1996 Jeep Cherokee Interior & seats Problems

UNDERSIDE OF FRONT SEAT (METAL RAIL CONNECTING TO TRACKS) BROKE SUDDENLY NEAR RETAINING BOLTS ON BOTH FRONT CONNECTIONS. METAL WAS FLIMSY (1/8 IN OR SO) AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE REINFORCED AGAINST SHEAR (UP/DOWN) STRESS AT CONNECTION POINT TO ACCOMMODATE SEAT MOTION WHEN DRIVERS GOT INTO/OUT OF VEHICLE. I WAS JUST GETTING IN TO GO TO WORK WHEN IT FAILED, BUT IT COULD JUST HAVE EASILY HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC OR AT A TRAFFIC STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329912

Incident

May 11, 2010

Mileage

173,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I KEPT SMELLING MELTING PLASTIC. IT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE IT WENT OUT. I LOOKED TO SEE SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND IT AND NEVER DID. IT WOUND UP BEING THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS MELTING. I DECIDED TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE HARNESS AND SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT FROM LOOKING AT 8 DIFFERENT JEEP CHEROKEES RANGING FROM 1986 -1997 THEY ALL HAD THE HARNESS AND SWITCH MELTED IN THEM. I THEN REALIZED IT WAS MORE THAN JUST MY JEEP THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10182213

Incident

Dec 23, 2006

Mileage

136,650 mi

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN FIRE THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED VEHICLE. FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, PASSENGER SIDE. ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, AND BURNING SMELL WAS NOTED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DRIVER PULLING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER QUICK INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD, DRIVER WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE, AT WHICH POINT THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD BURST INTO FLAMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136052

Incident

Sep 9, 2005

Mileage

196,340 mi

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ONE OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT TO THE SLIDE RAILS TORE THROUGH THE SHEET METAL ON THE LEFT FRONT ATTACHMENT POINT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE SEAT, BROKEN WELDS WERE FOUND ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE FRAME AND PART OF THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100711

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

93,480 mi

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE FLOOR, MAKING THE SEAT INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091558

Incident

Jul 14, 2004

Mileage

99,000 mi

I OWN A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE AND THE SHEET METAL THAT CONNECTS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE ADJUSTABLE TRACK UNDER THE SEAT IS TEARING AND COMING LOSE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND FURTHER INCREASED INJURY DURING THAT ACCIDENT WHEN THE SEAT BECOMES DISENGAGED FROM ITS ANCHORING POINTS. WHILE THE JEEP IS 7.5 YEARS OLD, I AM ONLY 5FT 10IN 195LBS AND DO NOT THINK THAT THE METAL SHOULD BE TEARING. THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE I FELT I SHOULD CONTACT JEEP BEFORE TAKING ACTION MYSELF SO IF NECESSARY JEEP COULD HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND SEE IF THEY HAD ANY CONCERNS THAT NEEDED TO BE DEALT WITH. I HAVE CONTACTED JEEP STAFF FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ALL THE WAY UP TO SUSAN AT CHRYSLER CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE (INCIDENT # 12175350) WITHOUT LUCK IN HAVING MY SAFETY RELATED ISSUE ADDRESSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063948

Incident

Mar 26, 2004

Mileage

155,000 mi

GETTING INTO MY 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE THE NUT WHICH SECURES THE DRIVERS LOWER SEAT CUSHION FRAME TO THE SEAT ADJUSTER PULLED THROUGH THE CUSHION FRAME. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS 88932 MILES ON IT.*AK I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT THE FORCES WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE RESISTED WOULD FAR EXCEED THOSE A PERSON COULD APPLY GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE, I FEEL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A DESIGN PROBLEM OR A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I CALLED 1-800-992-1997 AND TALKED TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAID THAT IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I.E. I HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS FIXED. FOR SAFETY REASONS THIS MUST BE FIXED, DO I USE THEIR PRODUCTS WHICH MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM? ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM? IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ADD ANOTHER ONE TO THE LIST.

NHTSA ID

10045902

Incident

Nov 10, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10001087

Incident

Dec 12, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

769266

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

762095

Incident

May 19, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759548

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

759502

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

757115

Incident

Jan 19, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

893811

THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION FRAME BROKE AT THE WELDS. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT MOUNT OF THE CUSHION FRAME TO FRACTURE. THERE WAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THE WELDS HAD FRACTURED UNTIL THE LOWER MOUNT FINNALLY GAVE OUT. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED WHEN I JUST GOT INTO THE JEEP. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, AND THE SEAT BROKE, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. I WENT THE MY LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP, SHOWED THEM THE BROKEN SEAT. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD, BUT WERE WILLING TO ORDER THE PART. OF WHICH THERE WERE ONLY THREE AVAILABLE IN THE NATION. I TRIED TO LOCATE THE PART USED ON THE NATIONAL WEB OF SALVAGE YARDS. ON EVERY JEEP OF THIS YEAR AT THE SALVAGE YARD, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ALREADY MISSING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I STILL HAVE THE BROKEN SEAT CUSHION FRAME FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED, AND WERE BLAMED ONTO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE? THANK YOU FOR READING AND CONSIDERING THIS NOTE.

NHTSA ID

747298

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. AIRBAG LIGHT AND LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WENT OUT. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

890609

Incident

Jun 18, 2001

WELD BUSTED ON SEAT ON THE BACK PART AS WELL AS THE PIECE THAT CONNECTS TO FRONT LEFT SECTION OF THE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ID

737801

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

CAR HYDROPLANED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. LUCKILY THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE OF THE JEEP POPPED OFF ON IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT. FIRST DEFECT: BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW OF THE LIFTGATE. SECOND DEFECT: AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CAN'T GIVE TRUE ESTIMATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SINCE ALL MEDICAL BILLS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY HEALTH PROVIDERS. $ 5,412 WORTH OF PERSONAL PROPERTY (JEWELRY AND OTHER) LOST DURING IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

737653

Incident

Nov 6, 2000

I PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE IN MARCH 1999 . I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM 3-5 TIMES . I'VE EVEN COME OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THE EXPENSIVE OF A NEW SEAT BECAUSE THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SEAT WAS CONSIDERED COSMETIC AND NOT WARRANTY COVERED. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW ,THE DEALERSHIP IS SUPPOSEDLY WAITING ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM CHRYSLER ABOUT THE SPECS FOR MY SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 5 MONTHS .THE SEAT IS LEANING DANGEROUSLY TO THE RIGHT AND IT FEELS AS IF IT IS CRACKED

NHTSA ID

710888

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CAUSING DAMAGES TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

541808

Incident

Aug 20, 1998

FRONT DRIVER SEAT FRAME REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

533519

Incident

Mar 6, 1998

COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

606086

Incident

May 1, 1996

REAR LATCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603140

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT DUE TO A SHORT IN THE FUSE SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

807016

POOR TRACTION.

NHTSA ID

512994

Incident

Nov 26, 1996