FaultScore

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee electrical problems

59 of the 1,433 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 153,000 miles.

C

59

Complaints

3

Crashes

4

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 33 55.9%
Ignition 4 6.8%
Front Underhood 3 5.1%
Horn 3 5.1%
Wiring 3 5.1%
Interior/Under Dash 3 5.1%
Switch 2 3.4%
Rear Compartment/Trunk 2 3.4%
Software 2 3.4%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 1.7%

Electrical System across every Jeep Grand Cherokee year

1993 58 0.8%
1994 41 0.5%
1995 43 0.6%
1996 66 0.9%
1997 59 0.8%
1998 63 0.8%
1999 94 1.2%
2000 117 1.5%
2001 43 0.6%
2002 88 1.2%
2003 59 0.8%
2004 145 1.9%
2005 938 12.3%
2006 755 9.9%
2007 662 8.7%
2008 475 6.2%
2009 48 0.6%
2010 46 0.6%
2011 781 10.3%
2012 837 11.0%
2013 376 4.9%
2014 486 6.4%
2015 137 1.8%
2016 61 0.8%
2017 89 1.2%
2018 339 4.5%
2019 82 1.1%
2020 69 0.9%
2021 113 1.5%
2022 130 1.7%
2023 177 2.3%
2024 108 1.4%
2025 28 0.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 188,000 miles Fresno, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING EXCESSIVELY SO I CHECK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE . WHEN ENTERING VEHICLES VIN # IT STATES 0 OPENED RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE, NOT SURE IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WERE WITH REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONSTANTLY GOWS DOWN ON ITS ON EVERY TIME I STARTED THE IGNITION. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #11363851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Lake Havasu City, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ECM HAS A FAULT CIRCUIT BOARD PER DEALER AND NEEDS REPLACING . CAUSES COMPLETER POWER FAILURE AND ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING , ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OUT -- NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS -- AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME , STOPPED OR ON THE ROAD .

NHTSA complaint #11243393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 260,000 miles ROY, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS LOST CONNECTION TO GROUND FOR THE PCM. GROUND WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL PUMP TO WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT MAJOR WORK TO THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #11071665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 260,000 miles ROY, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS LOST CONNECTION TO GROUND FOR THE PCM. GROUND WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL PUMP TO WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT MAJOR WORK TO THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #11071665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,893 miles Columbia, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS FAILING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GALANTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,893. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11001897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10 miles Oxnard, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint #10966721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Denton, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SHORTS OUT AND CAUSES AN ONSET OF PROBLEMS FROM WRONG AIR/FUEL RATIO TO SHUTTING OFF CAR POWER WHILE IN DRIVE AND/OR STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT SPEED, THEN SUDDENLY I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY AN 18-WHEELER. THIS SHORT IN THE ECM EVEN CAUSED BACKFIRE IN MY MUFFLER AND FLOODED MUFFLER WITH GAS. I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS ON MANY JEEPS FROM 1993-1997. WAS THIS A RECALL AT ONE POINT? ALSO, THE VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER DOES NOT WORK, THIS ALSO IS COMMON. ADDITIONALLY, THE EVAP CANISTER FITTINGS HAVE JUST DETERIORATED, CAUSING THE HOSES TO NOT GET A SECURE CONNECTION AND IMPROPER EMISSIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10949176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 247,000 miles Duluth, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE STALL/SHUT OFF ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES/HR IN CENTER LANE OF A FIVE LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON DIFFERENT DAYS. I'M ORIGINAL OWNER. HEAVY FAILURE ANALYSIS DONE. ALLEGE THAT JEEP CUT CORNERS THAT RISK DRIVER SAFETY. THEY USED AND MAY STILL BE USING CHEAP CHINESE MICROPROCESSOR CHIPS IN THEIR PROGRAM CONTROL MODULES (PCM). FRED BAILEY FATAL ACCIDENT IS TELLING. HIS JEEP SHUT DOWN ON A BRIDGE. PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK. TRACTOR TRAILER PLOWS INTO THE BACK OF THIS JEEP (LIKE MINE). THE GAS TANK EXPLODES AND HE DIES. WWW.DYINGJEEP.COM SHOWS A JEEP VIDEO ACTUALLY DOING THE STALL/DIE ROUTINE. WWW.JEEP FORUM.COM HAS LITERALLY THOUSANDS ON POSTS/THREADS BY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED OWNER WHO HAVE EVEN MUCH NEWER JEEPS THAT DO THE SAME THING. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP MY JEEP IN WORKING CONDITION. IT IS WORTH ABOUT $3,000 IF IT WAS RELIABLE. I DID THE FUEL TANK RECALL. BROUGHT IN THE JEEP. IT ALREADY HAD A TOW PACKAGE INSTALLED. THEY KEEP THE JEEP FOR HOURS. LIKELY DID NOTHING TO IT UNDER THE RECALL. DIDN'T GIVE ME $100 GIFT CARD. EDMONDS VALUE OF MY CAR WITH 247,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IS LESS THAN $1,000. EVEN IF I GOT THE EXTRA $1,000 RECALL CREDIT, IT MEANS I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER LOW QUALITY VEHICLE FROM A BRAND I DO NOT TRUST. IN SHORT, JEEP NEEDS TO MAKE NEW PROGRAM CONTROL MODULES AVAILABLE AGAIN AND AT AFFORDABLE COST. THEY OWE SAFETY TO ALL JEEP OWNERS. SHAME ON THEM AND GOOD ON YOU FOR FINING THEM $105 MILLION. THERE IS POTENTIAL CAUSE TO FINE THEM EVEN MORE FOR NOT ADDRESSING THIS STALL/DIE ISSUE. THE STALL LEADS TO THE REAR END COLLISION AS WE CAN EASILY DEDUCE FROM THE FRED BAILEY EVENT. NO TIME TO REACT TO THE STALL... THEN BOOM. I BELIEVE JEEP HAS HIDDEN INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS FROM YOU. THE PROBLEM IS NO SECRET TO OWNERS FROM 1992 ON.

NHTSA complaint #10851381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vicco, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN SOME TIME BEFORE IT COULD RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE FAILURE CAUSED WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10783313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Mount Airy, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A VIOLENT SHAKING AND VIBRATION THAT WAS PROGRESSING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH EXTREME WOBBLING AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL AND THEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TECHNICIAN DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME CASE OF WOBBLING AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10747904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 287,000 miles Atlantic Beach, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP TO WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BUCKED AND BACKED FIRED 2 TIMES AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD RESTARTED GOT IT BACK HOME THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES CANT COUNT HOW MANY TIMES, I HAVE HAD IT TOWED HOME 4 TIMES THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND COULDNT RESTART SOMETIMES IT BUCKS AND FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO SHUT DOWN BUT RESTARTS BY ITS SELF WITHOUT TURNING KEY THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED CHANGED TPS, CRANK SENSOR, STARTER, FUEL PUMP, PICK UP COIL,DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR PLUGS AND WIRE, ALTERNATOR NOW INSIDE DASH LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO FLASH DIM AND BRIGHT. I BOUGHT IT 2009 USED WITH A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES RAN GREAT BUT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS SITUATION EVERY TIME I CHANGE THINGS IT WILL WORK FOR AWHILE AND THEN STARTS TO ACT UP AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10724991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 230,000 miles Monett, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS BEEN SPUTTERING, STALLING WHEN STOPPED AND WHEN DRIVING, BACKFIRES BLOWN APART 2 MUFFLERS. IT WILL NOT SHOW A CHECK LIGHT OR GIVE AN ERROR CODE WHEN HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER. HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. HAVE DONE AS THEY HAVE AND REPLACED NEARLY EVERY SENSOR. HAVE YET TO REPLACE PCM/ECM. DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL FIX DUE TO SOME ONLINE HAVE AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. LIKE THE PEOPLE ONLINE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS, NONE OF WHICH COULD DUPLICATE OR FIND A PROBLEM. SURPRISED WITH AS MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE JEEP HASN'T RESOLVED THIS. I THINK DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE TRADED THEIR JEEPS IN AND GOTTEN VERY LITTLE TOWARDS TRADE-IN.

NHTSA complaint #10717760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,767 miles Columbus, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES " VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL". *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS MASKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES. SHE WAITED A MINUTE AND USED THE KEY TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. ON FEB 27TH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TO THE VEHICLE TO HER MECHANIC. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10704699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Millbury, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10702117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,822 miles Columbus, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DASH HEADLIGHT SWITCH KEEPS GOING OUT. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE LIGHTS WILL FLICKER AND THAN GO OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10678649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V438000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10667320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE COMPUTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #10629068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUST HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING AND ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10610109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Fontana, CA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY START. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED AND PROCEEDED TO INCREASE ACCELERATION WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CRASHED AND SLID THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TRUCK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10549234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 265,000 miles Savannah, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE STALLED ,BACKFIRED, SHOWS THAT I HAVE MORE GAS IN VEHICLE THAN I HAVE. GETTING HARDER TO RESTART. STALLS IN TRAFFIC. WHY HAVEN'T THE GOVERNMENT RECALL THESE VEHICLES.I READ SO MANY OF SAME COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE DONE. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10545002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,050 miles Rensselaer, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE TOLLED TO ARMORY GARAGE, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, INSURANCE HAD TO KEEP SENDING SOMEONE TO COME AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. OR IT WILL START BUT THEN TURN AROUND AND STALL LATER. AFTER PAYING $1300 PLUS TO ARMORY GARAGE, THEY ONLY CHARGED ME FOR DIAGNOSIS AND FIXING PROBLEMS WITH A BATTERY BEING OVERDRAWN. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE REPLACED THE BCM COMPUTER. HOWEVER, AFTER PAYING ALL THAT MONEY I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, COMPUTER MODULE WITH ARMORY GARAGE, IGNITION COIL FIXED. ALL I KEEP GETTING IS THAT THE EMISSIONS IS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT STATES BIG AND SMALL LEAK. HOWEVER, EVEN TODAY IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE SPENT CLOSED TO OVER $3500 ON MY VEHICLE TO GET IT RUNNING AND IT STILL STALLS AFTER ALL THE ABOVE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. P0442, P0455, P0351, ARE THE LAST CODES TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AN EVAP PURSE SOLENOID HAS BEEN FIXED AS WELL. ALL THIS MONEY AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING AND RUNNING BUT TURNS OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10520663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 164,577 miles Yakima, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING AT STEADY 35 MPH ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER,LOST POWER AND STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. TOOK A FEW TIMES CRANKING TO RESTART,FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING OR DASH INDICATOR LIKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND THOUSANDS SPENT SINCE,PROBLEM STILL OCCURS NOW AVERAGE OF TWICE WEEKLY. OCCURS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,TEMPERATURES AND CONDITIONS. HAVE FOUND ONLINE REFERENCE TO MANY SIMILAR STALLING PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE AROUND US. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR BULLETINS THAT WOULD HELP FIX,VERY HARD TO DIAGNOSE. FINALLY FOUND THAT IF JIGGLE WIRE CONNECTOR TO ENGINE E.C.U. COULD MAKE ENGINE STALL. E.C.U. HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT WEBSITE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER SAID THE WIRING PULLS DOWN ON THE CONNECTORS EVENTUALLY FRACTURING THE SOLDER HOLDING CONNECTOR PINS AGAINST INNER CONNECTIONS CAUSES THIS.HE PROVED BY RESOLDERING AS NEEDED BUT SAID THE WIRE ROUTING AND 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE CONNECTORS WILL CAUSE RECURRENCE.

NHTSA complaint #10493533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 183,741 miles Midland, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF SPEED, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, LENGTH OF TIME ENGINE RUNS, OR ANY OTHER CONCEIVABLE FACTOR. A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DROVE IT TO A TOWN 30 MILES AWAY AND BACK WITH NO ISSUE. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THE MALFUNCTIONS NOR COMPUTER CODES TO DOWNLOAD. HAVE REPLACED COMPUTER, CONNECTORS TO COMPUTER, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND MANY OTHER NUMEROUS PARTS. VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, SOME HAVE GIVEN UP DUE TO FRUSTRATION. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS DENY EVER HEARING OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE MET THREE OTHER GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS IN PERSON WHO HAVE HAD IDENTICAL ISSUES. INTERNET SEARCHES WILL REVEAL NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10454315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Sunland, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE STALLS EITHER AT SPEED OR DURING IDLE AFTER 20 MINUTES. WILL CONTINUE TO STALL FOR ABOUT 4 MINUTES, SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO START DURING THIS TIME. THEN VEHICLE WILL RUN FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE NEXT DAY, OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE PROCESS WILL START AGAIN. EVERY DAY IT WILL STALL AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES - SOMETIMES WHILE TURNING, WHICH WILL CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, OR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, OR WHILE AT A RED LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. I NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT STALLED AND A BIG RIG ALMOST SLAMMED INTO ME. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, SOMETIMES IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND BACKFIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BLOW OUT. NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLES AND CAUSED MY EMISSIONS TEST TO FAIL WITH HIGH NO(PPM) OUTPUT. I'M GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE THE PCM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FIX THIS, BUT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL FOR 1996 VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. JEEP ISSUED AN EMISSIONS RECALL IN LATE 2006 TO UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) SOFTWARE ON CERTAIN 1996 VEHICLES. AS PART OF THE RECALL, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. 1997 VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL FOR SOME REASON. PLEASE INCLUDE THE 1997 VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10443964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 163,657 miles Philadelphia, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY JEEP LOST POWER THEN STALLED AND WOULD NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY, AFTER 10 MINUTES IT RESTARTED AND WAS OK. ONCE AGAIN TODAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND AFTER TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE COMPUTER MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10439833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Rock Hill, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SINCE 2007 THE JEEP HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE HAS BEEN TROUBLE WITH INTERIOR LIGHTING. RECENTLY A AAA EMERGENCY REPAIR TRUCK CHANGED THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED NEW BATTERY CLAMPS. A VISIT TO AN AUTO REPAIR STORE REVEALED THAT THE CLAMPS ON THE CAR WERE THE WRONG SIZE. WHEN THE AUTO STORE WORKER REPLACED THE CLAMP WITH THE CORRECT SIZE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM STARTED TO WORK. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS AND THERE HAS BEEN NO STALLING. I THINK THE CLAMPS WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10436336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ONLY FOR IT TO STALL A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH RESULTED IN A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE STALLING FAILURE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE COMPUTER BE CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE BUT WARNED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPLACEMENT MAY NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE NO ONE COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA complaint #10434862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 169,000 miles Kathleen, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 97 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 60 MILES PER HOUR. NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS AND NO SHUDDERS;IT JUST QUITS. MOST TIMES IT WILL RESTART ON ITS OWN BUT LATELY IT HAS TAKEN LONGER TO RESTART. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, COIL, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAVE ALL BEEN CHANGED OR CHECKED. I AM CURRENTLY RUNNING THE CAR WITH A LARGE HOSE CLAMP AROUND THE COMPUTER AND IT'S PLUGS. SO FAR MY "FIX" IS WORKING. MY STALLS HAVE OCCURRED ON STRAIGHT ROADS, IN A CURVE I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO NO POWER STEERING/BRAKES WHEN THE CAR IS DEAD.

NHTSA complaint #10378513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 171,000 miles Fort Collins, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE THAT STALLS. HOT OR COLD, NIGHT OR DAY, IDLING AT A LIGHT OR GOING 75MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, THE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED, THE O2 SENSOR REPLACES, THE WATER PUMP REPLACED, THE CRANK SENSOR REPLACED, THE MAP SENSOR REPLACED, AND THE IGNITION COIL REPLACED (I DO STILL HAVE THE OLD IGNITION COIL). IT'S IN THE SHOP NOW, AND AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, MOST OF THEM BEING CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY BY JEEP DEALERS WHO, ULTIMATELY, DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT BE SO CONCERNED, BUT LIKE MANY JEEP OWNERS, I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, HAPPENS DAILY, AND IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN ON A BUSY ROAD OR HIGHWAY WHEN I AM GOING 60+MPH, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY KIDS.

NHTSA complaint #10362841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 260,000 miles Gold Canyon, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4.0L INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. PROLONGED DIAGNOSIS APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM WITH PCM AND DEFECTIVE HARNESS CONNECTORS CAUSING MISDIAGNOSIS FROM REPAIR FACILITIES TO INEFFECTIVELY REPLACE OTHER COMPONENTS AT GREAT EXPENSE. STALLING WHILING OPERATING VEHICLE RESULTS IN BACKFIRES AND AT TIMES LOSS OF POWER STEERING ETC AND POTENTIALLY CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10342306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

← Full 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee report