131 of the 775 complaints about the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the transmission — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 140,000 miles.
131
Complaints
34
Crashes
5
Fires
14
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
NHTSA complaint #10664672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TRANSMISSION DETENT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10639338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
1994 GRAND JEEP CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, ALSO, THE HEATER WENT OFF EVERY 15-20 MINUTES, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, DUE TO A BAD SWITCH, AND THERE WERE EXPOSED WIRES UNDER THE DASH.
NHTSA complaint #10564081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10519342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED THIS JEEP BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRANSMISSION, THESE ARE THE SYMPTOMS, WHEN YOU FIRST START THE TRUCK AND YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE KILLS. YOU START THE TRUCK UP AGAIN AND PUT IT IN REVERSE, IT VIBRATES AND THE ENGINE WANTS TO DIE BUT THE COMPUTER TRIES TO INCREASE THE RPM TO PREVENT IT FROM DYING, YOU THEN HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD, WHEN YOU PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, THE RPMS ARE AT ABOUT 2000 AND THEN THEY COME DOWN. WHEN YOU TRY DRIVING THE CAR FORWARD IT HAS A VIBRATION AND WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP, IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP, ITS AS THE COMPUTER IS REVING THE ENGINE LIKE IT DOES IN REVERSE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND IT DID THE SAME THING, THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS TRANSMISSION OUT 4 TIMES, CHANGED EVERYTHING IN IT 3 TIMES, GOT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND PUT ALL THE NEW PARTS IN THAT ONE AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE TCM FROM A SAME YEAR GRAND CHEROKKE, HAD THE DEALER FLASH THE COMPUTER AND STILL THE SAME, HAD THE TRY TO DIAGNOSE IT AND THEY THOUGT IT WAS THE MAP SENSOR, BECAUSE OF THE RPM PROBLEM, I CHANGED IT AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER ALL THESE CHANGES, THE TRUCK NOW RUNS FINE FOR A FEW MINUTES, BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS, IM NOT SURE IF THATS BECAUSE THE WHEATHER IS COOLER NOW. I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TIED UP IN THIS TRUCK AND BESIDES THIS PROBLEM, THE TRUCK IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND RUNS GREAT, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #10442815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT). THE DAY AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THROUGH ALL OF THE GEARS WITHOUT HAVING TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10237042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND MAKE A LOUD TAPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10230853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE PARKED IN CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THEE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACK SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONSUMER AND THE MOTOR HOME. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SHIFTER, AND THE CONSUMER HAD T RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CONSUMER HAD A PREVIOUS PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10133554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
NAR 02/25/2003. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER DAUGHTER PARKED THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LOCKED DOORS, HOWEVER MINUTES LATER SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLING. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT CONSEQUENTLY IT CRASHED INTO A TOWNHOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10011290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, WENT IN REVERSE CAUSING DAMAGE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED AND THE DOOR OPENED, THE CONSUMER THEN WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, ROLLED AND HIT A TREE WHICH CAUSED $3000 IN DAMAGES. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THE NEXT DAY, SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER 7 YEARS LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONFIRMING THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10097349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE WAS LEFT RUNNING WHILE IN PARK, I GOT OUT OF JEEP IT SHIFTED ITS SELF INTO REVERSE IT TRAVELED ABOUT 30 FEET THAN HIT A TREE. THIS MODEL IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A FEATURE . *AK THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO MOVE UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10088616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE WAS DRIVING ON A DONUT TIRE AND THE AXLE OVER HEATED AND CAUSED A FIRE. THE WAS IN ROUTE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TIRE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10087762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
ABOUT 5/6 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROOKEE HAD A VERY BAD HERKY-JERKY MOVEMENT WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE A TIGHT TURN (ESPECIALLY A U-TURN). THEN VERY AUDIBLE NOISES STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT-END UNDERCARRIAGE EVERYTIME YOU BACK-UP,..OR HIT A POTHOLE,...ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED. THE WORST PART HAPPENED WHEN FOR THE FIRST TIME,..WE HIT A POTHOLE AT ABOUT 55/65 MPH,....AND THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SEVERELY VIBRATE AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES,..AND WE WERE PLANNING ON TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STAYING PARKED EVEN WHEN IT'S TURNED OFF,..PUT IN PARK,..AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PUT ON, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ELEVATION/TILT TOWARDS EITHER END. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED,..THE BRAKING SYSTEM CHECKED, AND THEY WERE BOTH FINE. IT WAS FINALLY RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE THE AXLE CHECKED,..AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT AXLE WAS CHANGED AND WE ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW LINK PIN KIT. EVERITHING WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE GARAGE THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WAS FREE THIS TIME,..BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LEFT CV BOOTH,..BECAUSE THAT WAS BUSTED TOO. THAT WAS AROUND 5/11/04. THE CYCLE REPEATED ITSELF AGAIN AROUND EARLY JUNE OF 2004 AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GARAGE AND HAD THE AXLE REPLACED AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONT LATER,..AND THE CYCLE HAS BEGUN AGAIN. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASHES YET TO DATE DUE TO THE VIBRATIONS OR THE AXLE BREAKING, BUT THOSE VIBRATIONS SURE ARE SCARY, ESPECIALLY AT 65MPH TO 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE.
NHTSA complaint #10081044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATING FROM PLASTIC GAS TANK.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL LEAK ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED WITH THE COMPACT SPARE AND THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED ABOUT 35 MILES TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN HE NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AT THE REAR AXLE. AXLE OIL WAS POURING OUT AND COVERED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK WHICH WAS ALSO IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY USING THE COMPACT SPARE WITH A SMALLER DIAMETER ON A ALL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. BOTH THE FRONT A REAR AXLES WERE SO HOT THAT THE COVER GASKETS MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WAS RECALLED (RECALL # 757) FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE OTHER YEARS. THE SPARE TIRE USED CAUSED FRICTION BETWEEN THE BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS, RESULTING IN FLUID LOSS AND A SPARK WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. *PH *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10047761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VISCOUS COUPLING FAILED (SEIZED) IN NP 249 TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED IN 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED W/FULL-TIME 4WD WITH ONLY 56K MILES ON VEHICLE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE TURNING DUE TO LOCK-UP OF FRONT AND REAR AXLES.
NHTSA complaint #10025262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
VISCOUS COUPLING FAILED (SEIZED) IN NP 249 TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED IN 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED W/FULL-TIME 4WD WITH ONLY 56K MILES ON VEHICLE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE TURNING DUE TO LOCK-UP OF FRONT AND REAR AXLES.
NHTSA complaint #10025262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 02V053000 REMEDIED ON 05/16/03. VEHICLE STILL INCURS PROBLEM WITH ROLLING BACKWARD WITH GEAR IN PARK. CONSUMER CONTACTED SERVICE, DEALERADVISED CONSUMER THAT RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY AND WILL NOT SERVICE AGAIN WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10022615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND ROLL DOWN THE STREET. *NLM *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10019412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE W/QUADRATRAC (ALL WHEEL DRIVE): VISCOUS COUPLING IN TRANSFER CASE LOCKS UP RESULTING IN POOR HANDLING DURING EXTENDED TRIPS. PREVIOUS OWNER REPORTED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE VC PRIOR TO SELLING TO ME (<120,000 MI). I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2001 (~130,000 MILES). PROBLEM IS STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN AT ~144,000 MILES DURING A LONG TRIP (~1000 MILES) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AND AT THIS POINT, I'M CONVINCED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE CAR. WHEN THE VC LOCKS UP, IT IS MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE POOR HANDLING THAT RESULTS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10000434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES AFTER RECALL#02V053000 INADVERTENTLY VEHICLE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE THEY ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE THE DEALER NAME, ADDRESS, AND NUMBER. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
CONSUMER STATED THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #564818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8017305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE WILL DISENGAGE FROM PARK INTO REVERSE WHILE PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #8011901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WITH GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK AND VEHICLE IDLING, THE GEAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE PROPELLING CONSUMER ACROSS A PARKING LOT AND THEN CRASHING INTO A TREE, THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT IT WEDGED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL UP UNDER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS, DECIMATED THE REAR TRUNK DOOR, BENT THE CHASSIS, BUCKLED THE ROOF, AND BROKE ALL THE GLASS FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BACK, DUE TO THE INJURIES CONSUMER SUSTAINED, HE HAD TO RESIGN FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT AND HAS HAD TO GIVE UP CERTAIN HOBBIES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #562865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OR ACCELERATE IN THIRD GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #564011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE JUMPED FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #8009325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH ENGINE RUNNING. CONSUMER PUT CHILD IN VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS ABOUT 150 YARDS AND ROLLED INTO SOMEONES LAWN. COSNUMER STATES TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 68,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8007912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE ENGINE WAS ON AND IN PARK CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND ABOUT 1/2 MINUTE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS LIKE IT WAS IN REVERSE, AND ROLLED INTO A GARAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8007751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER WAS STANDING BEHIND VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE BECAUSE FRONT TIRE WAS A DIFFERENT BRAND THAN OTHER 3 TIRES. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8006674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND KEY WAS TURNED ON IN IGNITION VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, SMASHING THE DRIVER, WHO WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE, INTO THE BUILDING.
NHTSA complaint #8004436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.