10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,094 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Feb 022000

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While vehicle was in park with the motor running, it jumped into reverse. Took off and hit a pole. Vehicle was taken to the dealership and repaired.

- St Simons Island, GA, USA

problem #11

Apr 151998

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
The accelerator sticks when driving. The problem occurs when the vehicle is on a downhill grade while using a lower gear to limit downhill speed. While driving downhill the throttle sticks when a small amount of power is added to maintain a given speed. When driving under this condition if I add braking, the throttle (RPM) continues to stay at approximently 3000 RPM. At this point if I put the transmission into neutral the throttle stays at high RPM as I continue to coast downhill and doesn't reduce RPM until the vehicle has slowed to a stop. It's interesting how when in neutral that the vehicle recognizes the speed, or lack of, then reduces RPM once the vehicle has slowed to a stop. When driving the vehicle while in gear the same problem occurs. While in gear, if I brake, the throttle (RPM) continues to stick until the vehicle slows to a stop and then the RPM lowers to idle speed. (kinda hard on the breaks too!) I demonstrated this exact problem to a Chrysler rep. (bob hardy). Later I found out he had stated that the throttle sticking was "normal". after I had demonstrated the throttle sticking, I was told there was nothing that should be done because they had determined that the throttle sticking was "driver induced". what a ridicules statement! a catch 22! here, I finally get the opportunity to demonstrate the throttle sticking and it is used as their defense saying that I induced my vehicle to have a stuck throttle! I guess that's the price "I" pay when I demonstrate a serious defect and the manufacture wants to ignore it! I have complained about this defect for over two years, while it was still under warranty and nothing related to this defect was corrected. I must add, it took some time to realize that the throttle was sticking due to the circumstances involved, which made it difficult to recognize immediately.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #10

Apr 151998

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
The accelerator sticks when driving. The problem occurs when the vehicle is on a downhill grade while using a lower gear to limit downhill speed. While driving downhill the throttle sticks when a small amount of power is added to maintain a given speed. When driving under this condition if I add braking, the throttle (RPM) continues to stay at approximently 3000 RPM. At this point if I put the transmission into neutral the throttle stays at high RPM as I continue to coast downhill and doesn't reduce RPM until the vehicle has slowed to a stop. It's interesting how when in neutral that the vehicle recognizes the speed, or lack of, then reduces RPM once the vehicle has slowed to a stop. When driving the vehicle while in gear the same problem occurs. While in gear, if I brake, the throttle (RPM) continues to stick until the vehicle slows to a stop and then the RPM lowers to idle speed. (kinda hard on the breaks too!) I demonstrated this exact problem to a Chrysler rep. (bob hardy). Later I found out he had stated that the throttle sticking was "normal". after I had demonstrated the throttle sticking, I was told there was nothing that should be done because they had determined that the throttle sticking was "driver induced". what a ridicules statement! a catch 22! here, I finally get the opportunity to demonstrate the throttle sticking and it is used as their defense saying that I induced my vehicle to have a stuck throttle! I guess that's the price "I" pay when I demonstrate a serious defect and the manufacture wants to ignore it! I have complained about this defect for over two years, while it was still under warranty and nothing related to this defect was corrected. I must add, it took some time to realize that the throttle was sticking due to the circumstances involved, which made it difficult to recognize immediately.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 151998

Grand Cherokee

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The accelerator sticks when driving. The problem occurs when the vehicle is on a downhill grade while using a lower gear to limit downhill speed. While driving downhill the throttle sticks when a small amount of power is added to maintain a given speed. When driving under this condition if I add braking, the throttle (RPM) continues to stay at approximently 3000 RPM. At this point if I put the transmission into neutral the throttle stays at high RPM as I continue to coast downhill and doesn't reduce RPM until the vehicle has slowed to a stop. It's interesting how when in neutral that the vehicle recognizes the speed, or lack of, then reduces RPM once the vehicle has slowed to a stop. When driving the vehicle while in gear the same problem occurs. While in gear, if I brake, the throttle (RPM) continues to stick until the vehicle slows to a stop and then the RPM lowers to idle speed. (kinda hard on the breaks too!) I demonstrated this exact problem to a Chrysler rep. (bob hardy). Later I found out he had stated that the throttle sticking was "normal". after I had demonstrated the throttle sticking, I was told there was nothing that should be done because they had determined that the throttle sticking was "driver induced". what a ridicules statement! a catch 22! here, I finally get the opportunity to demonstrate the throttle sticking and it is used as there defense saying that I induced my vehicle to have a stuck throttle! I guess that's the price "I" pay when I demonstrate a serious defect and the manufacture wants to ignore it! I have complained about this defect for over two years, while it was still under warranty and nothing related to this defect was corrected. I must add, it took some time to realize that the throttle was sticking due to the circumstances involved, which made it difficult to recognize immediately.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #8

May 011997

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
Have repeatedly (eight of more times) over the past +2 1/2 years, while under warranty complained of throttle sticking to dealer and manufacturer. As of March 24, 2000, after defect was indisputably deminstrated to Chrysler factory rep. I was told "there is nothing abnormal occurring" and no repair were necessary. They also said after the defect was demonstrated to them it was caused by "inducement".

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 312000

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
After exiting car wash with the gear still in neutral, there was a sudden acceleration which caused the car to crash into a concrete enbankment

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #6

Jan 302000

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer was traveling in light snow and doing 5-10mph with foot on the brake and ABS engaged. Vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing him to rearend vehicle in front. No one was hurt, but the airbags didn't deploy.

- Fayettville, NY, USA

problem #5

Jun 221999

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Constant RPM fluctuation, hesitation under load, shifting from overdrive to drive during freeway speeds, chronic.

- Marysville, WA, USA

problem #4

Jun 011999

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
I was parallel parking the car on my residential street. I was in reverse and proceeded to back into the parking space. The cars both in front and behind me were some distance away. Suddenly the engine reved to a very high RPM and the car shot forward and crashed into the car in front of me. The car was still in reverse when I turned off the ignition. Several persons witnessed the incident. They heard the high rev of the engine, and also noted that the backup lites were on when I hit the car in front of me. I have owned 3 Jeep Cherokee and have driven them for the past ten years so I am very experienced in driving this vehicle. I am positive that this car was in reverse when the sudden acceleration occurred.

- Newport Beach, CA, USA

problem #3

May 081998

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When owner got out of vehicle to unlock house door with the ignition running, not sure if vehicle was in the parked position, the vehicle remained in a still position for a few moments, then proceeded to roll forward, picked up speed and went throught the garage door. Continued to build up more speed going through the back of the back of garage until stopping. With the vehicle showing the drive position. Chrysler could not find a problem with vehicle.

- Chelnsford, MA, USA

problem #2

Jan 131998

(reported on)

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, causing a collision.

- Medford, OR, USA

problem #1

Apr 291997

(reported on)

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
While driving with cruise set at 70mph, suddenly cruise control accelerated to over 90mph, brake action seemed ineffective to stop, brakes only slowed vehicle to 40mph, placed vehicle into neutral, then turned off ignition to stop.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

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