2000 Jeep Cherokee complaints

REPEATED PASSENGER BALLJOINT FAILURE ON 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE SOURCES INCLUDING OWNERS AND JEEP DEALER REPAIR STAFF, THIS IS A REGULAR AND REPEATED PROBLEM IN 1999 AND 2000 MODEL YEAR CHEROKEES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L ENGINE AND PART TIME 4 WHEEL DRIVE. BALLJOINT ORIGINALLY REPLACED AT 10,950 MILES UNDER WARRANTY (REPLACING DEALER IRA JEEP, NO COST.). BALLJOINT HAS FAILED AGAIN. HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A WEEKEND APPOINTMENT AT DEALER. SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE COINCIDE WITH REPORTS ON FILE WITH THE NHTSA - STEERING WHEEL AND/OR FRONT END 'SHIMMY' OR VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PULLING OR PUSHING LEFT OR RIGHT UNDER ACCELERATION, DIFFICULTY IN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS (LACK OF FEEDBACK FROM WHEELS, CAR ATTEMPTS TO PULL OPPOSITE DIRECTION). I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ON THE BEHALF OF ALL JEEP OWNERS (THIS IS A 4 HOUR REPAIR, REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO TYPICALLY REMAIN AT THE DEALER FOR ONE FULL DAY) THAT THE NHTSA FURTHER INVESTIGATE THESE FAILURES, AS I SUSPECT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THESE FAILURES ARE, IN MY OPINION, DANGEROUS AND CAN BECOME LIFE THREATENING SHOULD THE BALLJOINT(S) CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER/JEEP HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT IN REGUARDS TO REPAIRING THESE PROBLEMS, BUT THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT LEAVE CUSTOMERS WITHOUT THEIR CAR FOR A MINIMUM OF SEVERAL HOURS, AND ARE EASY TO IGNORE FOR MOST CONSUMERS. THANK YOU.*AK

WHEN TRAVELING NORMAL SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE JERKS. BRAKES WILL STOP VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

JEEP ACELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES(THINKING I HAD ABS) BRAKES DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY, CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF A 4X4 TRUCK AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 15 MPH ALL BUMPER PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS DID MANY OTHER PARTS AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. TODAY I TOOK THE JEEP BACK TO DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME TO TRY TO GET THING TAKEN CARE OF .ON THE 1ST TRIP I WAS TOLD THAT MY ABS BREAKS WERE WORKING FINE AND THAT THE MECHANIC FELT THEM KICK IN. TOOK IT BACK A WEEK LATER BECAUSE BREAK PEDDLE DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT ALL BREAKS WERE FINE AND THAT THE ABS WERE WORKING. ON 5/29/01 MY HUSBAND TOOK JEEP IN AND TEST DROVE IT W/ SERVICE MANAGER AND THEY DECIDED THE ABS WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. AND THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ABS ( SALESMEN TOLD US THE JEEP HAD ABS). THE FRONT END NOW SHAKES AT ABOUT 45-55 WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AND SOMETIMES WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOWER SPEED. WHEN JCHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED THEY TRIED TO BLAME EVERYTHING ON ME. IT WAS MY FAULT THAT I DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE IF THE JEEP HAD ABS( WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE THEM AND WE DID ASK TO MAKE SURE AND WE WERE TOLD YES IT HAD THEM) AND IT WAS ALSO MY FAULT THAT AN INSPECTOR DID NOT COME OUT TO INSPECT THE JEEP AFTER THE CRASH BECAUSE I DID NOT REQUEST ONE TO ALTHOUGH NO ONE TOLD ME THAT ONE COULD COME OUT I AM SUPOSE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION OUT ON MY OWN. AS OF TODAY THE JEEP IS IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN 3RD TIME FOR BRAKE SERVICE 2ND TIME FOR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP PREMATURELY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHEN COMIG TO A STOP. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS COMMON. *AK

THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL/ PREVENT VEHICLE FROM WANDERING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT SIDE, AND PINION BEARINGS TWICE. ALSO, REPLACED STEERING DAMPNER. PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN, AND DEALERSHIP IS NOT PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WOULD VIBRATE AND SHIMMY WHEN APPLIED. PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE. ROTORS WERE WARPED. WOULD NEED TO HOLD TIGHT TO STEERING WHEEL FOR CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AS SOON AS CONUMER HAD RETURNED HOME, DEALER HAD CHANGED THE WIRES AND WIRING BECAUSE THEY HAD BURNED PREVIOUSLY, CONSUMER HAD BEEN SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING PRIOR TO FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 11-3602-682. *SLC

ROTORS WERE PERMATURELY WARPING AT 6,000 AND AT 14,000 MILES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS IDLING ROUGH, CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED STEAM COMING OUT OF THE FRONT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 52-2478-631. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE BRAKES SEEM TO HESISTATE, LIKE GOING OVER GRAVEL BUT THEY'LL STOP. TOOK TO A MECH AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ROTORS.

SEVERE VIBRATION WAS EXPERIENCED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. AT LESS THAN 7,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "BRAKE RUN OUT" BY THE DEALER. IT APPEARS AS IF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE (THIS IS NOT A GRAND CHEROKEE MODEL). I BELIEVE THE USE OF COMPOSITE BRAKE ROTORS IS CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CORPORATION.*AK

VEHICLE IS USED FOR A SECURITY COMPANY. EMPLOYEE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND IT FULLY ACCELERATED. EMPLOYEE GAINED CONTROL BEFORE GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT. *AK

GOING 40 MPH FRONTEND BOUNCES,&PUTTING ON BRAKES,IT BOUNCES. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, IF HITTING A BUMP ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER SAYS THAT GAS CAP KEEPS GOING TO GAS TANK. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING WIRES AS SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 48-5168-721. *SLC

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT ROTOR, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WILL FORCE VEHICLE TO JUMP INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN VIBRATING SINCE PURCHASE. TAKEN TO DEALER 4 - 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED RIMS AND TIRES. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4596-849. *SLC

RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK/ LATCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ESPECIALLY DOWN HILL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY. STRONG VIBRATION ALLOWS CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER ADVISED THAT BRAKES WARPED DUE TO OVERHEATING. *AK *SLC

SQUEAL IN POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, PROBLEM CORRECTED BY DEALERSHIP AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS, ENTIRE STEERING GEAR HOUSING REPLACED ON 10/09/00. CJ

RIGHT HAND VEHICLE; CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE TO DELIVER MAIL. SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON LEFT SIDE INSTEAD OF RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING A BLIND SPOT WHEN PULLING ONTO ROAD. *AK

AT 50-55 MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIES, WENT TO ARBITRATION, TIRES WERE EXCHANGED, NO CHANGE.*AK THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR SHIMMING AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *YH

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF DISTURBING BRAKE SQUEALING, EVEN IN OPTIMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, BRAKE PADS CHANGED, BRAKE SQUEALING CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. CJ

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ,AND REAR SECONDARY BRAKE PADS AND SHOES WERE CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. *AK

BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKING. CHEVROLET SAYS A RECALL ON JEEP ROTORS. JEEP (CRYSLER) SAYS NO. *AK

THIS IS A RIGHT HAND DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE. THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE CAUSING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM THAT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PULLING ONTO THE ROAD. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN THE 1995-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE CHEROKEE MODELS, BUT THEN FOR SOME REASON WAS MOUNTED ON THE LEFT IN THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS. DEALER REFUSED TO REMOUNT THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, SAYING THERE WAS NO WAY TO DO THIS.*AK

WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE AND COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER HEARS A RATTLE. WHEN IN PARK, CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.*AK THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MUFFLER AREA AND THE DEALER CHANGED THE MUFFLER AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL NOT SOLVED. * YH

BRAKES ARE NOISY AT ALL TIMES, SPEED OR WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT MATTER. JEEP DEALER SAIS THAT'S JUST THE WAY BRAKES ARE ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT END PULSATES, AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN DUPLICATING PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAK, CLAIM 52-2453-799. *SLC

VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDERHOOD, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEADLIGHT SELECTED SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED AS TOTALLED BY DEALER/MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONCERNED THAT FAILURE OCCURRED ON A VEHICLE THAT IS FAIRLY LIGHT DUTY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING45-50 MPH HIT SLUSH ON SHOULDER, SLID INTO AN ICE EMBANKMENT, PROCEEDED INTO A DITCH, AND CAME TO REST AFTER HITTING A STONE WALL. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS ONLY ONE IN VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. *AK

BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH, VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WILL SHIMMY AND OR VIBRATE. ADDITIONALLY, ONCE VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE ERRATICALLY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND GIVEN 7 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. UNFORTUNATLEY, DEFECT STILL REMAINS AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING STATE ARBITRATION PROGRAM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL FIRE, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TOP WIRES WERE MELTED, CLAIM 15-DEC-2000. *SLC

ROTORS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND TIRES ARE GOING TO BE REPLACE FINALLY (TIRESIZE: P22575R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT AND A TREAD SEPARATION. GOODYEAR TIRE, NO DOT NUMBER OR TIRE SIZE. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAVING A SLIGHT SHIMMY, GOODYEAR WRANGER RT/S TIRES (P225 75 R15) HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED AND THE PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS, THE SHIMMY COULD BE DUE TO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM OR TIRE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL START VIBRATING. COULD FEEL IT ON PASSENGER SIDE, AND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THIS VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS. JEEP DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER WILL TURN VEHICLE ON THERE WAS HESITATION. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO PUT IN GEAR. SHE CONTACTED JEEP, AND VEHICLE NEEDED TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACED TRANSMISSION ON THE WARRANTY. *AK

FRONT END WOBBLES AT 50 MILES HOUR-STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE ALSO. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IT PULLED DANGEROUSLY TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS CHANGED TO A RIGHT HAND DRIVE BY CHRYSLER FOR POST OFFICE DELIVERY USE BEFORE DELIVERY TO THE OWNER. IT WAS DRIVEN 249 MILES BY ANB EMPLOYEE OF THE DEALER BEFORE DELIVERY. THE PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN APARENT TO THEM AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER HAS SNT THE VEHICLE OUT FOR ALIGNMENT THREE TIMES TO ATTEMPT ALIGNMENT. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE DEALER WILL TRY TO GET IT ALIGNED AGAIN, BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANY WORK ON THE VEHICLE TO REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SENT THE OWNER OUT TO GET NEW TIRES, BUT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THEM. THE VEHICLE IS STILL OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND IT DOES NOT STEER PROPERLY. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY MORE ACTION TO FIX IT. THE DAELER CLAIMS THAT CHRYSLER IS NONRESPONSIVE TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

CHRYSLER PUT STEERING WHEELS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR POST OFFICE USE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER PROPERLY. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRE WEARING DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT. *YH

I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 07/21/00 & THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE BACK NO LIGHTS CAME ON TO INFORM ME THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING - PEOPLE FLAGGED ME DOWN TO LET ME KNOW THE CAR WAS SMOKING. *AK

ALL TREAD WORN OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE AFTER 5500 MILES AND TIRE GOES FLAT. JEEP DEALER AND GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER SAY ALIGNMENT OK. GOODYEAR SAYS POSSIBLE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE CAUSING TIRE TO DRAG. JEEP WILL NOT INSPECT BEARING. AFTER 2 HRS DRIVING AT 25MPH CANNOT STEER CAR, BRAKING CAUSES STEARING WHEEL TO VIBRATE, TOUCHING LUG NUTS WILL BURN FINGER, HUB AND BRAKE ROTOR HOT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )