2001 Jeep Cherokee Engine Problems

AS WITH MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THE 4.0 ENGINE (HUNDREDS THAT I HAVE SEEN) MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE'S CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. MINE WAS AT 117K MILES, AND THE AVERAGE MILEAGE FOR FAILURE SEEMS TO BE 100K - 120K MILES. THIS IS A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW. MY JEEP WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. I ASK NHTSA TO CONTACT CURRENT OWNERS OF JEEP 4.0 ENGINES TO REALLY SEE HOW OFTEN THIS FAULT OCCURS. CHRYSLER SEEMS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, WHICH IS WHY I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ID

11023480

Incident

Jan 5, 2017

Mileage

117,000 mi

IN THE 2000 AND 2001 CHEROKEES WITH THE 4.0 ENGINE HEAD CASTING 0331 CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT THE CYLINDER HEADS CRACKING. IN 2002 THEY CONTRACTED WITH TUPY MANUFACTURING IN BRAZIL TO REMAKE THE HEAD CASTING THAT RAN UNTIL THE 4.0 WAS STOPPED BEING USED BY THEM. MINE HAS SINCE CRACKED AND CHRYSLER SAYS THAT NO FACTORY RECALL WAS DONE AND SUCH I'M STUCK WITH A CRACKED HEAD THAT THEY KNEW WAS FAULTY.

NHTSA ID

10940248

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OR LONGER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO START OR HAVE A ROUGH START AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD CYLINDER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V104000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10788535

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

SLOWLY LOOSING ANTIFREEZE, ANTIFREEZE MIXED WITH OIL. FOUND TO BE CRACKED HEAD, APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. REPLACED HEAD. A FEW MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT OF HEAD, STARTED TO LOOSE ANTIFREEZE AGAIN REPLACED HEAD AGAIN IN NOV 2014. HAD VEHICLE BACK FOR ONE WEEK, LOST ALL ANTIFREEZE, MIXED WITH OIL AGAIN. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT 2000 AND 2001 JEEP CHEROKEES AND GRAND CHEROKEES HAVE A VERY HIGH RATE OF THIS HAPPENING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10655132

Incident

Jan 31, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

AFTER LOOSING COOLANT AT ABOUT A 1/2 PER WEEK, FINALLY DECIDED TO PULL THE HEAD AND CHECK TO SEE IF IT HAS THE FAMOUS JEEP 4.0L, 0331 HEAD CASTING AND IS KNOWN TO BE WEAK. YEP, I HAVE THE BAD HEAD WITH CRACKS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS AS IT HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE..... *TR

NHTSA ID

10616589

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

CAR WILL NOT START ON THE FIRST TRY, AND WHEN I DID GET IT RUNNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OUT AND WHEN HE PUT THE TESTER ON IT PULLED NO CODES AND NO MONITORS. SAID THEY HAD ALL BEEN ERASED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON MY WHEN SITTING STILL, THE CHIME WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL SOMETIME STAY ON AND SOMETIMES TURN OFF RIGHTAWAY WHEN YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542817

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

HEAD LINER HAS FALLEN AND NOW IT IS BREAKING APART AND PARTICLES ARE FLYING ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY JEEP AND I AM ON OXYGEN AND NEED TO OPEN MY WINDOWS BECAUSE THE AIR ONLY WORKS SOME TIMES AND WHEN I USE IT THE CAR TEMP GET VERY HIGH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED TWICE EVEN REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT ONE POINT ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT I LOVE MY JEEP BUT I HATE TO SAY IT IF I HAVE TO REPLACE IT I DOUBT IF I WILL BUY JEEP OR DODGE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504247

Incident

Jan 12, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

STARTED NOTICING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND THEN COOLANT. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN FINE BUT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT ITS LOSING 1 GALLON OF ANTI. EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO. WHEN I STARTED TO LOOK AROUND ON LINE AND OTHER PLACES, (JUNK YARDS) EVERYONE I TALKED TO SAYS THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR JEEPS. WHY IF D.C. PRODUCED THESE FAULTY HEADS ON THEIR JEEPS DIDN'T THEY RECALL THEM TO FIX? *TR

NHTSA ID

10489434

Incident

Oct 25, 2012

Mileage

57,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER CALLED BECAUSE OF A NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WENT TO HER WORK, RAISED THE HOOD, STARTED THE ENGINE, AND SHORTLY 1-2 MINUTES THEREAFTER, A LOUD POPPING/GRINDING OCCURRED. THE FAN DISINTEGRATED SENDING PARTS THROUGH THE RADIATOR, SHROUD, AND TOES OF MY LEFT SHOE. AND INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED BUT DID NOT. I FOUND 1999-2004 JEEPS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS VERY TYPE OF EVENT. HOWEVER, IT MISSED HE VIN. I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY YOUNGEST SON HAS A 1999 THAT THE FAN CAME APART DAMAGING THE RADIATOR AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE OWNER 7 JEEPS BUT NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. ANY ASSISTANCE IN ALERTING THE PUBLIC WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459508

Incident

May 17, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

1. VEHICLE WAS LOSING COOLANT BUT NOTHING SHOWING UP IN THE ENGINE OIL COOLANT OR BURNING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. I WAS GOING THROUGH ABOUT A HALF GALLON PER WEEK. VEHICLE MAINTAINED LOSS OF COOLANT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, THE ADDED PROBLEM OF LOST OIL PRESSURE THEN BECAME A PROBLEM. 2.EVENTUALLY THE HEAD STARTED LEAKING BAD ENOUGH THAT COOLANT WAS PRESENT IN THE OIL, AT WHICH POINT THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT AND ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. 3. AT THAT POINT THE MAIN BEARINGS WERE A COMPLETE LOSS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CAM BEARINGS WERE GONE AS WELL AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378092

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

78,585 mi

2001 JEEP CHEROKEE 128,000 MILES HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD BETWEEN PORTS #3 AND #4. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FLAW ON 00-01 JEEPS WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD CAST # 0331.

NHTSA ID

10323055

Incident

Jan 26, 2010

Mileage

128,000 mi

DON'T BUY A JEEP! PIECE OF JUNK. SINCE I HAVE OWNED MINE THE FOLLOWING HAS BROKE RADIATOR, SEAT TRACK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, BRAKES, BLOWOUT, TRANSMISSION, HEADLIGHT COVERS DULLED, MULTIPLE REAR LIGHT OUTAGES, INSIDE LIGHTS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282023

Incident

Nov 21, 2001

MY ENGINE LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD IS ON ALL THE TIME THE MECHANIC STATED IT IS CYLINDER 3 MISFIRING & NEED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY DEALERSHIPS STATES IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND MUST CHARGE ME TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269287

Incident

Nov 12, 2008

Mileage

20,000 mi

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

FIRST, ENGINE BEGAN TO LOOSE OVERHEAT AND LOOSE COOLANT AT 55,000M - 1 QT EVERY 200 - 300 MILES. NO LEAK FOUND BY MECHANIC. LOSS CONTINUED. THEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE WHEN ENGINE WAS WARMED FULLY. PRESSURE DROPS AT ALL RPM BUT DOWN TO 0 WHEN IDLE IS BELOW 1300 RPM( (AT IDLE). CANNOT FIND LEAK BUT HAVE BEEN ADVISED ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS YEAR (98 - 01) JEEP 4.0 ENGINES HAVE A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE CASTING PRONE TO INTERNAL CRACKING, CAUSING COOLANT LOSS AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. JEEP DEALER DENIES AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE. BUT, JEEP SENT A SPECIAL LETTER TO BUYERS OF THIS YEAR/MODEL JEEP CHEROKEE THAT THEY WERE DESPERATE TO BUY AS MANY OF THIS YEAR MAKE/MODEL AS THEY COULD AND WOULD PROVIDE A REASONABLE TRADE-IN VALUE. THEY DID NOT SPECIFY WHY THEY WOULD NEED TO ACQUIRE SO MANY OF THIS PARTICULAR USED YEAR/MODEL JEEP CHEROKEES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226966

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEEK OF 1/1/07 THE DRIVER WENT TO START A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND VIBRATIONS FELT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HER THAT THE CAM SHAFT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT DOES HAVE THE DAMAGED PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP DID INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10178419

Incident

Jan 5, 2007

Mileage

60,800 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE LOW BEAM STOPPED WORKING. BOTH PROBLEMS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE EITHER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10163495

Incident

May 24, 2006

Mileage

50,500 mi

2001 JEEP CHEROKEE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED. *MR THE ROTORS ALSO FLAKED CREATING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED STANDING WATER IN THE FOOT WELLS, A/C FAILURE, FAN FAILURE AND THE DOORS NOT BEING ALIGNED PROPERLY. THERE IS A BRAKE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE RECALL NUMBER WAS NOT GIVEN. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10119305

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

ON FREEWAY, OIL PUMP OF MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE FAILED, DRIVE SHAFT TO OIL PUMP STRIPPED, AT ONLY 45,000 MILES. ALL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108349

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I HAVE HAD A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES SINCE I BROUGHT IT. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 9012 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THEN AT 18811 MILES DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. AT 24,806 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS. CURRENTLY, AT 32,000 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP, AND OTHER JEEP OWNERS INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT OCCURRED IN THE EARLIER AND SOME LATER MODEL JEEPS, BUT HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN 2005 MODEL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ONE WEEK. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED (COLD) AND GOES OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM. *TC

NHTSA ID

10103957

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

Mileage

9,012 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ENGINE STALLED. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT STALLING WAS DUE TO FLOODING OF THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107142

Incident

Jan 9, 2005

Mileage

600 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE NEED TO BE REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE, VEHICLE HAD ONLY 58,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071808

Incident

Apr 29, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE HOSE LEADING FROM THE ENGINE WAS VERY. MY TEMPERATURE GAUGES ALL REGISTERED NORMAL SO I ADDED SOME ENGINE COOLANT AND DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE NEXT AM. AFTER A 3 MILE DRIVE TO WORK SAME SITUATION AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE RADIATOR HAD ROTTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ODD SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE SMOKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056497

Incident

Jan 25, 2004

Mileage

62,800 mi

I PURCHASED A NEW 2001 CHRYSLER CHEROKEE JEEP. (4.0 LITER IN LINE 6 CYLINDER.) APPROX. 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE DATE (50,000 MILES DRIVEN), THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS INFORMED BY A REGISTERED CHRYSLER DEALER THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE EXPENSE TO PERFORM THE DIAGNOSTIC WORK AND INSTALL REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND RELATED PARTS AMOUNTED TO $4,500. I WAS A DILIGENT CAR OWNER WITH A VERY SMALL INCOME, A SINGLE PARENT WHO HAS TO WORK, AND A 5 YEAR CAR-PAYMENT PLAN -- IN ESSENCE, I CHANGED THE OIL, TOOK THE CAR FOR ANY SERVICE OR REPAIR NEEDED. I GATHER FROM CALLS TO CHRSYLER AND MY JEEP DEALERSHIP THAT I JUST GOT A "BAD" ENGINE AND BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF THE 2-YEAR WARRANTY THERE IS NO COURSE OPEN TO ME TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS DONE. OBVIOUSLY, SINCE I STILL HAVE 3 YEARS LEFT ON MY CAR PAYMENTS I COULD NOT JUST WALK AWAY AND LEAVE THE CAR. I NEED HELP. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT I CAN DO. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME. BEST REGARDS, GENEVIEVE GLASSON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056339

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR WHILE PARKED. *LA (NAR) *CB

NHTSA ID

10053561

Incident

Mar 1, 2002