Jeep Grand Cherokee Maintenance and Repair

tasillo · February 2002

My '00 GCL V-8 Quadr-Drive is ready for it's 3rd fuel pump in 28k. No start and stalling symptoms as well. Plus brake rotor replacement, differential noise (not mentioned to dlr yet) and the usual squeaks and wind noises. I have a love/hate relationship with this vehicle. It's the perfect size compared with my prev. Tahoe and Suburban and the poswe and off-road capability's are tremendous. However it is poorly engineered, poorly made and even more poorly serviced by Jeep dealers. The "they all do that" answer is unacceptable in a 39k vehicle and my Ford and GM vehicles, while having the usual warped rotors and bad power window motors, have not had the level of mechanical problems the Jeep has.

With 8k left before the warranty runs out, probably time to think about the Sequioa or new Expedition (Acura dealers are way too proud of the MDX)

randyrhodes · February 2002

NO, but it looks like you have problems with your Jetta.

paramedic99 · February 2002

There was note in the 2002 GJC reviews that the steering problem was corrected with the addition of a rear yoke of some sort. The acknowledged the problem exists although defined it as being more like excessive response to road crown. Anyway, whatever this part addition was helps track the GJC better in a bee line and eliminate this problem. Not that this helps with the 2000 but it does at least acknowledge that you are not crazy.

aimeetake2 · February 2002

I own a '98 JGC with 65K miles. Am about to take it in AGAIN to dealer for new unidentifiable non-scheduled maintenance issue (high pitched roaring sound coming from back of car). I've had new door lock system (jammed after 2 weeks brand new), a new drivers seat, multiple power steering boxes, AC valves, even a new front track bar (whatever that is - but it stopped the annoying popping sound I had whenever I turned or the weight shifted in the car). I am so fed up with constantly having had this truck in repair, I am considering getting rid of it. Never before have I not been able to afford to have my cars repaired, and that's what I face now. I spent $920 in November on a host of issues, but couldn't afford to fix the AC which is no longer blowing cool air. (It is winter, so I don't need it yet).

Anyway - here's the deal - am I in a cult? Or just insane? I've read all the postings on the JGC. I LOVE this Jeep, but the crappy quality is killing me too. I am considering another Jeep - are the 2002s more reliable? Or should I just suck it up and let go of the nice affordable JGC luxuries I am used to? I hate the styling of the Pathfinder, but it's reliability seems higher. However, it doesn't have the super cool wheel mounted radio controls...I guess unless I am willing to have to go thru potential arbitration, I should smarten up and think of another SUV?

mjday1972 · February 2002

Howdy,

I own a '99 JGC Laredo and have been experiencing significantly more wind noise than normal. I noticed that the weather strip in the upper right-hand corner of the windshield doesn't overlap the way the other corner does. Has anyone else experienced this problem? My Jeep is still under warranty and I want this resolved before it expires and I thought if anyone else had this problem I could learn from their experiences.

Thanks!

aimeetake2 · February 2002

Just heard the news on my problem - another $1300 will need to go into this SUV. The pinion bearing in the differential had shattered, so basically all bearings, the rings and pinions now need to replaced. If I don't fix it, the housing will shatter, and I will drop the drive shaft, costing triple to repair. I am sick over having to spend this much. I'm done with this Jeep. Am looking at Acuras...

seqlady · February 2002

You are not insane. You're smart enough to NOT make the same mistake twice! It took THREE Jeeps before I saw the pattern of poor reliability. I was also taken by the looks, comfort and power of the Grand Cherokee - but the fact is it's a huge piece of junk. I wouldn't buy a toaster from Chrysler if they made them..and I will NEVER own another Jeep. Good luck with your choice, whatever it is!

fishrxman · February 2002

aimeetake2. I had a remarkably similar experience with my 2001 Jeep GC Ltd. There were so many problems I was ready to drive it into Lake Michigan. All of my experiences were related in the Jeep Grand Cherokee thread last year.
First; I determined that despite all the problems, the Grand Cherokee was THE vehicle I wanted (looks, comfort, ride, utility, & power were all a perfect fit). My 1993 Jeep GC Laredo had only minor problems in the 7 years I owned it.
2) Even though my 2001 Jeep was under warranty, I did not want to play games with Daimler/Chrysler and waste time and money on arbitration and/or a lawyer to make my Jeep 'good'. It seems there is no middle ground, Jeeps are either good or bad. My 2001 GC was a clunker.
3) The dealer from which I purchased my 2001 Jeep pissed me off. I never went back. The five star dealer that serviced most of the problems last year didn't FIX the problems, even after I complained. I'll never go there again either. I'm going to a different 5 star dealer to service my current vehicle.
4) The technician who serviced my 2001 said some parts in the drive train were redesigned after the 1999 model year. Newer models, theoretically, should not experience as much 'gear whine' now. There will always be SOME noise because of the all-time 4 wheel drive. Also, the computer that controls the remote keyless entry was redesigned last year(2001). On my truck, the alarm wouldn't arm and the remote didn't unlock the doors in cold weather. The drivers seat and both side mirrors always moved when I used the remote, even after the fix. I suspect a programming error or a short somewhere that were never found.
4) Finally, the 7 yr/100k power train warranty, and cheap financing reduced my losses on a one year old trade-in.
So, I purchased a 2002 Jeep GC Ltd. It's due for the first oil change next week. So far, no problems. I like my Jeep. I'm hoping for 2 'good' Jeeps out of 3.

icemanmax · February 2002

Have had many similar experiences with vehicle and service.

Have been unable to get CD player with JGC Lmt to work; has been replaced with refurbished player that lasts a couple of times and then quits. Dealer says it is policy to replace with refurbished units and will not put in new one. You would think it would be cheaper just to replace with new unit than continuing to repair after repair and causing issues with customer.

Can't get any support from Customer Service, what a waste of time; now pursueing Arbitration or Lemon Law approach but don't know how that will work.

Anyone have similar problems with CD player?

munich1 · February 2002

At 24,000 miles, I am on my 3rd set of front rotors and 2nd set rear not including the original rotors. I am out of warranty in July and will have to pay for my own rotors. Be absolutely certain I will not be buying Chrylser rotors. I will be buying Power Slot rotors which have slots to reduce heat builtup. They are fairly inexpensive. Buy online at www.grandmotorsport.com/. They will give you the part number via email. If for some reason they warped, I would try the NAPA rotors. I will be going to a Passat next to get better gas mileage. I don't need offroad capability after all.

jef98zj · March 2002

First, the brake rotors.... most original equipment (OEM) brake rotors are garbage; if you get 25,000 miles on them, then you are doing well. Have them replaced with a better quality aftermarket rotor, and the problems are gone. I bought Stillen (cross-drilled) rotors and Performance Friction pads for the front of my 1998, and the improvement is amazing. Even the local NAPA store has decent replacement rotors for a reasonable price (less than the Stillens, but you always get what you pay for) that should last at least twice as long as the OEM's.

Second, the "misfire" problem on the 1997 sounds like what I had with my (former) 1996 - the cause turned out to be bad (weak) valve springs. This is a known problem in the pre-1997 (and some early 1997) Jeeps with the 4.0-liter engine. Mine went bad at 60,000 miles, so no warranty coverage. New valve springs went in (at the dealer - see below) and it ran better than new.

Next, the various transmission problems are covered by a few Technical Service Bulletins issued by Chrysler (these are not necessarily "recall" items, nor should they be). Most of the glitches were ironed out by the mid-2000 production year. Most 2001's that I know of are running along without problems of any kind, and the 2002's are even better.

The Jeeps are the most capable off-road vehicle in their class (under $60,000), but (as with most such vehicles) there have been a few problems along the way, all of which can be fixed by the right dealership or by doing it yourself; I do about half of my Jeep work myself. The only dealer that I do business with (Patrick - Rochester, NY / www.patrickautodeals.com) is almost 100 miles away, but well worth the trip. Their service people are top shelf, and they do it right the first time. Their sales people are not obnoxious, either.

jgcv84x4 · March 2002

I've recently purchased a '93 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.2 Liter V-8 and Quadratrac 4WD. Although I love the thing and have never had a problem with it, the mileage is killing me. I know that I can't expect much from it with the V-8 and 4x4, but I'd like to get all that I can. Most of my driving is town driving, and all I'm getting is 11.5 mpg. Is there any cheap way found to improve this problem. Please email help to jgcv84x4@yahoo.com. It will be appreciated.

ez2beme · March 2002

The lease on my 99 JGC ltd. will be up in a few months,and although this vehicle is great off road and the V8 is an absolute rocket,the reliability and quality issues have really thrown a wet blanket on my first Jeep experience. I will be giving my next vehicle business to a company that respects its customers enough not to knowingly put untested,unsafe products on sale.

dennis81 · March 2002

I just took a 1,000 mile trip to Maine in my 2000 JGC with almost 25,000 miles, and noticed the steering wheel shimmy when applying the brakes from about 50 mph. I take it that this is the rotor problem that so many others have experienced, and I guess I'm fortunate to have gotten as many miles out of the originals as I have. I want to replace them with better than OEM. I've read several posts that recommend Stillen. Stillen's website has the front cross-drilled rotors and pads for $379. Is this the best I can do for these? And should I also do the rears at the same time?

And has anyone else experienced a screeching sound from the power door lock mechanism?

BTW, the mileage on my I-6 sucks big time (16-17 at best). V8's do better than I do, with more power.

tomally · March 2002

I have a 1999 JGC I bought in California. I currently live in Colorado and am experienceing a major ventilation problem.
Whenever I drive up-hill, the air (either hot/cold) goes from blowing out the vents to blowing out the defroster vents. Everytime I take the vehicle in, I tell the dealer to fix it, still a problem. You freeze in the winter and sweat during the summer.
The other problem is on the passenger side. Air comes through the floorboard and the passenger literally freezes (in the winter).
One other problem is the annoying loud leaking air coming through the windows. Is there a fix for this? The dealer told me it was the rack on top of the vehicle making this noise, do they think I really believe that? Not.
I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing any of these problems. If so, please let me know if there is a fix, my warranty is almost up and I can't see owning a vehicle with this problem.

tasillo · March 2002

On my firt post 2/19 I had some complaints, but they were relatively minor on my '00 GCL V-8 QuadraDrive. However a few day's later I left the office and discovered the ignition key would not turn. No amount of jiggling, in/out, etc would work. Finally forced the issue and it turned, but broke the lock cylinder. Decided it was time for other items so to the Jeep dealer it went (Nalley in Roswell, GA). Other complaints included long crank times, lots of gear roar between 50-70 mph and harsh downshifts and gear engagement on part-throttle acceleration.

Dealer was great, they replaced the ignition, dropped the fuel tank and replaced the quad-ring set on the fuel system, replaced both F&R driveshafts, reprogrammed the transmission and engine control computers and road tested the truck. Two days later and it is 100% better! They even washed and dried the car!

I'm happy to have the Jeep running as it should but wary of it getting out of warranty. The choice is either to take a bath and get rid of it before the 36k mark and warranty expiration or ante up $1500 for the peace of mind of extended warranty.

By the way, from an off-road perspective, the Jeep is great, but my Tahoe, Suburban and Expedition all went the same places with fewer problems and headaches.

jefferson1964 · March 2002

When the warranty was up i ponyed up the $1,600 to cover me until 90K miles. Just wanted the peace of mind. I have not had any major problems but reading this board gave me goose bumps and am glad i purchased the EW just in case.

bridges6 · March 2002

I'm thinking about getting a GC LAredo and wanted to know opninions about it. It handles well City and Hwy. Dealer wants 7500 with 126000 miles. This will be my 1st SUV and want to get a good one that will last several years. Opinions are welcomed. I can be emailed at bridgeh@med.unc.edu. I'm also thinking about a 92 Explorer but it has some minor problems.

jam1000 · March 2002

I had a 94 JGC Laredo (5.2 V8; Quadra-Trac) and loved it. You're right about the handling; also was incredibly good in rain, snow and other slippery conditions. I'm sorry I got rid of it, and will probably get a 2002 pretty soon. Big rap on the JGCs of that (or any other) vintage is that many people feel that the transmission gives out in the 75-90K mile range, so make sure that's well-vetted.

You might also want to check some of the online services (edmunds tmv, kbb, nadaguides, blackbook on cars.com) regarding the selling price. 7500 for an 8 (soon to be 9) yo vehicle with 126K miles seems steep.

tomally · March 2002

I also have a problem with the keyless entry. Sometimes I press the unlock button and nothing happens. I have to press the lock key and the the unlock key numerous times waiting for the jeep to unlock. This has happened since the beginning of time for my 99 JGC. Any solutions? I haven't seen any posted.

tomally · March 2002

The dealership reset the computer on my JGC and I haven't had a problem since.

fishrxman · March 2002

Tomally:I had the same problem with my 2001 JGC. Keyless entry wouldn't work when temp dropped below freezing. Remotes were new, so it wasn't due to a low battery. The problem occurred with BOTH remotes, which ruled out defective remote controls. The dealer replaced the driver's side door handle which contained the computer for the remote keyless entry. Then, both remotes had to be reprogrammed. I've noticed on my 2002 JGC that I need to be closer to it for the remote to work properly during really cold weather (below 0'F). I also had trouble with the seat and side mirror changing positions. THAT problem wasn't resolved before I traded my 2001 for a 2002. Hope this helps.

jefferson1964 · March 2002

I just went to the dealer wednesday about the keyless entry as it was not unlocking with one push. They came out reset the computer on the 98 JGC and poof everthing works like new and no charge for the service. It took about 15 minutes from the time i pulled into service until I pulled out, nice and face with a happy ending, lol...

aimeetake2 · March 2002

I had to go home and look at my service report on this one - I had the same issue with the air/heat spontaneously coming out of the wrong vents, however it had nothing to do with going uphill or not. On my service report, it said that they "relocated the check valve". And that fixed it, it hasn't happened since. Good luck. I am looking to trade my JGC in this weekend. I am done with all of these problems.

nikiblue1 · March 2002

Hello icemanmax,
I have gotten rid of my 2000 JGC limited v8, qd almost a year ago. Bit I often turn back to this discussion group to see if DC have improved their reliability. I have gone through the arbitration. It is a total waste of time. It took three month to get a final answer from DC--they did not want to buy back my Jeep. It took little over three weeks with a lawyer, and the jeep was bought back. Do not waste your time with arbitration. It is a process that will get your hopes up, waste your time, and at the end very few people get satisfactory results. I still see 2002 JGC have the same problems: memory settings, alarm control problems, gear whine, starting problems, rotor problems, etc. Great vehicle if you don't mind monthly dealer visits and costly repairs down the line.

kkulig · March 2002

There is no law in your state that's more consumer-oriented than your state lemon law. Period. Go to www.autopedia.com, read it and learn how to use it to your advantage. You don't need a lawyer.

DC doesn't determine whether your vehicle qualifies as a lemon. Your state does. DC has to abide by your state law. Don't let them BS or intimidate you. Sure, they'll do that to you. What do they have to lose? What does that cost them? 90% of the people they do this to go away without a whimper or fight. Mighty successful tactics, huh?

I'll bet a month's pay right now that if you pursue your state lemon law against them, and they see you're absolutely serious about this, they'll eventually settle and it'll never see the inside of a courtroom. You don't need a lawyer to do this either.

Yes, most state laws require that you go through DC's arbitration program first before you can use the lemon law. The arbitrator's decision is only binding on DC, not you. If you don't like the decision, then you can use the lemon law.

Before you go into arbitration, check with your state to see if DC's arbitration program is certified for use in your state. If it's not, you don't have to waste your time with it. WI, FL and CT are three states that come to mind that do not certify DC's program. There may be others that don't. Check on this.

Be aware that DC uses the National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS) based in TX. Also be aware that DC pays NCDS to handle arbitration as well as vehicle buyback and replacement. Yes, they are very arrogant people to deal with.

Part of the pay incentive NCDS has is to deny the majority of claims made against DC's vehicles. The more money they save DC from having to pay out in settlements, the more money that goes into NCDS's pocketbook. Think about that... do you really feel that you are getting fair, unbiased arbitration when this is how NCDS gets payed? They work for DC, not you.

Again, you have a very powerful law to back you up. Learn it, use it like I did and win. For an investment of a couple hours of your time to assemble copies of your repair orders outlining the problems, write the lemon notification letter to DC and spent $2.76 to send it by certified mail, what do you possibly have to lose? It worked perfectly for me and it should for you too.

Venting about it here and doing nothing more doesn't get the vehicle fixed or get you out from underneath it. And the problem sure isn't going to go away on its own, now is it?

Good luck to all of you!

anetmc · March 2002

My 93 JGC Ltd. has had paint chipping off the hood and roof. I wrote Chrysler several times with regards to the paint chipping and flaking and they refuse to take responsibility for improper paint application. I've noticed quite a few 93' jeeps on the road with the same problem. Any one out there with the same problem? Possible class action against Chrysler for a new paint job?

envoy2002 · March 2002

This is my first (and probably only) post to this group. I had a '98 JGC Limited and traded it in for a 2000 JGC Limited on July 7, 2000. When backing out of the dealership (15 miles on the odometer), my first clue about poor quality occurred when the steering wheel shuddered and made a "honking" noise when turning. 33,000 (city) miles later, the front and rear drive shafts have each been replaced twice, the steering column and components have been replaced 4 times (only after TSB came out), climate control failure 1x replaced, and front bearings 3 times rplaced (most recent time was only 6,000 miles since the prior replacement)-- how the bearings disintegrate in an enclosed apparatus baffles me -- and axel whine repair performed. Fortunately service department replaced my rotors 3x under warranty (interestingly, the service manager told me --"chrysler knows they use low quality rotors, but won't do anything about it)Well, I said all that to say this: Chrysler is buying back my vehicle! Moral of this post is to let you all know that the arbritration process works! In a matter of 2 weeks the National Center for Dispute Settlement contacted me numerous times, set up an arbritration date, notified Chrysler in Detroit, and Chrysler called me and made me an offer. Mind you, this was going to be arbritration, not a "lemon law" suit. So, as it stands, they offered me a clean close out (turn in the keys and walk away) or, the deal I took was the "mathematical" deal where Chrysler refunds me every penny I paid (that's 19 months of payments, my down payment, and bug deflector shield)minus a "usage fee" which is the mileage driven times a certain factor and any rebate used when getting the vehicle. The usage fee pretty much offset my payments (I'll actually get $100 back there) but I get my $3000 down payment back, too. I would have gone for another JGC, as I really like the looks, style, and ride, but can't tolerate anymore of it's inherrent problems. So, I am now in a 2002 Envoy SLT. The ride is much smoother and more technology is inside the cabin, but it doesn't do the 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds like the Jeep! I guess I can live with a 1 second slower engine knowing (and hoping) it spends more time in my garage than the service garage. Good luck to all, and hope this post lets you know arbritration works. By the way..it worked for my friend who got out of his 1999 JGC Limited, too.

51willys · March 2002

I have a apparently one of the few very dependable JGC's with one problem. At highway cruising speeds between 65 and 75 mph and greater, a strong vibration occures and is felt in the floor, seats and steering wheel. The vibration only occures under load i.e. on an uphill grade, stops when coasting or if I let off on accelerator. This is a 4x4, 78,000 miles but started around 60,000 miles. Dealer thought a front end rebuild would cure it (determined w/o removing front diff. cover so I passed).

Any similar problem and solution?

kkulig · March 2002

First of all... run, don't walk away from any mechanic who tells you you need to rebuild a differential without even taking the cover off for inspection. Your instincts are probably correct here.

Yes, the dealers have been rebuilding quite a few differentials on the 99-00's. This was due more to grinding and howling noises than vibration problems. At the very least, ask them to back up their claim with a TSB instead of a WAG.

You have a classic harmonic vibration problem. Especially when you don't notice a vibration at any time other than in a specific speed range (in your case, between 65-75mph). Unfortunately, alot of repairs are made by trial and error. Before tearing apart and rebuilding the front differential, there are some simpler things you can have checked first...

The place to start would be to have someone thoroughly check all U-joints on both drive shafts. Have them pay particular attention to the U-joint mounting clamps to ensure that they are holding the U-joints in proper position in the differential yokes. Even a slight shift that wouldn't be noticed on cursory inspection can create an unbelievable amont of vibration. This is not easy to spot and you really have to be looking for this. It's as important as examining the U-joint itself.

DC did have a TSB for this on the 98-99's and it wouldn't surprise me if that problem got carried into at least the early 00 model year. Have them examine the drive shafts at this time also. Sometimes, simply unbolting the drive shaft from the differential yoke, rotating it 180 degrees and bolting it back up will cure a problem like this.

If you can eliminate drive shafts and U-joints as the problem, the next thing to look at would be your tires. You didn't state how many miles you have on them. Even a fairly new tire can go bad. You may have one or more tires that have had a belt shift and become out of round. Start with having them rebalanced by a competent mechanic and even having them rotated. If the dealer has some other mounted tires they can swap with yours and test drive, that's one really quick way to rule out a tire problem.

I had your exact same problem on a 98 JGC. Same conditions made it appear and disappear, and it was in the exact speed range as yours. The vibration was so bad on mine, it felt like the vehicle was going to shake itself apart. Even though my dealer tried every trick in the book, they weren't able to track the problem down. My 98 went back under the lemon law.

I'm currently driving a 99 JGC. Recently, I had the tires rotated. From the day I had that done, I'm now experiencing some serious vibration on deceleration from 55 to 45mph. Kind of the reverse of your problem. It only occurs in that speed range when coasting. If I stop decelerating (any application of power) it instantly disappears. In my case, what else could it be other than a 43K mile bad tire? So don't rule out your tires.

During the above time, I did find out that Jeep had several drivetrain noise and vibration problems as part of my dealer's attempt to locate and fix the problem on my 98. They have TSB's for the rear U-joint mounting brackets, the rear differential yoke/pinion shaft, and bad slip joints in their drive shafts. These problems weren't just on the old 98 body style, they were present on the new 99's and carried over at least part way into the 00 model year. Just go back and read some of the older posts... you'll see what I mean.

cjaubert · March 2002

First, let me say that I LOVE my 2000 JGC Limited 4x4. It has been AWESOME in every respect. I have one problem, though, that I need help with. When I turn the steering wheel full left, the four wheel drive seems to "walk" or bounce as the vehicle moves. The dealer tells me this is normal and that there is no repair. Is the dealer correct? If not, what is the repair and how do I explain to him that he is wrong? Thank you.

isoman · March 2002

I HAVE A 2000 JGC AND IT HAS BEEN PROBLEM FREE. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT FULLY AND SEEMED TO HAVE POOR TENSION. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE RETRACTORS AND THE SEAT BELTS. WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND NOW THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM.

jefferson1964 · March 2002

I have a 98 JGC SE 4x4 with 53K miles. It sometime stalls when i back it up from a cold start if i do not let it warm a few minutes. Every once in a while if the gas gage is at 1/2 tank, when i start the jeep it drops to zero for 10 sec and back to 1/2 tank but thats only a few times. Also, its happened 3 times recently if im stopped then try to go their will be a hesitation then it "kicks" in gear at least thats what it feels like. Anyone have the slippage feel and know what it might be???

rivolvo · April 2002

Hi,

Just bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. Love it so far.
However, when its cold the engine kind of "jumps" into gere when
first starting off. This goes away as soon as the engine is warm.

Anyone have a similar problem or know what might be causing this?

Thanks.

bpack1 · April 2002

I bought my 99' JGC, used with about 25,000 miles on it. It now has 52,000 miles and no problems. I think everyone needs to remember Jeep's history is not that of a street vehicle or a daily commuter. It is that of off-road vehicles. From trail riders to heavy rock-crawling. I see everyone posting messages about it being too loud on the highway for the cost of the vehicle. Well if you want a luxurious smooth quiet ride then buy yourself a Mercedes. Jeeps are built and meant for off-road use. My only repair after 1yr, 27,000 miles and heavy off-road use was the front u-joints. Now, I'm not saying there are no lemons out there, just don't buy oranges if you want to have apple juice. Don't buy a Jeep unless you plan on using it off-road.

dolphinpod · April 2002

MY JGC LAREDO HAS BROKEN DOWN THREE TIMES IN TWO YEARS, A WEEK IN THE SHOP EACH TIME. AND RECALLED ONCE. IN JUST TWO YEARS. IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, MY TRANSMISSION THEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BLEW. NOW MY ROTATOR CUPS ON MY BRAKES BLEW JUST BY GOING DOWN A HILL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME $42 JUST TO TAKE A LOOK. THE COMPANY IS COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNFRIENDLY. I WISH I HAD SOMEONE TELL ME TO AVOID THE CHEROKEE BEFORE I WENT OUT AND GOT ONE. BUILT "JEEP TOUGH". YEAH RIGHT.

dolphinpod · April 2002

LITTLE POST NOTE TO MY MESSAGE ABOVE. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, I BROUGHT UP THE DATELINE THAT WAS ABOUT THE SEATBELTS IN CHEROKEES. THEY BASICALLY SAID IT'S LIKE WEARING NO SEATBELT AT ALL BECAUSE THEY UNLATCH SO EASILY. ON THE SHOW, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NTSB SAID HE'D NEVER LET HIS CHILDREN RIDE IN ONE. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF THE SEATBELTS WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. WHEN I BRAKE IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE CAR IS GOING TO SHAKE APART AND THE SEATBELTS ARE DEATHTRAPS. I HATE THIS CAR.

rb123 · April 2002

Well it sounds like you have had some problems with your JGC but all car companys have some lemons. I would say three breakdowns in two years is the exception not the rule, and one recall is not anything major lots of vehicles have recalls this is not always something negative it is good they are taking care of the problem. I have not heard of any seatbelt problems. I have had three JGC's with very few problems. The JGC is the second best selling SUV on the market with the highest owner loyalty.

ddufour · April 2002

I recently purchased a 2002 JGC and am experiencing wind noise that seems to be coming from the driver's window. Does anyone else have this problem and is it fixable by the dealer?

mdjeepman · April 2002

Moderators, what happened to the old thread with over 900 posts?

mdjeepman · April 2002

Found it on Search.

flewis2 · April 2002

TO: ddufour
Have the same problem on new 2002 GC Limited. The
dealer and factory rep. both state 'normal'. I will be sending letter to Chrysler soon.
This is my second Grand Cherokee. Had '95 Laredo
4x4 with V8. Great car but lots of mechanical
problems, especially after 50,000 miles. Glad I had the best extended warranty offered by factory, as it paid for itself many times over.

ANYONE ELSE HAVING SAME PROBLEM?? LOUD WIND NOISE FROM FRONT WINDOWS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.

akroeger · April 2002

Yup...I've got it on the front passenger window/door. It seems to vary with vehicle speed and wind direction. I'm trying to clearly define when it occurs so I can be specific when I seek warrenty repair. Does yours seem to come from the window seal or the door seal?

ggallon · May 2002

I wish that I would of had the opportunity to view this website before I made the costly purchase.
After owning two Toyotas, I timidly decided to join the SUV craze and purchase a JGC '01. It was brand new however, it was not long before the problems made me regret this purchase. In less that two years I have had: rotors replaced, transmission seal replaced, four new tires, steering colum replaced, and to top it off I recently heard the engines are cathching afire!!!! In addition, the Jeep service dealer's didn't seem to have much sympathy with problems either. It was not fun having to pay several times for labor, bumming rides to work, and making monthly visits to the so called "five star" jeep eagle dealer. The sad part too is that I too was like all of these other "pitiful" postings thinking that these problems were the "norm" or that they would "get better." Please wake up guys, they don't!! As long as we remain complacent about these problems, Chrysler will never bring their products up to decent stndards. They will just keep screwing us royally!! In conclusion, I begged the Toyota dealer to help me and they made it possible to jump into a new '02 Camry. What a difference!! on a closing note, American Car Company's are driven by financial greed, made so that you constantly buy a new American made lemon every four years. Foreign made car company's (Toyota & Honda) seek to earn your loyalty with respect and reliability. Please, Please, get rid of your headache. You will be thankful in the long run.

jefferson1964 · May 2002

However, I like my Jeep and have not had the problems you write about and do not consider my purchase a mistake!!!

kkulig · May 2002

I too am sorry to hear of the problems you had with your 01 JGC. I'm not trying to belittle the problems you had (or defend Jeep) but in all fairness, you can't compare your car experiences with an SUV. It's an entirely different animal.

I just took delivery of an 02 JGC Ltd... my fourth JGC. They aren't perfect (no vehicle is) but I love 'em anyway. Overall, they have been very reliable for me even though I had one (a 98) go back under the lemon law.

Foreign car manufacturer's are driven by the same "financial greed" as American car manufacturer's... don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise. Besides, it's kind of hard to call Toyota and Honda "foreign cars" since they've been built in the good 'ol USA for several years already. I don't care what make and model vehicle you're talking about... you roll the dice every time you purchase one. It's the same thing with dealers too.

mvd99 · May 2002

As others have written, not everyone has had bad problems with their JGC. I currently have 3 vehicles my wife and I drive. One is a 2000 Lexus GS300, the second is a 2001 JGC Lmited V8 (my wife's car), and the third a 2002 Jeep Liberty. Prior to the Lexus I drove a 1996 Toyota Avalon. I traded a 1994 Jeep Cherokee sport on the Liberty. The Cherokee never needed anything more than routine maintenance (brakes, tires, oil, etc). The Toyota was a good car, but not trouble free. The big issue was the front struts and a dealer service department that was not very helpful (went to another dealer and got better service). We've had no problems with the JGC or the Liberty. The Lexus is a fine car, but dollar for dollar I'm quit impressed with the build quality of the Liberty. Fit and finish are pretty good comparing a $25K Liberty to my $40K Lexus.

ranman1 · May 2002

I have Owned my '96 JGC 4x4 with every option for over 4 years now w/o any major problem. I really hate to hear of the few nightmares that people have encountered. I encountered one with a dealership that sells and services various brands ... it is called CARMAX ... stay away from them!!! I took my JGC in for some warranty work (basically have them check it out before the warranty expired) ... I requested that that some parts be replaced (U-Joints) due to some noise and have them look at the transfercase and they basically took my JGC for 5 days and charged me for a rental then said "Sorry we don't think they need to be replaced ... ", I replaced them myself and had a local 4x4 shop check out the driveshafts & transfer case to make sure everything was inline ... The noise went away!

SO - STAY AWAY FROM ANY CARMAX DEALERSHIPS!!!

Wish I had driven the 45 miles to the dealership I purchased the Jeep from after dealing with CarMax.

But for everyone who purchases a Jeep and doesn't plan on using it offroad ... if you want it to act like a Honda (buy a Honda) ... Even though I have not gotten to go Off-Roading in a while and a lot of my 106k has been in traffic ... my only replacement/repair that would not be considered "normal wear" is an Oxygen sensor ... and even those go bad on a Honda, Acura or Lexus.

So would I buy another Jeep ... Yes ... You can't beat a Jeep Off-Road ! ... They do good in snow as well with a good set of tire's.

What am I buying next ... honestly thinking about a S2000 (Honda) ... I have CBR 900RR and like Honda as well --- and wouldn't mind having a convertable.

BUT - I am keeping my JGC also !!!
Plan to still have it when it turns 200k maybe even 300k (it will likely out live me)

reisdorph · May 2002

i think all the people who have jeep problems with tires break and rotors we should get together and file a class action. i have a jeep ive been through 3 sets of tires two sets of rotors and a cam shaft and i cant drive it because it needs rotors again. i do have a lawyer

reisdorph · May 2002

i wished i never bought this junk its been in the shop 16 times in 2 years for camshaft, rotors tires alignments. what junk

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