Towing a Jeep Cherokee Overland

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Automobile manufacturers are installing electronic power steering (EPS) on their cars nowadays. This includes some models that are marketed at “Towable”. This has caused some models to be unsafe with the EPS unpowered while towing and prone to steer tires wobbling as there is no hydraulic dampening in the steering mechanism. After many instances of steer tire wobble and complaints by Jeep Cherokee owners, Fiat Chrysler America (FCA) has provided a kit to allow the EPS to stay powered while the Jeep Cherokee is being towed.

After much investigation and gathering of information regarding its tow ability, we purchased a new 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland in September of 2016. This is the latest of five Jeeps we have owned over the years due to their ease in towing behind our coach. The information we gathered and the Jeep dealer’s insistence that the wobble issue had been resolved on all Cherokees manufactured after March of 2016 convinced us to go ahead and purchase our Jeep because it was manufactured later in June of that year.

We towed the Cherokee all around the country or about 7,000 miles without experiencing any issues. It tracked beautifully behind the coach. A few weeks ago, we were starting a new touring schedule and about 20 miles from home we experienced violent shaking of the rear of the coach. A quick glance at the rear-view camera showed the front wheels of the Cherokee fully turning rapidly from left to right.
Fortunately, we were traveling about 30mph and were able to get stopped before the violent action damaged the Jeep or the towbar. Calling around to several Jeep dealers and searching the internet about the issue produced four separate Service Bulletins. They are:

Service Bulletin Number: 08-040-18, Group: 08-Electrical, Date: March 13,2018
http://www.wk2jeeps.com/Misc/Cherokee/KL...010_17.pdf

Service Bulletin Number: 08-010-17, Group: Electrical, Date: January 28,2016

Service Bulletin Number 08-029-16 REV.A, Group: Electrical, Date: April 26, 2016

Service bulletin Number: 08-29-16, Group: Electrical: Date: March 17,2016

A phone call to Jeep Customer Service resulted in FCA’s approval to pay for the installation of the # K6862569 kit as a good-will gesture. The service bulletin specifically notes (in fine print) that it is not an authorization for repair. Many Jeep Cherokee owners have had the flat tow kit installed at their own expense. The cost ranging from $300 to $800 depending on the dealer used.

We were told the installation of the kit was simply a wire around to allow the EPS to stay powered when towing. We were quite surprised when we picked up the car at the dealers to find that it added complications to the procedure used to prepare the Jeep for towing and that a battery charger needs to be used to keep the battery charged while towing for more than 3 hours. Also, a toggle switch was installed in the center console and an in-line fuse holder added under the hood. Here’s the added-on procedure now needed to set up the Jeep to tow. What a P.I.A.!!



It seems to me that if the Jeep was marketed as “Towable” then FCA should stand behind their product and absorb the expense to make it “Towable”. Without the kit installed, it is not safe to tow the Jeep Cherokee models referenced in the FCA Service Bulletins.