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1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine complaints

Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 96, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Oct 7, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 152,000 miles · MO

Was driving at relatively low highway speed (50mph) up a small incline. Low RPM (1200rpm). With sharp highway curve coming up, vehicle stalled for no reason. Steering became unresponsive. Turned key off and on several times trying to turn steering to follow curve. Luckily sunday night traffic was light or could have resulted in accident. Engine finally started up and steering pressure was restored. Kept RPM over 2500rpm for a couple of minutes and car bucked a number of times in the first 5 or so minutes. Ran smoothly afterwards with engine RPM kept higher (2500+). Had to get off the highway and follow side streets to get home. This problem has been occurring for 3000-4000 miles and I've had nearly everything replaced, coil, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor rotor, distributor cap, starting on sensors now.

Filed Jun 5, 2013 · Engine · 175,000 miles · NC

Stalls idling and while going down the road. With faulty gas tank news causing fires that kill after rear collisions, driving not knowing if it will stall or not is pretty unnerving. Please for the safety of all drivers, recall these death traps.

Filed Mar 27, 2013 · Engine · 101,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the camshaft sensor was replaced but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.

Filed Jan 20, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 164,577 miles · WA

Driving at steady 35 MPH engine started to stutter,lost power and stalled unexpectedly. Took a few times cranking to restart,finally started. This has occurred intermittently with no warning or dash indicator like check engine light coming on. Numerous repair attempts and thousands spent since,problem still occurs now average of twice weekly. Occurs at different speeds,temperatures and conditions. Have found online reference to many similar stalling problems for people around us. Dealer said there is no recall or bulletins that would help fix,very hard to diagnose. Finally found that if jiggle wire connector to engine e.c.u. Could make engine stall. E.c.u. Has been replaced but website electrical engineer said the wiring pulls down on the connectors eventually fracturing the solder holding connector pins against inner connections causes this.he proved by resoldering as needed but said the wire routing and 90 degree angle to the connectors will cause recurrence.

Filed Jan 7, 2013 · Engine · 150,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the driver of the vehicle was attempting to stop when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they advised the contact that the central computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Aug 27, 2012 · Engine · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo. The contact stated that while traveling 45 MPH the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 8, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 205,000 miles · KS

This jeep grand cherokee laredo stalls at any speed and suddenly the engine stops and can even send a strong backfire able to crack the muffler. It works perfectly for a period of time and without any symptom it struggles and stalls. Sometimes it remains on and sometimes die. It broke me 3 mufflers. A lot of money and work have been done by mechanics including jeep dealer without fixing the problem. Pcm and a lot of parts had been replaced and the problem was solved only in part. It still die while driving. This jeep cherokee is not reliable to use in highway for the risk to stop in the middle. Jeep and mechanics are at random to fix this problem. I have visited web sites about jeep problems and I know there are others with the same problem.

Filed Apr 6, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 183,741 miles · TX

Vehicle will shut off intermittently, regardless of speed, outside temperature, length of time engine runs, or any other conceivable factor. A few weeks ago, I drove it to a town 30 miles away and back with no issue. The next time I drove it, the engine shut off two blocks away from my residence. There is no pattern to the malfunctions nor computer codes to download. Have replaced computer, connectors to computer, crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor, and many other numerous parts. Various mechanics have been unable to diagnose, some have given up due to frustration. Chrysler dealerships deny ever hearing of the problem, however, I have met three other grand cherokee owners in person who have had identical issues. Internet searches will reveal numerous complaints for this vehicle.

Filed Jan 16, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 89,000 miles · CA

Engine stalls either at speed or during idle after 20 minutes. Will continue to stall for about 4 minutes, sometimes very hard to start during this time. Then vehicle will run fine with no problems for several hours. The next day, or after vehicle has been sitting for several hours, the process will start again. Every day it will stall after about 20 minutes - sometimes while turning, which will cause a total loss of steering ability, or while on the freeway, or while at a red light or intersection. I narrowly escaped an accident when it stalled and a big rig almost slammed into me. I have been stranded in the middle of a busy intersection multiple times because of this. When the car stalls, sometimes it runs very rough and backfires, which caused the catalytic converter to blow out. Now the catalytic converter rattles and caused my emissions test to fail with high no(ppm) output. I'm going to need to change the PCM and the catalytic converter to fix this, but this was covered under a recall for 1996 vehicles with this same problem. Jeep issued an emissions recall in late 2006 to update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on certain 1996 vehicles. As part of the recall, the catalytic converter will also be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. 1997 vehicles experiencing the exact same problem were not included in this recall for some reason. Please include the 1997 vehicles in this recall.

Filed Dec 13, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 163,657 miles · PA

While driving on highway jeep lost power then stalled and would not start up right away, after 10 minutes it restarted and was ok. Once again today it did the same thing and after taking it to a repair shop they said that the engine computer must be replaced.

Filed Sep 19, 2011 · Engine · 147,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle would backfire and stall sporadically. The contact replaced the crank sensor and the ignition coil twice, with no luck in correcting the problem. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test and was told that there was a short in the wiring harness. The wiring harness was replaced but to no avail. The failure mileage was 147,000 and the current mileage was 151,000. I contacted the chrysler dodge manufacturer about my problem and they informed me that they did not manufacture the engine wiring harness for, the 1997 jeep g cherokee and that it is my problem. Updated 10/27/2011 *ln

Filed Nov 19, 2010 · Engine · 75,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 60 MPH the engine shut off and stalled on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was repaired several times; however, they currently are unable to diagnose the failure. The computer in the vehicle was also repaired twice. The manufacturer was called and stated that due to the age of the vehicle they will not warranty the repairs and he should take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was 75,000. The current mileage was 95,000.

Filed Oct 28, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 171,000 miles · CO

I have a 1997 jeep grand cherokee that stalls. Hot or cold, night or day, idling at a light or going 75mph down the interstate. I have had the fuel pump replaced, the fuel system cleaned, the o2 sensor replaces, the water pump replaced, the crank sensor replaced, the map sensor replaced, and the ignition coil replaced (I do still have the old ignition coil). It's in the shop now, and after doing some online research, I have found hundreds of people having the same problem, most of them being charged an outrageous amount of money by jeep dealers who, ultimately, do not fix the problem. I would not be so concerned, but like many jeep owners, I have small children. The problem started almost a year ago, happens daily, and if it should happen on a busy road or highway when I am going 60+MPH, I am concerned about my safety and that of my kids.

Filed Oct 8, 2010 · Engine · 88,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo. The contact was traveling 35 MPH when he noticed that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. There were no prior warnings and the vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 88,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2010 · Engine · 135,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle began stalling when the engine was hot. There were no prior warnings; however, when the engine reached 210 degrees it stalled. If the contact placed the vehicle in the park position and tried to start the vehicle it would turn back on. Several mechanics had performed diagnostic test and were unable to determine the cause of failure. The power steering and brakes also failed whenever the vehicle stalled. The failure mileage was 135000. The current mileage was 138836.

Filed Jun 1, 2010 · Engine · 98,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo. While traveling at 40 MPH, the vehicle would intermittently stall without warning. The dealer replaced a computer chip yet the failure persisted. The failure mileage was 98,000 and the current mileage was 117,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2010 · Engine · 180,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. She stated that upon starting the vehicle, it stalled several times before it would start. While driving at speeds over 5 MPH out of her driveway, the vehicle stalled. While driving at higher speeds ranging from 35 MPH and higher, the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer was contacted and the crankshaft sensor was replaced. The failure persisted. To date, no further repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileage were 180,000.

Filed Jan 5, 2010 · Engine · 174,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH on normal road conditions; the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. The failure mileage was 174,00. The current mileage was 176,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2009 · Engine · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo/tsi. Since the date of purchase the vehicle stalled without any prior warnings. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice. The technicians could not locate any diagnostic error codes, or duplicate the failures. He was in the he process of taking the vehicle back tot he dealer and contacting the manufacturer. The failure mileage was not available. The current mileage was 209,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2009 · Engine · 136,600 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While idling or driving at low speeds, the vehicle shuts off. A diagnostic was performed and the dealer provided the contact with a list of potential issues and parts that needed replacing. The contact stated that most of those parts were already replaced; therefore, they could not be the source of the failure. The dealer would not test drive the vehicle due to its age. The manufacturer advised her to take the vehicle to another dealer, but she would have to pay for another diagnostic. The failure mileage was 136,600.

Filed Mar 11, 2009 · Engine · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While driving between 65-70 MPH on normal road conditions, the vehicle hesitated and vibrated. Suddenly, the vehicle stalled without warning and the RPM's decreased excessively low. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The engine restarted after 15 minutes and then resumed operation; however, the performance was poor. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing and they stated that the failure was related to the primary control module (PCM). The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 100,000.

Filed Feb 11, 2009 · Engine · 115,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The vehicle stalls while idling or driving 25 MPH. The fuel pump, alternator, radiator, map sensor, spark plugs, and exhaust were replaced, but the failure has not been resolved. The contact feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive because the failures occur without warning. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was 120,000 and failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 90,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While driving approximately 45 MPH on normal road conditions, the engine stalled intermittently. The vehicle restarted after several attempts and the engine and brake warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The indicators remained lit until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic eight times, but the failure could not be duplicated. Recently, the dealer replaced the core wires, spark plugs, hoses, caps, and rotor distributor. The vehicle was also repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v053000 (power train:automatic transmission;lever and linkage:floor shift). The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 103,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2009 · Acceleration, Electrical · 100,003 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

1. Came out of gear when in park and crashed sustaining 5000.00 dollars in damage. Had received a letter from daimler-chrysler in 2002,however it was not dated stating the car could do this. No recalls were present at the time. They denied any problem when car crashed. Called an attorney who was a relative that told without a doubt (100%) the car would do this. He then called me back and stated he could not represent me because he represented daimler-chrysler. He was hired by chrysler after he bought a viper from them that was a lemon and he shoved it you know where and won. They realized what an outstanding attorney he was then hired him. Talk about family ethics. They finally installed the secondary detent system in 12/2008. I was told it was repaired. 2 the car is stalling at high speeds,during u turns, while at stop signs. It to dangerous to drive. Jeep keeps telling me they can not find anything on diagnostics. I was out of town 250 miles from home and they want me to drive an unsafe vehicle back to the. They have been rude,evasive and blaming me. After 500.00 there diagnostics showed nothing. It has been to 5 other mechanics and know one has been able to diagnose the problem. I now have a 1997 grand cherokee limited that is loaded that is dangerous and worth nothing. 3 if they insist on arbitration and a chance to fix it you will lose. It is worth your money to hire a lemon law attorney from the very beginning.

Filed Sep 15, 2008 · Engine · 132,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While driving at any speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The failure occurs almost everytime the vehicle is driven. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer and the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. The current mileage was 137,000 and failure mileage was 132,000.

Filed Aug 21, 2008 · Engine · 123,000 miles · LA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. While driving various speeds, the vehicle sporadically stalls without warning. The vehicle usually restarts immediately afterwards. Prior to the failure, the contact noticed that the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. He took the vehicle to the dealer on numerous occasions and had various repairs performed, which consisted of replacing the throttle position sensor, intake temperature sensor, map sensor, intake air control valve, crankshaft position sensor, distributor, cap and rotor, spark plugs, electrical wiring, fuel pump, oxygen sensor, coolant temperature sensor, and the ignition coil. None of the repairs have successfully remedied the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000 and current mileage was 125,000.

Filed May 14, 2008 · Engine · 91,000 miles · TN

Jeep runs for a bit sometimes then just stalls out no matter what speed you are traveling. Changed multiple parts to try and resolve the issue and no luck. I have noticed multiple people on the internet complaining of the same problem with no luck fixing the problem either.

Filed May 8, 2008 · Engine · 125,000 miles · CA

The 1997 jeep grand cherokee stalls when you drive and sometimes will come back but usually will not. If you wiggle the plug on the computer it appears to fix the problem for a while but then it begins stalling again. The car stalls at all different times, even in the middle of an intersection! We have done considerable research on the internet and tried the "screw theory" and checked other possibilities. Checked the plug connectors and they were all fine. Everything tests out fine and we can't figure out what else we can do!

Filed Feb 17, 2008 · Engine · 163,000 miles · NV

While I indicate that this problem began jan 2008, it has become obvious with research that the problems I had over the last two years LED up to this. For the last 2 years, if I am driving in high altitudes, engine will sputter, lose power and threaten to die. Over the last two months, my car will just die. No warning, no speed requirement, no situation requirement. Have replace so many things, it is unbelievable and very costly. Once the car has died, it will refuse to restart for several minutes to one hour. When it does restart super heavy gas smell accompanies. Today it started to backfire. Please do something about this. This happens to many other jeep grand cherokee owners. Mine is a 97. Thank god it has not happened to me on the freeway at high speeds like some others. What kind of havoc would that cause on our freeways during rush hours?

Filed Feb 2, 2008 · Engine · 199,000 miles · CA

My 1997 jeep grand cherokee laredo just dies when I'm driving. Doesn't matter what speed I'm going. It died over 10 times on my way home from san jose to san francisco while on the freeway going 60 MPH. This problem started over a month ago. We have changed the crank sensor and coil. The trottle has been checked and the fuel injector. We have changed the battery. We don't know what else to change. After reading the same complaints from jeep owners on the cnet car tech forums I dediced to file a complaint. They have the same problem and are spending a lot of money replacing different parts and the problem continues. This problem is very dangerous, driving on the freeway then the car just dies. I have no money to spend to keep on replacing different parts. Please help. Thanks.

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