1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING UN-REPAIRED RECALL WORK TO A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING SHE PLACED IT IN PARK, STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT LURCHED BACKWARDS INTO THE NEIGHBORS LANDSCAPE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. *JB

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. TURNING VEHICLE IN DRIVE. STEERING BOX SECURING BOLTS SHEARED. RESULT TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING POTENTIAL FOR CRASH AND DEATHS. ONE BRACKET ON THE STEERING BOX CASTING HAD FAILED AND BEEN UNDETECTED FOR SOME TIME. REPLACED STEERING BOX. *NM

MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO HAS HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THE PRICE FOR ONE OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP. DUST OR WATER CAN GET IN THERE AND CREATE ENGINE FAILURE, IT CAN ALSO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO GET TO HOT AND CAUSE A FIRE. CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE UP AND THE HEATER IS ON. *JB

AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCHES FAILED TO RELEASE UNLESS THE BELT WAS PULLED DOWN TO ALLOW SLACK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/3/2006 - THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE RELEASE BUTTONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO RELEASE BUT NOW THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING HARDER TO PUSH. *NM

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR ON VEHICLE CONTAINS AUTO-DIMMING FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOW OBSCURES DRIVERS REAR VISION WHILE DRIVING. ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS ISSUE WITH LOCAL DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN $500.00 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MIRROR ASSEMBLY INSTEAD OF JUST THE GLASS. REPLACING JUST THE MIRROR GLASS WITH THE AUTO-DIMMING FEATURE IS NOT FEASIBLE PER THE DEALER. THIS IS TOTAL BS AND THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THIS REMOVABLE PART AT A REASONABLE PRICE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH THE HOOD FLEW UPWARD WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. DUE TO THE DAMAGED HOOD WHICH WAS BENT VERTICALLY IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT INSPECTION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OPERATE NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06E011000, REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING ADDITIONAL INSPECTION BEFORE REPAIRS ARE MADE.

97 JEEP CHEEROKE TSI, POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET BROKE. RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE THEN GOES TO BATTERY DRAIN TO KEEP ENGINE RUNNING. THIS LOSS CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THERE WAS NO SOLD ASSOCIATED WITH THE BREAK THAT COULD BE HEARD FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB

[1] AT 128,000 PLUS MILES I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR [2] THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE VEHICLE FOUND THAT ALL THE BEARINGS BOTH FRONT AND REAR WERE WORN OR CORRODED ALONG WITH SPACING RINGS ON THE REAR AXEL. HE INDICATED THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, THAT BEARINGS DO NOT CORRODE OR WEAR OUT WITH THE MILEAGE THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN. [3] ALL THE BEARINGS AND SPACERS REQUIRED REPLACING. *NM