2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 166,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 jeep grand cherokee. While the vehicle was parked, there was smoke coming from the vehicle and there was a fire in the engine compartment. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and informed that the failure might be related to an electrical failure. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 06e011000 (fuel system, gasoline), 02v104000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 00v195000 (fuel system, gasoline). A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.

Filed Jun 1, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 145,000 miles · NC

Traveling on major hwy at 35 MPH without warning engine shuts off won't start back for several minutes and when it does smoke rises from underneath the vehicle smelling like its on fire . It does this up to 4 to 5 times daily now and have seen the same thing being said by lots of other people that have changed everything from cpm all the way down to every sensor have no idea what to do next please help.

Filed Oct 1, 2013 · Airbags, Electrical · 116,000 miles · DC

Blower motor resistor heated up to the point that there was smoke coming from under the passenger side glove compartment. After further investigation it was discovered that the wires and the resistor had both been charred and melted. Not only do I no longer have any heat or A/C but I also no longer have a window defroster and this poses a serious safety issue to myself, any passengers I may have and as well to other drivers on the road. Not to mention the fire that was only barely thwarted off.

Filed Jun 24, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · OK

I am concerned that my vehicle is not going to be recalled. I have read that if I am struck from behind my car could catch fire. I am experiencing some other issues with the car, one of which is it dying everytime I push the accelerator. So I am terrified that if I pull out into traffic and it dies, like it does regularly, I will be rear-ended and my car will burst into flames and my kids, including an infant, in the back seat will die in the fire. Something needs to be done about this before another person, child or adult, loses their life!

Filed Aug 2, 2010 · Transmission · 152,000 miles · MI · crash · fire

I own a 2000 jeep grand cherokee I was traveling on the freeway a few days a go when my truck decreased in speed somewhat. I pulled off the freeway to stop at a gas station. Once stopped at the light a thick plum of smoke appeared in the aft portion of the SUV. I pulled into the gas station with screams of your truck is on fire get out. I quickly placed the truck in park jumped out and the truck continued to roll out of the gas station onto the street hitting some local construction workers nearby equipment. The rear axle case was on fire. I grabbed a c02 tank from the gas station in an attempt to stop the fire. The detroit fire department had to come to completely extinguish the fire.

Filed Aug 18, 2008 · Electrical · CA · fire

While driving home using the A/C I smelled an odor of burning plastic. I pulled to the shoulder of the road to investigate and noticed small amounts of smoke coming from under the passenger side dash board. With the ignition off I felt around behind and below the glove compartment and was burnt by melted plastic from a small black component (the blower control module as I found out later). The wires to the module were very hot, the connector had melted, and after letting it cool, the A/C blower would not work. I have discovered that jeep knows about this problem, has made repair kits available but will not fix the problem or cover costs, the module costs about $165, the wiring repair kit costs about $20, the labor $80. The safety issue is obvious, with burning plastic, fire, smoke, fumes, and possible accident if this got out of control while driving. Health affects from the smoke fumes are indeterminate as of now. I have purchased parts to make the repairs, as well as a pyrometer to monitor wire and module temperature.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Electrical · 89,500 miles · NC

Bought the 2000 jeep grand cherokee ltd back in december of 2007. The A/C worked great. Moved to miami, fl on 01/08 , and had to start using A/C alot. While learning the vehicles habits. I noted the A/C unit to stop working when on. The unit would be on, and then go out, and come back on. Like there was a short somewhere. I also smelt a burning smell in the cab. I stopped turning on A/C unit all together at my grandfathers request until I moved back to nc on 07/08. When he looked at the A/C components; he noted that the "blower motor resistor" (located under passenger side glove box, and beside the blower unit )was melted so bad that the wires at the 3 pron female connector was frayed/expose (where heat melted/shrunk connectors away from wires) leaving hot wires touching one another. This in return caused wire exposure. The "blower motor resistor" unit ended up melting so bad it was warped. This part also never once blew the 40amp fuse under hood for the A/C unit.... Or anywhere else for that matter. I am really upset that my vehicle could have caught on fire due to live wires/melting parts/ lack of fuse blowing. This is a 125$ part minus dealership repair. Part related to cherokee "limited"dual climate functions of the A/C dash unit (air position knob, automatic digital temp display,and air flow fan knob). The part is removed which means to cut wires to detach the part. This means the new part will have to be rewired back in. Jeep should have to replace all of the unit wires, and plastic connectors, and find a way to control the melt down! Part unfixed due to lack of money to repair....! No A/C is better than a burnt car. (right????) old part is available and a very common part to buy; recall it jeep! Someone else being spoiled would have kept turning on the A/C for a baby and caught fire to the car. Lucky for jeep company, and myself I stopped using the A/C until looked at. Recall it...death or total loss of car? Alot of A/C problems in these cars help!

Filed Oct 31, 2007 · Visibility · 101,448 miles · SC

My AC fan had been cutting on and off randomly in my 2000 jeep grand cherokee. I thought at first it may be a bad climate control control panel. A few days later, I smelled electrical burning smell in my car and the fan would not come on at all. Today I removed the blower fan, thinking it was bad, but it turns out the blower is fine, the blower control module relay and wiring harness had melted in the dashboard above where the passengers feet would rest. I have taken pictures and will be glad to send them upon request, but I think jeep/chrysler should have to replace this due to the potential fire threat and lack of safety (since the fuse did not blow). I attempted to replace the part through an automotive parts company, but the blower control module will need to be purchased straight from chrysler corp. Please call me or email me with any follow up questions you may have. Once again, I will also send pictures upon request. Thanks!

Filed Apr 23, 2007 · Electrical · MI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 jeep grand cherokee. On april 12, 2007 the vehicle began smoking under the hood and proceeded to catch on fire while being warmed up. The front end of the vehicle was destroyed. The contact can retrieve a police and fire report. The current and failure mileages were unknown.

Filed Jun 21, 2006 · Engine, Lights · 87,000 miles · PR · fire

Driving with my daughters to the beach when suddenly my steering wheel froze as I was along a winding road. Towed truck to a mechanic who diagnosed that the gear box was broken at that point he repaired the gear box. Approximately 1 week later the same exact thing except that the truck caught fire, again towed the truck back to mechanic who replaced the gear box. I thought I was going to die when I experienced my steering wheel freeze and the fire was extinguished quickly so minimal damage was suffered. In 1 year that I own this vehicle the radiator has also needed to be repaired, the locks on my driver door stopped working, the fan in the cooling system has stopped working, I have been told that the muffler was improperly installed. I never expected so many faults or so much money spent in repairs on a so called certified used vehicle.

Filed Nov 4, 2003 · Engine, Suspension · 57,000 miles · OH

I purchased my 2000 jeep grand cherokee in 1999. I have been in and out of the dealer service for repeat major problems. My tire squeaked loudly while driving and after a year of not finding the problem, and fixing what they thought was the problem the left front wheel bearing was replaced and solved that problem. During the problem with the squeak they informed me that the transfer case had a problem and the solution was to drain and refill the 4wd transfer case fluid, I had them complete the service. Also during my cargo door would not open neither would the window, they replaced the latch lift. The next problem was that I was noticing smoke coming from underneath my hood. I brought that to their attention and they notice a fluid leak and had to replace my cylinder head gasket. The smoke was still there after that effort and now my transmission has went out. I need an overhaul transmission that will cost $1800.00 because now it's out of warranty. When I called the dealership they made it seem as if I did not take care of my vehicle. When my jeep needs servicing I always went to the dealership (5 star) so they can help me take care of my investment. Any needed repair that was requested I had done. My jeep only has 57,000 miles on it. The crysler company has most definitely lost a customer.

Filed Apr 29, 2003 · Engine · NY

While driving the consumer noticed smoke began emitting from under the hood. The consumer pulled over and vehicle was completely engulfed in flames in approximately 15 minutes.