1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Complaints

WHEN SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED, AT ANY SPEED, THROTLE SURGES AHEAD 2-7 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC! CHRYSLER SHOP MANUAL CONFIRMS THIS PROBLEM ON ALL JEEPS. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES BACKFIRES, JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPING AND RPM'S FLUCTUATE CONTINUALLY, REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS.

IF YOUR USING ANY OF THE GEARS TO APPLY ENGINE BRAKING IN A DOWNGRADE ONCE THE TACHOMETER REACHES 2500 OR MORE THE ENGINE ENTERS A FREEWHEELING STATE WHERE THERE IS LITTLE OR NO SLOWING EFFECT. WITH THE USE OF ANY GEAR, AFTER THE INITIAL BRAKING CAUSED BY THE ENGINE REVVING TO MATCH THE GEAR SPEED (FLYWHEEL EFFECT) THE ENGINE GOES INTO A "HIGH IDLE" STATE AND OFFERS NO MORE COMPRESSION BRAKING. THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW IN DOWNGRADES IS EXCESSIVE USE THE BRAKES. USE OF ANY REASONABLE GEAR FOR THE SPEED DOES LITTLE GOOD. MOST STATES HAVE LAWS AGAINST PUTTING YOUR CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MOVING FOR THIS REASON. NO COMPRESSION BRAKING IN MOUNTAINEOUS DRIVING WILL LEAD TO BRAKE LOSS DUE TO OVERHEATING. TOWING A TRAILER WOULD MAKE THINGS WORSE. I BELIEVE NO ENGINE BRAKING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THIS VEHICLE REQUIRES MORE BRAKE APPLICATION DOWNHILL THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. *AK

THE WIPER BLADES STIFFEN AND LOSE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD, EXCEPT AT THE ENDS, AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 30 F. THE BLADES WILL NOT EVEN CLEAR WATER FROM THE WINDSHIELD. STOPPING AND CLEANING THE BLADES ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES. IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING, YOU MUST LOOK THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN IDENTICAL WINTER CONDITIONS FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITH SUBARUS AND MY OTHER JEEP AND HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT JEEP NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNLESS THEY HAVE A TSB. *MJS

LOUD BANGING ON THE REAR FLOORBOARDS OVER ANY BUMPS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAY IT'S A BALL JOINT ON THE NEW DESIGN OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. THEY CURRENTLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR OR ANYOTHER GEAR FOR THAT MATTER. I WAS STUCK DRIVING A MAXIMUM OF 20 MPH TO WORK. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GREAR. (DEALER HAS TRIED MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WHICH DO NOT SEEM TO HELP). I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE A LOUD WHINNING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION IS FILLING UP WITH FLUID. I FIND THIS EXPLANATION UNACCEPTABLE I HAVE NEVER HEARD A NOISE LIKE THIS FROM MY 1993 GRAND CHEROKEE OR ANYOTHER CAR FOR THAT MATTER. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF UNSATISFIED 1999 GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ASKED JEEP TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY REFUSED. *AK

AT 200 MILES CONSUMER NOTICED A HISSING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND ANOISE IN THE REAR END AREA. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING A PINION GEAR FAILURE. DEALER CHANGED THE PUMP, THEN THE STEERING BOX. THE SECOND TIME NOISE STILL PERSISTED. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. ALSO, IT WAS NOT A SAFTEY PROBLEM. THE THEY CHANGED THE PINION GEAR, AND IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SENT ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE FROM JEEP, AND HE WANTED TO CHANGE THE GEAR BOX. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSIP FOR 1 1/2 MONTHS THUS FAR. *AK

IN EXAMING THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, I NOTICE THE LOCATIN OF THE FUEL TANK APPEARED TO MAKE IT SUBJECT TO RUPTURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO A REAR END COLLISION, WHEN THE COLLIDING VEHICLE SUBMARINED SLIGHTLY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING A JEEP AND WOULD LIKE YOUR OPINION. *AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 98, AND HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES IN FOUR MONTHS FOR STEERING NOISE DUE TO RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED STEERING PUMP/GEAR BOX, AND RACK AND PINION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR ONE MONTH FOR REPAIRS. JEEP MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS, AND SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO NEW JERSEY TO LOOK AT VEHICLE . REPRESENTATIVE HAS NOT FOUND A REMEDY FOR THIS DEFECT. JEEP-800-334-9200----REFERENCE #5514019. *AK

VEHICLE SAG/HESITATE, ATTEMPT TO STALL UPON ACCELERATION,DEALER DUPLICATED PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVE, BUT UNABLE TO FIX. NOTED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ALSO 1 QUART LOW, UNUSUAL FOR NEW VEHICLE.