2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 9, 2019 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · CA · fire

I got a short circuit by the air conditioner. It caught fire and burned the whole inside of my car.

Filed Aug 30, 2018 · Engine · 100,000 miles · AR

While driving down the highway all of a sudden I heard a loud hissing sound. Noticed it was a manifold leak after further inspection noticed two bolts were broke on the drivers side, left side of the motor by the firewall. There is no possible way to remove these broken bolts other than pulling the motor. No mechanic will touch it. Therefore leaving the cost on the consumer. The grade of the bolts are very poor. They knew the 4.7 v8 motor would not have enough space for the consumer to fix these issues. Leaving the consumer to pay thousands of dollars to fix their mistake it is not safe it is not fair. Now the consumer has to worry that's excessive heat that escaped out the manifold due to the broken bolts doesn't catch anything on fire under the hood while driving possibly injuring or fatally injuring the people in the vehicle as well as others driving on the road. I feel they should be responsible for there mistake. These bolts should not break off within 100,000 miles it is a hazard to the driver there occupants I feel they should have a recall. It's one thing if you just don't have the money to fix it it's another thing if you do and there's no possible solution that's not what I paid for now I have to drive a vehicle that I don't feel safe I can't trade it in or sell it because you can hear it now I'm stuck with driving it for another couple thousand miles and be out of the vehicle on their behalf.

Filed Oct 23, 2015 · Body · 127,000 miles · MA

On 09/12/2015, I was rear ended at a stop light in a grand cherokee with the factory towing pkg.ie fact. Trailer hitch and was trapped in the vehicle until assistance arrived. My replacement vehicle, also a grand cherokee, has no trailer hitch. After reading several articles about the gas tank fire recall, I was very interested in getting this recall done. I went to bertera chrysler, jeep, dodge expecting a trailer hitch to be installed as a protective device for the fuel tank. To my surprise I was told that the recall did not apply to my vehicle. Recall number n45. When I was rear ended every thing seemed to perform correctly. The trailer hitch bent down to protect the fuel tank, the frame buckled, and the body stretched between the doors. I seems to me that with the exception of the driver door, everything performed as it should to absorb energy from the car striking mine. The driver's door was jammed closed because the top front edge of left rear door overlapped the rear edge of the driver door. This caused me, the driver, to be trapped in the front seat until my passenger came around the car and forced the driver door open. Had the fuel tank ruptured and caught fire I would have been in dire straights. So while this is not a complaint about a new issue, it is a complaint about how the dealer handled my recall. Everything I have read leads me to believe that chrysler agreed to install hutches on all the vehicles that did not have the towing pkg. Or a mopar aftermarket hitch.

Filed Feb 20, 2014 · Engine · 67,000 miles · GA · fire

Driving interstate 95 doing posted speed limit smoke is seen from rear view mirror back of vehicle no indicator engine lights reported any trouble all engine gauges were showing normal stopped vehicle under front of hood drivers side smoke lifted hood flames started spread so fast jeep was totaled in fire melting tires frame my son was lucky to get out in time. Police said you got out of that, most of the fires I've come across passengers were not that lucky. I wish I could know the reason why? So this does not happen to someone else who might not be this lucky to walk away from the vehicle.

Filed Dec 15, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · MI

Defect in electrical wiring in driver-side door prevents windows from rolling down (a safety hazard) and doors from locking/unlocking. The back hatch will either remain in locked or unlocked mode depending on when the wiring fails (this model jeep does not include a manual way to use a key to unlock/lock the back hatch). If a pet was in the back of the SUV that had a "pet fence", there would be no way to get the pet out of the vehicle (or luggage/cargo). This is especially concerning in the event of a rear end collision where the gas tank may catch on fire (current recall). The interior lights also stay on as if a door was open. Turning off the interior lights prevents the speedometer/odometer/gauges/etc from illuminating at night. If the lights are not turned off, then all interior lights remain on causing a hazard at night as well. Driver-side wiring was fixed in october of 2012. In september of 2013, the passenger-side wiring is causing the same problem - windows/door locks don't work and the interior lights stay on. This problem is not an anomaly. It is very concerning that the wiring can fail in both front doors within a one year period - creating safety issues.

Filed Sep 18, 2013 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · CA

Defect in electrical wiring in driver-side door prevents windows from rolling down (a safety hazard) and doors from locking/unlocking. The back hatch will either remain in locked or unlocked mode depending on when the wiring fails (this model jeep does not include a manual way to use a key to unlock/lock the back hatch). If a pet was in the back of the SUV that had a "pet fence", there would be no way to get the pet out of the vehicle (or luggage/cargo). This is especially concerning in the event of a rear end collision where the gas tank may catch on fire (current recall). The interior lights also stay on as if a door was open. Turning off the interior lights prevents the speedometer/odometer/gauges/etc from illuminating at night. If the lights are not turned off, then all interior lights remain on causing a hazard at night as well. Driver-side wiring was fixed in october of 2012. In september of 2013, the passenger-side wiring is causing the same problem - windows/door locks don't work and the interior lights stay on. This problem is not an anomaly. It is very concerning that the wiring can fail in both front doors within a one year period - creating safety issues.

Filed Jun 27, 2013 · Fuel system · PA

I have been informed by chrysler via phone conversation is not recalling my vehicle. The 1998-2004 were listed as having severe design flaw with the gas tank located near the rear end and prone to impact explosions. Chrysler stated my vehicle did not qualify for recall since I did not have a tow hitch installed and it was not a 1993-1998 vehicle. 1. If my vehicle has a unprotected gas tank and over 250 vehicles have caught fire on impact why is my car not going to get a protective guard ( this was done on other vehicles that owners complained while under warranty) 2. How is a tow hitch going to stop a back end collision? 3. Why is the design after 2004 of the gas tank not located so close to rear end. If the location isn't a safety concern it shouldn't have needed to be relocated. Chrysler fought this recall for years and the federal safety agency allowed it until a petition was circulated on change.org to have model years 1998-2004 cars recalled. Could it be the vehicles chrysler will fix are even still on the road and that is why they are eager to fix those. I am stuck with a car cannot be sold or drive. The defect doesn't just hurt me but the poor person who would hit me and risk an explosion. Chrysler must be held accountable!

Filed Aug 26, 2010 · 129,000 miles · TX · crash · fire

Our 2004 jeep grand cherokee was rear ended at a stop light and 2 of the 3 vechicles burst into flames and burned completely. Updated 12/20/10 *bf updated 12/27/10 *tr updated 04/03/13

Filed Jan 30, 2009 · Electrical, Seats · 66,800 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 jeep grand cherokee. While the vehicle was idling at a traffic light, the contact smelled something burning and rolled down the window. He noticed that the odor was not coming from outside of his vehicle, so he continued to drive. Approximately 30 seconds later, he felt a burning sensation on his lower back. He pulled into a parking lot and observed a hole in the driver's seat surrounded by an orange ring. There was a charred mark on his leather belt and the seat was smoking. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The cause of the failure was not determined. The current and failure mileages were 66,800. Updated 04-17-09 updated 04/20/09.

Filed Jan 2, 2008 · Seats · 41,600 miles · MD · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 jeep grand cherokee. While driving 35 MPH, the front passenger seat electric heater element overheated. She turned the temperature gauge to low however, the temperature continued to rise. In addition, she noticed smoke coming from the front passenger seat then flames erupted. She was able to extinguish the fire. The dealer inspected the vehicle but was unable to determine the cause of the fire. There was recall repair work performed in 2006 for the seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler (the federal safety agency campaign id # 06v197000). The current and failure mileages were 41,600. Updated 3/11/08 *cn updated 03/11/08

Filed Feb 27, 2007 · Seats · 50,000 miles · IL · fire

Tl* - the contact called regarding the 2004 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated on 2/27/06 the driver's side heated seat element was replaced due to the driver's seat catching on fire. The seat was also replaced. On february 2, 2007 the seat started to smoke. The driver was able to turn the switch off before any further damage was done. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The contact stated that the defective heated seat element was replaced with another defective heated seat element. The contact received recall 06v197000 for the heated seat element.

Filed Oct 20, 2006 · Electrical · 24,000 miles · IN · fire · 2 injuries

Dt*: the contact stated while parked and running with the seat belt unbuckled, the heater was turned on for the passenger seat and within 10 to 15 seconds, the seat caught on fire. The heater was turned off, and both occupants sustained minor injuries. The service dealer was contacted, but could not identify the problem.