1997 Jeep Cherokee Electrical Problems

HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING WERE OCCASIONALLY TURNING OFF AND ON. SIDE LIGHTS REMAINED ON AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ON. UPON INVESTIGATION FOR CAUSE, DISCOVERED CONNECTOR ON HEADLIGHT/DIMMER SWITCH WAS MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP. SUSPECT DUE TO SEVERAL CONNECTORS ON DIMMER SWITCH WERE LOOSE ADDING RESISTANCE TO THE FLOW OF CURRENT CREATING EXCESSIVE HEAT IN SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. SINCE THE SWITCH PROVIDES POWER DIRECTLY TO THE HEADLIGHTS, THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THERE SHOULD BE A RELAY CONFIGURATION TO THE HEADLIGHTS TO REDUCE CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676302

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

199,000 mi

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 4.0L I6 BEGAN STALLING IN 2010 UNDER SEEMINGLY RANDOM CONDITIONS. REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS (SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR, IGNITION COIL, PCM) OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS TO NO AVAIL. THE DIFFERENCE CURRENTLY IS THAT THE STALL NOW ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 65-70 DEGREES F. THE COLDER THE ENVIRONMENT, THE WORSE STALL PROBABILITY. COLDER TEMPS ALSO INCREASE PROBABILITY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER A STALL. VEHICLE WILL ALWAYS FIRE UP ON A COLD START. STALL OCCURS AT VARYING SPEEDS (INCLUDING AT IDLE), BUT ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH STALL BECOMES WHAT SEEMS LIKE A MISFIRE. BELIEVE I HAVE NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION IN THE WIRING HARNESS, EITHER AT THE GRAY PCM CONNECTOR (CLOSEST TO BODY), OR IN THE WIRE LEADING TO THIS CONNECTOR. PUTTING ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE WIRES UNDER THE PCM IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HICCUP OR STALL. ONLY CODE EVER SHOWN RELATED TO STALL WAS THE UNSPECIFIC P0351 IGNITION SYSTEM CODE. FORTUNATELY, IF A STALL OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ENGINE/VEHICLE SPEED MUST STILL DROP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BEFORE POWER STEERING/BRAKING ARE LOST. OTHERWISE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NEVERTHELESS THIS IS STILL A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627898

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

STALLING WHILE DRIVING. NO CODE = ONBOARD COMPUTER BAD?, NO ACCIDENT YET!! WHEN IT STALLS I HAVE A HARD TIME TO START THE JEEP ... IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES ... ONCE WHILE DRIVING, THE OTHER WAS AT A STOPLIGHT ........ALREADY HAVE A RECALL 10583287 FOR A TRAILER HITCH TO MAKE THE GAS TANK SAFER AND STILL WAITING...NO ACCIDENT YET!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10618501

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

1,756,678 mi

CAR STALLS ,SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, HARD TO START. INSTRUMENT PANELS LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. DOME LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. HAD TO TAKE FUSE OUT TO EXTINGUISHED DOME LIGHTS, OTHERWISE STAY ON ALL THE TIME . GAS GAGE SHOWS THAT MORE GAS IN TANK THAN REALLY IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551970

Incident

Nov 13, 2012

THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE CODE READ AND IT SAID THE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR WAS BAD, CHANGED THAT STILL SAYS THAT SENSOR IS BAD. I CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS AND INSPECTION TO GET LICENSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546687

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

210,000 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, HOWEVER; THE CODE THAT COMES UP IS FOR THE IGNITION WHICH WAS ALREADY REPAIRED AND NOT THE ISSUE CAUSING AT HAND. THIS MALFUNCTION IS FREAKISHLY COMMON WHEN I LOOK IT UP ONLINE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT MAY OR CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IF IN INTERSECTION OR BUSY ROAD/HIGHWAY. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANY SOLUTIONS OR INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. WE HAVE ALSO CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AS WELL AS WIRES & COIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520681

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

VIC DISPLAY SHOW "COOLANT SENSOR BAD." ONLINE INVESTIGATIONS REVEAL MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS. THEIR TRIAL SOLUTIONS HAVE RANGED FROM REPLACING THE "COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR," THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR," REPLACING "CONNECTING WIRING" TO THE VIC, AND TO REMOVING THE VIC TO REPAIR SOLDER JOINTS AND CRACKS AT THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT IS LOCATED IN THE VIC. MOST REPORT THAT THE FIRST THREE ATTEMPTED REMEDIES DID NOT RESOLVE THE DEFECT. SOME REPORT SUCCESS IN RE-SOLDERING JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE LATTER,--REMOVING THE VIC AND REPAIRS AT THE CIRCUIT BOARD-- IS AN INVOLVED PROCESS AND REQUIRES EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND REPAIR TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT. ALL REPORT THAT THIS CONDITION LEFT UNRESOLVED COULD LEAD TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND/OR FAULTY DATA SENT TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS DEFECT, A RECALL OR A MANUFACTURE REPAIR BULLETINS, SHOULD BE ISSUED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508248

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

Mileage

150,156 mi

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED AT 78K MILES EXCESSIVE LIQUID DRAINING WHEN RUNNING AC WAS TOLD THAT MOTOR HAD BEEN "REDESIGNED" AND THAT PARTS ALONE WOULD COST OVER 300.00 BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO REDESIGNING THE MOTOR, A NEW WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE INSTALLED!!! REMEMBER THE 300.00 IS FOR THE HARD PART AND WIRING ONLY, NOT THE LABOR TO INSTALL...THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS WHEN A MOTOR FOR THE SAME MODEL MANUFACTURED A YEAR EARLIER IS ONLY 20.00!!!!! AS FAR AS THE EXCESSIVE LIQUIDS RUNNING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE THE AC IS RUNNING, THIS SITE WAS THE FIRST INDICATOR AS TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT...(I SIMPLY THOUGH IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW) ALSO THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN EDITED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT "RUNNING BOARDS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS...IT SEEMS ONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FLAWLESSLY OR BEGIN AGAIN COMPLETELY!!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10093790

Incident

Jul 8, 2004

Mileage

87,000 mi

WIRE HARNESS HAS BURN MARKS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024480

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

Mileage

83,000 mi

MY GUESS IS THE WATER BUILD UP FROM THE A/C EVAPORATOR IS CAUSING SOME KIND OF SHORT TO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, HORN, AND RADIO

NHTSA ID

766495

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. NO PRIOR WARNINGS, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED IT TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

880859

Incident

Feb 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. FUSES WERE CHECKED AND REPLACED TO REPAIR. THE NEXT DAY THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT OTHER THAN THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEFECT DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO HAVE ACCESS TO SEE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER IMPORTANT PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

865323

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

INITIAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FAILURE 5/98 OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY OVERPASS 680/24 WALNUT CREEK, CA. VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH GAUGE INDICATED FUEL LEVEL ABOVE 1/8 TANK. CREATED HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC BACKUP FOR SEVERAL MILES ON SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE 680 REQUIRING POLICE ASSISTANCE. SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS WITH REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES 3/29/99 AND 8/30/99, CURRENTLY UNRESOLVED. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFFECTED DRIVABILITY REQUIRING REPLACEMENT 8/30/99. BEGAN EXPERIENCING DANGEROUS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING ABRUPT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PRECEDING ENGINE BUCKING, SEVERE ENGINE SURGING, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER, NEAR STALL AT 35 MPH, RADIO AND POWER WINDOW FAILURE 8/23/99, CREATING HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON ROAD. THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FUSE FAILURE ON 11/1/99 OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON EASTBOUND HIGHWAY 4 IN MARTINEZ NEAR PACHECO BLVD. OFF-RAMP WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. LOSS OF ENGINE, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES AT THIS SPEED AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS CREATED POTENTIAL FOR FATAL COLLISION INVOLVING MULTIPLE VEHICLES. VEHICLE AT LEHMER'S DEALERSHIP FROM 11/1/99-11/5/99. DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE, LOCATE, OR REPAIR FAILURE. VEHICLE RELEASED ON 11/5/99. THE SECOND FUEL SYSTEM FUSE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING ON 11/6/99, ON WESTBOUND YGNACIO VALLEY, A SECONDARY 4 LANE ROAD AT 45 MPH SPEED, AGAIN CREATING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. POLICE CALLED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE COLLISIONS WHILE WAITING FOR TOW. DUE TO THESE RECURRING AND UNRESOLVED SERVICE PROBLEMS WE HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. WE REFUSE TO PUT OUR FAMILY OR OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK AND WISH TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AND TO PURSUE RESOLUTION OF THIS MATTER UNDER THE LEMON LAW. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH, BUT CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL IT OR TRADE IT IN DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

714457

Incident

May 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF DEFROSTER. STOPPED VEHICLE, THEN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

850603

Incident

Oct 2, 1999

STARTER.

NHTSA ID

609180

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. ALSO, WATER PUMP/REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER/HEATER FAN AND STERO WERE NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

843745

Incident

May 2, 1997

STARTER FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607550

Incident

Oct 29, 1998

CD PLAYER FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

606595

ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING. YH

NHTSA ID

606576

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

COMPLETE LOST OF POWER IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA ID

701836

Incident

Jan 2, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW OUT. DEALER REPLACED AND REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

832228

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

CRANKSHAFT FAILED.

NHTSA ID

539166

Incident

Jul 21, 1997

ENGINE STOPS WITHOUT COMMAND AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED AN APPARENT LOSS OF IGNITION RUN TO ENGINE'S COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID

530115

Incident

Sep 14, 1997

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE OCCASIONS, INDICATING MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO HESITATE AND LOSE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALERS HAS REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

815817

VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

806079