Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 83 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 83, in the owner's own words
VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MOVING AT ANY SPEED. PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR FIXES THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NO ERROR CODES ARE BEING GENERATED . REPLACED O2 SENSORS AND THIS REMAINS AN ISSUE. LOOKING ONLINE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE.
VEHICLE WILL STALL AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. CAN OCCUR AT SLOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. ONLINE FORUMS HAVE MENTIONED A POSSIBILITY OF FAULTY PCMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND DEALER WHO WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,843.
BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES AS THE TIMING BELT HAS APPARENT ISSUES THAT MAKE THE MAIN COMPUTER READ IT WRONG FROM WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING. THE VEHICLE WANTS TO SHUT OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THEN KICKS BACK INTO GEAR. IT SEEMS TO DRIVE BETTER ON A MAIN STRETCH, YET FALTERS AT SLOWING TO A STOP. IT IS AT THE MANUFACTURE NOW AND HAS RECALLS, YET THIS WAS NOT ON THE LIST OF REPAIRS. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY A SERVICE BILL FOR THE AMOUNT THEY ARE WANTING TO CHARGE ME FOR REPAIRS. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE FIXED. THEY MENTIONED THE TIMING BELT AND CRANK SHAFT. IM NO MECHANIC, HOWEVER, THESE ISSUES COULD CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I FEEL IT IS THE MANUFACTURERS OBLIGATION TO SAFETY TO HELP ME TO HAVE THE ISSUES CORRECTED. I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE IT TO THE SHOP FOR ME WITH ME AS PASSENGER. VERY SCARY RIDE. *TR
ENGINE STALLS/CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON CITY STREETS AND SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ALMOST A YEAR. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONLINE FORUMS SEEM TO INDICATE THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM IN THIS PRODUCT LINE THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE LATEST OCCURENCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE SAME DAY THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! IT JUST DIES AT ANY SPEED. MY DAUGHTER AND HER NEWBORN ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TWICE NOW. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM???? JUST GO TO ANY JEEP FORUM AND YOU WILL FIND A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE POURING THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY INTO THIS SAME PROBLEM AND STILL NO FIX. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO TO GET ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL KILLER SUV'S FIXED??? A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEATHS????????????? *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,885.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
DAUGHTER HAS DRIVEN VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAR HAS CONSTANTLY TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 7TH WITH CONCERNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND ENGINE TURNING OFF. UPON THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 11TH YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED ITS BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE COIL TO REPAIR THE CONSTANT PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE CUTTING OFF. PAID FOR THE IGNITION COIL REPAIR, VEHICLE STILL TURNED OFF. PAID FOR NEW FUEL PUMP VEHICLE STILL TURNED OFF. NOT DEALERSHIP IS PROCLAIMING PCM BOARD NEEDS O BE REPLACED. I HOPE THAT JEEP CONSIDERS THE DANGER THAT MY CHILD WAS PLACE BECAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE FOR MY 97 CHEROKEE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
AS WITH MANY OTHER POSTS, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY. PULLED OFF THE ROAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK RESTARTED , WAITED A MINUTE DROVE ANOTHER 20 MILES HOME , NO PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE DRIVEWAY, OR JUST LEAVING THE HOUSE BUT NEVER ON THE ROAD. HAVE REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, BOTH O2 SENSORS DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR AND WIRES. FUEL PRESSURE IS GOOD . DON'T EXPECT A FIX FROM CHRYSLER , THERE ARE MANY POSTS HERE AND ONLINE WITH NO FIXES. JUST THOUGHT I'D ADD MY EXPERIENCE TO THE MIX. TIME FOR A NEW CAR! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE BEGAN TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE IT EXPLODED. THERE WAS A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT FILE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, FROM 70 ON THE HIGHWAY TO 5 MPH ON OUR ROAD. NO WARNING. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED MANY JEEP OWNERS WITH SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND NO PERMANENT FIXES. HAVE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND HAVE REPLACED IGNITION COMPONENTS (IGNITION COIL, PLUGS, WIRING, DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR AND CRANK SENSORS) WITH NO RESULTS TO CORRECT ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, USUALLY WITHIN 40 MINUTES OF STARTING CAR. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, FROM 70 ON THE HIGHWAY TO 5 MPH ON OUR ROAD. NO WARNING. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED MANY JEEP OWNERS WITH SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND NO PERMANENT FIXES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THE WIRING SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE WIRING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL MALFUNCTION. THE BCM WAS REPLACED TWICE AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,896. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, INJECTION COIL AND THE FRONT AND REAR PINION GASKET HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL AIR VALVE MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF TWO HOURS THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE STOPPED OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY; HOWEVER, INTERMITTENTLY IT WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY UNLESS THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN TURNED OFF FOR A FEW HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,064.
OUT OF NO WHERE MY 98 GRAND JEEP CHEROKEE STARTED EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS AND MISFIRES SPORADICALLY DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WILL BE SITTING AT IDLE OR GOING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND WILL JUST STALL. IT CRANKS BACK UP FINE (MOST OF THE TIME-SOMETIMES, IT TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF CRANKING IT) THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES - MORNING, NIGHT, COLD, HOT, ETC. IT SEEMS TO ACT WORSE THE LONGER THE VEHICLE HAS SAT UNDRIVEN (OVERNIGHT OR DURING A WORK SHIFT). I STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC - RECENTLY AT A LIGHT AND THEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I COULD NOT START MY VEHICLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A RECALL ITEM AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE POSTED THESE COMPLAINTS. THE IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND WITH THE STALLING ISSUES HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING - IT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT SOMEONE SHOULD ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I HAVE SPENT A WEEK AT THE MECHANIC SHOP REPLACING PART AND SPENDING MONEY ONLY TO NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DISTRIBUTOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SPARK PLUG WIRES, ETC HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM - $500 LATER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTINUOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES. THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE IGNITION COIL, CRANK SHIFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE BODY AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 01/07/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT SERVICE STATIONS WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND FOUND DIFFERENT CODES INCLUDING THE 02 CRANK POSITION SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CLAIM#19770779 AND CASE#2484134 WERE FILED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY NEVER DID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 12/08/10 *BF UPDATED 12/13/10*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART IT OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,050. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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