2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Complaints

I A SAW A STORY ON THE NEWS REGARDING SUDDEN "UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION" IN 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES WHICH HAS BEEN RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS, AND ONE FATALITY. LINK TO STORY: HTTP://WWW.WCPO.COM/WCPO/LOCALSHOWS/DONTWASTEYOURMONEY/14765976.HTML I TOO OWN A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND EXPERIENCED THE UNEXPLAINED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TOO MANY CLOSE CALLS TO MENTION, ESPECIALLY AT STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES. SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE CAR TO PROGRESS SLOWLY, SUCH AS THE SITUATIONS ABOVE OR IN TRAFFIC. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MINE, AS MY JEEP HAS BEEN NOTHING LESS THAN HIGH MAINTENANCE, BUT AFTER SEEING THIS STORY, IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I SAW ON THE NEWS/READ IN THE ARTICLE THAT THE KY ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE INVESTIGATION. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE OH ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT, TO BRING THIS TO HIS ATTENTION AND IN HOPES THAT HE TOO WILL JOIN IN THIS EFFORT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE THE LOCKING MECHANISM TO LOCK OR UNLOCK ALL FOUR DOORS. THIS DEFECT CAUSED THE DOOR LOCKS NOT TO UNLOCK WHEN LOCKED AND VICE VERSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION.*AK

MY LOCAL JEEP DEALER ADVISES THAT MY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO WITH 19,000 MILES HAS BAD BRAKES, BAD ROTORS, BAD CALIPERS, LOOSE BELTS (GOODYEAR TIRES) AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE SAYS THAT IS WHY WHEN I ATTEMPT TO BRAKE IF I AM GOING OVER 40 MPH THAT THE FRONT VIBRATES OR IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AT 55 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN SURFING THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOTORIOUS WITH OTHER 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A SCHEDULED TUNE UP ON 6-15-06 AND DRIVEN LESS THAN 10 MILES WHEN A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE FAN WERE OBSERVED TO BE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, HALF OF THE PLASTIC BLADE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S COLLAR BONE AND THE OTHER HALF WENT THROUGH THE RADIATOR. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT THE HEAT TEMPERATURE ELEVATED OVER 260 DEGREES AND THE RADIATOR WAS DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FAN ASSEMBLY UNIT HAD DETACHED, PENETRATING THE RADIATOR AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO DETERMINED THE SAME FAN ASSEMBLY WAS USED FOR THE 4.0L AND THE 4.7L. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN 3-5 MILES AFTER THE FAN FRACTURE WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V1999000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED THE VIN AND THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE AIR CONDITIONER HEATED UP QUICKLY, WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. SOME PLASTIC WAS ALSO NOTICED ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COOLING FAN HOUSING HAD DISINTEGRATED AND STRUCK THE RADIATOR. THIS CAUSED CREASES IN THE RADIATOR. THE FAN HOUSING WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V199000 WHICH RELATES TO THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO - PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS DETERIORATE AND BECOME CLOUDY CAUSING A SEVERE REDUCTION IN NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER WHO SAID THEY HAD A SPECIAL SERVICE @ $ 89.95 TO RESTORE HEADLIGHTS. SERVICE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. I CALLED CHRYSLER FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NOT A KNOWN SERVICE ISSUE." THE SENIOR STAFF AGENT @ CHRYSLER STATED HE COULD NOT HELP ME. HE STATED THAT ONLY RECALLS ARE KNOWN SERVICE ISSUE AND CHRYSLER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED WHY WOULD THE DEALER OFFER A SPECIALIZED SERVICE TO CORRECT AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM ? HE INDICATED THAT THERE NO SPECIAL HEAD LAMP RESTORATION SERVICES BEING OFFERED BY CHRYSLER AND IT MUST BE LIMITED TO MY LOCAL DEALER. HE STATED THAT UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL BY NHTSA THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I CALLED LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER AND HE ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER, PLUS EVERYBODY SOUTH OF THE MASON DIXON LINE WAS AWARE OF HEADLIGHT COVER FAILURE ISSUE. *JB

COOLING FAN BLADE SEPARATED ON MY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUV WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE BLADES ALSO MADE A HOLE IN THE SHROUD SURROUNDING THE FAN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM RECALL, # 06V199000. THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WAS NON OPERATIONAL. THE FAN WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TURNING FAN WAS NOT TURNING WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE ANTIFREEZE LEAK.

DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTERS TO THE BEACH WHEN SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE AS I WAS ALONG A WINDING ROAD. TOWED TRUCK TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR BOX WAS BROKEN AT THAT POINT HE REPAIRED THE GEAR BOX. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER THE SAME EXACT THING EXCEPT THAT THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE, AGAIN TOWED THE TRUCK BACK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE GEAR BOX. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN I EXPERIENCED MY STEERING WHEEL FREEZE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY SO MINIMAL DAMAGE WAS SUFFERED. IN 1 YEAR THAT I OWN THIS VEHICLE THE RADIATOR HAS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, THE LOCKS ON MY DRIVER DOOR STOPPED WORKING, THE FAN IN THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MUFFLER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. I NEVER EXPECTED SO MANY FAULTS OR SO MUCH MONEY SPENT IN REPAIRS ON A SO CALLED CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOOKING INTO THE VEHICLE ENGINE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE HOOD CAME DOWN AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE BACK OF THE NECK. THERE WERE NO WARNING SOUNDS PRIOR TO THE HOOD FALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO EXPRESSED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THE HOOD PROP RODS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF THE CHEROKEES. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE HOOD PROP RODS.