1996 Jeep Cherokee complaints

CONSUMER STATES STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE 1/8 OF MILE, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED A HEAVY SMOKE UNDER THE DASH, WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISON WITH HIS JEEP AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE ALSO STATES SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND HIT A TREE.

FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED ON 9/5/02. PICKED UP JEEP AND IT BROKE DOWN ON THE WAY HOME. WAS TOWED BACK TO SHOP. REPLACED FUEL PUMP 5 MORE TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN NOTICING A STRONG PETROL SMELL. LAST TIME THE MECHANICS TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE JEEP IT WOULDN'T EVEN START AND THE PETROL SMELL CONTINUED. NOW TOLD BY MANAGER AT THE CHRYSLER SHOP THAT AN INTERNAL MEMO WAS ISSUED IN 1997 STATING THAT 1996 CHEROKEES HAD ALREADY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, INCLUDING FAULTY FUEL PUMP SYSTEMS AND CORRODED FUEL TANKS. THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OTHER THAN REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AT MY COST. CHRYSLER IS HOLDING TRUE TO CHARACTER AND INSISTS THAT A JEEP WITH SO MANY MILES (IT'S A '96 WITH ONLY 58K MILES) WILL HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. THEY DO NOT SEEM TO THINK IT IS STRANGE THAT SUCH A MEMO WAS ISSUED DETAILING CORROSION IN THE TANKS OF A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF '96 JEEPS ONLY ONE YEAR AFTER MANUFACTURING DATE. AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CAR AND SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. DT

PUT 4 FUEL PUMPS IN VEHICLE, TOLD IT NEEDED NEW GAS TANK, PLASTIC TANK LINING IS SEPARATING AND CLOGGING FUEL PUMP. DT

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TURNING IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START VEHICLE WAS SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICE FUEL PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACE CONSUMER IS NOW ON THIRD FUEL PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

REAR BRAKES LOCKED ON AT LEAST 25 OCCASIONS. USUALLY HAPPENS IN FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND WHEN WET. BRAKES WERE REPAIRED BY DODGE/JEEP DEALER 2 MONTHS AGO STILL LOCKED. CHECKED BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC LAST WEEK, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY MORNING AT ABOUT 9:00 A.M. DURING STEADY RAIN, APPLIED BRAKES AT 55 MILES PER HOUR TO SLOW VEHICLE FOR CAR IN FRONT THAT HAD APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES LOCKED AND VEHICLE FISH TAILED TO RIGHT, SPUN AT LEAST TWICE, TIPPED OVER AND HIT GUARD RAIL AT LEAST TWICE. I WAS EXTRACTED FROM VEHICLE WITH ONLY MINOR CUT TO HAND AND GLASS IN NOSTRIL. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. EARLIER LAST YEAR OUR 25 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED, WHERE SHE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENT TO ACCIDENT YESTERDAY, I TALKED WITH TWO OTHER OWNERS OF SAME TYPE VEHICLE WHO EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. REAR BRAKES LOCK, ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN MORNING AND WHEN THEY ARE WET. CERTIFIED AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC SUGGESTED A COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS HYDRAULIC FLUID TO ALL BRAKES EQUALLY COULD BE THE PROBLEM. WOULD APPRECIATE STATISTICS ON THIS PROBLEM IF AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY OCCURANCES WHERE ACCIDENTS RESULTED. DT

WHEN DRIVING, IF VEHICLE EXCEEDED OVER THE SPEED OF 50 MPH AND I RAN INTO THE LITTLEST BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK WILL BE SHAKING, NONE STOP UNTIL I SLOW DOWN BELOW 25 MPH OR IT WILL KEEP SHAKING BADLY. ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769316. *AK *JB

MOUNTS FAILED WHEN TURNING CAR INTO PARKING LOT. CAR IS AT DEALER FOR REPAIR NOW. SHEARED OFF BOLTS HAVE TO BE DRILLED OUT. DT

1. ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER LEFT SIDE DASH, MAIN WIRE BUNDLE GOING TO FUSE BOX RUBBED AGAINST BOLT AND WORE THROUGH WIRE CAUSING A SHORT. 2. NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH GONE BAD. 3. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RAIL BROKE SOMEWHERE AND SEAT ROCKS AROUND. 4. REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE A NEGATIVE ARCH IN THEM CAUSING REAR TO SAG AND WHEELS TO RUB WITH MINIMUM WEIGHT IN VEHICLE. DT

CONSUMER STATES POWER STEERING BEARING FAILS INTERMITTENLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION. TS

DRIVER DOOR HINGES ARE WEARING OUT. IT IS HARD FOR DOOR TO STAY CLOSED/ CAN OPEN DOOR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE IS WEARING OUT, AND IT IS HARD TO SHUT DOOR. DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE 5TH TIME IN 10 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. DEALERS SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES APPARENTLY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GAS CIRCULATING TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING SUNROOF AND FRAME CAME OF VEHICLE.

CRACKS IN SIDEWALLS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT 3 GRADE 8 ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS ON THE LEFT SIDE HAVE SHEARED OFF. *SLC

THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS HAS SERERE CORROSION, CAUSING THE WEAR SURFACE TOO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB. THIS CORROSION DIDN'T HAPPEN OVER NIGHT BUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. RECALLS HAVE OCCUR IN OTHER STATES, THIS STATE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED ALSO.

SUN ROOF BLEW OFF TOP OF VEHICLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE SWITCH AND HARNESS MELTED FROM HEAT OF THE SWITCH AND BURNED THE PEICE APART.*AK

HINGES ON DRIVER'S DOOR ARE RUSTED, TOP HINGE IS BROKEN.*AK

A FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IF VEHICLE IS ON A SLGHT INCLINE WITH IGNITION ON AND SHIFTER IN PARK, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE ADJUSTMENT SLIDE. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO TILT BACK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE METAL IS TORN FROM AROUND THE BOLT. THE BOLT IS STILL INTACT. THE UPPER LEFT DOOR HINGE IS ALSO COMING LOOSE FROM THE BODY. THE WELD THAT SECURES THE HINGE TO THE BODY IS FAILING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER (NOT THE ONE WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. THE FELLOW AT THE BODY SHOP INFORMED ME HE HAS SEEN QUITE A FEW DOOR HINGE FAILURES. HE EVEN HAD A CHEROKEE IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID THE SEAT FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON. I FEEL THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE PART OF THE COST OF REPAIR, IF NOT FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. THE SEAT IN PARTICULAR IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THE OTHER SIDE BREAKS, I'LL BE LAYING DOWN TRYING TO DRIVE!*AK

SLID OUT OF CONTROL AFTER SLOWING DOWN ON HIGHWAY, CAR PULLED LEFT AND WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED TWICE AND THE CAR STILL VIBRATES WHEN SLOWING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD TAKE PHOTO AND REFER TO OEM, CONTACTED LOCAL GARAGE PER DEALERSHIP REFERENCE TO REPAIR AND GARAGE SAID THEY HAVE FIX 3-4 OF THIS TYPE FAILURE. THE DOOR WOULD FALL OFF IF NOT FIXED.*AK

ALL FOUR FLOOR PANEL HAD SEVERE RUST ON THEM, FIXED THE FLOOR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, VEHICLE ROLLS BACK WHILE IN GEAR

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, BATTERY WAS DRAINED. PROBLEMS HAD RETURN. *AK THE REPLACED FUEL PUMP FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *YH

THE FRONT SEAT FRAMES ARE NOT MADE STRONG ENOUGH, FRAME WELDS BROKEN, BOLT PULLED THROUGH, OTHER FRAME CRACKS. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER SEAT FAILURES,IN JEEP XJS, TALKED ABOUT ON INTERNET JEEP LIST-SERVES. SEAT WAS HELD ON BY ONLY 2 POINTS. IF ONE MORE MOUNTING HAD BROKEN, THE SEAT WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA.*AK

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE IS RUSTED UNDERBODY WHICH CAN CAUSE BRAKE PROBLEMS, DEALER SPRAYED UNDERBODY WITH COATING, BUT BRAKE PROBLEMS STILL OCCUR. *TT

THREE FAILURES IN 99 DAYS. FACTORY NEW PART EACH TIME. DEADLY. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL PART. FAILED SECOND TIME WITHIN 3 WEEKS DUE TO FAULTY GAS TANK, AS ADVISED BY DEALER. CHRYSLER HAS HUGE BACKLOG FOR SAME PROBLEM AND HAD PRIOR RECALLED FOR JEEP CHEROKEE 95 & 96. (MINE IS A GRAND CHEROKEE). CAR CAN STOP LITERALLY AT ANY SPEED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ONE OF THE PULLEYS BRACKETS HOLDING THE "SERPTINE " BELT BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ESTIMATE DAMAGE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME, UNTIL IT CAN BE CHECK OUT. THE BRACKET HOLDING THE PULLEY CRACKED IN HALF. WHEN I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE JEEP DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURENCE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES. BECAUSE THE BRACKET IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM I HAVE 92,000 MILES. ANYWAY I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK

CONSUMER HAD FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-136, THE DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER NEEDS TO RETURN OLD BRAKES BEFORE CONSIDERING REIMBURSEMENT BUT CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE OLD BRAKES. *TT

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HIT A BUMP. CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND THOUGHT THAT LINKAGE SHIFTED. CONSUMER'S MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. *AK

FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED FIVES TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER STATED FUEL PUMP FREEZES UP, AND VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PUMPS USUALLY RUNS EFFICIENTLY FOR FOUR DAYS. *AK *SLC

A REPORT AIRED ON LOCAL TELEVISION STATION THAT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A PROBLEM WAS FOUND IN ALL MODEL YEAR JEEPS CONCERING FUEL TANK NOT BEING PROPERLY PLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AND OPENING DOOR, STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT STARTED TRAVELING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER GOT STUCK UNDER VEHICLE WHILE HOLDING ON TO STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS DRAGGED 20 FEET DOWN HILL, HITTING A POST. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER TURNED AROUND TO PICK UP SOMETHING OFF THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. CONSUMER SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT THAT CAR WAS IN PARK AND IT HAD TO HAVE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED A YEAR AND HALF AGO. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP ACCELERATOR WENT FULL THROTTLE, TURNED SWITCH OFF TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DURING RESTART VEHICLE FULL THROTTLED. UPON INSPECTION NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO REVERSE AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE AFTER THIS INCIDENT.

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION IN DRIVEWAY, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY JUMPED OUT OF GEAR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, CRASHING INTO DINING ROOM WALL. NO INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. BUT, THE GAS GAUGE WAS SAYING A HALF OF TANK. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AIRBAG SEVERLY DAMAGED MY RIGHT EYE. I HAD SEAT BELT ON, SEAT WAS UPRIGHT. NO OTHER INJURIES.*AK

LAST PROBLEM WITH ROTORS WAS IN NOVEMBER 1999, 59,000 TOTAL MILES. FRONT ROTORS WARPED CAUSING PULSATION OF BRAKE PEDAL. REPORTED THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM TO THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, 1-800-992-1997. WAS TOLD THAT BASED ON MY VEHICLE'S VIN # NO RECALL WAS WARRANTED. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT OTHER 1996 JEEP CHEROKEES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON AND I FIND IT APPALLING THAT ALL JEEPS WITH ROTOR PROBLEMS HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED YET. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? A FATAL ACCIDENT, LIKE THE FIRESTONE ONES, FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. NO VEHICLE SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS EVERY TWO YEARS. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS.*AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE JJUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE CAUSING A CRASH WITH A MOBILE HOME AND CARPORT. VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKON AN INCLINE. *AK

THE LEFT FRONT BEARING AND HUB FAILED. NLM

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING IT A STRON GODOR WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE.FUSE SHORTED OUT. WHEN FUSE WAS TAKEN OUT OF VEHICLE ODOR WENT AWAY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS POWER ADJUSTING SEAT MODULE THAT BLEWOUT. *AK