1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints

AFTER JUST STARTING ENGINE AND PARTIALLY STEPPING OUT OF VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY MOVED BACKWARDS IN REVERSE. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, AND HE WAS ABLE TO THROW GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, PREVENTING ANY DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE ONLY OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JB

PE01-021; VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN PARK POSITION WHEN IT STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. CONSUMER TRIED TO GET BACK INTO VEHICLE, WHEN WHEEL CAUGHT LEFT FOOT, DRAGGING CONSUMER ABOUT 6 FEET AND PINNING HER UNDER THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR CAUSE.*AK *JB

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V194002. FUEL TANK MOUNTED FUEL LEVEL SENDING ACCURACY CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME, INDICATING MORE FUEL IN RESERVE THAN ACTUALLY PRESENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION IT JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS.*AK CONSUMER TRIED TO JUMP IN VEHICLE, BUT WAS KNOCKED DOWN, CONSUMERS FOOT WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AND WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY JEEP.*JB

WHILE INSIDE OF VEHICLE WITH ENGINE ON AND PARKING PAWL IN PARK IT COULD JUMP AND MOVE TO REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.*AK

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND BACKED UP TOWARD A BUILDING. I WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IT BY PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE RAN OVER MY FOOT AND BROKE IT. IT CONTINUED TO CRASH INTO A RETAIL STORE.*AK

OWNER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK MODE AND WENT TO MAILBOX. CAR REMAINED IN PARK MODE FOR A TIME, BUT THEN THREW ITSELF INTO REVERSE MODE. UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE BACKED INTO THE STREET FROM THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY AND CIRCLED BACK INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD. IT TRAVELED A LONG WAY ACROSS THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE, RESULTING IN OVER $3,100 DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN THE TAILGATE REGION. AFTER REPORTING INCIDENT TO MANUFACTURER THEY SENT A RESPONSE LETTER THAT SAID TO TURN IT INTO OWNER'S INSURANCE BECAUSE DRIVER DID NOT DEPLOY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TURN OFF ENGINE AND TAKE OUT KEYS.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED AT BOTTOM OF DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION RUNNING.VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACK UP HILL. JUMPED IN VEHICLE STOPPING IT BEFORE GOING INTO DITCH ACROSS THE STREET.*AK

CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND AS I STARTED TO EXIT CAR IT STARTED TO ROLL. I WAS ABLE TO THEN STOP CAR AND PREVENT ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY. *AK

WHEN PUT INTO "PARK" VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN INCLINE. *AK

FAN MOTOR FAILED WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON ALSO AFFECTING DEFROSTER,HEATER. *AK

MY WIFE DROVE UP TO AND OPENED A GATE. SHE DROVE THROUGH THE GATE. ON THE OTHER SIDE, SHE STOPPED THE CAR, PLACED IT IN PARK, LEFT THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN, THE SUV STARTED IN REVERSE TOWARD A BUILDING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SPRUNG AND DAMAGED FROM HITTING THE GATEPOST. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE VEHICLE, GET IN AND PUT IT IN PARK AND STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT HIT THE BUILDING. THE DOOR SUSTAINED $ 1876 DAMAGE AND WE HAVE BEEN SURCHARGED ON OUR INSURANCE SINCE THE OCCURRENCE. WE FEEL IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, NOT OURS. *AK

WHILE PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN PARK THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND BACKED INTO A TREE ON MY LOT AT HOME.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD BUCK FORWARD AND BACKWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *DRIVER SUFFERED WHIPLASH.*AK

TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK, ONLY WAY TO GET IT OUT WAS TO PRESS HARD ON GAS PEDAL, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO DASH FORWARD, CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE CONSUMER DIDN'Y KNOW WHEN IT WAS GOING TO DASH FORWARD. *AK *JB

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK WHILE IDLING AND ROLLED BACKWARDS 25 YARDS THROUGH A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE, STOPPING VEHICLE. *AK *SLC

THERE IS A RECALL FOR FUEL SENDING UNIT/ FUEL PUMP MANUFACTURED IN 1996 & 11/96...MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON 12/3/96, THREE DAYS LATER THAN THEN CUT OFF POINT FOR THE RECALL...THEREFORE I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF...I THINK THE RECALL CUT OFF POINT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL THE DEFECTIVE UNITS. *AK

I PUT THE JEEP IN PARK AT A VALET PARKING AREA IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ. MY WIFE AND I EXITED THE JEEP. WHILE I WAS RECEIVING MY TICKET, THE JEEP BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE JEEP AND HIT THE BRAKES INCHES BEFORE HITTING THE CAR BEHIND. I WROTE THE INCIDENT OFF TO HUMAN ERROR. THE JEEP WAS DEFINETELY IN REVERSE WHEN I RE-ENTERED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE CURRENT FINDINGS BUT THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *AK

PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE WITH THE SHIFT LINKAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. KEYS WOULD ALSO NOT COME OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET IT IN "PARK". AFTER PUTTING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON THE SHIFTER, VEHICLE DID GO INTO PARK AND THEN WAS "OK". I DID CALL A LOCAL DEALER WHO SEEMED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THE "HEAVY PRESSURE" FIX.*AK

UPON COMING TO A STOP AND SHIFTING INTO PARK, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE. I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE SFIFTER CABLE HAD DETACHED ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER REATTACHED THE CABLE AND FOUND THAT A NEW ONE WAS NOT REQUIRED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 50-55 MPH AND CONSUMER NOTICED ROAD WAS FEELING ROUGH AND UNEVEN. LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY BLEWOUT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS BEFORE IT HAPPENED. CONSUMER HAS A 1997, GRAND CHEROKEE, AFTERMARKET TIRES WITH 24000 MILES ON THEM, AND SIZE P225/75R15.*AK TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, DOT NUMBER VDHHAWR 179. *SLC

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, CAUSING 4,000 IN DAMAGES AND ALSO CONSUMER WAS INJURIED.*YD

BEGAN REAR END "ROAR" AT 30K MILES, "REPAIRED" X 2, REPLACED AT 43K., CHRYSLER COVERED HALF OF REPAIR. NOW FAILED AGAIN AT 80K. CHRYSLER SAYS, "TOO BAD, YOUR PROBLEM, NOT OURS." SEEMS LIKE THE REAR END OF A $35,000 CAR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 30K MILES. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TAKES OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR THE BIG BAILOUT THEN TELLS ITS CUSTOMERS TO DROP DEAD.

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF PWER STEERING PUMP MOUNTING BRACKET AT INTERSTATE SPEED, SUDDENLY LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE COOLING AND ALTERNATOR...EVERYTHING IN THE BELT DRIVE ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF CAR, MANAGED TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. REPAIRED BY DEALER, HEAD TECH SAID "I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME, CHRYSLER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRACKET, STILL USING IT DEPITE NUMEROUS FAILURES. BEEN THE SAME FOR 5 OR 6 YEARS NOW." IS THIS A $35,000 CAR MADE OF JUNK AT AMERICAN TAX-PAYER EXPENSE(REMEMBER THE BIG GOVERNMENT HANDOUT TO CHRYSLER)? AND, CHRYSLER CONSUMER COMPLAINT BUREAU BASICALLY SAID, "TOO BAD. YOUR PROBLEM, NOT OURS."*AK

PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT. I LEFT CAR IDLING, IN PARK, AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT BACK TIRE. DRIVER SIDE LOOKED OK, I THEN WENT AROUND BACK TO LOOK AT PASSENGER SIDE AND CAR STARTED ROLLING IN REVERSE. OPEN DRIVER DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND RAN OVER HEEL OF SHOE, COULDN'T CATCH CAR TO STOP IT AND IT HIT 2 PARKED CARS IN LOT. *AK

WINDSHIELD FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH CAUSING ROLLOVER AND EJECTION OF THREE PASSENGERS.*AK

THE FRONT PADS HAVE WORN AND THE ROTORS WARPED ON SEVERAL OCCASION CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED, THESE FAILURES OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-136, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSENT. NLM

RECALL 97 V 194 002/FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT: VEHICLE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT ACCURACY IS INDICATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUEL IN THE RESERVE THAN ACTUALLY PRESENT,. LOW FUEL INCREASES RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH IF VEHICLE WAS TO STOP DUE TO NO FUEL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 5 SEC LAG TIME TO SHIFTING. IF THE JEEP HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN 2 DAYS THE TIME IS MORE THAN 20SEC. TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO BEEN IN "D" BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS IN "2".*AK

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT.*YH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH IGNITION RUNNING. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, AND HIT A FENSE/POLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *AK *SLC

UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKES WAS EXPERIENCED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DRIVER WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES OCCURRED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. INABILITY TO STOP CAUSED VEHICLE TO JUMP THE PARKING CURB AND CRASH INTO THE CORNER OF A CONCRETE BLOCK CONSTRUCTED BUILDING. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE PRIMARY DAMAGE EXPERIENCED.TEST ING OF BRAKES BY OWNER WAS UNABLE TO RECREARE THE FAILURE. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS SUSPECT WHEN IT WAS NOTED THE FLUID LEVEL WAS BELOW PREVIOUS OBSERVED LEVEL. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AROUND THE PLUNGER SHAFT. ALSO, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND INSIDE THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. DURING DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT JIMMIE VICKERS IT BECAME EVIDENT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY ARE SURPRISED IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. I HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE BEFORE A SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURS TO ANOTHER UNWARY DRIVER.*AK

WHENEVER GAS GUAGE REGISTERED 1/2 TANK GAUGE WILL DROP TO ZERO. THIS AFFECTED COMPUTER, AND IT GAVE OFF A WARNING SIGNAL THAT VEHICLE WAS EMPTY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE, MECHANIC NOTICED THAT PLASTIC FUEL CAP HAD BELTED ON OIL VALVE COVER. WOULD NEED TO BREAK IT TO REMOVE IT. MECHANIC INDICATED A METAL CAP WOULD BE NEEDED TO REPLACE PLASTIC CAP.*AK

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL 00V136, CONSUMER HAD FRONT ROTORS REPLACED AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS AT STOP LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHEROKEE. CHEROKEE HAD JUMPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE ON ITS OWN. IT THEN LURCHED FORWARD AND REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. THIS CAUSED THE OTHER DRIVER, IN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, TO SUFFER HEAD & NECK PAIN. THIS INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED BY CATHERINE BOCSKOR @3216 GEIGER AVENUE KENSINGTON MD 20895, THE INJURED PARTY. SHE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION FROM THE OWNER OF THE CHEROKEE AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT.*AK

VEHICLE LOST THE PARK AND WENT BACK WITHOUT ANY SIGNAGE OF FAILURE, LOST OF TRANSMISSION CONTROLS. THE UNIT WENT TO REVERSE AND CRASH TO MY PARKING GARAGE, MY LITLE BABY GIRL 21 MONTHS OLD WAS IN THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. ABS SYSTEM DAMAGED WITHOUT ANY SYMPTON.*AK

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARK POSTION. I GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN BACKING UP. WHEN I RAN AROUND THE DOOR AND TRIED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I SLIPPED AND FELL. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER MY FOO, BROKE IT, AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A RETAIL STORE.*AK

PE 01 021/ R0LLED AWAY IN PARK: VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE, AND RAN INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK JEEP ALSO SIDE SWIPED VEHICLE WHERE THERE WAS A CHILD, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *SLC

WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WITH TRANSMISSION / 4-WHEEL DRIVE IN NEUTRAL, WHEELS AND IGNITION LOCKED UP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS OCCURS WHEN BEING TOWED BEHIND A 36 FOOT MOTOR HOME, FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN AND WAS DISCOVERED AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES, SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MILESCONSUMER STOPPED AND STARTED AGAIN HAVING MADE A HARD RIGHT TURN. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE JUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS ON ITS OWN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING TO RUN INTO A STORE I WAS HALFWAY IN THE STORE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD IN REVERSE. IT PROCEEDED TO BACK UP OVER A CURVE AND HIT A BUILDING AFTER I MANAGED TO REACH INSIDE AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. FORTUNALTELY MY CHILDREN WHO WERE IN THE CAR WERE NOT INJURED ONLY FRIGHTENED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS PULLING IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BUCKS AND PULLS BACK WHILE DRIVING. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND IN PARK IT JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BY JUMPING INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SCRAPES AND BRUISES. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK AS A RESULT OF THE VEHHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS BENT BACKWARD BY COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE SIDEWALL. NLM

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T ALWAY GO ALL THE WAY INTO "PARK" ALTHOUGH IT CLICKS LIKE IT DOES. I HAVE TO TAKE EXTRA CARE THAT IT DOES GO INTO "PARK".*AK

WHEN LEFT IN PARK, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THIS 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (PERHAPS SIX OR EIGHT TIMES) SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND MOVED BOTH FORWARD AND BACKWARD ON IT'S OWN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THERE WAS NO DRIVER IN THE CAR WHEN IT BEGAN MOVING. IN THE LATEST EPISODE, IN MAY OF 2001, MY WIFE WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO REENTER THE CAR WHICH SHE HAD LEFT IN PARK. THE JEEP MOVED BACKWARD UNTIL COMING TO REST ON A HEDGE AND A CABLE TV BOX ON THE STREET NEXT TO OUR HOME. THE DAMAGES WERE ABOUT $200. MY WIFE WAS BRUISED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? IS THERE A RECALL? WILL THIS BE REPORTED TO JEEP?*AK

WHEN I PARKED TO WATCH A FIREWORKS DISPLAY THE LEVER SLIPPED BACK INTO REVERSE. MY WIFE YELLED OUT TO ME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FOOT BACK ON THE BRAKE BEFORE HITTING A LADY AND YOUNG CHILD WHO HAD WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE.*AK

IN RESPONSE TO RECENT REPORTS ABOUT 1997 GRAND CHEROKEE TRANSMISSIONS GOING INTO REVERSE WITHOUT SELECTING REVERSE--MY JEEP'S TRANSMISSION SEALS DETERIORATED EARLY WITH PIECES OF THE SEALS FOUND IN THE GEAR FLUID; COULD CAUSE BLOCKAGE OF SCAVANGER SYSTEM OR INTERFERENCE WITH GEARS THEMSELVES--POSSIBLE CAUSE OR EXPLANATION; CONTACTED JEEP AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP--THEY DENIED EVERYTHING.*AK