2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jul 23, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · CO

My jeep is doing several things that is cause for not driving it because it can cause a accident. It does not always just start. I have to move the steering wheel up & down ^ then it will start generally. When driving the jeep will rev up all of a sudden especially at stop signs. If I didn't have my foot on the brakes I could have caused a accident. Also I would have to keep my foot on the gas or it would die on me. These things have been going on for the last 2-3 months.when I put my jeep in reverse or in drive it makes a major clunking noise like my transmission is ready to fall out. This clunking noise started when all of the other problems started! I have emailed several websites & have not received a response to my problem!! Help!!!

Filed Apr 30, 2008 · Seat belts · 66,000 miles · CA

I am going to paste below what I wrote on unsafecarseats.com. I am dumbfounded that I have had this car for 5 years and this is the first I've heard about this. When I first noticed the gen3 seat belt problem with my infant seats I thought, this can't be right, if there were an issue with these seat belts they would have been recalled and I would have been notified. I am really disappointed in the federal safety agency. It is a real problem: I have 6 mo old twins and a 4 yo son. They are 3 across in the backseat of my 2001 jeep grand cherokee limited. On several occasions I have noticed that the belts holding the infant seats have become undone after making sure repeatedly that they were buckled and taut. This is absolutely a real problem! I even went so far as grilling my 4 yo if he undid the buckles in 'fun'. He repeatedly denied it. However, he could not have done that to the far outboard seat (he sits in the other outboard seat) while I was driving, and that's when I began to scratch my head. Then I thought, well ok, maybe my infant car seats are really clunky and sometimes when I lock them into the base or get them out, they are jostling the belt open. But, would that be ok either?? The belt lock is incredibly sensitive and defective. Put in perspective, if a base moving against another or putting the bucket in or out of the base causes a malfunction, well then it does not take a degree in physics to know that a collision would do the same thing. I am amazed I have not heard about this until now! What irresponsibility! All the times I took my car to the dealership, not a peep. Thanks to babycenter.com for directing me here.

Filed Dec 9, 2007 · Visibility · 55,000 miles · SC

Electric windows keep breaking- 4 times now in same vehicle- one window mechanism has been replaced twice now. First time it malfunctioned, the window automatically rolled all the way up, then made loud clunk sound and window dropped down into the door. This is a safety issue as someone's arm could get stuck with the window rolling up on its own as well as having back windows fall all the way down when my young daughter is in the rear seat.

Filed Sep 5, 2007 · Steering · 45,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that the steering wheel made a clunking noise whenever he attempted to turn the wheel. He took the vehicle to the jeep dealer and was informed of the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v007000 (steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)). The dealer and manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in the recall, even though he is experiencing the same failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The speed was unknown. The failure mileage was 45,000 and current mileage was 52,000.

Filed Nov 12, 2003 · Brakes, Fuel system · 10,000 miles · NC

Harsh down shifting, results in loud clunking, rear tire squalling, and passenger discomfort. Rough shifting into gears while parked. Moaning brakes, warped rotors fuel pump deficiancies, and miscellaneuos electrical problems.

Filed Oct 9, 2003 · Transmission · 26,450 miles · SC

When accelerating from a stopped position, vehicle feels sluggish, as though it is starting from second or third gear. When stopping, a loud clunking noise is heard. Rough and erratic shifting is felt as the transmission downshifts. With a vehicle with less than 27,000 miles on it, the transmission does not seem to be working normally (at least as normal as any other automatic transmissions I have had over the years). I have read several other complaints posted that express similar problems, but have not seen any resolution from jeep other than telling their customers that this is normal operation. This troubles me and does not give me much confidence in their ability to troubleshoot the problem. I want a record of the problem for future reference.

Filed Sep 21, 2002 · Transmission · OH

Rear differential leaking, causing loud clunking noise.

Filed Sep 11, 2001 · Transmission · CT

When shifting from park to any other gear, the transmission makes a loud clunking sound , along with a "moan" which continues until I take my foot totally off the brake. Never have a problem while vehicle is underway. Taken to dealer twice and told that this is normal for an electronic transmission. I have had "lesser" vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them and they never made such noises. People actually turn and look toward my vehicle if I happen to be in a populated area and need to shift the automobile. To say the least, it is annoying and embarassing.

Filed Aug 3, 2001 · Acceleration, Transmission · NJ

I purchased/ leased a jeep grand cherokee 3/24/01. The day after I drove it off the lot, I noticed a problem with the transmission. The transmission, when down-shifting from 2nd to 1st gear shifted very, very hard- so hard that there was a loud thumping/banging noise that was quite audible and distracting, and also this abnormal shifting caused the car to lurch forward. I immediately called the dealer to express my concern over a new vehicle with such a rough transmission. I was assured by the service dept. That all the new electronic transmissions started off rough the 1st thousand miles, and that it needed to break in. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, although I was very skeptical; never in my life having experienced such a horribly rough transmission- esp. On a brand new vehicle. After 1000 miles, there was no improvement, and I took the vehicle in to be evaluated. I was assured by the mechanic that all the grand cherokees transmissions are like this- it's a build up of the hydrolic fluids or something. I once again believed them (not really) and went on my way. The vehicle continued to do this, the sound getting very loud and quite startling at times while in traffic. It also is quite embarassing with passengers in the car who also have become quite startled by the loudness and sheer force of the lurching. I took my vehicle in a second time for evaluation only to be told, nothing was wrong. It is my feeling that this is a severe defect of some sort. In all my years of driving, I have never experienced such problems- except maybe from a manual transmission that bucked. I am planning to take my car in yet a third time and demand the problem be resolved, or I will be invoking my rights under the lemon laws. In light of the recent problems with grand cherokees, and their shifting into gear while idling, I cannot say that I am surprised. My vehicle also when shifted into reverse, sometimes makes a very loud clunking, rough shift. Please advise.

Filed Jul 16, 2001 · Transmission · TN

Transmission problem/ the transmission bangs, and I do mean bangs into gear. Chrysler said this is normal for an electronic transmission. This does not happen all the time, but it does occur at any speed and in any gear except 1st. Chrysler district rep said this is the electronic transmission searching for the next gear, he called it a burp. I have felt what he is talking about, I have driven many other vehicles with electronic transmissions, but what I am saying is this SUV actually bangs or klunks into gear sometimes, especially when I first drive it for the day, it will slam, not burp,into second gear . Also it seems to occur more often when going into 4th gear, when my speed is in the 45 to 50 miles per hour range. This SUV has slammed into gear while up shifting and down shifting. There is no way this slamming / banging / klunking into gear can be considered normal. A/c problem - the vehicle has a miss in it when A/C is on. Most noticable when on the highway, occurs about every 10 seconds. It feels like the vehicle has just gone over a bump in the road. I was told this is also normal . This is the A/C system cycling. I have driven well over a hundred vehicles or more, all of them automatics, all of them had A/C , no other car ,truck or SUV I have ever driven has had a miss or lurch every 10 seconds when the A/C is on or slams into gear. Chrysler says this is completely normal, I have gone and test driven 3 other grand cherokee limiteds, I did not notice these problems with those vehicles.