2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Aug 15, 2019 · Acceleration · 114,500 miles · NY

Unknown issue : I looked it up on youtube and people call it the death wobble? You drive down the road fine and then hit a small bump and the front end shakes uncontrollably at any speed. *you loose control of steering due to the shaking! Other issue is the cruise controller kicks on and the RPM spikes to red zonnnne the only way to disengage it is to turn vehicle off then back on!!!

Filed May 26, 2019 · Acceleration · 99,700 miles · NY

My jeep grand cherokee limited four-wheel drive all the time cruise control automatically kicks on and off I have no control over what causes the jeep to idle even after I hit the cancel button. Caising me no control over my speed even after I hit the brakes ... Ive had to replace brakes calipers and rotors beacuse the cruise controller dont work right and the dealerahip says its not a recall????

Filed May 25, 2018 · Acceleration · 85,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 65 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated while driving up a hill. The contact had to either apply extreme pressure to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle or place the vehicle in neutral to stop. There were no warning indicators illuminated. An independent mechanic was notified and the contact was awaiting a call back. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2011 · Engine · 84,002 miles · WA

2004 jeep grand cherokee overland uncommanded throttle pedal movement. Car was in drive at a standstill on a slight grade, dry pavement. Throttle took off uncommanded. Drivers foot centered on brake pedal. Driver noticed throttle pedal was moving uncommanded. Pedal appeared depressed about an inch then returned to idle position then back down about an inch. After a few seconds throttle pedal returned to idle position. Brake held back any vehicle movement during episode. Cruise control was off. This was the first time this issue occurred. Nothing has been done to correct the defect.

Filed Jul 5, 2010 · Acceleration, Engine · 101,950 miles · WI · crash

While parallel parking, with my right foot on the brake pedal, I shifted the automatic transmission out of reverse. Immediately the engine rapidly revved up and lurched forward. I pressed more firmly on the brake, causing the car (a 2004 jeep grand cherokee) and motor to pause, then the motor rapidly revved up again, overcoming braking. Horrified, and unable to stop the car, I watched as the car raced into the vehicle ahead of me. Immediately after the impact, the engine returned to normal idle. I then checked the car: cruise control was off, my hands were still gripping the steering wheel in order to provide additional leverage for my foot on the brake pedal, my right foot was still firmly in the middle of the brake pedal and not near the accelerator pedal, and the gear shift lever was in neutral. The vehicle ahead of me sustained damage to its bumper and tailgate. This is the 4th time this has happened with this vehicle, the first two of which were reported to you earlier. In all three earlier cases, I was able to barely avoid an accident, but not this time. As noted earlier, the jeep mechanic was not able to find any causative problem.

Filed Jan 3, 2006 · Acceleration · 13,800 miles · OH

Dt: the contact stated at a stop the vehicle accelerated on its own. The parking brake had to be applied to stop the vehicle. After this was done the vehicle was drivable. The cruise control was not in use when these incidents occurred. The dealership was unable to diagnose the cause of the problem. *ak updated 01/25/06.

Filed Nov 17, 2005 · Transmission · 14,000 miles · CO

1. Exceptionally hard downshift under acceleration. 2. Under light or moderate acceleration, would start in 2nd gear. Possible to move selector to 1st gear. 3. At full stop would hunt from 1st to 2nd gear. Unintended forward movement with foot on brake. In one instance pedestrian walked in front of vehicle when this unintended movement occurred nearly pinning pedestrian between 2 vehicles 4. Under acceleration jeep vehicle seemed to go out of gear and into neutral at about 60 to 65 MPH. Loss of forward momentum and fuel shut off occurred . The transmission resumed acceleration but with very deliberate and extended gear selection. While accelerating to pass a semi on a 2 lane highway with long uphill grade I got alongside the semi and could see the drivers door in my peripheral vision. The jeep vehicle kicked into neutral , the fuel shut off occurred and I lost enough forward momentum to not complete the pass safely. Another vehicle appeared over the crest of the hill some distance away and I was able to brake hard enough to get back in line with the semi. A head on collision was averted. While traveling on a federal highway in colorado with a long gradual uphill grade and cruise control set to 65 the jeep vehicle selected neutral causing rapid increase in RPM to fuel shutoff point and loss of forward momentum to about 35 or 40 MPH. After transmission returned to a gear I was able to resume travel and click the cruise back on. This type occurrence became frequent. Jeep vehicle svc tech drove vehicle over 160 miles and was able to replicate the occurrence. The bands were tightened and various other little fixes. Jeep vehicle now selects 1st gear to start. Jeep vehicle no longer hunts from 1st to 2nd. Jep vehicle has started to kick into neutral again. Repairs started at about 5 or 6000 miles and have now totaled 6 attempts to repair this unsafe (in my opinion) variety of complaints all centered on malfunctions in (apparently) the transmission.

Filed Dec 8, 2004 · Acceleration · 6,244 miles · WI

When traveling 55 MPH up a steep hill, the vehicle violently shifts to 2nd gear causing an unacceptable torque on the driver and persons in the car. Rpm's go from approx. 1800rpm to 5000rpm instantaneously. This has happened both when using the cruise control at 55 MPH and also at 55 MPH without the cruise control.

Filed Nov 8, 2004 · Transmission · 70 miles · VA

When traveling in cruise control at 55-60 MPH and encountering a hill the automatic transmission will rapidly downshift a couple of gears. This results in the engine RPM going from about 1800 to 5000 RPM very suddenly. This is the same result as pushing the gas pedal to the floor. This occurred on a curve and resulted in a momemtary loss of vehicle control. Fortunately an accident was avoided this time. The vehicle was taken to two different jeep dealers who said there was nothing they could do because it was a design/ programming problem with the computer that controls transmission shift points.

Filed Nov 2, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · 26,500 miles · VT

While in cruise control at 60 MPH and traveling uphill the automatic transmission suddenly down shifted from over drive into 2nd gear causing a violent lunge forward (approx 2000 RPM to 5000 RPM). This RPM change was so violent that lost of vehicle control happened momentarily.

Filed Aug 31, 2004 · Acceleration · 10,000 miles · OR

While engaged in cruise control and driving up a steep grade. The vehicle jumped from 2000 rpms to 6000 rpms. *ak the vehicle dropped two or three gears and would speed up uncontrollably. This caused problems with the steering and the vehicle has tried to drive off of the road in one case. *sc

Filed Jul 28, 2004 · Acceleration · CA

We purchased a 2004 jeep grand cherokee. When traveling in cruise control in overdrive and coming to an incline, vehicle shifts down to second or third gear then immediately back to conventional high. We have taken the jeep back to the dealer numerous times for this problem to be told nothing is wrong. This jeep has 17,000 miles and has always had this problem.