CarComplaints.com Notes: There's no way around it, the Cherokee's transmission is junk. There's no other explanation for why a vehicle, usually with under 40,000 miles, would have so many complaints
Lift gate stopped latching. Dealer replaced electric latch ($470 repair, out of warranty). Next day problem re-appeared, car battery dead. Called dealer and they attempted to fix later that day. Had to charge battery and spent 2.5 hours trying to fix problem. Seemed to go way for several days, then reappeared. Battery dead again.
Went back to dealer who kept the car all day and still did not resolve the problem. Said they would call FCA technical support but the problem remains unsolved. Issues: 1. Unlatched lift gate bounces 2. Drains the battery in about 12 hours. 3. Car won't lock 4. dash light remains on and warnings light.
This problem is a pain as the lift gate not latching means my vehicle is not locked if I am away from home. It also goes along with the problem of the lift gate coming down on it's own and sometimes resulting in getting it on the head! They happen at the same time. I have had it in but they could not duplicate it (of course!) so nothing was done. It happens at random times we we are unable to know what the problem is.
I bought my Jeep Cherokee used as a Jeep dealership certified used vehicle. I had the Jeep about one month and after a rainy day tried to use the key fob to open the lift gate, which didn't work, so I tried the lift gate button which also didn't open the lift gate. I decide to use the interior button. When I opened the drivers door I smelled smoke and could see it was coming from the cargo area. When I crawled in the rear and took off the latch cover to manually open the lift gate I could see flames under the spare tire cover. After removing the factory spare tire filler panel I found about a half gallon of water in the bottom of the compartment which I used to put out the fire at the lift gate module.
I reported the incident to Jeep who assured me that the recall that was issued to deal with this problem was done on my vehicle on Feb 3 2016 and they declined any assistance saying that moisture entering the module and causing fire not due to any manufacturing responsibility since their records show the recall was done.
Liftgate stopped latching closed. Makes noises but doesn't do anything. I have to constantly drive around with the liftgate open warning and the liftgate bounces open and will throw out whatever is farthest in the back inside the trunk out onto the road.
The replacement part is backordered and there is no telling when this might be fixed. Outside of 36,000 mile warranty by 5k so dealer said Jeep won't cover it. No option other than to drive it around with the liftgate open until Jeep makes new replacement parts.
How long have cars had electronic trunk openers? 25 years? It seems plenty of time for engineers to have worked out issues and addressed failure modes. Some idiot engineer at Jeep probably figured he knew better than the 25 years of previous latch designs and came up with something "new and improved" for the Jeep Cherokee and failed horribly. Seems to be the motif for the rest of this vehicle design too, especially the transmission.
- Jesse O.,
Mesa, AZ, US
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Had the lift gate parts replaced by the dealer 4 months ago due to the recall, and it's again not working! It won't open with the key fob or the interior buttons.
Latch was replaced the first time had to wait on part while hatch back rattled and popped while driving. Second time I had it back 2 days when I opened the lift gate it popped I closed it and it rattled I opened again and it wouldn't lock. After waiting a week the battery went bad because the electrical stayed on and it was towed from home.
Liftgate often will not close with the button. Have to manually close it against resistance of the hydraulics. Was told not to close it this way at purchase. Got recall card on the liftgate software, but the parts are not in yet. Too bad since the car is so often at the dealer for other %$#@& issues.
I have video of the hatch latches not working when pressed. This includes all releases on dash, key fob, hatch button on hatch inside and outside of the car. I have 6 videos of this happening the longest time on video was 5 mins 10 sec.
Again the dealership nor Jeep can get this to replicate so they can't fix it!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Lift gate stopped latching. Dealer replaced electric latch ($470 repair, out of warranty). Next day problem re-appeared, car battery dead. Called dealer and they attempted to fix later that day. Had to charge battery and spent 2.5 hours trying to fix problem. Seemed to go way for several days, then reappeared. Battery dead again.
Went back to dealer who kept the car all day and still did not resolve the problem. Said they would call FCA technical support but the problem remains unsolved. Issues: 1. Unlatched lift gate bounces 2. Drains the battery in about 12 hours. 3. Car won't lock 4. dash light remains on and warnings light.
- Dean B., Keystone, US