1997 Jeep Cherokee: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jun 2, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 195,000 miles · WA

Vehicle has hard starts and frequent hesitation and stalling, at all speeds city street driving as well as highway driving. I have had a new distributor cap, rotor, plugs, wires, coil, installed, yet symptoms persist. Sudden deceleration at highway speeds is a seriously dangerous condition. My research suggests this is a common problem with the jeep cherokee xj. I narrowly escaped a crash on a busy interstate highway this morning at freeway speeds. Jeep ought to be aware of this problem, yet there seems to be no remedy for owners. I would at least like to know what the problem is. Possible remedies (from my research) include multiple parts and many hours of labor: o2 sensor, throttle position sensor, crankshaft position sensor, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel pressure regulator, engine control module, alternator, neutral safety switch, ballast resistor, transmission control module, torque convertor, power control module, transmission control solenoid, etc. What is causing all of these vehicles to stall dangerously?

Filed Feb 18, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 150,000 miles · CT

I have a 1997 jeep with 150,000 miles on it and I am having a lot of issues with it stalling out for no reason. It's been doing this for over a year. It started all of a sudden out of the blue. I have taken it to the repair shop over 20 times to try and get the problem resolved and they are not able to find the problem. They have even kept it over night and had it on machines to figure out why it stalls and am not able to figure it out. I have replace sensors, fuel filter, battery, not to mention so many other parts and nothing is stopping it from stalling out for no reason. I have spent so much money and I love my jeep but I am real nervous to drive it that I might go to turn and the jeep will stall while turning a corner and get t-boned by oncoming traffic. Or driving on the highway and all of a sudden it will sputter and stall out. I have read that "many" jeeps are having the same issue, can someone please from the safety car site look into this as there will be a family in this type of vehicle driving and the problem could occure and cause a diaster in someones life. I have driven in differant ares on the road, highway, residential areas, going the speed limit, and also going 15 miles an hour and it wil stall out. I have again seen so many posting regarding this issue so there has got to be some kind of a manufacturing problem with these jeeps ...please, please look into this.

Filed Aug 24, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · FL

1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo 4.0l i6 began stalling in 2010 under seemingly random conditions. Replaced several parts (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap & rotor, ignition coil, PCM) over the past four years to no avail. The difference currently is that the stall now only seems to occur at temperatures less than 65-70 degrees f. The colder the environment, the worse stall probability. Colder temps also increase probability vehicle will not start after a stall. Vehicle will always fire up on a cold start. Stall occurs at varying speeds (including at idle), but above approximately 40 MPH stall becomes what seems like a misfire. Believe I have narrowed the problem down to an intermittent connection in the wiring harness, either at the gray PCM connector (closest to body), or in the wire leading to this connector. Putting enough pressure on the wires under the PCM in a certain direction will cause the vehicle to hiccup or stall. Only code ever shown related to stall was the unspecific p0351 ignition system code. Fortunately, if a stall occurs at higher speeds, engine/vehicle speed must still drop to a certain level before power steering/braking are lost. Otherwise vehicle would be too dangerous to drive. Nevertheless this is still a hazardous condition.

Filed Aug 3, 2014 · Electrical · CA

Stalling while driving. No code = onboard computer bad?, no accident yet!! When it stalls I have a hard time to start the jeep ... It happened 2 times ... Once while driving, the other was at a stoplight ........already have a recall 10583287 for a trailer hitch to make the gas tank safer and still waiting...no accident yet!!

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · VA

Tl- the contact owns a 1997 jeep cherokee. The contact stated while he drove 65 MPH in the rain the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the dealer advised the contact that the power train control module system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 116,000. Rk

Filed Nov 12, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · GA

Car stalls ,shuts off while driving, hard to start. Instrument panels lights will not work. Dome lights will not work. Had to take fuse out to extinguished dome lights, otherwise stay on all the time . Gas gage shows that more gas in tank than really is.

Filed Jun 19, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 140,000 miles · NC

The vehicle stalls unexpectedly when slowing down or coming to a stop. The check engine light is on, however; the code that comes up is for the ignition which was already repaired and not the issue causing at hand. This malfunction is freakishly common when I look it up online for this make, model, and year. This problem is very dangerous as it may or can cause death or serious injury if in intersection or busy road/highway. Please notify me of any solutions or information on this matter. We have also changed spark plugs as well as wires & coil.

Filed Oct 14, 2012 · Engine · 183,188 miles · UT

The vehicle stalls unexpectedly when slowing down or coming to a stop. The check engine light is on, however; the code that comes up is for the ignition which was already repaired and not the issue causing at hand. This malfunction is freakishly common when I look it up online for this make, model, and year. This problem is very dangerous as it may or can cause death or serious injury if in intersection or busy road/highway. Please notify me of any solutions or information on this matter.

Filed May 14, 2009 · Fuel system · 100,000 miles · CA

Car stalls unexpectedly. This seems to occur most often when making a left turn and when the gas tank is at 1/2 tank of gas or less. Ongoing problem for years.

Filed Mar 22, 2005 · Fuel system · 82,000 miles · ME

Fuel gauge reads incorrectly. The consumer is concerned vehicle will shut off while driving because of inaccuracy. A recall 97v194000 was issued for the fuel sending units, however this vehicle was not included due to VIN.

Filed Jan 12, 2004 · Fuel system · 61,253 miles · VA

Fuel tank indicator is giving false readings. *ak the vehicle appeared to be stalling, it was refueled and was given no diagnosis at the gas station. The vehicle stopped responding to the pressing of the gas pedal for an unknown reason, the vehicle was refueled but was still given no diagnosis. The vehicle stopped again without warning in the middle of the street, obtained emergency fuel, then it was obvious that there was a fuel problem. (the fuel level registered wrong) the 20 gallon gas tank gets 15 to 18 mpg. The fuel level registers 7/8 tank after driving 100 miles currently. Both the manufacturer and the dealer refused to pay for repair and denied the recall #97v194000 . *sc

Filed Dec 31, 2003 · Engine · 100,080 miles · OK

While driving the vehicle at an undetermined speed, the fuel light illuminated on the dashboard, then the vehicle stalled out. The consumer had made contact with the dealership on four separate occasions and the problem still occurred. Please provide any additional information.