig cannot get stopped instantly. Jeep is not going to stand behind the warranty so it is critical that the Jeep GC gets the kit and that it works. I am sure mine is not working so in a couple of days I am taking it to the dealer, along with all the printed instructions and will insist I be shown how to make it work and verify it is working.

Related to that, after a day of towing the instructions are to shut the electric power steering kit off until travel is to resume the next day. There is no mention in the Jeep Chrysler manuals and instructions about how to turn the kit back to the “on” position, but on various forums owners state to get it working as intended for towing the entire elaborate multi-step procedure, putting the transfer case in neutral has to be repeated starting from scratch in order to get it working. Again, this is from opinions on a forum, not from Jeep.

Assuming I am able to get correct answers I need from the dealer regarding how to get the kit operating, it still leaves unanswered how to address the problem of the power steering requiring about 20 minutes to wake from a “sleep” after towing. There are conditions under which I need to unhook and move the Jeep immediately. I can say it is extremely difficult to move it, especially if some sharp turns are involved with the power steering “asleep”. Jeep even understands the lack of power steering is a safety issue and in their manual states immediate attention to fix a faulty power steering is required.

I cannot speak about other Jeep models, but until I can be confident my concerns are addressed the Jeep Grand Cherokee is not one I would ever suggest as a toad. If you own one and have not had the death wobble you are very fortunate, but from information on the internet when the death wobble occurs it is a very serious and potentially dangerous situation and the only way to deal with it is to stop the coach before it does serious and expensive damage to the RV, the RV hitch, tow bar, or the entire Jeep steering system.

[Bob]

“I was unaware when the kit is installed and operating properly the power steering is active and working. I was told by the dealer it only works as needed in response to sensor inputs to the wheels and various accelerometers. The intent is that when it is engaged, with the Jeep transfer case in neutral and ready to tow, the power steering works even with the engine off. Mine does not, despite explicitly following the kit instructions and my concern is if it is working I should be able to easily turn the wheel.”

That might not be a valid test of whether the EPAS is active or not. Just driving down the road under normal operations, EPAS can counteract road crown, steering pull, vibrations, etc. It is also the basis of active safety features such as lane keep assist, so it’s more than just power assist as it can actively steer the vehicle without driver input.

I am not familiar with this towing kit, but I would say that it is possible that the ECM responds to these “road input” sensors but the torque sensor in the steering column is being ignored. Perhaps an indicator light can be installed showing when the EPAS has power.

[Jerry]

An extensive test was done on the Jeep GC today at the dealer by the technician who is the only one in the entire dealership that understands the kit to keep the PS active and who has talked to the actual engineer who designed the kit, and who then fixed the design fault.

The dealer technician and I have known one another for at least 10 years and unlike the Jeep dealers or Jeep customer service whose only response to questions is “read the owner’s manual” he actually knows the system. He is a graduate engineer who would rather spin wrenches than work at a desk so he is very capable. When I presented him with my two questions today he didn’t blow me off, but got his computer with the Jeep software that enables him to see the systems, how they are operating, determine if there are any software changes or faults or codes. The initial determination is the Jeep and its systems are code free and up to date.

So following the towing set up procedure to the letter we put the transfer case in neutral and then activated the electric power steering kit. His computer was unable to show if the EPS was active. As he explained originally the kit does not activate the power steering at the steering wheel, but responds as required to inputs from towing to keep pressure on the system to prevent extreme shimmy. He has no way to tell if the kit is working, so there is no pre-trip procedure I can use to verify it is working. He agreed with me that is a problem.

Then I explained how after towing I have no power steering, we backed out of the towing set up following the procedure exactly as shown, he found the Jeep power steering was disabled. He went through various steps to see if he could activate it, and was unable. From experience I know it takes at least 20 minutes after towing to function. To rule out the EPS kit, we went through the procedure to put the Jeep in towing mode but did not activate the EPS. Again we backed out of towing mode, and again no power steering. We concluded the EPS kit has nothing to do with this problem. He had to restore the power steering to working condition via his Jeep computer software since there is no provision in the Jeep settings to do so, and the owner’s manuals are completely silent on this problem.

The salesman who was monitoring our efforts stated I am the only GC owner who has the kit and who has a problem towing. I pointed him toward several on-line sites in which hundreds of owners report the “death wobble” as well as the issue with the power steering remaining asleep after towing. He didn’t want to hear that and I suspect he would rather assume I am the only one with problems so he can sell Jeeps for towing. Unfortunately for him the technician stated the shimmy is serious having experienced it himself. It is a serious problem on a Cherokee, but the fact Jeep has a kit for Durangos and Grand Cherokees is an indication the problem is more widespread than the salesman is willing to admit.

The technician has contact at Jeep Chrysler with the individual responsible for solving technical problems so the company doesn’t have to buy back a lot of unrepairable products under the lemon law. He thinks that individual is likely to be able to address how to verify the kit functions and how to have power steering immediately after towing.

The dealer and I have done everything right. The kit was installed as recommended. the procedures for setting up for towing have been followed precisely to the steps listed in the owner’s manual and the instructions that came with the kit. We all know the manual and instructions are the only places we can rely on, despite some RV sites that list alternate methods to make things work, that are not right and have the potential to do some long term damage. Chrysler knows the power steering can be made to function in towing mode as it does under normal conditions, but it only wants it operating from towing inputs and not steering inputs.

Now as a result of today’s exercises everyone is confused and the technician is not only going to take this issue upstream in the Jeep Chrysler organization, he is going to repeat the tests we did on other 2021 Grand Cherokees to see if the power steering failure is the same on those vehicles, and not exclusive to mine.

[Archived]

What a pain, Jon. Sorry you are having such open ended issues with something that should be straight forward.

Jerry

[Ed]

As I enter the 4th week after having the dealer verify my issues still no answers. According to the Jeep dealership service manager the technician who has dealt with this from day one has been slowly moving up the food chain of engineering and technical people trying to get answers or someone to agree the Jeep Grand Cherokee has the potential to be a dangerous toad and that a fix is required.

When I as a customer complains, people like the salesman tend to blow me off as uninformed or lacking skills or knowledge to do thing right. But when the dealerships top technician verifies my horror story people actually start to listen.

I rattled everyone’s cage last week by letting the dealership know they may be giving me my money back because I might schedule appointments with as many dealers as necessary to provide a fix within a 100 mile radius. I will make sure I have enough failed service requests to comply with the lemon law. I guess I am a little pushy, but when another GC owner experienced a shimmy so bad the wheels of his GC were leaving the ground he experienced serious suspension and steering system damage to the GC, plus damage to the RV hitch. He never had the death wobble previously.

But without Jeep’s help I made some progress. On one of the RV forums a member posted a procedure he has used to have the power steering work immediately after getting out of towing mode and back into driving mode. I tried it, and it works. It involves going into the vehicle settings and changing a key off option. If that will work reliably that issue is solved. I will speak to my dealer tomorrow about this and see if this is an acceptable step or if it help Jeep understand what specific programming change will eliminate the problem.

If the fix works, either way, then my only remaining issue is to understand how as part of the pre-trip toad inspection I can verify the electric power steering kit for towing is working.

Should have kept the Hummer.

[AL]

Hey Roger, I think you can sell the Hummer back to Jon at a premium/

[Greg]

This situation regarding towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee has had more ups and downs than a see-saw. As I believed I was inching forward resolving using our GC as a toad apparently making progress in small steps the following post appears on IRV2:

“So I had the EPS harness installed last week. When activated the steering wheel was very hard to turn. I believe after reading the posts it should be easy just like driving with the engine on. So, I took it back and they traced the wiring to make sure it was correct. They called Mopar Tech Support for help. Tech Support said they just got a bulletin that said to stop selling the harness for 2021 GC. Now what. Is anyone having success towing their 2021 GC without the harness? Thanks”

The EPS harness kit was to keep the power steering system engaged to the extent necessary to prevent the “death wobble” but my experience with the kit was a nightmare, ranging from the kit not working as intended, to finding out after the fact it would drain the Jeep battery in 3 hours, then realizing there is no way to verify it is activated and working. Apparently my dealer who has been moving up the Jeep Chrysler food chain trying to address issues which also include the loss of power steering is now going to be even more frustrated as I am. The dealer is looking for the service bulletin and does not know how this new change will affect the ability to use a GC as a toad.

It should be understood not all Jeep Grand Cherokees being towed have yet had the death wobble so owners are clearly divided on whether the kit is needed or not. Those who have had the death wobble have described it as no big deal to a very scary event that has caused serious damage to the GC and RV.

[glen]

One of the serious issues I have encountered with the Jeep, now driven 2500 miles and towed 2000 is when going from tow mode to driving mode.

After months of effort by me and the dealer, both of us working up the Jeep food chain, I now have a clear understanding of the reason for the loss of power steering when returning to driving mode. If you have a GC and after towing you do not have power steering it is likely you are not taking some very critical steps in the right sequence.

Here is the procedure, not clearly defined in the owner’s manual to accentuate what specific steps need to be followed:

Before doing anything else, such as unhitching from the coach follow the procedure to take the transfer case out of neutral. Start the engine, put the transmission in neutral, and press the transfer case neutral button. When the transfer case is in the driving mode, put the transmission in park and shut off the engine. You likely will have to tap the engine start button twice after turning the engine off to put the GC in the “off” condition. Open the door and get out. Close the door.

Then in about three minutes which can be used to unhitch and disconnect cables and chains and the tow bar, you can get back in, start the Jeep and you will have power steering.

To the best of my knowledge if you deviate in the steps in any manner, such as letting the Jeep idle while you unhitch, or you leave the door open or you do not allow about three minutes to pass the Jeep will not “go to sleep” and it may take up to 45 minutes for power steering to be restored.

When the Jeep is put in driving mode and then the steps listed above are followed exactly as listed the Jeep “goes to sleep” and the on board computer starts a sequence of shutting down its operating systems. When I have lost power steering I did things that should not have been done, such as letting it idle as I unhitched or left the driver door open, or left the hatchback open so I could put hitch receivers or the aux brake actuator in the trunk. Those examples and any other deviations do not allow the Jeep computer to properly shut down systems and that prevents the power steering bus from going into its normal operating mode which is shut down when the transfer case is put in neutral.

I have not had a shimmy or death wobble when towing with the towing kit installed and activated. I have verified if the Jeep battery is not charged when towing the power steering kit for towing will drain the battery quickly.

[Bob]

Jon,

Any update on this our 2012 Towd died this week and a 2023 Jeep GC is on my short list. I recalled this thread and now not sure if I dare go down this path? Anyone else with a 2022 or 2023 GC with ot without issues?

Any other suggestions on a comparable Towd

Thank you

Bill

[Art]

Get a Wrangler Unlimited. Won’t find anything easier to tow or setup for towing. Many parts and pieces out there to make it easy to get it ready. Once hooked up all you have to do is put transfer case in N and transmission in P and shut it off.

I have had 3 now and they are great vehicles. Granted, not as plush as the GC, but still can be quite nice depending on options ordered.

[Billy]

I’m towing a 2022 Gladiator and it’s great. No steering lock or battery drain while towing, like Mark said, transfer neutral, tranny in park, ignition in off position, lock the doors and haul ass.

[John]

Thanks for the input. I test drove a bunch tonight and am leading towards the 2022 Ford Expedition. Anyone here with experience with that one?

Bill

[Art]

I purchased a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee summit reserve. Short wheel base model. It tows easily without any problems. So easy to get transfer case in and out of neutral. The new Jeep is night and day from the earlier models. Highly recommend.

[Jan]

Hi Dave –

Do you tow your GC Summit Reserve long distances? If so, any modifications made to it to do so? The dealer (who has a guy that seems to understand the flat towing game well) claims it is simple and straightforward and that the kinks that others are writing about have been resolved. He basically pushed a button with the end of a pencil eraser while the transmission in N and it went into 4-down tow mode. Said that everything else is automatic. Don’t want to make a $70K mistake on a TOAD. Trading off a very bumpy 2020 Gladiator for the GC-SR. Any input is appreciated!

Many thanks –

Mike & Debra

2004 Marathon H345 w/stacker (2020 Jeep TOAD)

Houston

[Alex]

See my post urging caution with a summit reserve. Important information