1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Powertrain (other) Problems

THE INSPECTION RECALL ON MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH PCM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER SPECIFIED IN THE DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITHIN THE RECALLS ISSUED. THIS HARMS THE DRIVER, PEDESTRIANS, OTHER PASSENGERS AND MOTORISTS. THE TECH WHERE I WENT TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ORDERED PARTS (SEE ATTACHMENT), BUT NOTHING WAS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ONLY "INSPECTED." THE TECH WAS TOLD OF DETAILED POOR PERFORMANCE AND SYMPTOMS OF A BAD PCM. SUCH AS SHIFTING, STALLING, FUEL ECONOMY & HARD TO START. THE JEEP IS NOT OPERATING OPTIMALLY & THIS COULD MEAN THERE ARE. OTHER PROBLEMS BETWEEN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. ALL OF THESE ARE INDICATIONS OF A FAULTY PCM. AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT BEING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE PCM IS A "CRITICAL" SYSTEM & NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE, AS IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD MINGLE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS AND CAUSE A COMPLETE VEHICLE BREAK DOWN. OR REFUND THE COST TO ME IN FULL, INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES, IF I REPLACE/REPAIR MYSELF. IF THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT FIXED, IT COULD RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, IN WHICH CDJ WOULD BE LIABLE FOR. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW YOU CAN HELP ENFORCE THE MANUFACTURE TO FULLY REPAIR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS & REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ON FIXING THE FAULTY PCM & CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITHIN A RECALL AND POSSIBLY THE ABS SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STALLS ON HIGHWAY, IN PARK, ON THE STREET, WHEN STOPPED AND THEN IT STALLS OUT AND IS HARD TO START. IT ALSO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE ( BACK UP). WHICH MEAN IT'S NOT GETTING PROPER LUBRICATION. ALSO, THE ALARM GOES OFF WHEN USING KEY TO GAIN ACCESS. UNHOOKING BATTERY TO RESET DOES NOT HELP.

NHTSA ID

11403865

Incident

Mar 18, 2021

IN DECEMBER 1996 I WAS RAN OVER BY MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER IT JUMPED BACK INTO GEAR FROM PARK. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY TO THE ANCHORAGE ALASKA DEALER WHO HAD TO FIX THE DRIVERS DOOR THAT HAD BEEN DESTROYED IN THE EVENT AND HE STATED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARSHIFT. I HAD ALSO REPORTED THE ISSUE HERE ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE IN JANUARY OF 1997. I WAS TAKEN TO THE AIR FORCE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AT ELEMENDORF AFB ALASKA AND I BELIEVE SUBMITTED THAT INFORMATION AT THAT TIME. SO THIS RECENT PROBLEM WITH AN ACTOR BEING KILLED BY HIS JEEP IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN AS FAR BACK AS 1996. WHEN I WAS RAN OVER MY JEEP WAS IN PARK RUNNING IN MY GARAGE. IT DRUG ME BACKWARD INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE I SLIPPED ON THE ICE FELL UNDER THE CAR AND MY LEFT LOWER LEG WAS RAN OVER BY THE FRONT TIRE. I STILL HAVE COMPLICATIONS FROM THAT INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10910028

Incident

Dec 18, 1996

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY AT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BOUNTY WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

NHTSA ID

10845799

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

176,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) AND 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10790224

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR LEVER SHIFTED OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHT SENSOR, WINDSHIELD SENSOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10677076

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

I CAN BE DRIVING AND MY VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ACCEPTION OF THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632931

Incident

Mar 30, 2012

Mileage

201,300 mi

AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS, AND WHEN STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY 1996 GRAND CHEROKEE WILL DIE AND IMMEDIATELY STEERING IS LOST. THIS IS TOTALLY FRIGHTENING AND LIFE-THREATENING. THE CAR WILL START IMMEDIATELY TO GET OUT OF ROADWAYS. I'VE SPENT DAYS RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION ON-LINE AND IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL, THERE ARE YEARS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SITUATION . I CALLED JEEP TODAY AT 1-877-426-5337 AND WAS TOLD THE PHONE NUMBER OF A JEEP DEALER, ALONG WITH SINCERE APOLOGIES THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION MAY BE THAT 2 SCREWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PCM ARE TOO LONG. PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING EVERYTHING ON THESE JEEPS BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. I RESPECTFULLY DEMAND TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NO RECALL, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY. LIVES DEPEND ON IT. THIS IS A LIFE-ENDANGERING SITUATION - MINE AND OTHERS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458957

Incident

May 4, 2012

Mileage

153,000 mi

ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WERE IMMEDIATELY LOST, ALTHOUGH LIGHTS AND GAGES REMAINED OPERATIONAL. BATTERY AND GROUNDS TESTED FINE. CAP, ROTOR AND PLUGS ARE ALL NEW, WIRES AND COIL TEST FINE, AND VEHICLE HAS NEW MOPAR CRANK POSITION AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS. RESEARCH ON JEEP TECHNICAL SITES FINDS IDENTICAL PROBLEMS BEING TRACED TO FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE PCM, SOMETIMES ALSO REFERRED TO AS ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). *TT

NHTSA ID

10445848

Incident

Jan 28, 2012

Mileage

141,000 mi

DT CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, THEN 2 BOLTS BROKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER BOLT LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT BROKE AS WELL. TWO JEEP DEALERS SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. *JB BOTH CV BOOTS ARE BROKEN AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPAIRED. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10121614

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

128,475 mi

SECOND GEAR IS SLIPPING. SOME OF THE SEALS ARE LEAKING. ONE OF THE GEARS ARE STRIPPED.

NHTSA ID

10068723

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

180,000 mi

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO SLIP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED THAN THE REQUIRED SPEED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015494

SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018032

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT REGISTERING CORRECTLY. WHEN SHUT VEHICLE DOWN AND START BACK UP SPEEDOMETER CHANGES READINGS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8007785

REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK,/ AXEL ASSEMBLY2-6-2001/ PINION SEAL 10-25-00. *AK

NHTSA ID

755274

REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED AT 15883 MILES AND AGAIN AT 62572 MILES, CONSUMER FINDS THIS FAILURE OF THE BEARINGS UNUSUAL, TRANSFER CASE ADAPTER SEALS WERE LEAKING, FRONT PINION SEAL LEAKING. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER FOUND ABS SENSOR AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL FAILED, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

750219

Incident

Jun 5, 1998

RECALL 98 V 006 000/TEMPORARY SPACE SAVER: FRONT AXLE OVERHEATED DUE TO TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *AK CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 98V006, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. VENT TUBE FROM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS SPIITING BURNING OIL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892119

Incident

Sep 22, 2000

GREAT WEATHER, SMOOTH ROAD, A BOTTOM OF A HILL, LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE AT 60 MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND THEN ROLL. LEFT REAR WHEEL TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER ROLLING AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN.

NHTSA ID

744945

Incident

May 4, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH HEARD A NOISE. NOTICED SMOKE IN REAR MIRROR. TRIED GETTING OFF FREEWAY BESIDE RAMP. PARKED VEHICLE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD GOTTEN HOT WHICH CAUSED FIRE. HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT DIFFERENTIAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

882958

Incident

Dec 26, 2000

SINCE THE BRAKE DISC ROTOR WAS RECALLED ON MY CAR I WONDERED WHETHER ANY OTHER OWNERS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RUSTING OF FRONT AXLE JOINTS AND CALIPERS HANGING UP. THANK YOU!*AK

NHTSA ID

737621

Incident

Dec 6, 2000

CONSUMER REAR AXLE AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. NLM

NHTSA ID

556316

FIRST DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE HAPPENED ON VACATION TRIP AFTER I INSTALLED TWO NEW TIRES. JEEP STARTED MAKING HIGH PITCHED WHINE & PASSENGERS & I COULD DETECT WHAT SMELLED LIKE HOT FLUIDS. STOPPED & NOTED LIQUID ON ENGINE, TIRES, AND FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. LIQUID WAS SMOKING! TOOK TO JEEP DEALER LISTED IN THIS REPORT & DEALER REBUILT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. SAID ALL WAS OK. AFTER 200 MILES, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AGAIN FAILED AND THIS TIME IT WAS A MAJOR JOLT! THIS TIME AT 75 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THRU TRAFFIC & GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS "RED HOT!" & I WAS AFRAID OF A FIRE. CALLED JEEP ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE & THEY GOT ME A TOW. DEALER WHERE CAR WAS TOWED SAID FRONT DIFF GOT SO HOT THAT IT WARPED! ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS BECAUSE I PUT NEW TIRES ON FRONT & NOT BACK. SAID DIFFERENCE IN DIAMETERS ON TIRES (NEW VS. WORN) CAUSED THE QUADRA-TRAC DRIVE TO FAIL. LATER INQUIRY TO DAMLER-CHRYSLER RESULTED IN A "VERBAL" RESPONSE THAT, "IF THERE IS AS MUCH AS 1/2" DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRES ON THE QUADRA-TRAC UNITS, A DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE CAN OCCUR." NOTE THAT JEEP HAD A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF FULL-TIME 4 WHEEL DRIVES, BUT EXPLAINED THAT A FIRE COULD RESULT IF A SMALLER SPARE TIRE WAS USED. JEEP SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER AND EXPLAINED THAT FAILURE AND FIRE COULD RESULT FROM HAVING TIRES WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMFERENCES. JEEP HAS A FILE ON MY COMPLAINT, BUT WIL NOT DISCUSS OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBITLTY AND THE "WRITTEN RESPONSE" WAS, "I HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED YOUR MESSAGE AND THE ENTIRE FILE ON THIS MATTER. YOUR CONCERNS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THAT CAN BE DONE TO FULLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES......" I NOW FEEL THAT JEEP IS WELL AWARE OF THE "POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD" ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SITUATION AND HAS DOWN PLAYED IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY "JUST ISSUEING A RECALL FOR SPARE TIRE USAGE". THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ADVISED!

NHTSA ID

730755

Incident

Jun 17, 2000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUINED FROM USE OF SMALLER SPARE AND DRIVEN ONLY 21 MILES AT 50MPH. UNEVEN TRACTION USING SMALLER SPARE CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE NEARLY UNSAFE AT 50MPH. A FULL SIZE SPARE SHOULD MANDATORY.

NHTSA ID

729423

Incident

Aug 16, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY REAR WHEELS LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND TECHNICIAN SAID THAT REAR AXLE HAD BURNED OUT AND NEED TO BE REBUILT.*AK

NHTSA ID

865248

Incident

Jul 6, 2000

VEHICLE VIBRATION AND LOAD ROARING NOISE REPORTED 3 TIMES TO DEALERSHIP. DRIVESHAFT WAS ORDERED BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK-ORDER. WE WERE TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THE DRIVESHAFT VIBRATION CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO BLOW APART ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. THIS NEARLY CASED THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. DEALERSHIP THEN SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO VEHICLE ABUSE, BUT WE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND OUR AUTO INSUANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTER CERTIFY THAT THE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE BOTTOM LINE: DEALERSHIP KNEW WE WERE DRIVING AN UN-SAFE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO COVER THEIR ERROR BY ACCUSING THE CUSTOMER OF VEHICLE ABUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

725202

Incident

Dec 16, 1999

THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES BROKE, VEHICLE IS ALSO LOCKED IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID

784734

Incident

Jun 30, 2000