Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
1994 GRAND JEEP CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, ALSO, THE HEATER WENT OFF EVERY 15-20 MINUTES, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, DUE TO A BAD SWITCH, AND THERE WERE EXPOSED WIRES UNDER THE DASH. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I PURCHASED THIS JEEP BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRANSMISSION, THESE ARE THE SYMPTOMS, WHEN YOU FIRST START THE TRUCK AND YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE KILLS. YOU START THE TRUCK UP AGAIN AND PUT IT IN REVERSE, IT VIBRATES AND THE ENGINE WANTS TO DIE BUT THE COMPUTER TRIES TO INCREASE THE RPM TO PREVENT IT FROM DYING, YOU THEN HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD, WHEN YOU PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, THE RPMS ARE AT ABOUT 2000 AND THEN THEY COME DOWN. WHEN YOU TRY DRIVING THE CAR FORWARD IT HAS A VIBRATION AND WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP, IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP, ITS AS THE COMPUTER IS REVING THE ENGINE LIKE IT DOES IN REVERSE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND IT DID THE SAME THING, THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS TRANSMISSION OUT 4 TIMES, CHANGED EVERYTHING IN IT 3 TIMES, GOT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND PUT ALL THE NEW PARTS IN THAT ONE AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE TCM FROM A SAME YEAR GRAND CHEROKKE, HAD THE DEALER FLASH THE COMPUTER AND STILL THE SAME, HAD THE TRY TO DIAGNOSE IT AND THEY THOUGT IT WAS THE MAP SENSOR, BECAUSE OF THE RPM PROBLEM, I CHANGED IT AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER ALL THESE CHANGES, THE TRUCK NOW RUNS FINE FOR A FEW MINUTES, BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS, IM NOT SURE IF THATS BECAUSE THE WHEATHER IS COOLER NOW. I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TIED UP IN THIS TRUCK AND BESIDES THIS PROBLEM, THE TRUCK IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND RUNS GREAT, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND MAKE A LOUD TAPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
THE WAS DRIVING ON A DONUT TIRE AND THE AXLE OVER HEATED AND CAUSED A FIRE. THE WAS IN ROUTE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TIRE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
ABOUT 5/6 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROOKEE HAD A VERY BAD HERKY-JERKY MOVEMENT WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE A TIGHT TURN (ESPECIALLY A U-TURN). THEN VERY AUDIBLE NOISES STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT-END UNDERCARRIAGE EVERYTIME YOU BACK-UP,..OR HIT A POTHOLE,...ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED. THE WORST PART HAPPENED WHEN FOR THE FIRST TIME,..WE HIT A POTHOLE AT ABOUT 55/65 MPH,....AND THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SEVERELY VIBRATE AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES,..AND WE WERE PLANNING ON TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STAYING PARKED EVEN WHEN IT'S TURNED OFF,..PUT IN PARK,..AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PUT ON, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ELEVATION/TILT TOWARDS EITHER END. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED,..THE BRAKING SYSTEM CHECKED, AND THEY WERE BOTH FINE. IT WAS FINALLY RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE THE AXLE CHECKED,..AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT AXLE WAS CHANGED AND WE ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW LINK PIN KIT. EVERITHING WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE GARAGE THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WAS FREE THIS TIME,..BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LEFT CV BOOTH,..BECAUSE THAT WAS BUSTED TOO. THAT WAS AROUND 5/11/04. THE CYCLE REPEATED ITSELF AGAIN AROUND EARLY JUNE OF 2004 AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GARAGE AND HAD THE AXLE REPLACED AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONT LATER,..AND THE CYCLE HAS BEGUN AGAIN. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASHES YET TO DATE DUE TO THE VIBRATIONS OR THE AXLE BREAKING, BUT THOSE VIBRATIONS SURE ARE SCARY, ESPECIALLY AT 65MPH TO 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE.*AK
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATING FROM PLASTIC GAS TANK.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL LEAK ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED WITH THE COMPACT SPARE AND THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED ABOUT 35 MILES TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN HE NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AT THE REAR AXLE. AXLE OIL WAS POURING OUT AND COVERED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK WHICH WAS ALSO IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY USING THE COMPACT SPARE WITH A SMALLER DIAMETER ON A ALL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. BOTH THE FRONT A REAR AXLES WERE SO HOT THAT THE COVER GASKETS MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WAS RECALLED (RECALL # 757) FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE OTHER YEARS. THE SPARE TIRE USED CAUSED FRICTION BETWEEN THE BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS, RESULTING IN FLUID LOSS AND A SPARK WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. *PH *NLM
VISCOUS COUPLING FAILED (SEIZED) IN NP 249 TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED IN 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED W/FULL-TIME 4WD WITH ONLY 56K MILES ON VEHICLE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE TURNING DUE TO LOCK-UP OF FRONT AND REAR AXLES.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END MAKES A NOISE AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. *YH
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITH ENGINE IDLING AND GEARSHIFT IN PARK, I GOT OUT OF JEEP AND THEN HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. THE JEEP THEN BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWNHILL UNTIL IT HIT A FENCE WHICH CAUSED IT TO STOP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MCKEAN'S JEEP EAGLE IN PITTSBURGH, PA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MC KEAN'S SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGES ME $2,500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60MPH A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE JEEP. IT THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PLUG FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS MISSING. OIL HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE.
DIFFERENTIAL: RING AND PINION GEAR MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. ALSO, VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL. DIFFERENTAL: RING AND PINION GEAR HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NOTICED A LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION IN THE DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE GASKET WAS LEAKING. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A BAD GASKET DESIGN. *AK
ON 10-11-99 THE ABOVE AUTO HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHICH WAS REPLACED ON THE VECH. BY THE FACTORY ORIGINAL SPARE, A T155/90D16. THE TIRES ON THE BALANCE OF THE AUTO WERE P235/75R15. THE SPARE WAS PLACED ON THE RIGHT REAR. WHILE DRIVING A FEW SHORT MILES, THE CAR SEEMED UNRESPONSIVE IN HANDLING, AND SMOKE/FLUID STARTED COMING OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASES. THE AUTO WAS THEN TRAILERED TO THE JEEP DEALER LISTED. THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT AND REAR TRANSFER CASES WERE INSPECTED, NO DAMAGE WAS VISIBLE, SEALS AND FLUID REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME, THE REAR OF THE AUTO HAS BEEN "GROWLING"(AS THE SERVICE TECH CALLED IT). NOW THE DIAGNOSIS IS AXLE PROBLEMS POSSIBLE, WITH THE REPAIR BILL AT APPROX $1500.00. MY CONTENTION IS THAT ALL OF THIS WAS DUE TO AN INCORRECT SIZE SPARE BEING PLACED IN THE VECHILE WHEN MANUFACTURED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE ENGINEERS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY THAT SAY THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE SMALL SPARE. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER ACTION WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER/JEEP ON THIS ISSUE? I AM SENDING A LETTER TODAY TO JEEP SEEKINGRESOLUTION ON THE MATTER. ANY SUGGESTIONS.
GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, NOTICED A METALIC CRUNCHING SOUND, WHICH BECAME A CHATTERING AND WHURING SOUND. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A SPUN FRONT PINION BEARING. AFTER THE MECHANIC FIXED THE FRONT END, THE PINION BEARING SPUN AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY HAD TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW AXEL FOR THE FRONT END, THE PART TOOK 42 DAYS TO BE MADE. I'M NOT SURE IF THE PART TOOK THAT LONG TO BE MADE, BUT I HAD STATED THAT I WOULDLIKE TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR, AND ONLY AFTR I DECIDED NOT TO PURCHASE THE NEW CAR, BECAUSE CHRYSLER FINACIAL WAS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN A $6000 DOWN PAYMENT. THE PART APPEARED AFTER I TOLD THEM I IDN'T WANT TO BUY THE CAR. AFTER THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT END WAS FINE, AND I WAS OVER $6500 DOLLARS POORER AFTER RENTING A CAR AND WAITING FOR THE PART TO BE MADE. *AK
WHEN I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP/GEARBOX TO BE REPLACED, I HAD MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A WHURING SOUND. THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO FIX AND CHARGE ME FOR THE NEW STEERING PARTS, BUT DIDN'T THINK ABOUT CALLING ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END. I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED WITH THE FRONT END AFTER SPENDING $4800 ON REPLACING THE FRONT END AXLE, BEARINGS, AND DIFF PLATE. THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT END HAD MORE OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH IT AS BEFORE. THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT WERE UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING THE SUPPLIED SPARE ON THE RIGHT REAR. VEHICLE WAS SOLD USED BY DEALERSHIP WITH 4 EACH P245 70R15 TIRES AND A P225 70R15 SPARE. OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THESE TIRES ARE PERMITTED...CHRYSLER RECALL OF 1996 MODELS FOR DONUT SPARE INDICATES OTHERWISE. SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM SELLING DEALER/CHRYSLER FOR NOT EQUIPING THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND ROADWORTHY MANNER. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND REQUIRE WARNING NOTICE BE SENT BY CHRYSLER TO ALL OWNERS...DAH
DRIVING OH THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65MPH HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, ENGINE WAS POWERING DOWN. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. SMOKE AND FLAMES ENGULFED THE CAR . VEHILCE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH REAR AXLE BROKE. HAD NO WARNING. RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF & PASSED VEHICLE. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED WAS A FREAK HAPPENING. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, FRONT AXLE BINDS ON SLOW TURNS. *AK
TRANSMISSION LEAKS.
REAR AXLE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF AT DIFFERENTIAL, CAUSING REAR WHEEL/AXLE TO FALL OFF VEHICLE. *DSH
SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE SQUEAKING.
FRONT SUSPENSION FIRE, THE DIFFERENTIAL CAUGHT FIRE. TT
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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