39 of the
1,349 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the
throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
139,375 miles.
F
39
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
3692.3%
Cruise Control
25.1%
Accelerator Pedal
12.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Jeep Grand Cherokee year
VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MOVING AT ANY SPEED. PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR FIXES THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NO ERROR CODES ARE BEING GENERATED . REPLACED O2 SENSORS AND THIS REMAINS AN ISSUE. LOOKING ONLINE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11102239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 260,778 milesRogersville, TN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TAKATA RECALL. SINCE OWNING MY 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4.0, I'VE REPLACED NEARLY EVERY SINGLE PART ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED JUST TRYING TO DRIVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE FINE 1 MINUTE, THE NEXT IT IS PUTTING ITSELF IN NEUTRAL OR DRIVE AND I'VE NEARLY DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOW, THE JEEP IS CODING MORE CODES THAN EVER. ALSO, AS OF FEW DAYS AGO, I HAVE NO REVERSE IN IT. I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO BACK OUT OF A SPACE AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN REVERSE DECIDED TO NO LONGER WORK. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THESE ISSUES AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MODELS. ALSO, MY BACK PASSENGER DOORS HAVE DECIDED THEY WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN ONLY OPEN THEM FROM INSIDE. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND I WAS TRAPPED, NOBODY COULD GET IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER BACK 2 DOORS BECAUSE THEY WON'T OPEN. AS FAR AS TRANSMISSION, MAYBE I'LL LIVE THROUGH ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ON IT'S OWN, BUT MAYBE I WON'T EITHER. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11091735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesElwood, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE NEVER STALLS BUT POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AND VEHICLE LOOSES ABILITY TO STEER AND NEGOTIATE A INTERSECTION TURN ALL THE TIME. ENGINE NEVER STALLS BUT ENGINE SPEED SURGES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER CAR FIRST STARTS AND FOR FIRST 2 MINUTES OF RUNNING. ON SAFETY RECALL FOR GAS TANK DEFECT AND HITCH INSTALL. (N45) DEALER DID NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX BOLTS OR INSTALL HITCH OR OFFER COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, ONLY TOOK UNAUTHORIZED PICTURES OF VEHICLE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE AND STATED BOLTS WERE ELONGATED AND LOOKED RUSTY.
NHTSA complaint #10644999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 139,375 milesBakersfield, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS HEADED OUT OF WORK , DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE .SUDDENLY THE JEEP STARTED ACCELERATING .I PRESSED THE BRAKES, AND IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS . I THOUGHT IT ,MIGHT OF BEEN THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL GOT ACTIVATED , BUT THAT WAS NOT IT . THEN I THOUGH MAYBE THE CAR MAT WAS ON THE PEDAL , BUT THAT WASN'T IT EITHER. THERE WAS RED LIGHTS, CAR WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT, AND MY JEEP SEEMED TO ACCELERATE MORE.LUCKILY THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO GO FASTER . I WAS ABLE TO SPEED INTO A SUPER MARKET WITH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, DECIDED TO SWITCH THE IGNITION TO OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK IF MAYBE SOMETHING WAS STUCK , I MOVED THE THROTTLE, TURNED THE JEEP BACK ON , SEEMED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED . IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. I WAS LOOKING INTO WHAT MAY HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE WHERE JEEPS WHERE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10615064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE RECALLED DUE TO FUEL TANK EXPOSED IF REAR COLLISION CHRYSLER IS DOING NOTHING TO REPAIR THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THEY DON,T HAVE PART BUT IF I GO TO DEALER TO BUY THEY HAVE IT CALLED SEVERAL TIMES JUST GET THE RUN AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10543692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 178,000 milesDunwoody, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, FROM 70 ON THE HIGHWAY TO 5 MPH ON OUR ROAD. NO WARNING. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED MANY JEEP OWNERS WITH SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND NO PERMANENT FIXES. HAVE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND HAVE REPLACED IGNITION COMPONENTS (IGNITION COIL, PLUGS, WIRING, DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR AND CRANK SENSORS) WITH NO RESULTS TO CORRECT ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10490898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesRoanoke, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. MODEL YEAR 1998. MY PROBLEM OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FIRST PRESSING THE GAS BUT DOES ALSO OCCUR AFTER I HAVE ALREADY STARTED MOVING FROM A STOP. MY PROBLEM IS WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS OR IT SHUTTERS VIOLENTLY FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS AT LEAST AND THEN IT FINALLY STARTS GOING. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO STALLING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A COUPLE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHERE UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE HAD MORE THAN PLENTY OF TIME TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC BUT WITH THE STALLING WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY A COUPLE VEHICLES. HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS BUT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER TAKING IT TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS. HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON GRAND CHEROKEES. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON A DAILY BASIS NUMEROUS TIMES. WITH THIS BEING SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM,THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ISSUED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10229839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesManitou Springs, COCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED SCRATCHES ON HIS ARM. AS OF OCTOBER 12, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000. UPDATED 11/16/07
NHTSA complaint #10205508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesAbilene, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE HAVE THIS ROARING NOISE IN THE REAR END WHICH IS SO LOUD YOU CAN'T HEAR THE RADIO IF IT'S ON ALL THE WAY. ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE SURGING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR GOING UP A HILL. ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME THE LAST TIME WE DROVE IT 40 MILES AWAY. SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS A HEART CONDITION WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT ANY MORE. AFTER READING THE LETTERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS REAR END NOISE FIXED AND IT COMES BACK NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
NHTSA complaint #10140674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesDavenport, IA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE LURCHED OUT OF GEAR EVEN IF VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO. NO CRASHES REPORTED . NO POLICE REPORTS . TAKEN. NO FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10138139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Addison, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TAVELING ON HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED INTO TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8016378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Littlerock, AKCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK VEHICLE TOOK OFF/ MOVED FORWARD,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AND RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #8014822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER SHIFTING GEAR INTO PARK AND TURNING OFF IGNITION KEY VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY START TO ACCELERATE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8010482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, ME
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PARKING VEHICLE ON ITS OWN ROLLED BACKWARD, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. CONSUMER HAS RECIEVED NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURE REGARDING RECALL 02 V 053 000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8009326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOTH FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AS THE ENGINE WAS LIFTING AND SETTLING. OF THE 4 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES THAT I AM AWARE OF, 3 OF THEM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (A '94, 95, 98). THE ONE THAT DIDN'T WAS A 19'93. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION CONNECTS TO THE MOTOR, I THOUGHT THAT THIS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V053000, INVOLVING VEHICLES SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #758870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Turlocle, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CUSTOMER STATES THAT VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE WITH ENGINE RUNNING, STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AND BENT LEFT FRONT DOOR
NHTSA complaint #9005476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakdale, MNCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE SLOWLY BACKING UP WITH TRAILER ATTACHED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. TRAILER JACK KNIFED AND CRASHED INTO METAL BUILDING. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES APPLIED. THEN, SHIFTED TO DRIVE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 35-40 MPH ,AND HEADED TOWARDS A LAKE. CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE TO STOP VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5000.00, DAMAGE TO BUILDING UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #899601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montrose, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE GEAR SUDDENLY JUMPED TO REVERSE FROM DRIVE, THE RPM ACCELERATED TO 5500 AND TEH GAS DROPPED. THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE METAL WAS SCRATCHING AGAINST ANOTHER METAL. AND THE BRAKES WERE ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #751655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, MS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WHEN IN PARK WILL PUT ITSELF INTO REVERSE AND ACCELERATE .
NHTSA complaint #894369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Meeker, COCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PE 01 021/ INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY: ON THREE OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAD JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE WHILE PARKED, FIRST, IT BACKED UP ON A CONCRETE CURB. SECONDLY, DRIVER WAS STILL IN VEHICLE, AND THIRDLY BACKED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HIT A FENCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY INTERLOCK SYSTEM, CHRYSLER WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #894430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medina, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND RPMS WOULD RISE. THIS WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN GEARS ARE BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD, AND TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 45MPH.
NHTSA complaint #894082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forest, VACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER WAS BEHIND VEHICLE CHECKING ON GARAGE DOOR CLOSURE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER WAS NEARLY RAN OVER BEFORE GETTING OUT OF WAY. VEHICLE'S REAR END HIT A TREE IN THE BACK YARD. OWNER FELT JERKING, AND REVVING WAS PART OF PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE GOING INTO REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK. WAS INFORMED NOTHING WRONG AFTER PLACING ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #892607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, ORCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PATRICIA NADEL WAS DRIVING ALONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE A GATE ON OUR 1/4 MILE LONG DRIVEWAY. WE HAVE TO OPEN IT TO PROCEED THROUGH. PATTY PUT THE JEEP IN "PARK" AND THEN GOT OUT TO OPEN THE GATE. WHEN SHE REACHED THE GATE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE JEEP LURCHED INTO "REVERSE" AND SPED BACKWARDS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET UNTIL IT HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S FLATBED TRAILER AND CAME TO REST. A 6 INCH DEEP GAUGE FROM THE CORNER OF THE TRAILER DUG INTO THE REAR DOOR OF THE JEEP, ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THROUGH THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND ALSO THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THUS CAUSING $6,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE . THIS HAPPENED TO HER ONCE BEFORE, A FEW MONTHS BACK, WHEN SHE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, AND AT THAT TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO JUMP BACK IN AND STOP THE CAR. AT THAT TIME SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD PERHAPS NOT PUT THE GEAR SHIFT ALL THE WAY IN PARK, SO FOREVER AFTER THAT FIRST INCIDENT, WHEN STOPPING, SHE HAS FIRST PUT IT IN PARK, AND THEN JIGGLED IT SLIGHTLY TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FIRMLY IN PARK. THAT IS WHAT SHE DID AT THIS PRESENT INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #747826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR COMES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TO DEALER TO HAVE IT INVESTIGATED. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL GO OFF USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR 30-45 MINUTES. I TESTED THE CRUISE AND HORN WHEN THE INDICATOR LAMP IS ON. BOTH WORK WHENEVER I CHECKED.
NHTSA complaint #742759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR. ENGINE WOULD REV UP WHEN FIRST STARTING UP, AND WOULD REMAIN UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STOP DUE TO BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #880704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ORO Valley, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SIMILAR AFFECTS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL # 98V023000/SUDDEN IDLE SPEED INCREASES AUTOMATICALLY.
NHTSA complaint #877763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marlton, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A ROUGH IDLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #784356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newark, DE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IRREGULAR ACCELERATION CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL OR MOVE VERY SLOWLY. YH
NHTSA complaint #550000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sturgeon BAY, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 67MPH(65-70) JEEP VIBRATES - NOT CORRECTED BY TIRES, DRIVE SHAFT, REAR DIFFERENTIAL, OR 2 TRANSFER CASES. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TACH JUMPS WHILE CRUISING EVEN ON FLAT LAND.
NHTSA complaint #715336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bridgeport, CTCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION,UNABLE TO STOP USING BRAKES HAD TO FORCE CAR INTO PARK, RESULTING IN VEHICLE TO HIT BUILDING AND CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND BUILDING. ONE INJURY RESULTED.
NHTSA complaint #713079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.