RoadVitals

2001 Jeep Cherokee Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Nov 20, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 229 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Jeep Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Nov 20, 2014

ONE DAY, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, ON MY WAY FROM WORK. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. I CALLED JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO EXPLAINED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE KEY. THE NEXT DAY, MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I HAD IT TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TIPM. I HAD TO PAY MONEY I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO SPEND TO GET IT FIXED. I LATER DISCOVERED SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE'S A VERY RECENT, AUGUST 2014, LAWSUIT PENDING IN FEDERAL COURT RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659606
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 17, 2014

IM DOING INTERIOR WORK ON MY JEEP PURCHASED FEB 19 2014... 2001 GRAND CHEROKEE SPORT.... I REMOVED THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR/LIGHTED MIRROR.. UPON THIS ALL ELECTRIC ON DASH I.E. GAS GAUGE, WATER TEMP GAUGE, RPM, SPEEDOMETER, THE RADIOM KEYLESS ENTRY AND DOOR LOCK ALL WENT OFF PURE SHUT DOWN ON TRHEM ALL FUSES CHECKED IN AND OUT NONE ARE BLOWN...... PLEASE HELP CANT TELL HOW FAST IM GOING OR ANYTHING

NHTSA ID
10583236
Incident
Apr 17, 2014
Mileage
154,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 19, 2013

I BOUGHT MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT LAST YEAR FEB 2012 AND MULTIPLE ISSUES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING. 3 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP THE ELECTRICAL AND FUEL SYSTEMS EITHER STOPPED WORKING OR GAVE ME CONSTANT ISSUES (ALL PARTS FACTORY). NOW IM BRINGING MY CAR BACK INTO THE SHOP BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WONT ROLL DOWN (AGAIN), THE EVAP SOLENOID IS LEAKING AND MISFIRES. THE CARFAX IS CLEAN WITH NO ACCIDENTS AND I BABY THIS CAR. JEEPS ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND NOT MEANT TO LAST PAST 100,000 EVEN AFTER SERVICES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520799
Incident
Feb 20, 2012
Mileage
116,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 18, 2013
Fire reported

JEEP CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN WORK PARKING LOT AND IT WAS DUE TO FAULTY SEAT HEATERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520491
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 18, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHE HEARD A NOISE AS IF PLASTIC WAS BROKEN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN, THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,100.

NHTSA ID
10377078
Incident
Jan 13, 2011
Mileage
138,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 31, 2009

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN 2001 JEEP CHEROKEES ARE AWFUL IT STARTS OUT AS THE GAUGES, THEN THE DOME LIGHT, THEN TO EVERYTHING ELSE COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10297685
Incident
Jan 24, 2005
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 1, 2008

THE ENGINE HAS 150,00 MILES. IT IS LOSING COOLANT WITH NO PUDDLES TO SHOW FOR IT. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SHOWS 0 AT IDLE. THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS. NO SIGN OF HEAD GASKET LEAK. COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK FILLS WITH COOLANT/OIL/RUST MIXTURE AFTER RUNNING THE ENGINE FOR 5 MINUTES. DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK SOMETIMES. TAIL LIGHTS WORK ON AND OFF WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240529
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Mileage
152,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jun 30, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM ALARM KEPT SOUNDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE ALARM, HORN, AND ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURES WOULD STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PLACED A KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A NEW COMPUTER, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE COMPUTER WAS PRONOUNCED AS DEFECTIVE AND ANOTHER ONE WAS ORDERED. THE REPLACEMENT COMPUTER DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE EITHER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST IF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,404 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10232752
Incident
Mar 19, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 14, 2007

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS WHICH IN TURN DEACTIVATES AIR BAGS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10203026
Incident
Jun 22, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2006

HORN FAILURE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCASION OF THIS EVENT. THE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WAS AT STOPPED DUE TO A WRECK AND A SEMI TRUCK ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE. I ATTEMPTED TO SIGNAL THAT THE LANE WAS OCCUPIED BY BLOWING THE CAR HORN AND AFTER PRESSING ON THE HORN LOGO IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL NOTHING. LUCKILY THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI FINALLY LOOKED AND STOPPED BEFORE PUSHING MY CAR INTO THE CENTER CONCRETE DIVIDER. IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING FEELING TO SEE AN IMPENDING CASH AND TO HAVE NO MEANS TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10172259
Incident
Oct 26, 2006
Mileage
84,280 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 26, 2006

2001 JEEP CHEROKEE REAR BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS REPEATEDLY BURN OUT. *KB *JB

NHTSA ID
10163724
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
70,673 mi
Electrical
Filed May 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020070
Incident
May 19, 2003
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 30, 2002

THE VEHICLE WITH 10529 MILES LOST ALL POWER DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT ONE HALF MILE BEFORE IT LOST ALL POWER AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED. AFTER CONSIDERABLE TIME IN THE DEALER'S SHOP DURING WHICH THE PROBLEMS WERE APPARENTLY DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO WARRANT CONSULTATION WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE DRIVE OIL PUMP, THE MAIN COMPUTER (MODULE POWERTRA.), CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE REPLACED. AT 10747 MILES, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE GARAGE ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3/4 MILE AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE #4 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THE SYNCHRONIZATION WAS RESET WITHOUT ANY PARTS REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
764914
Incident
Jun 30, 2001
Electrical
Filed Mar 27, 2002

WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE ENGINE STALLS, JEEP REPLACED DISTRIBUTER. NLM

NHTSA ID
8006488
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 5, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 22-V664-585. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900602
Incident
Dec 5, 2001
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2001

THE HORN CAN ONLY BE SOUNDED IN A CERTAIN SMALL AREA ON THE STEERING WHEEL, IT HAS TO BE FORCEFULLY COMPRESSED WITH THE HEEL OF THE HAND FOR IT TO SOUND. NLM

NHTSA ID
560617
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Mar 23, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING ONE INJURY, UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EXPERIENCE DEPLOYMENT, CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO TAILLIGHTS INOPERABLE AND HEADLAMPS INOPERABLE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, DEALER REPLACED FUSES AND FOUND CONNECTOR'S LOOSE. CONSUMER STATES FRONT END PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES ON NORMAL BRAKING, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND DURING ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING A BLOCK OF SKID MARKS, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT WHEN DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH ABS OR HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON 2 OCCASIONS AT STOPS, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM AND 3000 MILES LATER THE STALLING OCCURRED AGAIN, HOWEVER DEALER STILL COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883914
Incident
Jan 18, 2001
ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 7, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS WORKING UNDER HOOD WITH A WRENCH, IT SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HAND, FELL ONTO BATTERY POSITIVE CONNECTOR, AND STARTED A SHORTAGE WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE. DAMAGES WERE $770. MANUFACTRES HAS NO PLANS OF ADDING RUBBER OVER CONNECTOR THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
882317
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 4, 2000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WIRING HARNESS. CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED VEHICLE A WEEK AGO, AND WITHIN 4 DAYS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER HAS SINCE KEPT VEHICLE WITH NO REMEDY. PERIODICALLY, THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF, AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A GAS FUME SMELL AFTER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.*AK

NHTSA ID
872297
Incident
Sep 27, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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