2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013 requesting that Chrysler recall the Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles due to the rate of fatal, non-fatal fire, and fuel leak incidents when compared to peer vehicles (compact and medium SUVs) built during the same time period.In the RRL, ODI described how the location of the aft-mounted fuel tank made the SVs vulnerable to rear impact crash fuel tank failures.During the analysis, besides the high speed/high severity crashes present in both the SV and peer vehicles, ODI observed a significant number of low and moderate speed rear impact crash related fires and leaks, particularly in the Liberty.The data also demonstrated that SVs originally equipped with towing hitch receivers (trailer hitches) appeared to be under-represented in rear-impact related fuel tank failures.In the RRL, ODI requested that Chrysler provide its response by June 18, 2013, otherwise NHTSA might proceed to an Initial Decision that the SVs contain a safety-related defect.Chrysler responded to the RRL on June 4, 2013 and vigorously disputed the tentative findings of the RRL.Among other things, Chrysler argued that the SVs had an overall safety record superior to their peers, met or exceeded all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and only experienced fires in severe high energy rear impacts.Nonetheless, while continuing to maintain that the SVs did not contain a safety-related defect, Chrysler proposed a recall (13V-252) of approximately 2.5M (1.6M currently registered) model year (MY) 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) and MY 2002-2007 Liberty (KJ) vehicles on June 18, 2013.The recall remedy submitted by Chrysler would employ a hitch receiver assembly consisting of a steel cross-member behind the fuel tank with forward-projecting arms bolted to the frame rails on either side of the fuel tank.For the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee, Chrysler indicated it would conduct a customer satisfaction campaign and inspect vehicles equipped with aftermarket tow hitch receivers, and if necessary, replace any such hitch receivers whose conditionmay increase the risk of fuel system failure in rear crashes.Examination of the available data established that the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee did not pose the same magnitude of safety risk as the MY 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee and MY 2002-2007 Liberty, particularly in low and moderate speed rear impacts.Because the agency has concluded that the vehicles do not present an unreasonable risk to safety, ODI is closing its investigation of the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee.Although it was not within the scope of the Petition initiating this investigation or the Preliminary Evaluation preceding this EA, ODI also examined the performance of the MY 1993 - 2001 Cherokee as part of this investigation.NHTSA's assessment of the available data for the Cherokee did not establish an unreasonable risk in comparison to peer vehicles.ODI does not approve proposed defect remedies.While offering to install hitch receiver assemblies on the MY 1993-1998 Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Liberty, Chrysler did not, in ODI's view, provide enough evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed remedy in rear impacts.The Complete Summary for this Closing Resume (EA12-005) can be seen by

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the investigation. NHTSA's assessment of the data collected during this investigation indicates that rear-impact-related tank failures and vehicle fires are more prevalent in the JGC than in the non-Jeep peer vehicles. In addition, the agency's analysis of its FARS data for the peer vehicles and three Jeep models shows a higher incidence of rear-impact, fatal fire crashes for the Jeep products.PE10-031 had focused on the fuel tank system integrity of the JGC vehicles during rear-end collisions and impacts.The fuel tank is located at the rear of the vehicle, between the bumper and axle, and is manufactured from a plastic material (HDPE).Three peer vehicles (across the same MY range as the JGC) were identified for comparative assessment: the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer, and Toyota 4Runner.ODI has collected and assessed a significant volume of data for the JGC and three peer vehicles under the Defect Petition (DP) 09-005 and PE10-031, much of which was either provided by the petitioner or by the subject and peer manufacturers in response to ODI's information request letters.NHTSA has also utilized its FARS database.Fatal crash data was collected for the JGC and its three peers, along with data for two other Jeep vehicles, the Cherokee and Liberty, which were also manufactured with rear mounted fuel tanks and assessed by ODI as Jeep peer vehicles.Based on the agency's current analysis, ODI is upgrading its investigation to determine whether the subject vehicles contain a defect that presents an unreasonable risk to safety.The subject vehicles for EA12-005 will be MY 1993-2004 JGC, MY 1993-2001 Cherokee, and MY 2002-2007 Liberty; the estimated production volumes for these vehicles is approximately 5.1 million, although attrition is a factor for the older vehicles.Please note that the counts shown in the above failure report summary are for the JGC only (values shown in the total column are unique).Data for the other Jeep models and possibly other peer models will be collected during the investigation.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:506249, 549376, 734783, 869217, 10009553, 10335943, 10351589, 10351980, 10357528.

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic fuel tank's placement behind the rear axle and below the rear bumper, and the lack of adequate shielding, make it more vulnerable to rupture or leakage from a rear-impact by another vehicle (including damage from other components located on the Grand Cherokee), or in the case of rollover crashes, from other external objects.CAS also alleged that the fuel filler neck tears off in crashes.In its petition, CAS cites data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) showing 172 fatal fire crashes with 254 fatalities involving the subject vehicles from calendar years 1992 through 2008.CAS stated that there have been at least 44 crashes with 64 total fatalities (subject and non-subject vehicles) where fire was entered as the Most Harmful Event (MHE) in the FARS database.In response to the CAS petition, ODI made a preliminary examination of available data.FARS data showed 2,988 occupants of the subject vehicles have died in crashes since 1992.Of those, 55 died in 44 crashes where fire was listed as the Most Harmful Event.Identifying crashes most likely associated with the alleged defect as described by CAS (defined as the subject vehicle being struck at the 5, 6 or 7 o'clock positions) isolated 10 crashes with 13 occupant fatalities.ODI also reviewed the Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) database and identified 12 reports alleging A) a post-crash fuel tank leak and/or B) a post-crash fire potentially related to a fuel tank leak.Of the 12 reports, 10 involved fires (two involved fuel leaks only) with 9 alleged injuries and 1 alleged fatality.The existence of these post-crash fires does not, by itself, establish a defect trend.Further review and investigation into these incidents is needed to determine the existence of any relationship between the alleged defect and each fire or leak.It should be noted that ODI also conducted a preliminary review of the Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data that did not find the subject vehicles to be over-represented for post-crash fires.ODI's initial review neither supports nor excludes the possibility that a defect exists in the subject vehicles.However, ODI has always taken the position that vehicle fires pose a significant safety risk.Accordingly, ODI has granted the petition to further investigate the conditions associated with post-crash fires in these vehicles.

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (06V199) OF CERTAIN JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE'S ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN COOLING FAN. THE 182,875 VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 EQUIPPED WITH 4.0 LITER (SIX CYLINDER) ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 4, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2002; AND MY 2000 EQUIPPED WITH EITHER THE 4.0 LITER (SIX CYLINDER) OR THE 4.7 LITER (EIGHT CYLINDER) ENGINE MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 31, 2000 THROUGH JUNE 12, 2000.DCC NOTED THAT THEIR ANALYSIS OF FAILED PARTS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BRITTLE FRACTURE OF THE FAN BLADE.DCC FURTHER STATED, POOR BONDING BETWEEN THE RESIN MATERIAL AND THE GLASS FIBERS WAS OBSERVED, WHICH MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS. SINCE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAN FAILURE COULD NOT BE CONCLUSIVELY IDENTIFIED DCC DECIDED THE RECALL SCOPE WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE BUILD DATE RANGE OF THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES.THERE WERE 48 REPORTS FOR MY 2000, AND 196 FOR MY 2002.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE FOR REPORTS ON VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL SCOPE.

I was going down main road in Vineland nj making a left hand turn on to Elmer road when I was stuck in the front of my jeep and I hit the steering wheel the airbags never deployed

NHTSA ID

11703445

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

The contact owns a 1996 N/A Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair due to the age of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was only one Jeep dealer in the local area. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11686127

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with Cooper tires, Tire Line: Discoverer A/T, Tire Size: 225/75R17, and DOT Number: UT2Y1DF1515. The contact stated that all four tires had cracks along the sidewall. The tire dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the manufacturer and the NHTSA Hotline. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11489313

Incident

Oct 14, 2022

Mileage

170,000 mi

Drivers front seat has come loose from the bottom and is now wobbly, uncomfortable to sit on it and appears dangerous to drive as its not secure. There are lots of complaints about this happening to others on the internet.

NHTSA ID

11488629

Incident

Oct 15, 2021

After sending my Jeep Grand Cherokee to Pugh’s Service Center in Greenville, NC, in December 2018, because it would turnover, but not start. They replaced the ECM, but had to be taken to the local Jeep dealership for an OE ECM replacement and a crankshaft sensor, in order to get it to crank. Upon getting my Jeep back in March 2019, it ran fine for a few days. Then I went to start it, and it started, but after a few seconds, all of the GAUGES stopped working and all of the WARNING LIGHTS came on. I contacted both Pugh’s and the Jeep dealership, telling me I should just bring it in, to run more diagnostics. The Jeep only has 94,000 miles, and I spent about what the vehicle was worth upon getting it back in March 2019; so I’ve been hesitant on taking it back. There are many other people who have similar issues with the instrument panel gauges and warning lights, from the information I’ve researched online; with no indications of the problem being resolved.

NHTSA ID

11474598

Incident

Mar 30, 2019

Sai... Vehicle opened up when put in gear while brake was engaged... Crashed into fence...

NHTSA ID

11444370

Incident

Dec 19, 2021

The contact owns a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the driver's side seat burnt her legs while wearing jeans. The contact sustained 2nd-degree burns however medical attention was provided. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer where informed there were no associated recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11436586

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

Housing for driverside rear lights has melted and the brake and tail lights do not work.

NHTSA ID

11420654

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.