2000 Jeep Cherokee Transmission Problems

ON MY WIFE'S 2000 RIGHT HAND DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE AFTER 120,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE OBD II CODE READ A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AFTER TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, THEY DO NOT WORK ON THE AW4 TRANSMISSIONS, THEIR FIX IS TO REPLACE IT. I HAD A FRIEND INSTALL THE NEW TRANNY ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM 3,000 MILES LATER, SO BACK TO THE DEALER WE WENT. I WAS CHARGED $550 TO INSTALL THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE FIRST. AFTER 300 MILES THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT WHICH PUT HER IN DANGER NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE AFTER DELIVERING MAIL. SO A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AGAIN THIS TIME FOR NO COST EXCEPT GAS TO GET IT TO THE DEALER AND MY WIFE HAVING TO USE HER LEAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE. NOW AFTER 100 MILES THE LIGHT CAME ON THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CHANCES ARE SLIM THAT THE TRANNY WAS BAD AND IT MUST BE IN THE TCM OR THE WIRING HARNESS. WHY DOES CHRYSLER INSTALL A TRANSMISSION IN A VEHICLE AND NOT TRAIN THEIR MECHANICS TO WORK ON THEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152876

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *MR

NHTSA ID

10054208

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN REVERSE WHEN ACTUALLY IT WAS IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056014

Mileage

78,000 mi

2000 RHD JEEP CHEROKEE, FOR POSTAL DELIVERY. TRANSMISSION LEAK/MECHANICAL NOISE AND NEEDED REPLACED AT 59,000 MILES. AFTER 200 MILES SECOND TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND MAY NEED REPLACED DUE TO SLIPPAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037567

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

59,000 mi

SEVERE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE. *MR THERE WAS AN ONGOING BRAKING PROBLEM AND DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE ROTORS WHICH WERE CUT AND REPLACED (THE FRONT PADS). THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THEN THE FRONT ROTORS WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING WARPED AND THE BRAKES WERE 50% WORN. THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE IN THE SHIFTING AREA AS WELL AS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COMES AND GOES. (UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE) THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSE AS THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS BEING OUT OF ROUND. THE WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE THERMOSTAT. THE COMSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022544

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

Mileage

17,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GEAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019583

Incident

May 9, 2003

2000 JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IDLING WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IN PARK, NO EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. EXITED THE VEHICLE AND GOT A FEW ITEMS FROM THE REAR SEATING, THEN ENTERED THE REAR HATCH AREA TO GET A FEW MORE ITEMS OUT. WALKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 YARDS WHEN I TURNED AROUND THE VEHICLE WAS GONE. IT ENDED UP ACROSS THE STREET IN AN EMBANKMENT. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVE. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME, MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE JEEP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10016496

Incident

Apr 19, 2003

Mileage

46,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS PARK BUT RUNNNING, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO THE RIVER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019354

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

I ANGLE PARKED MY JEEP IN A BANK PARKING LOT. AFTER PARKING, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. I SAT IN MY JEEP FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, ASSEMBLING THE PAPERWORK I'D NEED IN THE BANK. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE LOCK POSITION, WHICH TURNED OFF THE MOTOR (BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE). I THEN PULLED MY JEEP KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, GOT OUT OF THE JEEP AND WALKED ABOUT 75 - 100 FEET TO THE ENTRY STAIRS LEADING TO THE BANK. AT THAT MOMENT, A LADY YELLED TO ME. MY JEEP WAS SLOWLY ROLLING BACKWARDS AND IT STOPPED AFTER IT HIT A BUILDING ABOUT 70 FEET AWAY, STRIKING THE BUILDING AT AN APPROXIMATE 60 DEGREE ANGLE. DUE TO THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT, MY JEEP SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $260.42 FOR WHICH I HAVE AN ESTIMATE. HAD THE DEFECT NOT EXISTED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOCK WITHOUT FIRST PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR BODY DAMAGE TO MY JEEP. CAN YOU HELP? WILL YOU HELP? YOUR HELP TO RESOLVE THIS RIDICULOUS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY CLAIM IS 9908985. I HAVE TELEPHONED THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES AND WRITTEN TWO LETTERS TO THEIR AUBURN HILLS, MI OFFICES AND THEY HAVE WRITTEN THREE LETTERS TO ME BUT REFUSE TO PAY THE $260.42. *AK

NHTSA ID

761851

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

VEHICLE ROLLED IN REVERSE WHILE IT WAS PUT IN PARK, AND IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005336

WHILE INSURED WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON CENTRAL STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND PULLED OVER, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, INSURED STATED THAT FIRE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE IGNITION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH EXPELLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ONTO HOT SURFACES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CLAIM NUMBER 13-7494-462. *YH

NHTSA ID

6900919

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

CONSUMER USED VEHICLE FOR DELIVERING MAIL. SHE PULLED UP AND THERE WAS A MAILBOX NEXT TO HER. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF IN PARK POSITION. SHE WENT TO RETRIEVE A POST CARD AND WHEN SHE LOOKED UP DOOR WAS OPEN, AND VEHICLE WAS GOING BACKWARDS AND IT HIT MAIL BOX. CONSUMER JUMPED INTO VEHICLE AND TURNED IT ON TO STOP IT. $2300.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP WILL HEAR ABOUT IT.*AK CONSUMER STATED SHE JUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE, SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND TURNED THE KEYS TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL AND PUT VEHICLE BACK INTO PARL.*SLC

NHTSA ID

899010

Incident

Oct 20, 2001

ENGINE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKVEHICLE JERKS WHILE IN MOTION AT HYWY SPEEDS. THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. THE FRONT ROTORS WAS TURNED. BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ROTORS WERE FOUND TO BE WARPED. THE ENGINE OVERHEATS. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. A BUMP IS FELT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE REAR DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED WITH REVISED PARTS PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE REAR END NOISE IS STILL APPARENT. A NEW SHAFT AND YOKE WERE INSTALLED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOFTS HARD ON ACCELERATION IN LOW GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. ACCELERATION IS STILL JERKY WHILE IN MOTION AND THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. CONSUMER ASKS FOR REIMBURSMENT OF MONIES PAID AND TO HAVE VEHICLE TRADED FOR ONE THAT CAN BE TRUSTED. *JG

NHTSA ID

897528

Incident

Aug 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD SEE SMOKE, AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER COULD SEE THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE IGNITION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID EXPELLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ONTO HOT SURFACES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, CLAIM 13-7494-462. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900480

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT FORWARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896918

TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING, GROWLS WHEN CLUTCH NOT DEPRESSED, POPS OUT OF GEAR, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN RAINING PASS. SIDE LEAKS ONTO FEET AND SOAKING CARPET, ALL COMPLAINTS MADE TO DEALER AND CAN EITHER FIND NO PROBLEM OR SAYS THAT THE NOISES ARE NORMAL, AND REFUSES TO DO ANYMORE WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

751582

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE RUNNING, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT BACKWARD, ACROSS THE STREET, HIT A HOUSE, AND DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 500, HOUSE $ 3000.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

894268

Incident

Jul 12, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WILL AT TIMES MOVE FORWARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

893720

JUMPED OUT OF PARK WHILE IN IDLE. TAKING OFF BACKWARDS AT HIGH SPEED .*AK

NHTSA ID

747884

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

MY WIFE PARKED OUR 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IN OUR DRIVEWAY ON 6-29-01 AFTER ARRIVING FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORES WITH MY TWO KIDS AND MOTHER-IN-LAW. MY WIFE STOPPED THE CAR ABOUT 1-2 FT IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOOR, PLACED THE CAR IN "PARK" AND REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE CAR THEN ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CATAPULTED THEM THROUGH OUR GARAGE DOOR AND INTO OUR OTHER PARKED CAR WHICH WAS INSIDE OUR ONE-CAR GARAGE. MY WIFE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS EARLIER ABOUT THE JEEP SURGING FORWARD AFTER IT BEING PLACED IN "PARK" AND THE FOOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE. I SHRUGGED IT OFF BELIEVING THAT MAYBE MY WIFE HAD HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR IN "DRIVE". I SHOULD HAVE BELIEVED HER THEN BECAUSE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT I'M CONVINCED IT WASN'T MY WIFE'S FAULT. THE JEEP IS NOT SAFE! MY WIFE IS A MATURE, RESPONSIBLE AND HEALTY 38 YEAR OLD DENTIST WHO HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DURING HER 20+ YEARS OF DRIVING. PLEASE TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THE DEALER DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND ONLY WANTS TO FIX IT AND GIVE IT BACK TO US. WE DO NOT WANT THE CAR BACK, EVEN AFTER ALLSTATE PAYS FOR THE REPAIRS NOR DO WE THINK THE DEALER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL THE CAR TO ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING BUYER. PLEASE ADVICE. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

747698

WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE AND COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER HEARS A RATTLE. WHEN IN PARK, CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.*AK THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MUFFLER AREA AND THE DEALER CHANGED THE MUFFLER AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL NOT SOLVED. * YH

NHTSA ID

878648

Incident

Jun 14, 2000

WHEN CONSUMER WILL TURN VEHICLE ON THERE WAS HESITATION. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO PUT IN GEAR. SHE CONTACTED JEEP, AND VEHICLE NEEDED TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACED TRANSMISSION ON THE WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

871682

Incident

Sep 25, 2000

SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP OF NEW JEEP CHEROKEE 10/3/1999, THERE HAS BEEN A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. SELLING DEALER REPLACED TRANSFER CASE LUBRICANT. MECHANIC SAID CHRYSLER USED "SUBSTANDARD" LUBRICANT. GRINDING CONTINUED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS FOR SELLING DEALER (BEGNAL MOTORS) TO FIX WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED AT 9585 MILES BY SAWYER MOTORS IN SAUGERTIES NEW YORK. METAL SHAVINGS FOUND IN TRANSFER CASE. WARPING IN GEAR BOLT HOLES. DEALER SAID TRANSFER CASE SHOULD BE "PRISTINE" AT 9,000 MILES. GRINDING RETURNED AT 13,000. WORSE ON DECELERATION AND DURING RAIN. JEEP ZONE REP. SAYS CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. EVEN SAID PROBLEM IS "NORMAL". THIS EXACT PROBLEM REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BY NTSHA IN 1999 MODEL. ON 6/19/2000 CHRYSLER REP. WANTS TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSFER CASE. VALUE OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN REDUCED. WILL LOSE 5,000 IF I SELL NOW. UNSURE OF SAFETY ISSUES. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS SHAMEFUL. THEY HAVE LOST RECORDS OF MY CALLS. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER REP EXPLAINED IF 4-WHEEL DRIVE LEVER IS PLACED IN THE WRONG POSITION, DAMAGE CAN OCCUR. SAWYER MOTORS OWNER BOB SIRACASANO SAYS HE DROVE ANOTHER 2000 MODEL THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE SOUND. ZONE REP. PETER HEWITT SAYS HE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ONCE THE TRANSFER CASE IS REPLACED, THE SOUND WILL NOT GO AWAY. THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A DEFECT. DO YOU AGREE? I HAVE HAD A LOANER CAR FOR 21 DAYS. I SPENT $24,000 AND NOW KNOW CHRYSLER HAS A TRACKRECORD OF USING POOR QUALITY PARTS, BAD CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND UNCOOPERATIVE DEALERSHIPS. CONSUMERS NEED THE NHTSA TO STAND UP FOR US! PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

724238

Incident

Oct 9, 1999

CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5242-834. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900598

Incident

May 26, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP, CLAIM 20-5238-487. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900597

Incident

May 23, 2000