1997 Jeep Cherokee

390 complaints on file, page 1 of 20.

1. Filed Oct 9, 2020Failure Oct 3, 2020248,000 milesKnightdale, NCAir bags1 injured

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL EMERGENCY TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11363547
2. Filed Dec 9, 2018Failure Dec 8, 2018170,000 milesMoultrie, GAExterior lighting

   TAKATA RECALL WHEN I ENGAGE HIGH BEAMS OR TURN ON MY RIGHT BLINKER MY HAZARDS FLASH QUICKLY IN THE BACK ONLY. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. HAVE HAD MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED.

   NHTSA complaint 11157114
3. Filed May 4, 2018Failure Apr 29, 2018215,138 milesWhittaker, MIService brakes

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. THE DEALER (CUETER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,138.

   NHTSA complaint 11091959
4. Filed Aug 19, 2016Failure May 26, 2016Bridgeton, NJFuel/propulsion system

   I WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER SHIP BECAUSE I HAD LOOKED UP ON THIS SITE MY RECALLS ONE WAS BRAKES THEY DID HAPPILY AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN FOR THE FUEL IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND IT'S A 1997 HOW CAN THEY NOT GET THE PARTS TO FIX IT YET I RAN OUT OF GAS A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAYS AND ON MY WAY TO WORK WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I NEED MY CAR THE MOST

   NHTSA complaint 10897108
5. Filed Jun 2, 2016Failure Jun 2, 2016195,000 milesUniversity Place, WAEngine, Fuel/propulsion system, Power train

   VEHICLE HAS HARD STARTS AND FREQUENT HESITATION AND STALLING, AT ALL SPEEDS CITY STREET DRIVING AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD A NEW DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL, INSTALLED, YET SYMPTOMS PERSIST. SUDDEN DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP CHEROKEE XJ. I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CRASH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THIS MORNING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. JEEP OUGHT TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REMEDY FOR OWNERS. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. POSSIBLE REMEDIES (FROM MY RESEARCH) INCLUDE MULTIPLE PARTS AND MANY HOURS OF LABOR: O2 SENSOR, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, PLUGS, WIRES, CAP, ROTOR, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, ALTERNATOR, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, BALLAST RESISTOR, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, TORQUE CONVERTOR, POWER CONTROL MODULE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID, ETC. WHAT IS CAUSING ALL OF THESE VEHICLES TO STALL DANGEROUSLY?

   NHTSA complaint 10872145
6. Filed Feb 23, 2016Failure Feb 16, 2016120,000 milesAmbridge, PAManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10837786
7. Filed Feb 18, 2016Failure Jan 13, 2015150,000 milesGroton, CTEngine, Fuel/propulsion system

   I HAVE A 1997 JEEP WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT STALLING OUT FOR NO REASON. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR. IT STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP OVER 20 TIMES TO TRY AND GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE EVEN KEPT IT OVER NIGHT AND HAD IT ON MACHINES TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT STALLS AND AM NOT ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACE SENSORS, FUEL FILTER, BATTERY, NOT TO MENTION SO MANY OTHER PARTS AND NOTHING IS STOPPING IT FROM STALLING OUT FOR NO REASON. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND I LOVE MY JEEP BUT I AM REAL NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT THAT I MIGHT GO TO TURN AND THE JEEP WILL STALL WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND GET T-BONED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL SPUTTER AND STALL OUT. I HAVE READ THAT "MANY" JEEPS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE FROM THE SAFETY CAR SITE LOOK INTO THIS AS THERE WILL BE A FAMILY IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM COULD OCCURE AND CAUSE A DIASTER IN SOMEONES LIFE. I HAVE DRIVEN IN DIFFERANT ARES ON THE ROAD, HIGHWAY, RESIDENTIAL AREAS, GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, AND ALSO GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR AND IT WIL STALL OUT. I HAVE AGAIN SEEN SO MANY POSTING REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THESE JEEPS ...PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.

   NHTSA complaint 10836832
8. Filed Jul 28, 2015Failure Mar 9, 201196,000 milesStamford, CTAir bags

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10744334
9. Filed Jul 28, 2015Failure Jul 27, 2015140,000 milesFruitland, IDFuel/propulsion system

   IN RESPONSE TO THE LATEST ON THE RECALL OF JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES AND JEEP LIBERTIES, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A FULL REVIEW OF THE 1993 - 2001 JEEP CHEROKEES REAR IMPACT SAFETY. IN NHTSA'S INITIAL REQUEST TO CHRYSLER, THIS GROUP OF CHEROKEES WAS INCLUDED AS A SUBJECT VEHICLE, NOTING YOU HAD ONLY RECEIVED 15 VOQ'S AND ONLY (1) WAS FOR A CHEROKEE, ONE IS TOO MANY. NHTSA ALSO STATED THAT "ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABLE DATA FOR THE CHEROKEE DID NOT ESTABLISH AN UNREASONABLE RISK." WAS THE AVAILABLE DATA AT THE TIME ACCEPTABLE? OR HAVE YOU SUBJECTED THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO A LIFE OF FEAR DRIVING VEHICLE NOT PROPERLY TESTED. WHY WAS THERE NO REAR END IMPACT TESTING OF THE CARS WHEN THEY INITIALLY CAME ON THE MARKET? THE LOCATION OF THE GAS TANK IS IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION AS THE GRAND CHEROKEE AND THE GAS TANK IS ALSO "PLASTIC". MY GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT OF A 1997 CHEROKEE AND IF IT WAS TO GET REAR-ENDED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WOULD TAKE THEIR PARENTS TO GET THEM OUT OF THEIR RESTRAINTS? DID YOU TEST THAT? AS A FAMILY WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REASSURE US EITHER. WHY IS IT UP TO THE PUBLIC TO FILE COMPLAINTS? HAVE YOU NOT THOUGHT THAT INDIVIDUALS DRIVING THESE CARS ARE JUST BARELY GETTING BY, MAYBE NOT KNOWING THAT FIRES FROM REAR IMPACTS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY REPORTED? PLEASE, INVESTIGATE FURTHER, I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY GRANDCHILDREN! KINDLY, [XXX]- GRANDMA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10744318
10. Filed Feb 14, 2015Failure Dec 9, 20149,237 milesAtlanta, GAFuel/propulsion system

    THE JEEP SHUT DOWN ON THE HWY,WOULDN'T START HAD GET A TOW. SPENT OVER 500 DOLLARS ON REPAIRS AND TOW ,FOUR DAYS LATER IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING. LUCKY I WAS HOME IS TIME .WAITED TWO DAY'S WENT OUTSIDE AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM .IM NOT DRIVING IT ANYMORE ITS TO MUCH TROUBLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10683429
11. Filed Jan 18, 2015Failure Jan 1, 2015199,000 milesChesapeake, VAElectrical system, Exterior lighting

    HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING WERE OCCASIONALLY TURNING OFF AND ON. SIDE LIGHTS REMAINED ON AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ON. UPON INVESTIGATION FOR CAUSE, DISCOVERED CONNECTOR ON HEADLIGHT/DIMMER SWITCH WAS MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP. SUSPECT DUE TO SEVERAL CONNECTORS ON DIMMER SWITCH WERE LOOSE ADDING RESISTANCE TO THE FLOW OF CURRENT CREATING EXCESSIVE HEAT IN SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. SINCE THE SWITCH PROVIDES POWER DIRECTLY TO THE HEADLIGHTS, THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THERE SHOULD BE A RELAY CONFIGURATION TO THE HEADLIGHTS TO REDUCE CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10676302
12. Filed Aug 25, 2014Failure Jan 17, 2012108,000 milesAmbridge, PASteering

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10628221
13. Filed Aug 24, 2014Failure Mar 1, 2010130,000 milesVenice, FLElectrical system, Engine

    1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 4.0L I6 BEGAN STALLING IN 2010 UNDER SEEMINGLY RANDOM CONDITIONS. REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS (SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR, IGNITION COIL, PCM) OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS TO NO AVAIL. THE DIFFERENCE CURRENTLY IS THAT THE STALL NOW ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 65-70 DEGREES F. THE COLDER THE ENVIRONMENT, THE WORSE STALL PROBABILITY. COLDER TEMPS ALSO INCREASE PROBABILITY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER A STALL. VEHICLE WILL ALWAYS FIRE UP ON A COLD START. STALL OCCURS AT VARYING SPEEDS (INCLUDING AT IDLE), BUT ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH STALL BECOMES WHAT SEEMS LIKE A MISFIRE. BELIEVE I HAVE NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION IN THE WIRING HARNESS, EITHER AT THE GRAY PCM CONNECTOR (CLOSEST TO BODY), OR IN THE WIRE LEADING TO THIS CONNECTOR. PUTTING ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE WIRES UNDER THE PCM IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HICCUP OR STALL. ONLY CODE EVER SHOWN RELATED TO STALL WAS THE UNSPECIFIC P0351 IGNITION SYSTEM CODE. FORTUNATELY, IF A STALL OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ENGINE/VEHICLE SPEED MUST STILL DROP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BEFORE POWER STEERING/BRAKING ARE LOST. OTHERWISE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NEVERTHELESS THIS IS STILL A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10627898
14. Filed Aug 18, 2014Failure Aug 18, 2014Cameron Park, CAFuel/propulsion system, Body

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10626028
15. Filed Aug 3, 2014Failure Aug 1, 20141,756,678 milesWhittier, CAElectrical system

    STALLING WHILE DRIVING. NO CODE = ONBOARD COMPUTER BAD?, NO ACCIDENT YET!! WHEN IT STALLS I HAVE A HARD TIME TO START THE JEEP ... IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES ... ONCE WHILE DRIVING, THE OTHER WAS AT A STOPLIGHT ........ALREADY HAVE A RECALL 10583287 FOR A TRAILER HITCH TO MAKE THE GAS TANK SAFER AND STILL WAITING...NO ACCIDENT YET!! *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10618501
16. Filed Apr 22, 2014Failure Apr 21, 2014Dallas, TXEngine

    CAR WILL NOT START ANYMORE, IT USED TO TURN OFF AT LIGHTS, OR STOP SIGNS. NOW IT JUST WONT TURN ON AT ALL. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT COSTING ME A FORTUNE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10584296
17. Filed Feb 26, 2014Failure Nov 1, 201280,000 milesNorfolk, VAPower train

    TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE DROVE 65 MPH IN THE RAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. RK

    NHTSA complaint 10565948
18. Filed Jan 14, 2014Failure Aug 15, 2012100,000 milesHayneville, ALAir bagsCrash1 injured

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO A COW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10559954
19. Filed Dec 17, 2013Failure Dec 15, 201330,000 milesCharleston, WVTires

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A MICHELIN LTXM/S 235/75R15, DOT 4/5/2009 TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT WAS NOT GIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE TIRE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13T012000 (TIRES) AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10556347
20. Filed Nov 12, 2013Failure Nov 13, 2012Savannah, GAElectrical system, Fuel system, Gasoline

    CAR STALLS ,SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, HARD TO START. INSTRUMENT PANELS LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. DOME LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. HAD TO TAKE FUSE OUT TO EXTINGUISHED DOME LIGHTS, OTHERWISE STAY ON ALL THE TIME . GAS GAGE SHOWS THAT MORE GAS IN TANK THAN REALLY IS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10551970