1994 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

I PARKED MY 1994 JEEP WRANGLER OUTSIDE MY WORKPLACE AT 6AM THE MORNING OF 4/4/12... AT 11AM I FINISHED FOR THE DAY, LEFT MY JEEP WHERE IT WAS, AND WENT FOR A RUN AROUND WHERE I WORK. AT 11:27AM MY OFFICE MANAGER CALLED MY CELLPHONE AND BEGGED ME TO COME BACK RIGHT AWAY "YOUR JEEP IS ON FIRE!!! OH MY GOD, IT'S GONE!!! NOW THE WOODS ARE ON FIRE!!!". I RAN BACK TO FIND 3 FIRE TRUCKS, MY JEEP NOTHING BUT A CHARRED SHELL STILL ON FIRE. I SPOKE WITH MY OFFICE MANAGER, SHE HEARD AN ALARM (MY HORN HAD I GUESS MELTED AND WENT OFF), WHEN SHE RAN OUTSIDE SHE SAW SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE FRONT (MELTING PLASTIC OF MY DASHBOARD). THE JEEP WAS DRIVING ITSELF UPHILL IN REVERSE! SHE RAN TO IT, TRYING TO STOP IT AND ATTEMPTING TO SAVE MY BELONGINGS FROM INSIDE OF IT (SHE COULD NOT). SHE SAID THERE WAS FIRE SHOOTING FROM UNDER MY DASHBOARD. IT DROVE ITSELF ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT WHERE IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON A TREE. IT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND THEN EXPLODED. (I HEARD THE EXPLOSION AS I WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS TRYING TO GET BACK). MY JEEP IS GONE NOW... NOTHING SALVAGEABLE. I NEVER HAD ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE PAST... BUT AFTER SOME INTERNET SEARCHING I'VE FOUND THAT JEEPS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR GOING UP IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454600

Incident

Apr 4, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10007062

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLES LOUDLY. NOISE IS INTERMITTENT, INDEPENDENT OF SPEED, ENGINE TEMP OR IF TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. DT

NHTSA ID

769135

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP DUE PROBLEM WITH GASKET. THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 94V106000 FUEL PUMP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ID

8020404

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAIN ROAD, I WAS IN 1ST GEAR (MANUAL SHIFT) SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A A BEARING OR PUSHROD SHOT THRU THE OIL PAN, WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NOTHING SEEMINGLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY YEARS, BUT HAS VERY LOW MILES. IT WAS MATICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. OIL WAS CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE EVERY 3000 MILES. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAD WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, WAS A REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK. IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THAT.

NHTSA ID

755178

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS A WELDED TUBULAR HEADER. AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES THE WELD AT THE COLLECTOR CRACKS. I DON'T KNOW IF I AM AT RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW AND IT IS APPROXIMATELY A 600.00 REPAIR. IN TALKING TO THE REPAIR DEPT. AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE TO MY FATHER'S 1997 JEEP WRANGLER ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ID

748756

WHEN STARTING CAR IT RATTLES VERY BADLY, AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER.-*AK

NHTSA ID

879129

Incident

Dec 26, 2000

I FEEL WRANGLER ARE ADVERTISED AS RUGGED - BUT THEY ARE ANYTHING BUT RUGGED!! LOTS OF TROUBLE. CHRYSLER DID NOTHING TO HELP EXCEPT OFFER COSTLY REPAIRS (NEW SEAT FOR $1,200 THAT WAS CHEAPLY MADE, FIX DOOR LOCKS FOR $200 THAT KEPT BREAKING AND WINDOWS THAT WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN EASILY) THAT I FELT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AT MY EXPENSE. CHRYSLER'S ANSWERS WHEN I COMPLAINED WERE - I USED EXCESSIVE FORCE ALL THE TIME. THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE - FIRST TIME I RECLINDED IT. AFTER TEARING IT APART - IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE VERY CHEAPLY - ONE THIN METAL PART GOING UP THE BACK OF THE SEAT. HOW IS THAT GOING TO HOLD ANYONE IN CASE OF REAR IMPACT OR RECLINING THE SEAT WITHOUT BREAKING?? SAME WITH THE PLASTIC PARTS FOR THE WINDOW ROLLER (EASILY BREAKABLE) AND WHO DESIGNED THE STUPID PART (BAR AND PIN) FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. OH YEAH, AND MY ENGINED DIED ONCE - $200 IN NEW WIRING AND TOE BILLS. THEY TOLD ME I MUST HAVE BEEN OFFROAD RUFFING IT - EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAIN. I NEVER TOOK THE JEEP OFFROAD EVER - BUT OF COURSE THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE ME. ALSO, I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD 3 TIMES NOW. MY MAIN POINT IS CHRYSLER FAILED ME - SOLD ME A VERY CHEAPLY MADE VEHICLE AND DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CHEAP PRODUCT. I FELL I AM THE BEST OR WORSE ADVERTISER FOR THIS VEHICLE THEY HAVE AND I MAKE SURE TO FULLY EXPLAIN ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY WRANGLER.

NHTSA ID

734177

Incident

Jun 1, 1996

SENDING UNIT IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY/GASKET IS CRACKED. CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 94V106000, CONSUMER FEELS IF REAR ENDED JEEP MAY BLOW UP BECAUSE OF FUEL LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE.*AK

NHTSA ID

872158

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

I'VE HAD TO CHANGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER 4 TIMES ALREADY AND GOING ON NUMBER 5. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY FRIENDS , AND I AGREE THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS AGE OF VEHICLE. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT IT AND TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

726147

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT, AND CREATING A POTENTIAL RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. *AK

NHTSA ID

861839

Incident

Jan 2, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD - REAR STUD ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN OFF LEADING TO AN EXHAUST LEAK. CAUSES NOISE AND EXCESS O2 IN EXHAUST SYSTEM SIGNAL COMPUTER TO INCREASE FUEL RICHNESS WHICH TAXES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CAUSING EARLY FAILURE. CATALYTIC CONVETER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AS RESULT. DOOR LOCKS - THE DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HAVE BROKEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK DOOR FROM OUTSIDE WITH KEY. BY TURNING KEY, THE LOCK BEGINS TO DISENGAGE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO UNLOCK DOOR. THIS CREATES NEED TO LEAVE WINDOWS DOWN CONTINUOUSLY IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO VEHICLE BY OPENING DOOR FROM INSIDE THROUGH WINDOW. MAJOR SECURITY ISSUE!

NHTSA ID

720352

Incident

Jul 1, 1996

ACCORDING TO THIS SITE, THE 1994 JEEP WRANGLER HAD A RECALL OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BEGINNING 31JAN96, I TOOK MY JEEP TO SHELBY MOTORS APROX 7 TIMES BECAUSE OF "RATTLING NOISE" WITH THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THEM "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. NOW THERE IS NO LONGER A WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE, SHELBY MOTORS DECLARES THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ABSOLVING THEMSELVES OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I APPEALED TO THEIR SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND LOYALTY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, BUT FOUND THEIR INTEREST DOESN'T LIE IN THE CUSTOMER'S LOYALTY TO THEM BUT RATHER IN THEIR MONEY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION OR SHELBY MOTORS OF ANY RECALL. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED GIVEN I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

718837

Incident

Jan 31, 1996

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

704995

Incident

Jun 30, 1998

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS AFTER BOLTS BREAK OFF, CAT. CONVERTER FAILURE SEEMS TO OCCUR AT START UP OF VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

704050

Incident

Feb 25, 1999

NO SUMMARY FROM CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID

701530

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN ENGINE BLEW OUT, THROWING A ROD THROUGH OIL PAN. DEALER NOTED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS RAIN IN ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

824646

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID

534685

THREW CYLINDER ROD WHILE NORMAL DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ROD TORE THROUGH BOTTOM OF OIL PAN, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

533506

Incident

Mar 26, 1998

ENGINE BLOCK EXPLOSION SENT PIECES FLYING ALLOVER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

515274

Incident

Dec 10, 1996

BRUSHED AND GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED ALL WIRES UNDER THE VEHICLE/THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS AND THE CARPET. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

809771

Incident

Feb 21, 1997

THE ENGINE BLOCK EXPLODED SENDING PIECES FLYING.

NHTSA ID

546847

Incident

Dec 10, 1996

GASKET REPLACED DUE TO GAS LEAK.

NHTSA ID

510489

Incident

Sep 30, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, THREE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS ON RIGHT SIDE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP TO SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT; NO WARNING; COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

984902

Incident

May 21, 1996

VEHICLE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

478579

Incident

Jan 3, 1995