1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Heating & air conditioning Problems

ON A RECENT DAY-LONG TRIP, THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER ON DRIVER'S SIDE OVERHEATED, CAUSING A 4" DIAMETER BADLY BLISTERED BURN ON THE BACK OF MY LEG. A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT WAS ISSUED ON 4/7/2009 FOR 2001-2004 MODELS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V117000 ), BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ONE FOR THE 1999 GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED. THE LOCAL DEALER (LITHIA IN GRANTS PASS, OR) REQUESTED I SUBMIT THIS SO HE CAN MAKE THE PROPER REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE AS SPECIFIED FOR THE 2001-2004 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435195

Incident

Nov 3, 2011

Mileage

132,026 mi

MY 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED'S HEATER CONTROL UNIT HAS BECOME FAULTY. THE HEAT DOES NOT WORK ON ANY SETTING, AND OUTSIDE COLD AIR COMES INTO THE CABIN WITH ZERO CONTROL. THIS IS MAKING VISIBILITY VERY POOR DUE TO LACK OF DEFROSTING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A POOR "DESIGN" FROM THE FACTORY. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $1,766.00 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SEEING IT BECOMES A SAFETY RISK DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244451

Incident

Oct 2, 2008

I RAN INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SIMPLE HEATING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 GRAND CHEROKEE. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY CAR SIMPLY STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SPENDING NEARLY $600 TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SOLENOID REPLACED, I REALIZE AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE LOT THAT ONLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WILL BLOW HOT AIR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOORS, AND WILL LIKELY COST BETWEEN $1,000 AND $1,500 TO FIX. THE REPAIR REQUIRES A COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY OF THE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN (AROUND 10-12 HOURS FOR A FULL REPAIR, ACCORDING TO THE SHOP). I BEGAN TO LOOK AROUND ONLINE TO SEE WHAT ELSE COULD BE DONE. TO MY SURPRISE, NEARLY EVERY JEEP MESSAGE BOARD WAS FLOODED WITH POSTS ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE ENGINEERING OF THE PART VIRTUALLY ENSURES THAT IT WILL FAIL; THE CALIBRATION PHASE (EVERY 20 OR SO START-UPS) FORCES THE PLASTIC PART TO ITS LIMITS AND EVENTUALLY BREAKS. EVERY DEALERSHIP OR AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I CONTACTED SAID THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY 1999 AND NEWER GRAND CHEROKEE HAS, OR WILL HAVE, THIS PROBLEM. THE ISSUE ISN'T PAYING FOR CAR REPAIR; EVERY CAR HAS PROBLEMS THAT WE AS CONSUMERS WILL NEED PAY TO GET FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINEERING OF THIS PART CAUSES IT TO FAIL, AND NOW I'M STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER, OR NOW IN SPRINGTIME WHEN IT RAINS. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS HAS ALREADY, OR WILL CAUSE IN THE FUTURE, ACCIDENTS FROM PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE. MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WOULD RATHER DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WHILE WIPING THE WINDSHIELD WITH A RAG... THAN PAY $1,500 TO GET IT FIXED. FOR MANY PEOPLE, SPENDING THAT $1,500 ISN'T EVEN AN OPTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234174

Incident

Dec 15, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

A DEFECTIVE A/C PART FAILED BEHIND THE DASH, CAUSING EXTENSIVE REPAIR COSTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219638

Incident

Nov 14, 2007

Mileage

127,000 mi

A/C PROBLEM IN MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 1999. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201677

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE AIR CONDITIONER (AC)/HEAT DO NOT WORK ON THE1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE LIKELY PROBLEM IS THE FAILURE OF THE POORLY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED BLEND DOORS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST: $1200. I WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD FAIL SO OFTEN AND COST SO MUCH TO FIX. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188003

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi

I OWN A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LTD, ALSO REFERRED TO AS WJ. IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE OWN THIS JEEP CERTAIN PROBLEMS CAME UP. APART FROM THE ISSUE WITH THE FRONT BRAKES WARPING THE ROTORS, AND NEEDING UPGRADED CALIPERS AND NEW ROTORS REPLACED. WHICH THE DC DEALERS DIDN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OTHER ISSUE AND EQUALLY TROUBLESOME AND PROBABLY DANGEROUS IS THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM NO WORKING PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AMONGST THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE A LITTLE HEAT BLOWING ON THE DRIVER SIDE COMPARTMENT, BUT 0 HEAT AND ALL COLD ON THE PASSENGER AND DEFROST. GOD HELP ME IF IM STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DURING THE WINTER, WHICH IT IS RIGHT NOW. MY PASSENGERS AND I WOULD NOT FAIR WELL. THE COLD BLOWING FROM THE PASS. SIDE VENTS AND DEFROST IS LIKE THE A/C WAS ON. NOW, THIS ISSUE IS THE BLEND DOORS ARE BROKEN, CHRYSLER AND JEEP BOTH NOW OF THIS ISSUE. AND THE COST OF THE REPAIRS OF COURSE ARE VERY HIGH FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AS IT INVOLVES REMOVING THE DASHBOARD THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL AND FIX THEIR EXPENSE AT LEAST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175820

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

91,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME UNBEARABLY HOT, THEN THE HEATING SYSTEM ABRUPTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENTS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE BURNT OUT.

NHTSA ID

10172400

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

61,000 mi

BRAKES STILL SQUEAK AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. AIR CONDITIONER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A FOUL ODOR COMING OUT OF IT. HAD TO FILL WITH FREON ONCE A MONTH. NO AIR CONDITIONER NOW. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021266

Incident

Apr 5, 1999

MY POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL LAST FEBRUARY AND IT FAILS WHENEVER I AM GOING AT SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH OR IF I AM OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL JEEP OWNERS (2000 OR 1999 MODELS) THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I CALL DAIMLER CHRYSLER THEY CONTEND THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT HEATERS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND NOW THE RARELY USED PASSENGER SIDE HEATER IS FAILING. THEY TOLD ME DURING MY SECOND REPAIR THAT THE 1999 JEEPS HAVE A VERY FRAGILE PART AND THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH A BETTER PART FOR THE 2000 JEEPS. I HAD TO PAY REPAIR COSTS ON MY SECOND REPAIR BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND I'M AFRAID THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN COVER THIS NEW PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THAT THE PART IS FAULTY AND VERY FRAGILE.*AK

NHTSA ID

765742

Incident

Feb 11, 2002

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING PLUGGED, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID

785852

Incident

Jan 11, 2002

ALL DASH GUAGES SPIN AROUND, TACHOMETER IS INOPERATIVE AND SPEEDOMETER IS BLANK.*JB

NHTSA ID

562556

Incident

May 17, 2000

ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY WHICH HAS CAUSED VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED EVERY TEN THOUSAND MILES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS TURNED THE ROTORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COLD ENOUGH. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892577

Incident

Sep 17, 2000

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF AN AIR CONDITIONING ODOR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555482

DIFFERENTIAL SIDE PINION BEARINGS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

554408

Incident

Feb 8, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

727930

Incident

Jan 27, 2000

WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DOOR, HARD GRIND WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE, WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE...NOTHING HAPPENED, WHISTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER 45-50 MPH., BLOWER PROBLEMS, FOWL SMELL AFTER USING A.C., LEAK IN REAR WINDOW, CLICKING IN AUTOMATIC LOCK SECTION, FAULTY SPEAKER. *AK

NHTSA ID

722877

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

720099

SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE WIPERS DID NOT FUNCTION, AIR CONDITIONER INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO BLOW AIR FOR PERIODS UP TO 30-60 SECONDS. CAN OCCUR REPEATEDLY, WITH ONLY SECONDS IN BETWEEN. OVERHEAD COMPUTER SYSTEM REPEATEDLY SOUNDS ALARMS THAT THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN WHEN IT IS CLOSED. REAR DEFROSTER COMES ON AT ITS OWN WHIM, AND AT TIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS KEY IS TURNED OFF. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ON BOARD PANIC SYSTEM (INTEGRATED WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM) GOES OFF AT WILL, SOUNDING THE HORN AND FLASHING LIGHTS. OCCURS ALMOST CONTINUALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS LOCKED. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT INVESTIGATING THE WIRING, REPLACING CONNECTORS AND SENSORS HAVE STILL LEFT US WITH THE DEFECTS. THE VEHICLE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT SIMPLY CANNOT BE SILENCED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NUMEROUS OTHER 1999 AND 2000 MODELS OF GRAND CHEROKEES HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS CAUGHT FIRE WHEN IT FAILED DURING DRIVING (AS RELATED BY A JEEP DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT) WE WERE LUCKY MY HUSBAND NOTICED A PROBLEM BEFORE IT REACHED THE POINT OF NO RETURN. PLEASE CONTACT IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED, WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER IT NECESSARY TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PLAGUE KNOWN AS THE GRAND CHEROKEE. *AK

NHTSA ID

714860

Incident

Jul 7, 1999

REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH AC/HEAT BEING ERRATIC, WILL TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR 4TH TIME. VEHICLE SHUDDERED, FIXED BY CHANGING FLUID. WEATHER SEAL FELL OFF. BRAKE SHUDDER FIXED BY REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS, ETC. ENGINE STALLED FIXED, BUT THE REV UP AND LURCH AT STOP IS NOT YET. SETTING ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID

714733

Incident

Aug 9, 1999

IN SHOP 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND PROBLEMS STILL NOT FIXED

NHTSA ID

711402

Incident

Aug 27, 1999

AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT COOL. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD THERE IS A VACUUM LEAK SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER HAS ADDED DIFFERENT PARTS TO AID IN THE VACUUM, BUT NOTHING IS WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED THE USE, VALUE, AND POSSIBLY THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

709784

Incident

Jun 25, 1999

AC IS NOT COOLING CAR DOWN DEALER SAIDS THAT AC IS OK, PROBLEM WITH AC & HEAT ON A LONG TRIP, TOOK TO A AUTO SHOP WAS TOLD TO MUCH AC FLUID IN SYSTEM WHICH CAUSE HEAT TO COME OUT OF AC, WAS DRAIN & REFILLED. AC IS COLDER THAN BEFORE 'BUT' STILL NOT COLD ENOUGH, SYSTEM IN OTHER 1999 CARS ARE MUCH COLDER THAN JEEP.NOT A HAPPY CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID

709442

Incident

Jul 31, 1999