1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10746811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL REPAIRS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING RUSTED BOLTS ON THE FRONT DRIVE TRAIN. HE SAW IT ON THE NEWS. HE ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THERE WOULD BE A $75.00 CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #10644055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO A LOWER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10630374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD INADVERTENTLY. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND WHILE IN PARK. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA complaint #10435075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PCM AND WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10425436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE ENTIRELY STALLS WITHOUT WARNING AT IDLE OR VERY LOW SPEEDS. JERKS AND FLASHES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR ONE SECOND OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL ROAD SPEEDS. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY UNDER NO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS (COLD, HOT, WET, DRY, ETC.) INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SO CODES CANNOT BE DETECTED. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN HEAVY MID DAY CITY TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED FROM PARK FOR 10 MINUTES, BLOCKED ENTIRE INTERSECTION AND ENTRANCE TO PLAZA. WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING VEHICLES MULTIPLE TIMES. HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC AS IT HAS BEFORE. BOUGHT USED. APPEARS TO HAVE HAD PCM, AIR FILTER, PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED. STALLING ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY PREVALENT AMONGST THIS VEHICLE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BY THE RESPONSIBLE COMPANIES BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, LIKELY BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10380468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE AND THEN JERK AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CLEANED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND PERFORMED A TUNE-UP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE OVER 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10246108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES THE LEVER IN THE GAS TANK THAT LETS THE GAS GAUGE KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN IT STICKS WHEN IT SAYS A QUARTER TANK IT IS ACTUALLY COMPLETELY EMPTY. THIS HAS LEFT MYSELF AND MY TWO BABIES LEFT TO WALK AND GET PUSHED TO A GAS STATION. THE OTHER COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A REALLY LOAD WHINING NOISE WHEN OVERDRIVE IS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10242761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THERE IS A VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE THAT COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10227402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH RECALL FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED HIM OF A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER SINCE IT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2002. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AND THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THE CLOCK SPRING BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION ABOUT THE CV JOINTS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS RELATED TO THE VISCOUS COUPLER BEING WORN WHICH WAS THE REAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED MINOR DRIVER SIDE VALVE LEAK, REAR MAIN SEAL SEEPING, AND REAR VISCOUS COUPLER WAS WORN WITH NOTICEABLE HOPPING FELT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10204984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH RECALL FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED HIM OF A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER SINCE IT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2002. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AND THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THE CLOCK SPRING BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION ABOUT THE CV JOINTS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS RELATED TO THE VISCOUS COUPLER BEING WORN WHICH WAS THE REAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED MINOR DRIVER SIDE VALVE LEAK, REAR MAIN SEAL SEEPING, AND REAR VISCOUS COUPLER WAS WORN WITH NOTICEABLE HOPPING FELT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10204984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH RECALL FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED HIM OF A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER SINCE IT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2002. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AND THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THE CLOCK SPRING BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION ABOUT THE CV JOINTS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS RELATED TO THE VISCOUS COUPLER BEING WORN WHICH WAS THE REAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED MINOR DRIVER SIDE VALVE LEAK, REAR MAIN SEAL SEEPING, AND REAR VISCOUS COUPLER WAS WORN WITH NOTICEABLE HOPPING FELT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10204984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO, THE VEHICLE'S DRIVE TRAIN SEEMS TO BE BINDING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE VEHICLE PRACTICALLY COMES TO A HALT. TAKEN TO CHRYSLER DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, 1ST TIME ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AXLES AND ALL WERE REPLACED (NO CHARGE-THEY CLAIM THERE WAS A RECALL? I NEVER FOUND THIS RECALL) VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTERWARDS BUT THEN HAS ACTED SIMILARLY EVER SINCE, DEALER CLAIMS THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. WHILE IN A PARKING LOT W/VEHICLE 'S ENGINE RUNNING, I DECIDED TO SHIFT TRANSFER CASE FROM HI TO LO (ALL TIME 4WD) AND NOTICED THAT THE SHIFTER DOES NOT INDICATE HI BUT DOES INDICATE LO. FOUND IT HARD TO FIND NEUTRAL TOO, THEN LIGHTS INDICATED "LO" WHEN SHIFTER WAS STILL ALLEGEDLY IN HI? NOT SURE BUT BELIEVE IT MAY BE A LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT ISSUE. IT MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY "LOCKED" IN POSITION. ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, THE VEHICLE MOVED SLIGHTLY, SORT OF LIKE TRYING TO FIND A GEAR. SAME PROBLEM AS IT'S BEEN FOR THE PREVIOUS 6 YRS!

NHTSA complaint #10177229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY DETERMINED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAD BEGUN TO SMOKE DUE TO EXTREME HEAT BUILDUP IN THE DIFFERENTIAL; ALTHOUGH, NO FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE IT REMAINS.

NHTSA complaint #10154491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SEVERE IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #10142273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SEVERE IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #10142275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

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.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

FRONT DRIVESHAFT SEIZED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS, ADVISED BY SULLIVAN TIRE THAT THIS IS AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR A JEEP THAT HAS ONLY 65,432. THE COST OF THE PARTS WERE OVER $3,500. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER WITH A COPY OF THE INVOICE FROM SULLIVAN TIRE WITH A REQUEST FOR REPAYMENT OF THE COST OF THE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10112699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

SOLE OWNER OF 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2WD WITH LESS THAN 39,000 TO DATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TREATED WITH CARE AND IT HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICE FROM LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIPS, EXCLUDING A FEW OIL CHANGES. REAR CARRIER, PINION AND AXLE BEARINGS REPLACED AT 32,339 MILES (07-08-03) DUE TO SIGNIFICANT WHINING NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE, WITHIN A MONTH AFTER DRIVING FROM CALIFORNIA TO NORTH CAROLINA. NOISE RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER 2004. AT 38,620 MILES ON 09-28-04, SAME LOCAL DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT BEARINGS ARE BAD AGAIN AND HAS OFFERED GOODWILL WARRANTY REPAIR. ALTHOUGH DEALERSHIP IS PAYING FOR 2ND REPAIR, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED A BEARING JOB AFTER SO FEW MILES AND THEN NEEDS ANOTHER 6,000 MILES LATER. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS WRONG WITH THE DRIVELINE, WHICH IS CAUSING THE BEARING PROBLEM, AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A ROUTINE SERVICE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA ON 01-18-02 AT 24,643 MILES. COULD THIS HAVE STARTED THE PROBLEM? THE VEHICLE HAS HAD OTHER REPAIRS (A/C CONDENSER COIL, POWER SEAT ASSEMBLY, STARTER, FUEL PUMP, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, ), SOME WHICH SEEM SOMEWHAT UNREASONABLE, BUT THIS ONE SEEMS EXTREMELY UNREASONABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10093519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

I HAD TAKEN MY 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE INTO A VERY DEPENDABLE AND HONEST REPAIR SHOP IN SAN ANTONIO TX FOR AN ISSUE AND WHILE THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE THEY NOTED A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. OF COURSE, I ASSUMED THIS WAS RODE NOISE AND DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THAT MODEL OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 2004. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JULY 4, 2001 IN AUSTIN TX AND I THOUGHT I PURCHASED A 3 YEAR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. WHICH SHOULD HAVE COVERED IT. WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT I PURCHASED A PLAN THAT EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL CARS COVERAGE FOR 3 YEARS. I ENDED UP PURCHASING A CONTRACT FOR A PERIOD I DID NOT OWN THE CAR. THE PLAN EXPIRED ON JUNE 10, 2004. THIS WAS VERY MISLEADING BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THE CHRYSLER WARRANTY COMPANY WHEN I CALLED ABOUT IT DURING JUNE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $2,000 BECAUSE THEY HAD PREVIOUS CLAIMS ON THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BECAUSE I PURCHASED A THREE YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN ON JULY 4, 2001 WHICH TO ME SHOULD HAVE ENDED JULY 4, 2004 AND THE REAR AXLE IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. HAD I KNOWN THE "ROAD NOISE" WAS REALLY A PROBLEM COMING INTO EXISTENCE OR HAD I PAID CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE WARRANTY INFORMATION WHEN I RECEIVED IT THIS COULD ALL HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. IF THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE YOU CAN OFFER ANY ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE ON PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS AN APPROXIMATION. I DO NOT HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER IN FRONT OF ME WITH THE EXACT DATES. YOUR WEBSITE WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION TODAY AND I WANTED TO GET THE DETAILS TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU CAN ASSIST WITH ANY OF THE WARRANTY WORK WITH CHRYSLER I CAN PROVIDE EXACT DATES AND POLICY INFORMATION AS NECESSARY. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10082668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR END MADE A LOUD NOISE AND AFTER THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS VERY LOUD. IT IS LIKE A GRINDING WHINING NOISE. AFTER PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING I HAVE HAD MINOR TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IN AS MANY YEARS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE WARRANTY COVERED IT BUT IS HAS SINCE EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR TOWED ANYTHING OR EXPERIENCED A HEAVY PAYLOAD. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT FOR THIS PART TO KEEP GOING BAD LIKE THIS WITH ONLY HIGHWAY/CITY LIGHT-DUTY DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10065594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.