1997 JEEP CHEROKEE Complaints

VEHICLE INCIDENT 09/23/08 APPROX. 2:55-3:00 P.M. ON HIGHWAY 90, MILTON, FL DRIVING A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE, 4 CARS IN TOTAL WERE INVOLVED I WAS STOPPED FAR BACK IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. THE LINE BEGAN TO MOVE UP SLOWLY, I LET MY FOOT UP FROM THE BRAKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE JEEP ACCELERATED FORWARD, I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED TEMPORARILY BUT CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD IN A JERKING HOPPING MOTION. MY VEHICLE IMPACTED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE I WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES; MY PASSENGER WAS ALREADY CHECKING AS WELL. SEEING THAT I WAS (MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL DURING ANY OF THIS) AND THAT THE CAR WAS STILL PUSHING FORWARD I WAS FORCED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER DID NOT CITE ME THOUGH OF COURSE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL RESPONSIBLE. THE OFFICER IN HER REPORT STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED THE IMPACT, TO THE CAR MY JEEP STRUCK, WAS AT 45 MP/H BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE REAR END. THIS OF COURSE WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE I WAS AT A STOPPED POSITION STARTING TO COAST FORWARD; THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE JEEP HITTING THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AS IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS BRAKING. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, NO OVERT CAUSE WAS FOUND. THROUGH PERSONAL RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR INCIDENTS LINKED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM (EVEN WHEN NOT TURNED ON), BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT DISCONNECTED. MY FAMILY IS EXTREMELY TENTATIVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TILL THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FILLS WITH WATER DURING WET WEATHER,DURING OPERATION,OR WHILE PARKED. *TR

I OWN A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4.0 L6 TWO WHEEL DRIVE WITH 165,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 AND THE ENGINE DIED. THANKFULLY I WAS ON AN EMPTY HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE. I STILL HAD POWER BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO MANY 1990'S JEEPS, WITH NO REAL KNOWN CAUSE OR CURE. I CHANGED THE OIL, SPARK PLUGS AND CLEANED THE FUEL LINES. I WILL ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE PCM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS INSTANCE AND I AM FRUSTRATED THAT NONE OF THE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE BEEN TO, EVEN DEALERS, COULD FIND THE PROBLEM, AND JUST ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD. IF A CURE FOR THIS PROBLEM IS FOUND I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED. *TR

1997 JEEP CHEROKEE HOOD UNLATCHED AND FLIPPED UP STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN BARRIER BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-0800. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO START WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS THE IGNITION. THERE IS MINIMAL FUEL PRESSURE WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WITH A HALF TANK OF GAS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WERE OUT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 65 MPH OR GREATER. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119,000.

FUEL GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY. THE GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IS ANYWHERE BELOW 1/2 TANK. NOT SURE HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE UNLESS IT IS TOPPED OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL 97V194000 FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNITS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM

PLASTIC GAS TANK WARPED WHERE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT IS LOCATED ON TOP OF TANK. CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT AFTER A FILL UP. NEXT MORNING GASOLINE WAS NOTED ON FLOOR OF GARAGE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE. DEALER STATED TANK WARPED IN HEAT OF D.C. WEATHER. REPLACEMENT COST WAS $800. I WONDER IF OTHER SIMILAR EIGHT-YEAR OLD JEEP PRODUCTS WILL BEGIN TO SHOW THIS FAILURE, WHICH COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR UNSUSPECTING OWNERS OF JEEP VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC GAS TANKS. GAS TANKS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO FAIL AFTER ONLY EIGHT YEARS OF USE. *NM

FUEL GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF INACCURACY. A RECALL 97V194000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNITS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

"NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V069000." DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A STEERING GEAR RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH BOLTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVEN HOME FROM SCHOOL AT 60 MILE PER HOUR AND HIT A DEER, ABOUT A 175 POUND DEER. IT SENT ME INTO A DITCH, THEN OUT OF THE DITCH AND I STOP ON A FAMERS LAWN. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF. THE POLICE, AND MY DOCTOR THINK I DIDN'T HAVE AN AIRBAG IN THE SBC AIRBAD CONTAINER. THE FRONT END, AND LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL ARE TOTAL. TO REPAIR CAR I AM LOOKING AT $5,100. BEING THE CAR WAS OLD AND PAID FOR I HAD REMOVED THE COLLISON FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE. I AM ALSO UNEMPLOPED, WITH NO UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS. I AM THE FIRST ONWER OF THE CAR. I HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEAD, NECK RIGHT SHOULDER AND BACK. I DO HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE THROUGH MY WIFE, M-CARE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.*AK