Jeep Cherokee Complaints (1996)

447 consumer complaints on file.

#10546603October 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE LEAVING HOME FROM WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND FAIL. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AT A SPEED OF 40MPH SINCE I NOTICED THAT AT A HIGHER SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRY TO STALL. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS THRU CELL PHONE TO SHAKE A BIT THE CABLES TO COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND CABLES TO DISTRIBUTOR COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE TURNED ON BUT WITH PROBLEMS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE CHEROKEE WAS LEFT FOR TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED A FAULTY COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AT A CROSS ROAD AND TURNED OFF. A TRUCK NEARLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT ON TIME. THE MECHANIC HAD TO SHOW UP AT THE SITE AND HAD SOME PROBLEMS STARTING THE CHEROKEE. THE DIAGNOSTICS, ANOTHER BLOWN COMPUTER. THE MECHANIC ORDERED ANOTHER COMPUTER WITH UPGRADE (HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH) ORIGINAL CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS ADDED. ALL SEEMED TO WORK WELL UNTIL YESTERDAY OCT/2/2013 WHEN I WENT OUT FOR A RIDE WITH MY SON AND THE CHEROKEE STALLED AND TURNED OFF. THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1,000.00 TRYING TO GET MY JEEP CHEROKEE TO RUN PROPERLY AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT TO THE STREET. I HAVE A FAMILY OF 4 AND I WORRY THAT THE CHEROKEE WOULD FAIL ME BY STALLING AGAIN AT A CROSSROAD CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. ALL CABLES WERE CHECKED FOR SHORTS BUT NOTHING SOLVES THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RECALL SEARCH BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL ALTHOUGH SOME JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE USERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR THEIR 4.0L ENGINE (MY JEEP CHEROKEE IS ALSO 4.0L) COINCIDENCE? I LOVE MY CHEROKEE BUT FEEL THAT I CAN'T RELY ANYMORE ON IT AS FOR SAFETY. HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS WITHOUT PROBLEMS THE FIRST 5 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543056September 11, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 4:30 AM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN CAME BACK ON, SEVERAL TIMES, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, WE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND IT APPEARED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER CONDUCTING A WEB SEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL BE INJURED BEFORE THIS DEFECT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542606September 9, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
CHEROKEE BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS RECENTLY AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS AT 55 MPH. SHAKING WOULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SUBSIDE UNTIL CAR WAS PULLED OVER. SHAKING SO VIOLENT IT CAUSED AN EXHAUST LEAK. NEVER AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY - SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519511June 12, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A COMPLETE STOP, A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A FOREGOING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK LOCATION COULD BE A GREATER DANGER IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REAR END CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10513044May 21, 2013
SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ALL OF A SUDEN THIS VERY BAD SHAKING PROBLEM HAS OCCURED AT ABOUT 50 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. MY CETIFIED ASE MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A WEEK NOW - NO LUCK SO FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508430April 16, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ON A SLICK SURFACE, AS IT WAS RAINING, LIGHTLY. THE PERSON DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT AT A YELLOW LIGHT AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES. MY BRAKES FAILED AND I CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE, MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND MY FRONT END WAS SMASHED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TOTAL. MY BRAKES SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO - WORK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10487514December 6, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SO I PULLED OVER TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND REALIZED I WAS LEAKING OIL PROFUSELY. THEN I REALIZED THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE ENGINE CAUSING A LARGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE, CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES, AND THEN THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE MOTOR MOUNT TO BREAK, SO WHY WOULD IT BREAK FOR NO REASON? ANYWAYS, THE LEAKING OIL CAUSED A FIRE BENEATH MY VEHICLE, AND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BUT I QUICKLY PUT OUT THE FIRE BY A CONTAINER OF WATER I HAD IN MY VEHICLE. I HAD MY 13 YEAR OLD BROTHER WITH ME AND THANK GOD HE OR MYSELF WAS NOT INJURED. BUT IT CAUSED US GREAT FEAR AND STRESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461923June 15, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SPORADIC GAS LEAK FROM FUEL PUMP HOOKUP ON GAS TANK AT STARTUP. COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED EXCEPT AT RANDOM OCCURRENCES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456075April 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITH TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS (WHICH IS TOO SMALL FOR THE AMPERAGE) IN THESE VEHICLES INVARIABLY HEATS UP AND MELTS OR BURNS. THE MELTING OF THE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR BEHIND THE BLOWER SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE DASH AND THE BURNING OF THE SWITCH ITSELF OCCURED IN MY VEHICLE, ALLONG WITH THE FAILURE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BUT IN MANY VEHICLES THE RESISTOR IS THE FIRST TO BURN AND FAIL. I HAVE LOOKED AT OVER 20 OF THESE VEHICLES RANGING FROM 1991 TO 1996, AND 30000 TO 220000 MILES, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE ONE THEM HAD THESE COMPONENTS MELTED AND BURNED TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING USABLE, AND MAKING ONE WONDER HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED ASSOCIATED WIRES BURNED OR MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. AN ASSOCIATED SYMPTOM IS THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR CEASES TO FUNCTION, OR (IN THE CASE OF RESISTOR FAILURE, WILL USUALLY WORK ONLY ON HIGH SPEED). THIS SHOWS A DEFECT THAT MAY TAKE TIME TO MANIFEST, BUT WILL ALWAYS OCCUR EVENTUALLY IN EVERY VEHICLE UNLESS THE BLOWER IS NEVER USED. THE BLOWER SWITCH TO RESISTOR WIRING HARNESS AND SWITCH CONNECTOR/PLUG ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABLE FROM DEALERS, BUT THE SWITCH ITSELF AND THE RESISTOR ARE AVAILABLE AS AFTERMARKET ITEMS. HOWEVER, IF REPLACED, THESE WILL FAIL TOO, UNLESS THE WIRING IN THIS CIRCUIT IS REPLACED WITH HEAVIER GUAGE WIRING OR SOMEHOW PROTECTED FROM HIGH AMPERAGE. AS EVIDENCED BY HUNDREDS OF RELATED COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET FORUMS, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRES, AND POTENTIALLY LOSS OF LIFE. LUCKILY MY FIRE WAS MINOR, DID LITTLE DAMAGE AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO RESOLVE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM PROPERLY, SINCE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL SOONER OR LATER DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AVAILABLE AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE NOT IMPROVED OVER THE ORIGINALS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453707April 1, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. STALLS ON FREEWAY OR IN CITY DRIVING. THIS IS AN INFAMOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON 96 JEEPS. VERY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE ENGINE CUTS OUT COMPLETELY WHILE IN MOTION. REQUIRES PULLING OVER WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING TO RESTART ENGINE. JEEP THEN WILL REPEATEDLY DIE AFTER RE-STARTING. SINCE ENGINE DIES WHILE IN MOTION, CARS BEHIND ARE IN REAL DANGER OF COLLIDING WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX WITH NORMAL MECHANICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING. ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN ONLINE BLOGS FOR JEEPS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM WITH STALLING WHILE IN MOTION POSES A GREAT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. JEEP/CHRYSLER IS AWARE AND DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440457December 19, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE FRONT AXLE IN PLACE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD NO BUMPER AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES IF THERE WAS A CRASH. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT ARMS FOR THE AXLE WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE FRONT AXLE BRACKETS, SUPPORT ARMS, AND INSTALL A NEW BUMPER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440194December 16, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING UNIT WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE HEATING FAN HAD FAILED AND A SMALL FIRE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,275.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417210August 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED ON HIGH, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE SMOKE FROM EMITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,015.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373514December 30, 2010
TIRES
PRIMEWELL TIRES SOLD AT FIRESTONE ARE ADVERTISED AS ALL SEASON. I BOUGHT THESE TIRES IN FEB 2010. ON DEC 26TH 2010, WE HAD A SNOWSTORM IN HAMPTON AREA. I HAD TO GO OUT AND FOUND OUT THE TIRES HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRACTION ON SNOW. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS FOR WINTER CONDITIONS. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. ON THE WAY HOME, I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN ALL FOUR TIRES LOSS TRACTION DUE TO A 15 TO 20 MPH WIND AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THE NEXT DAY I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH KELLY EXPLORER TIRES AND HAD NO TROUBLE NEGOTIATING THE SNOW. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE PULLED FROM THE MARKET OR A WARNING GIVEN TO CONSUMERS. THEY ALSO LOSE TRACTION ON WET ROADS EASILY. AS STATED, THEY ARE ADVERTISED AS " TIRES DELIVER ALL-SEASON TRACTION ". *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357196September 23, 2010
SEAT BELTS
FRONT END COLLISION WITH BRIDGE. PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT CATCH TO RESTRAIN PASSENGER. PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE FACIAL AND CLOSED HEAD INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10348616August 11, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO DROP THREE INCHES. WAS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329912May 11, 2010
SEATS
UNDERSIDE OF FRONT SEAT (METAL RAIL CONNECTING TO TRACKS) BROKE SUDDENLY NEAR RETAINING BOLTS ON BOTH FRONT CONNECTIONS. METAL WAS FLIMSY (1/8 IN OR SO) AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE REINFORCED AGAINST SHEAR (UP/DOWN) STRESS AT CONNECTION POINT TO ACCOMMODATE SEAT MOTION WHEN DRIVERS GOT INTO/OUT OF VEHICLE. I WAS JUST GETTING IN TO GO TO WORK WHEN IT FAILED, BUT IT COULD JUST HAVE EASILY HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC OR AT A TRAFFIC STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301780January 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE HEATER STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE SO WE BOUGHT A NEW BLOWER MOTOR. THEN WE BOUGHT A NEW RESISTOR. WE STILL COULD NOT GET THE SPEEDS TO WORK IN THE HEATER. SO WE THEN BOUGHT A SWITCH. WELL WE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE SWITCH HARNESS WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. I CALLED THE PARTS STORE AND THEY DON'T CARRY THEM, SO I THEN CALLED A DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DON'T JUST SELL THAT HARNESS I HAD TO BUY THE ENTIRE ONE FOR EVERYTHING IN THE JEEP. THEN TOLD ME TO GO CUT ONE OUT OF A JUNK YARD. I CALLED MY LOCAL JUNK YARD AND THE GUY WENT AND CUT THREE HARNESSES OUT. ONE THAT WAS A 1996, ONE THAT WAS A 1995, AND BOTH OF THE ENDS WERE BURNT JUST LIKE MINE. HE THEN CUT ONE OUT OF AN EVEN OLDER ONE, AND THE WIRES WERE THICKER THAN THE ONES ON MINE, AND DIFFERENT COLORS. I TRIED HOOKING IT UP AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY SHOULD ALSO SELL INDIVIDUAL HARNESSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294997December 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE I KEPT SMELLING BURNING PLASTIC. THE HEATER FAN QUIT AND WHEN I JIGGLED THE SWITCH IT STARTED TO OPERATE AT HIGH FAN ONLY AND WOULD NOT LET ME SET IT TO LOW. THEN IT QUIT WORKING AND I REMOVED THE SWITCH TO REPLACE IT. I FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF REPLACING THE SWITCH. I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN REPLACE THE MELTED PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH HAS 5 CONNECTIONS BUT ONLY 4 WIRES WERE CONNECTED TO IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284350September 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1996 JEEP CHEROKEE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE OF THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0774-91
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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