1995 Jeep Cherokee Electrical Problems

DEAR SIRS, I HAVE DISCOVERED A VERY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL HAZARD THAT IS OCCURRING ON ALL THE 1990'S JEEP CHEROKEE SE MODELS. ON THE 4.0 LITER 242 CUBIC INCH MODELS, THE DASHBOARD SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE AIRFLOW AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF USE SHORTS OUT MELTING AND CAUSING A SEVERE DANGER PROBLEM. WHEN THIS BROWN PLUG MELTS IT ALSO SHORTS OUT THE 30 AMP FUSE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THIS AREA. AFTER INVESTIGATING SEVERAL OF THESE SAME MODELS IT IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS? THE NEXT EMAIL WILL SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF TWO DIFFERENT 1990'S JEEP CHEROKEE'S WITH SEVERAL PICS AND BOTH VEHICLE'S V.I.N.# INFORMATION. MY 1995 JEEP WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW BY MY LATE FATHER AND AFTER 23 YEARS OF USE IT ONLY HAS 113K ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS JEEP REMAINS A STRONG GARAGE KEPT O.E.M. MATCHING NUMBERS #3 CAR NOT A #1 CONCOURS. I AM AFRAID IF I USE THE SWITCH SOONER OR LATER IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS FLAW DESIGN. I HAVE EVERY MAINTENANCE RECEIPT INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL SALES STICKER AND ALL DOCUMENTS FROM ITS BIRTH IN 1995. THE VEHICLE SINCE BIRTH HAS HAD ZERO MODIFICATIONS DONE TO IT AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN IT'S ORIGINAL CONDITION JUST AS IT ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN 1995. ON JUNE 10, 2018 AT 9.15 PM E.S.T. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER CARE JEEP REP AT 877-426-5337 WHO DID ISSUE A CASE # FOR THIS OF 345-103-88. SHE DID ADVISE IT WILL BE SENT UP THRU THE COMPANY'S CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION. I AM HOPING JEEP USA WILL TAKE NOTE OF THIS AND FOLLOW UP AS I DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE MY JEEP THAT IS AND HAS BEEN A KEEPSAKE SACRED FAMILY HEIRLOOM THAT MUST BE PASSED ON. I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY HAD SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS DESIGN FLAW. *JS

NHTSA ID

11131788

Incident

Jan 3, 2006

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10954321

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE A 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHEN REPLACING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL LIGHT, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. I PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BY OBTAINING A CONNECTERS FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN SEVERAL CONNECTORS, HOWEVER THESE CONNECTORS WERE ALSO BURNT AND MELTED. I AM CURIOUS IF WHETHER A DEFECT COMPLAINT HAS EVER BEEN LOGGED CONCERNING THE A/C, HEATER BLOWER SWITCH OR THE CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261289

Incident

Mar 7, 2009

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION THREE TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS FIXED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10087787

Incident

Jun 25, 2004

Mileage

74,000 mi

RECENTLY, WHILE ON I-75 N IN ATLANTA, GA A VEHICLE SWERVED IN FRONT OF ME. I VEERED TO AVOID IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS SEATBEAT BUCKLE ON MY VEHICLE BECAME DISLODGED AND HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS DATE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075112

Incident

May 25, 2004

Mileage

162,000 mi

WIRING SHORT BETWEEN POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER & FUSE BOX. TURN ON HEADLIGHTS & NO DASH LIGHTS,NO TAIL LIGHTS,NO DOOR BUZZER,NO TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHTS & NO PARKING LIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052633

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

Mileage

125,200 mi

IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER STATED DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAD AN OPEN INVESTIGATION #11700403.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042027

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ADJUSTED UP OR DOWN, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009004

STEERING COLUMN WILL SMOKE PERIODICALLY. WIRE AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE BURNED WITH SOME WIRES MELTING TOGETHER. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH FAILURE OF COLUMN SMOKING AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018052

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH STARTED TO SMELL PLASTIC BURNING, CONSUMER PULLED OVER, CUT CAR OFF TO LOOK AROUND, THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE VEHICLE DIED, THERE WAS NO POWER. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES HAD BURNED UP.*SLC

NHTSA ID

897457

Incident

Oct 4, 2001

ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CREATE A SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRES BEING CINKED/CINCHED/PINCHED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ALSO CAUSES TURN SIGNALS TO COME ON WHEN NOT IN USE.*AK

NHTSA ID

894940

THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNT UP. REPLACE WITH ANOTHER ONE AND IT IS BURNING UP. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR AND IGNITION SWITCH. THIS HAPPEN WHEN A/C WAS ON AND BLOWER AT MAXIMUM. LEAVING BLOWER AT LOW WIRES GETS WARM. HIGH START TO MELT. I AM AFRAID OF MY FAMILY INCASE OF A FIRE. I READ THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS REPORTED I CONTACTED A DEALER AND THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY? *AK

NHTSA ID

749140

Incident

Jun 23, 2001

OVER LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR ON HIGH, IGNITION WIRING GOT HOT AT IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

872368

WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT FULL POWER IGNITION SWITCH GETS VERY HOT AND MELTS WIRING HARNESS NEAR SWITCH. CHRONIC PROBLEM SWITCH REPLACED AND OTHER COMPONENTS 5 TIMES. IT EVEN BURNED A HOLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN COVER AND BURNED MY HAND. HARNESS RELACED ONCE AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN AFTER JUST 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

728527

Incident

Aug 2, 2000

CONSUMER WAS LEAVING HOME AND HEARD A POFF, CONSUMER LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MAIN WIRING HARNESS IS MELTED, NO SIGN OF FIRE, CLAIM 25-5394-275. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900649

Incident

May 13, 2000

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID

551409

Incident

Mar 30, 1999

ON THE EVENING OF 11-15-99, MY JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT WOULD NOT STAY STARTED, WE CHECK ALL THE FUSES WHICH WERE O.K., TILTED THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN, THE JEEP STARTED WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN IS IN THE DOWN TILT, I DO REMEMBER A LIGHT SMELL OF ELECTRICAL THE MORNING OF THE 15 OF NOVEMBER, SINCE THEN I HAD A FRIEND OF A FRIEND CONTACT SOMEONE OVER IN THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO HAVE THEM CONTACT ME. TODAY IS FRIDAY, 11-19-99 I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY ONE OVER AT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I CONTACTED THE FRIEND OF THE FRIEND OVER AT CHRYSLER THIS MORNING. HE FORWARDED MY CONCERNS ONTO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS MORNING 11-19-99 , THE VERY STRONG SMELL OF HOT ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS PRESENT IN THE INTERIOR OF MY JEEP WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THIS MORNING (11-19-99), AFTER LETTING THE JEEP IDLE FOR 10 MINUTES, THE HEAT SOURCE/SMELL SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE LOWER PLASTIC STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH, VERY HOT TO TOUCH, AND PARTIALLY MELTED, I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHERE I WILL BE TAKING MY JEEP FOR SERVICE CAN NOT GET ME IN UNTIL 11-23-99. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUZIE PETERSON. *AK

NHTSA ID

715000

Incident

Nov 19, 1999

I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR MY WIFE'S CAR FROM NAPA, MANUFACTURED BY EXIDE. I PLACED THE BATTERY ON MY FRONT SEAT, AND LEFT IT THERE OVERNIGHT TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY. SULFURIC ACID LEAKED FROM THE BATTERY AND RUINED THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE AFTER PERFORMING A PRESSURE TEST ON IT. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE, OR ARE THEIR FINDINGS FINAL?? AS THE UNIT WAS NEVER PUT INTO USE, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. ARE BATTERIES INTENDED TO LEAK SULFURIC ACID AT ANY TIME AFTER MANUFACTURE, EITHER IN SERVICE OR DELIVERY?? PLEASE ADVISE ME REGARDING MY SITUATION AND WHETHER I HAVE ANY BASIS FOR MY CLAIM. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

710880

Incident

Jul 23, 1999

FUSES FOR TURN SIGNAL, RADIO AN INTERIOR LIGHT HAVE BLOWN. NLM

NHTSA ID

547951

Incident

Jun 2, 1998

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FELL OFF. THE CARTER PIN HOLDING "L" BRACE, POPPED OUT. THE WELDS ON DOOR WERE BROKEN. THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS (OUTSIDE) STAYS ON EVEN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED & VEHICLE TURNED OFF. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES FOUND MELTED TOGETHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

837338

Incident

Dec 18, 1998

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, MAIN COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

706458

Incident

May 12, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND IF HITTING A BUMP, VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND, THE KEY WILL TURN BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

834714

Incident

Jan 29, 1999

WIRING HARNESS SHORT OUT. ALSO LEFT PARKING LIGHT FUSE SHORTED OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

702907

Incident

Nov 20, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY BACK . *AK

NHTSA ID

834274

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

DRIVESHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 27 TIMES FOR SERVICE. ALSO, CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN/HEADLIGHT'S AND RADIO AND SQUEAKING AND NOISY TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

833989

Incident

Jan 1, 1999