2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee: engine overheating

Filed Jul 11, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 100,770 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 jeep grand cherokee. Without warning, there was a catastrophic engine failure. The instrument cluster warning indicators dimmed. In addition, the service engine warning light only illuminated moments before the engine failed and the vehicle was unable to be driven. While driving 65 MPH, another motorist alerted the contact that the vehicle was overheating and smoking. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. The service engine light illuminated shortly before the vehicle stalled completely and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who diagnosed that there was an engine failure. The contact was advised to check with the manufacturer or a dealer to determine what caused the failure and for a solution to repair the vehicle. The contact was unable to determine who would repair the vehicle. The manufacturer provided no repair solution. The approximate failure mileage was 100,770.

Filed Nov 6, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · MS

I see that there is a recall for 2000-2002 jeep cherokee vehicles with the electric radiator fan. I am wondering if that recall or problem extended to the 2004 model as well. Every year since I purchase my jeep, used, I have had to replace the radiator. For some reason, it overheats and all of the coolant runs out. I have taken it to multiple mechanics and they all tell me that the radiator need to be replaced. However, I need to figure out what's the recurrent underlying cause to this.

Filed Nov 11, 2010 · Lights · 120,000 miles · AL

2004 jeep grand cherokee laredo: the brake light bulb housing has melted due to overheating causing the brake lights to not work when depressing the brake pedal.

Filed Oct 2, 2009 · Engine · 72,000 miles · GA

Purchased in 2008 with 52,000 miles on it. Noise emanating from under dash, seemed like a vacuum unit loosing vacuum and then the creaking or closing of a door constantly after engine shutdown. This continued until it began putting hot air out of the passenger side with cold air out of the drivers side. Then the fan stopped working altogether. Inspected the wiring to the motor and found it to be overheated and melted at the plug. Purchased a wiring repair kit from chrysler and was told that this was a "common problem" with jeeps! Now I have no heat whatsoever, but the blower (fan) does work. 2004 jeep gc limited air conditioning provides no heat with heat selected. This provides no defrosting for windshield. The fan relay precipitated this problem. Fan resistor wiring plug appeared overheated and melted and blew the system fuse 40 amp rated. The fan resistor was replaced at $100.00 through local parts supplier, chrysler wanted $300.00 for the same part! This problem appears to be systemic with chrysler jeep products...and I believe that they know they have a problem, why else would they offer a repair kit for it the wiring and plug)? I have read of hundreds of folk's who have experienced no heat issues with a hefty repair price "offered" by chrysler, when in fact their system has issues that they know causes failure in the air conditioning system of their products and have not offered a fix for it other than offering to fix it for an excess of $1000 per vehicle. They should be forced to make correction of a faulty system at the least, and not force customers to foot the bill for their faulty system. Customer confidence does not seem to be a concern for them without federal mandate.

Filed Jan 2, 2009 · Brakes · 25,100 miles · CT

About 3,000 miles ago the brakes began to pulse when applied during highway trips. This grew worse as time went on. Now they pulse even in the cold weather in december in ct during short trips (2-3 miles). When they pulse, the steering wheel shakes badly (as does the whole vehicle) especially at higher speeds and on longer trips. I will no longer allow my wife to drive it on highways. Today I went to action motors (jeep dealership in danbury, ct) and discussed the issue with two service managers. I was told that this was "normal" and that when brakes get "hot' they overheat the rotors and the rotors warp. Action motors wanted to replace the rotors at my cost. They said there was no jeep recall on the issue. I mentioned that this was the identical issue that jeep grand cherokees had in 1999 through 2003 and why did I have to pay for the defective design (does jeep not realize that brakes get hot when they are used). They told me the only reason that jeep offered free repair to those model years was that it was a result of a "law suit" against jeep. They also tried to convince me that this was normal on all makes of cars and to expect it. I have owned many cars in my many years of driving and none have experienced this issue under any conditions or any mileage. Seems someone or many must die before jeep accepts responsibility. I do not wish to have jeep repair my brakes at my cost. I no longer trust their intentions or their commitment to safety. I would like to take it to another repair shop but do not know how that might affect any "recall" directed by the federal safety agency that may occur in the future. The brake repair will have to been done very soon to make the car safe to operate. Shame on jeep.

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 Mar 3, 2007 · Seats · NJ

I received the initial recall notice from daimler chrysler in august 2006 concerning the overheating of the seat elements in my 2004 jeep grand cherokee. I contacted the dealership and they were waiting on parts. They were going to call me when my recall parts arrived. I have not heard anything since.

Filed Feb 12, 2007 · Seats · OR

Daimler chrysler sent a "safety recall f17-heated seat elements" letter in august, 2006. It states that the heating elements "may overheat and cause an interior fire...". It goes on to recommend that we "contact your dealer right away to schedule a service appointment" to replace the heating elements. We contacted the jeep dealer in salem, oregon in sept. 2006, and it added us to a waiting list. It is now february, 2007 and we are still waiting. The dealer today advised that so far, it has only received parts from its supplier to replace 8 seat elements and is waiting for more. We are around 20+ customers on a list of 35 still waiting for parts and with no projection of when more parts might arrive. Meanwhile, we continue to drive with a potential fire danger inside of our vehicle.

Filed Oct 9, 2006 · Seats · MD

I received a recall for my jeep for the heating elements in the seats that may overheat and cause a fire. My dealer tells me that it will take over a month for them to get the parts in for the recall. I believe this is too long and I really question jeep's (daimler/chrysler) priorities since they continue to send out new vehicles with the safe elements in them while allowing their previous customers to drive around in unsafe vehicles while waiting for new heating elements to ship.

Filed Aug 22, 2006 · Brakes · 11,000 miles · WA

Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at any speed, the brakes pulsated and there was an increased stopping distance. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the brake rotors were warped. The rotors were replaced but the pulsation returned. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the rotors needed to be replaced again. The manufacturer was alerted. The consumer stated the rotors were too small for the vehicle, which caused them to overheat and the warp. Updated

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Electrical · MD

Consumer concerned about design problem with potential wire harness failure and possible fire, 2004 jeep grand cherokee. *bf the problems involved misleading /incorrect marking on the 12 volt accessory power outlets. The outlets were marked as being able to handle 20 amps. After plugging in a radio which normally drew 7 amps, the consumer noticed the radio would not function in the transmit mode. When trying to transmit, the voltage at the rear vehicle's rear power outlet, it dropped down to about 8 volts. The consumer stated if an owner of this vehicle was to plug anything into the vehicle power outlets that drew more that 5 amps of current there was a good chance that overheating and burning the wires would occur.

Filed Jan 18, 2004 · NE

Bought a 2004 jeep "special addition" in june of 2003, the air conditioning button would not stay on. Took it to the shop, the part was back-ordered. It took several weeks (without air in our new jeep during the summer) for the part to come in and be replaced. This jeep pulls drastically to the right. Also, took this so called trail rated jeep across a foot 1/2 deep by five foot wide creek on our place (that we drive through on a weekly basis) a piece of ice broke the metal guard piece on the front of the jeep and the ice lodged up against the radiator in turn damaging the radiator, causing the engine to overheat. We were without our vehicle for 6 weeks because the entire engine had to be replaced. This is by far the worst experience we have ever had purchasing a new vehicle.