Jeep Cherokee Complaints (1996)

447 consumer complaints on file.

#10261448March 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY MOTHER-N-LAW PURCHASED A 1996 CHEROKEE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON . SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE EMISSION PLACE TO GET IT CHECKED AND IT FAILED THE TEST, SO SHE TOOK THE EMISSION PAPERS AND THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP , AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD TO HER , SO WHAT SHOULD SHE DO AT THIS POINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259533February 21, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
1. EARLY THIS YEAR, JUST AFTER THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY, '09, OUR '96 JEEP CHEROKEE (152K IN EXCELLENT CONDITION) BEGAN SHAKING OR WOBBLING VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 52 TO 56 MPH. ON INQUIRING IN A HANDFUL OF WEB SITES ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF JEEP CHEROKEE OWNERS AND OWNERS OF OTHER JEEP MODELS IN A BROAD RANGE OF MANUFACTURE DATES BETWEEN '86 AND AS RECENT AS '05. ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" OR "DEATH SHAKE". ADDITIONALLY, IN MY INTERNET RESEARCH, MANY JEEP OWNERS ATTEMPTING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES TO PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS INCLUDING CHRYSLER-JEEP DEALER/SERVICE CENTERS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED, SPEND HUNDREDS, IN SOME CASES WELL OVER A THOUSAND $, ONLY TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE RETURNED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE WOBBLE CONDITION. 2. WITH OUR JEEP, THIS WOBBLE HAS NOT SUBSIDED. IT HAPPENS ON EVERY OCCASION WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AS WE ACCELERATE UP TO THE 55 MPH RANGE. UPON ACCELERATION, AT APPROXIMATELY 51 TO 52 MPH A VIBRATION BEGINS, THEN UPON ACCELERATING AT 53 TO 55 MPH THE VIBRATION BECOMES A VIOLENT WOBBLE TO THE EXTREME THAT WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHEN WE HAD TO DECELERATE DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR LESS IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IF THERE IS A SAVING GRACE OUT OF THIS PROBLEM, IT IS THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE OUT OF THE WOBBLE BY GETTING BEYOND 55 MPH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN PHOENIX HIGHWAY DRIVING, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY. THOUGH' NOT IN EVERY INSTANCE AS DURING ACCELERATION, THE SAME CONDITION EXISTS @ 55 DURING DECELERATION AS WE EXIT THE HI-WAY. 3. THUS FAR, AS WE'VE READ AND HEARD OF SO MANY JEEP OWNERS SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AT A PROF. AUTO REPAIR CENTER WITH NO RESOLUTION, THE POSSIBLE REMEDY, AND AVOIDING HIGHWAY DRIVING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249786November 25, 2008
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SWAYED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE COLLISION CENTER AND WAS LABELED AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10249584November 23, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FLUID LINE CORROSION. IF IT CORRODES THROUGH, BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. LOSE REAR BRAKES. NO FAILURE YET. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248266November 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1996 CHEROKEE 4.0 HO 6 CYLINDER EXHAUST HEADER CRACKED AT COUPLER JOINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247561November 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1996 CHEROKEE 4.0 HO 6 CYLINDER EXHAUST HEADER CRACKED AT COUPLER JOINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238783August 18, 2008
STEERING
THE STEERING GEAR TO MY 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE FRAME RAIL WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT FIVE MILES PER HOUR. WHAT HAD HAPPEN IS THAT THE THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STEERING GEAR TO THE FRAME RAIL BROKE OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236692August 1, 2008
VISIBILITY
96 JEEP CHEROKEE HEATER FAN SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. FOUND SWITCH AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO BE MELTED. REPLACEMENT UNIT FROM JUNK YARD HAD EXACT SAME DEFECT. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231709June 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. IT IS A 2-DOOR VEHICLE WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE ENGINE MOUNT STUDS SHEARED OFF BETWEEN THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP CURED THE ISSUE. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE ON THE BAY BRIDGE BETWEEN OAKLAND, CA AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA. THE SECOND EVENT TOOK PLACE ON A BUSY STREET IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. I DROVE OVER AN AREA THAT LOOKED LIKE THE CITY HAD DONE SOME STREET WORK AND HAD FILLED THE AREA BACK IN WITH ASPHALT. THE DIVET FROM THIS WORK WAS INSIGNIFICANT AND CREATED A FEW INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD STREET CONCRETE AND THE NEW ASPHALT FILL AND THERE WAS NO EDGES. THE REPAIR WORK WAS CURVED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. THE BOLTS SHEERED OFF ON THE RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS VEHICLE IS HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE SHIFT CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 3RD - 5TH GEAR AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE IS STOCK AND NO AFTERMARKET ADD-ONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OR INFERIOR PARTS WERE USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225533April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT A SLOW ROLL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR THE ENGINE WILL IDLE DOWN THEN DIE. IT RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY BUT WILL STALL AGAIN UNLESS MORE THROTTLE IS GIVEN. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT MAKING IT HARD TO PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222857March 31, 2008
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
1996 JEEP CHEROKEE STEERING GEAR FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING GEAR FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET A SECOND TIME TO GET THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED WAS LISTED AS A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211162December 7, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT ONLY ONE OF FOUR RECALLS WERE FOUND IN THEIR SYSTEM THAT WERE COMPARABLE TO THEIR RECALLS. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP. SHE HAS REPLACED THIS UNIT THREE TIMES, TOTALING $1,000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COSTS AND STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 97V069000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,797. UPDATED 03/06/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192239June 1, 2007
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE UPPER AND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SHAKING HAD BECOME WORSE AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190105May 8, 2007
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE THREE RHD JEEP CHEROKEES AND THEY ARE FOR US POSTAL DELIVERY. 1994, 1995-, AND 996. I HAVE CALLED JEEP & CHRYSLER CORPORATION ASKING THEM IF MY VEHICLES ARE FMVSS CERTIFIED ,AND THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER ME. THEY SAID I NEED TO BE A SENATOR OR A CONGRESSMAN TO ASK THAT QUESTION?? I ASKED FOR RIGHT HAND DRIVE CRASH TEST INFORMATION, AND THEY HUNG UP THE PHONE. I E-MAILED THEM, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A CORPORATE ISSUE AND RHD JEEPS FOR DIDN'T NEED TO MEET SAFETY REGULATIONS?. I TALKED TO THE DOT, AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY RHD VEHICLES BUILT AND SOLD IN THE USA. WAS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE? THE DOT DIDN'TT KNOW? ONE WOMAN AT DOT ASKED ME WHAT SIDE OF THE ROAD DO WE DRIVE ON IN USA? THE EPA KNEW ABOUT THEM, BUT FOR SAFETY INFORMATION I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK TO DOT. CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182456February 13, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING HE PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESS AND PRESS IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. BECAUSE OF THIS THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113618, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114466.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182213February 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING, I KEPT SMELLING MELTING PLASTIC. IT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE IT WENT OUT. I LOOKED TO SEE SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND IT AND NEVER DID. IT WOUND UP BEING THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS MELTING. I DECIDED TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE HARNESS AND SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT FROM LOOKING AT 8 DIFFERENT JEEP CHEROKEES RANGING FROM 1986 -1997 THEY ALL HAD THE HARNESS AND SWITCH MELTED IN THEM. I THEN REALIZED IT WAS MORE THAN JUST MY JEEP THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180826January 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BEHIND THE 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE AT 60 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FLASHED THE LIGHTS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND BACKED AWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BURN, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175195December 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DUE TO BACK PRESSURE AND RATTLING IN THE ENGINE. ON AUGUST 25, 2006 THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. THE RECALL WAS NOT IN THE NHTSA DATABASE. THE CONTACT SENT THE BILLING INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE WORK WAS DONE AFTER THE RECALL. ON MAY 4, 2006 THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172686November 6, 2006
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MY 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE HAS THE GEN3 SEAT BELTS. WHILE THEY HAVE NOT YET FAILED, I WANT JEEP/DODGE TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE GEN4 BELTS. I HAVE THREE CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE BELTS RELEASING IN A CRASH IS UNFORTUNATELY VERY HIGH. AS A SAFE KIDS CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, AND A PARENT, THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE GEN3 BELTS. CURRENTLY OWNERS MUST PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THESE UNSAFE BELTS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167753September 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ONE DAY MY JEEP WAS GETTING NO BACK PRESSURE, TURNED AROUND MY CHECK IN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE LUCKILY I GOT OUT. FIRE DEPT HAD TO PUT FIRE OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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