1997 Jeep Cherokee

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013 requesting that Chrysler recall the Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles due to the rate of fatal, non-fatal fire, and fuel leak incidents when compared to peer vehicles (compact and medium SUVs) built during the same time period.In the RRL, ODI described how the location of the aft-mounted fuel tank made the SVs vulnerable to rear impact crash fuel tank failures.During the analysis, besides the high speed/high severity crashes present in both the SV and peer vehicles, ODI observed a significant number of low and moderate speed rear impact crash related fires and leaks, particularly in the Liberty.The data also demonstrated that SVs originally equipped with towing hitch receivers (trailer hitches) appeared to be under-represented in rear-impact related fuel tank failures.In the RRL, ODI requested that Chrysler provide its response by June 18, 2013, otherwise NHTSA might proceed to an Initial Decision that the SVs contain a safety-related defect.Chrysler responded to the RRL on June 4, 2013 and vigorously disputed the tentative findings of the RRL.Among other things, Chrysler argued that the SVs had an overall safety record superior to their peers, met or exceeded all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and only experienced fires in severe high energy rear impacts.Nonetheless, while continuing to maintain that the SVs did not contain a safety-related defect, Chrysler proposed a recall (13V-252) of approximately 2.5M (1.6M currently registered) model year (MY) 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) and MY 2002-2007 Liberty (KJ) vehicles on June 18, 2013.The recall remedy submitted by Chrysler would employ a hitch receiver assembly consisting of a steel cross-member behind the fuel tank with forward-projecting arms bolted to the frame rails on either side of the fuel tank.For the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee, Chrysler indicated it would conduct a customer satisfaction campaign and inspect vehicles equipped with aftermarket tow hitch receivers, and if necessary, replace any such hitch receivers whose conditionmay increase the risk of fuel system failure in rear crashes.Examination of the available data established that the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee did not pose the same magnitude of safety risk as the MY 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee and MY 2002-2007 Liberty, particularly in low and moderate speed rear impacts.Because the agency has concluded that the vehicles do not present an unreasonable risk to safety, ODI is closing its investigation of the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee.Although it was not within the scope of the Petition initiating this investigation or the Preliminary Evaluation preceding this EA, ODI also examined the performance of the MY 1993 - 2001 Cherokee as part of this investigation.NHTSA's assessment of the available data for the Cherokee did not establish an unreasonable risk in comparison to peer vehicles.ODI does not approve proposed defect remedies.While offering to install hitch receiver assemblies on the MY 1993-1998 Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Liberty, Chrysler did not, in ODI's view, provide enough evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed remedy in rear impacts.The Complete Summary for this Closing Resume (EA12-005) can be seen by

There is no summary currently available

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL EMERGENCY TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000.

NHTSA ID

11363547

Incident

Oct 3, 2020

Mileage

248,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL WHEN I ENGAGE HIGH BEAMS OR TURN ON MY RIGHT BLINKER MY HAZARDS FLASH QUICKLY IN THE BACK ONLY. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. HAVE HAD MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11157114

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. THE DEALER (CUETER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,138.

NHTSA ID

11091959

Incident

Apr 29, 2018

Mileage

215,138 mi

I WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER SHIP BECAUSE I HAD LOOKED UP ON THIS SITE MY RECALLS ONE WAS BRAKES THEY DID HAPPILY AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN FOR THE FUEL IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND IT'S A 1997 HOW CAN THEY NOT GET THE PARTS TO FIX IT YET I RAN OUT OF GAS A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAYS AND ON MY WAY TO WORK WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I NEED MY CAR THE MOST

NHTSA ID

10897108

Incident

May 26, 2016

VEHICLE HAS HARD STARTS AND FREQUENT HESITATION AND STALLING, AT ALL SPEEDS CITY STREET DRIVING AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD A NEW DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL, INSTALLED, YET SYMPTOMS PERSIST. SUDDEN DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP CHEROKEE XJ. I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CRASH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THIS MORNING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. JEEP OUGHT TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REMEDY FOR OWNERS. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. POSSIBLE REMEDIES (FROM MY RESEARCH) INCLUDE MULTIPLE PARTS AND MANY HOURS OF LABOR: O2 SENSOR, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, PLUGS, WIRES, CAP, ROTOR, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, ALTERNATOR, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, BALLAST RESISTOR, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, TORQUE CONVERTOR, POWER CONTROL MODULE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID, ETC. WHAT IS CAUSING ALL OF THESE VEHICLES TO STALL DANGEROUSLY?

NHTSA ID

10872145

Incident

Jun 2, 2016

Mileage

195,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10837786

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 JEEP WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT STALLING OUT FOR NO REASON. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR. IT STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP OVER 20 TIMES TO TRY AND GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE EVEN KEPT IT OVER NIGHT AND HAD IT ON MACHINES TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT STALLS AND AM NOT ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACE SENSORS, FUEL FILTER, BATTERY, NOT TO MENTION SO MANY OTHER PARTS AND NOTHING IS STOPPING IT FROM STALLING OUT FOR NO REASON. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND I LOVE MY JEEP BUT I AM REAL NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT THAT I MIGHT GO TO TURN AND THE JEEP WILL STALL WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND GET T-BONED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL SPUTTER AND STALL OUT. I HAVE READ THAT "MANY" JEEPS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE FROM THE SAFETY CAR SITE LOOK INTO THIS AS THERE WILL BE A FAMILY IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM COULD OCCURE AND CAUSE A DIASTER IN SOMEONES LIFE. I HAVE DRIVEN IN DIFFERANT ARES ON THE ROAD, HIGHWAY, RESIDENTIAL AREAS, GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, AND ALSO GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR AND IT WIL STALL OUT. I HAVE AGAIN SEEN SO MANY POSTING REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THESE JEEPS ...PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.

NHTSA ID

10836832

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10744334

Incident

Mar 9, 2011

Mileage

96,000 mi

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.