Faults:
Where shall I begin?
I think the first component that failed was the fuel pump, and it was replaced under warranty. The symptom: my engine not starting with the first turn of the ignition - it always started on the second turn. My roommate also owns a 99 Jeep GCL. He had the same problem at about the same number of miles.
The transfer case was "cracked" and was replaced under warranty.
The transmission started kicking when shifting up. I've had the transmission computer software updated many times. The dealership's service advisor told me there was nothing else that could be done to fix the problem.
The steering wheel had a lot of slack. The service advisor had the steering column replaced. This did nothing about the slack. I just live with it now.
The car never seems to track straight no matter how flat the road. I've had my alignment "done" many times, but it doesn't seem to help.
The "check engine" light turns on intermittently and the technicians cannot figure out why. Every time the light comes on my engine runs at a really high rpm. I am almost red-lining doing 70mph.
My engine to this day sounds like a turbojet when I step on the accelerator before the engine is completely warmed up.
My roof leaks whenever there's heavy rain. The technicians could not isolate the leaking. To this day the problem has not been resolved.
The rivets holding the wheel well skirts in place came off and the skirts were "eaten away" by the tires. I had this taken care of under the warranty, but the rivets popped off again recently.
One day I tried to lock my doors with the remote. The doors locked and I heard an electrical whining sound. I tracked down the noise, and it turned out that my passenger side mirror was adjusting itself. Every time I hit the "lock" button on my remote the mirror would start moving down and hit the limit. The motor kept going for 10 seconds or so after hitting the limit. A software upgrade supposedly fixed this problem. I know that a memory option adjusts the seat and mirror positions for a particular driver, but I don't have that feature on my vehicle.
The electrical components on the right side of my vehicle just quit sometimes. The door locks and windows do not work. My service advisor said that a "modulator" needed to be replaced and was replaced under warranty (I didn't get the impression that he knew what he was talking about). This intermittent problem still exists. I just restart my engine when this happens.
The recline mechanism of my power seats started grinding. I've had this problem fixed twice.
The latch for the center console compartment broke off.
My coolant pump was leaking. I had to refill my coolant every 2-3 days just to keep the "coolant low" warning from coming on. I had the pump replaced under a limited warranty. I had to pay almost $200 to have the thermostat replaced along with the pump.
General Comments:
This car can really accelerate and is therefore really fun to drive. Unfortunately acceleration isn't the primary or only quality I look for in a car.
Gas guzzler. I think I get about 11-12 miles/gallon.
Is Jeep familiar with the concept of product testing? Maybe I am the test.
I would choose a root canal for every tooth in my mouth over purchasing another Jeep.
Anybody want a used White 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Unfortunately, because of my experience with this vehicle, I'm unlikely to ever buy an American car again.
3rd Feb 2005, 20:58
Write a complaint to www.NHTSA.gov about all the problems you have with your Jeep.