Jeep Grand Cherokee Complaints (1996)

893 consumer complaints on file.

#8001933October 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS WHILE IDLING IN PARK GEAR AND THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EXAMINE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10093512October 3, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AND DRIVERS DOOR POPS OPEN AND WON'T SHUT. HAVE TO PULL OVER IN A HURRY TO AVOID ACCIDENT. FOUND DOOR LATCH HANGING FROM DOOR FRAME. WEAK WELD OF LATCH HAD GIVEN WAY AND DOOR POPPED OPEN. VERY DANGEROUS. LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP COULDN'T HELP FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE AND SENT ME TO A BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP SAID THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM ON CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. THEY USE A CHEAP METAL AND WELDING TO ATTACH DOOR LATCH. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REFUNDED THE $1800 IT IS COSTING ME TO REPLAC THE ENTIRE DOOR. CAR IS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. I WOULD THINK THIS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091269September 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
ENGINE DID NOT RUN DUE TO FUEL TANK COATING COMING OFF. THIS COATING IS THERE TO PROVIDE ADDED ASSURANCE THAT THERE BE NO FUEL LEAK (AND A FIRE) IF THE PLASTIC WALL OF THE TANK LEAKS (ON ITS OWN OR AFTER A CRASH). THUS THERE IS A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD.*AK THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE TANK (EVEN AFTER 3 RECURANCES OF THE ENGNE RUNNING PROBLEM, DUE TO THE COATING COMING OFF THE TANK WALL AND CLOGGING THE FUEL FILTER AND - IN 1 CASE - EVEN THE FUEL PUMP). THEY, INSTEAD, FLUSH THE TANK (REMOVING EVEN MORE COATING) AND RE-INSTAL IT. I AM NOW USING A TANK WITH PROBABLY VERY LITTLE FIRE-PROTECTION COATING. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090016August 30, 2004
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE MAIN BOLTS SHEARING OFF FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088852August 30, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED WHICH I TOOK INTO THE SHOP FOR OPTIONAL MAINTENANCE WHILE I WAS AWAY ON VACATION. MERELY ONE DAY AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, MY POWER STEERING MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. I LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME IN A 35MPH ZONE, AND HAD NOT GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY AT THAT POINT. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT TO A POINT IN THE ROAD THAT CURVED IN AND GOT THE VEHICLE HAPHAZARDLY TO THE CURB WHERE I CALLED AAA. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD JUST DONE THE MAINTENANCE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THE STEERING BRACKET/PUMP COME FULLY AWAY FROM AN ENGINE BEFORE. NOT HAVING ANY OPTIONS, I HAD THEM REPAIR AND REPLACE WHATEVER PARTS WERE NECESSARY. BUT I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS HAPPENED, AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED INCLUDING ME. BECAUSE THIS IS (IN THE WORDS OF THE SERVICE MANAGER) AN "EXTREMELY RARE" OCCURANCE WHICH THEY HAD "NEVER SEEN BEFORE", I HAVE TO SUSPECT ONE OF TWO THINGS, 1. EITHER FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON THE PART OF JEEP, OR 2. TAMPERING BY THE MECHANIC TO CAUSE FAILURE. IF THIS OCCURED REGULARLY, THERE WOULD BE DEATH TOLLS IN THE THOUSANDS EVERY DAY FROM LOSING ALL STEERING ON ONE'S VEHICLE. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION ALSO CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO MY COOLING SYSTEM AND MY FAN COVER DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT COMING LOOSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THE BELT SPUN AROUND FREELY AT ABOUT 1000 RPMS ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN HE SUSPECTED THAT THIS WAS WHAT CAUSED THE OTHER DAMAGE, SO THE CAR WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895094July 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE GEAR. PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN HILL AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE/ TREE, AND STOPPED ON IMPACT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078591June 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITH FOOT ON GAS CAUSING POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITHOUT WARNING. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THIS ALSO OCURRED IN MARCH, 2003. THE SAME SENSOR WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN WITHOUT THIS SENSOR, AND THERE IS NO SAFTEY DEFAULT MODE PROVIDED TO THE COMPUTER TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING IF CRANK SENSOR CIRCUIT FAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075172June 10, 2004
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS HAVING BRAKE TROUBLE WITH THE CHEROKEE AND FOR A MONTH I KNEW I HAD TO GET BRAKE PADS ON MY TRUCK 1996 GRAND CHEROKEE. ON AUGUST 21, 2003 I WAS IN CAR ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT BE ABLE TO GAIN IT BACK I WENT UP ON TWO AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN THE TRUCK OVER THREE TIMES AND I CAME OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND LANDED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I DID HAVE ON MY SEAT BELT BUT CAME UP OUT OF IT. I THINK THE ROTORS MAY HAVE BEEN CORRDID AND HELPED WITH THE ACCIDENT MY SECOND CONCERN IS HOW I WAS ABLE TO COME OUT OF THE SEATBELT AND BECOME SEVERELY INJURED. I SHATTERED MY LEG AND HAD TO RELEARN TO WALK. I JUST WENT THROUGH MY SECOND SURGERY PERTAINING TO THIS ACCIDENT. WHAT STEPS DO I NEED TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE SEATBELT ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT IT DIDNT SECURE ME FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY HEAD STILL WENT INTO THE WINDSHILED AND I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY WERE TORN BY THE TIME THE TRUCK STOPPED ROLLED AND MY HEAD ISTILL WENT INTO THE WINDOWSHIELD AND WAS CUT UP BAD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074725June 3, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, I IMMEDIATELY HEARD A BANG FOLLOWED BY LOUD CLANGING UNDER THE HOOD. I BEGAN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND NOTICED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AT THIS POINT I ESTIMATED THAT THE BELT HAD BROKEN AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. ON EXAMINING UNDER THE HOOD THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY WAS VISIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE FAN. CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET WAS BROKEN INTO THREE PIECES. I ALSO HAVE ONE BOLT SHEERED OFF WITH THE STUD STILL STUCK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE ACQUIRED A REPLACEMENT PART BUT THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT BOLT WAS OUT OF STOCK. BEFORE REPAIRS CAN PROCEED, I WILL NEED TO DRILL THE EXISTING BOLT OUT, POSSIBLY HAVING TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER HEAD ASSY TO GAIN THE PROPER ACCESS. ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES RESULTED, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION AND THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED MY FAMILY MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT TIME THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067943April 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FOR YEARS WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR HEATING UP EVERY SUMMER. AS SOON AS THE AIR CONDITIONING GOES ON THE CAR HEATS UP. AND EVERY YEAR WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT. NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE A COPIES OF ALL OF OUR BILLS. IT'S HOT AGAIN AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059357April 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE VEHICLE'S FRONT ROTORS WERE STARTING TO PIT AND CORRODE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL # 00 V 136 000. *NM BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL REPAIR ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THEY'RE CLAIMING THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WAS NOT IN OHIO WHEN RECALL WAS ISSUED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065921April 11, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I HAVE A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 4X4 WHICH HAS HAD 5 FUEL PUMP MODULES AND ONE GAS TANK REPLACED SINCE 08.10.2000. THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF ANOTHER FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE DEALERS HAVE DIFFICULTY IN REPLICATING THE CONDITION. THE FUEL GAUGE IS PROVIDING FALSE READINGS; TYPICALLY GIVING AN EMPTY TANK READING WHEN FULL, 3/4 FULL OR 3/4 EMPTY. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM NUMEROUS OTHER GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS. I WOULD THINK THE MAKER/DEALER WOULD HAVE SPOTTED A TREND BY NOW OR IS OVERLOOKING IT BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED WITH FINDING A NEW VENDOR. ALL RECEIPT COPIES OF WORK PERFORMED CONCERNING THIS MATTER ARE INTACT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062983March 11, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BULBS THAT ILLIMINATED THE SWITCH ENABLING THE CONSUMER TO TURN ON THE FOG LIGHT, DIM THE PANEL LIGHT, AND LOCATE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, BURNT OUT. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AND UTILIZE THE COMPONENTS. THE BULBS COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR AFTER MARKET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070727January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY JEEP HAS BEEN REALLY LOUD FOR SOMETIME AND IS GETTING LOUDER. IT IS WHEN YOU START IT UP (REALLY BAD) AND THE WHOLE TIME IT'S RUNNING. I ASK MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID TO TRY A HEAT RISER. WHEN WE WENT TO THE JEEP DEALER TO ORDER IT, THE PARTS GUY SAID WE COULD TRY THE HEAT RISER, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY IT WAS A CRACKED/BUSTED MANIFOLD. WHEN WE LOOKE, THE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED IN TWO OR THREE PLACES. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS IN MY AREA...THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING....MANIFOLDS ON THESE JEEPS ARE BAD ABOUT CRACKING. THE MANIFOLD LISTS FOR $431 AND THEY SAY ABOUT $200 TO PUT ONE IN. PLUS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S NO GOOD TO FIX THE ONE FROM THE MANUFACTURER BY WELDING IT, BECAUSE IT WILL CRACK AGAIN. THE SUGGESTION I AM GETTING IS TO BUY A NEW AFTERMARKET MANIFOLD...ALL THE MECHANICS SAY THEY WORK BETTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE 2 PIECES ON THEM THAT GIVE FOR EXTRA SUPPORT. I THINK THIS IS REALLY SAD. ONE SINGLE MECHANIC IN THE SMALL TOWN I LIVE IN HAS REPLACED AT LEAST 5 IN THE PAST YEAR. I THINK THIS IS OVERWHELMING! THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THIS PART TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068723January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
SECOND GEAR IS SLIPPING. SOME OF THE SEALS ARE LEAKING. ONE OF THE GEARS ARE STRIPPED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053250January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ONLY BLOWS HOT AIR. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. THEY CHECK THE SYSTEM AND FILL ALL THE FLUIDS, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053660January 8, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOESN'T CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. THIS IS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049748December 15, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ON DECEMBER 12, 2003, FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS, THE FUEL PUMP ON OUR JEEP FAILED. IN DISCUSSING THE FAILURE WITH TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEN WITH OUR LOCAL JEEP DEALER, I WAS ADVISED THAT JEEP HAD DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK FOR THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO CORROSION WHEREBY MINUTE PARTICLES FLOAT IN THE TANK AND CAN TRAVEL INTO THE FUEL PUMP (THE FILTER THAT JEEP PUTS IN THESE CARS IS NOT DESIGNED TO TRAP THESE SMALL PARTICLES) CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO FREEZE. I WAS ADVISED BY THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THAT A TSB WAS ISSUED IN 1997 REGARDING THIS FAILURE (I BELIEVE IT IS TSB 140697). I NOTE THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 42 REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT JEEP HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049121December 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED, WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE IT'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED AND LEAKS EXHAUST GASES. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON AMONG GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS WITH THE 6 CYLINDER, 4 L ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO A STRESS CRACK THAT DEVELOPED FROM UNEVEN EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THE LOCAL JEEP/CHRYSLER DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PART FAILS IN ALMOST ALL 6 CYLINDER JEEP CHEROKEES AND THAT THE PRESENT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE REDESIGNED NOT TO BREAK FROM STRESS CRACKS FROM NORMAL HEATING. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM, HAS REDESIGNED IT, AND IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE SAFETY FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT EXPENSE FOR THIS SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE IS VERY HIGH. ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD BY THE DEALER IS $1100 TO $1200. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF GRAND CHEROKEES WITH THE 6 CYL., 4 L., ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SAFETY DEFECT FROM A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS IS MY THIRD JEEP AND FOR THE PRICE PAID I EXPECTED HIGHER QUALITY AND A SAFER VEHICLE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10050084December 3, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING IN DRIVEWAY. *MR THE VEHICLE STRUCK A LARGE TREE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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