1996 Jeep Cherokee Body & Structure Problems

Your driver's side door upper hinge has rusted and separated from the body where it was welded, leaving only the lower hinge holding the door in place. This creates an unsafe condition where your door could fall or become unstable. The fix will likely involve replacing the rusted hinge and re-welding it securely to the body, or potentially replacing the entire door assembly.

Your Jeep has severe rust throughout the body and frame, with rust holes in the roof corners that are allowing water to enter the vehicle. Multiple components have failed and cracked due to rust, and the passenger side of the frame is at risk of breaking under continued driving. Rust has also damaged the fuel tank mounting brackets, which created a hole in the fuel tank itself. Addressing this will likely require extensive rust removal, structural repair or replacement of rusted components, and fuel system inspection.

You own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and tried to get a recall repair done under NHTSA campaign 13V252000 (a fuel system and structure issue), but the dealership told you the repair parts weren't available. You feel the manufacturer should have had parts ready sooner since the problem was reported in June 2013, and by April 2014 they should have completed repairs. You haven't personally experienced a failure yet.

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO DROP THREE INCHES. WAS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. IT IS A 2-DOOR VEHICLE WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE ENGINE MOUNT STUDS SHEARED OFF BETWEEN THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP CURED THE ISSUE. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE ON THE BAY BRIDGE BETWEEN OAKLAND, CA AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA. THE SECOND EVENT TOOK PLACE ON A BUSY STREET IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. I DROVE OVER AN AREA THAT LOOKED LIKE THE CITY HAD DONE SOME STREET WORK AND HAD FILLED THE AREA BACK IN WITH ASPHALT. THE DIVET FROM THIS WORK WAS INSIGNIFICANT AND CREATED A FEW INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD STREET CONCRETE AND THE NEW ASPHALT FILL AND THERE WAS NO EDGES. THE REPAIR WORK WAS CURVED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. THE BOLTS SHEERED OFF ON THE RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS VEHICLE IS HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE SHIFT CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 3RD - 5TH GEAR AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE IS STOCK AND NO AFTERMARKET ADD-ONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OR INFERIOR PARTS WERE USED. *TR

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT A WATER LEAK IN MY 96 CHEROKEE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM STARTED 1 YEAR AGO AND I HAVE SPENT A OVER $900 TO HAVE IT FIXED BY THE DEALER (ANTWERPEN, BALTIMORE, MD 21228). SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE IN ONE YEAR, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT AND THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT AND FIX IT. IT GOES BACK TO ANTWERPEN ON 4/5 FOR ANOTHER GO AROUND. I CONCEPT IS THEY ARE STALING AND WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY ON THE 1ST REPAIR TO RUN OUT, BUT SORRY THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, EVEN IT I HAVE TO TAKE IT THERE WEEKLY UNTIL SOMEBODY FIXES IT PROPERLY. *JB

IN 2003 I EXPERIENCE LEAKING WATER FROM UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE IN POURING RAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND FIXED FOR $766. NOW IN MARCH 2004, JUST BEFORE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE FIRST FIX RUNS OUT THE LEAK IS BACK. VEHICLE WENT TO DEALER, THEY SAY IT IS NOW LEAKING SOME WHERE ELSE (AROUND THE DRIVER'S DOOR,DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY I AM GETTING WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) FIX GASKETS FOR $220. WAITING FOR NEXT LEAK, WHICH I AM WILL COME. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX THE SECOND LEAK UNDER THE FIRST WARRANTY.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD WATER LEAKAGE FROM UNDER THE DASH ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR SOAKING EVERYTHING. THE OCCURENCE WAS 5/2/03, PROBLEM FIXED AT DEALER (ANTWERPEN, BALTIMORE) FOR $766. NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING. I AM DUE TO TAKE IIT IN NEXT WEEK, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO BET THE PROBLEM WILL BE DIAGNOISED AS LEAKING IN A DIFFERENT PLACE SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO HONOR THE ORGINIAL REPAIR WARRANTY. THIS IS ALMOST A GIVEN. FIRST OF ALL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT ALL. THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS MADE. I HAVE ALSO READ SEVERAL COMPLIANTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND JEEP/CHRYSLER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT CALL THIS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ALL EXPECIALLY WHEN IT IS THE SECOND TIME AROUND. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AND WITH NO WARNING HOOD FLEW OPEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO DROP THREE INCHES. *AK

DOOR HINGE HAS REPEATEDLY BROKEN AWAY FROM FRAME AT TACK WELD MAKING USE OF DRIVER'S DOOR IMPOSSIBLE.*AK

THE VEHICLES DOOR HINGES SEPARATED FROM THE WELDS. *NLM

DRIVER DOOR HINGES ARE WEARING OUT. IT IS HARD FOR DOOR TO STAY CLOSED/ CAN OPEN DOOR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE IS WEARING OUT, AND IT IS HARD TO SHUT DOOR. DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

HINGES ON DRIVER'S DOOR ARE RUSTED, TOP HINGE IS BROKEN.*AK

THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE ADJUSTMENT SLIDE. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO TILT BACK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE METAL IS TORN FROM AROUND THE BOLT. THE BOLT IS STILL INTACT. THE UPPER LEFT DOOR HINGE IS ALSO COMING LOOSE FROM THE BODY. THE WELD THAT SECURES THE HINGE TO THE BODY IS FAILING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER (NOT THE ONE WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. THE FELLOW AT THE BODY SHOP INFORMED ME HE HAS SEEN QUITE A FEW DOOR HINGE FAILURES. HE EVEN HAD A CHEROKEE IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID THE SEAT FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON. I FEEL THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE PART OF THE COST OF REPAIR, IF NOT FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. THE SEAT IN PARTICULAR IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THE OTHER SIDE BREAKS, I'LL BE LAYING DOWN TRYING TO DRIVE!*AK

DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD TAKE PHOTO AND REFER TO OEM, CONTACTED LOCAL GARAGE PER DEALERSHIP REFERENCE TO REPAIR AND GARAGE SAID THEY HAVE FIX 3-4 OF THIS TYPE FAILURE. THE DOOR WOULD FALL OFF IF NOT FIXED.*AK

TOP HINGE ON DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE, DOOR WAS HANGING BY BOTTOM HINGE.*AK

WHILE CLOSING DOOR NOTICED THAT DOOR WAS UNATTACHED FROM FRAME OR BODY OF VEHICLE, CAUSING DOOR TO HANG OFF, UNABLE TO CLOSE. *AK HINGE BECAME LOOSE WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE AND SOON BECAME COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE FRAME, CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY LIFT DOOR INTO LATCH AND LOCK IT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, CHRYSLER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR SHOPS THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *SLC

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TOP HINGE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. SPOT WELD CAME APART, AND ONLY THING THAT HELD DOOR WERE THE SCREWS. BUT BOTTOM HINGE KEPT DOOR UP. DEFECT MAY HAVE CAUSED ENTIRE DOOR TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

THE TOP HINGE WELD BROKE AWAY FROM DOOR FRAME!*AK

CONSUMER'S DOOR PANELS ON ALL 4 DOORS ARE PEELING. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER FINANCIALLY. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $500.*AK

THE TACK WELD THAT HOLDS THE HINGE SIDE OF THE DOOR TO FRAME OF THE JEEP, OVER TIME BECAME LOOSER AND LOOSER. I REALIZED THE DOOR DIDN'T SEEM TO FIT AS TIGHTLY, BUT I DIDN'T APPRECIATE HOW MUCH IT CORRODED UNTIL IT COLLAPSED, TOTALLY SEPARATING THAT SECTION FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE COVERED HINGE IS STILL HOLDING THE DOOR IN PLACE, BUT WITHOUT THE UNCOVERED HINGE BRACING THE DOOR, THE DOOR CLOSES, BUT DURING DRIVING-GUSTS OF WIND CAN SEPARATE THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAMING THE WINDOW FROM THE CAR. *AK

HEATER BOX BOLTS AT THE FIREWALL HAD STRIPPED AND REQUIRED RETHREADING. *MJS

IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE DOOR HINGES WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, NOW THE PIN WITHIN THE DOOR HAS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE HINGE. *SLC

DRIVER'S DOOR HINGES WHICH WERE WELDED TO FRAME BROKE OFF, CAUSING DOOR TO FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR WAS COMING OFF FROM BROKEN WELD. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

PANELS ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR KEPT COMING APART. EACH TIME DOOR WAS OPENED THE PANELS CAME DOWN, CAUSING THE FOAM TO BE EXPOSED. CHILD PULLED FOAM OUT & STUFFED IT IN HIS MOUTH. FRONT PANELS ON THE DOORS WERE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, REAR DOORS PANELS ARE CURRENTLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE FRONT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE DONE, BUT KNEW OF PROBLEM. *AK

RAIN WATER LEAKS IN UNDER DASH ON DRIVER'S SIDE SOAKING FLOORBOARD. FEET BECOME WET MAKING BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS SLIPPERY. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX TWO TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DEALER AND CHRYSLER CORP. REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM NOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE LEAK IS MOST SEVERE WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED DURING HEAVY RAIN. *AK

LEFT AND RIGHT DOOR ARM REST BRACKETS NEED TO BE METAL RATHER THAN PLASTIC INORDER TO STAND PRESSURE. YH

DEFECTIVE PAINT. PAINT HAS "SPYDER" CRACKS ON 100% OF THE ENGINE HOOD AND ON 25% OF THE REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE. THESE CRACKS HAVE INCREASED IN NUMBER AND SIZE SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE.

WATER LEAKING IN BY THE BACK TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE AND ALSO IN THE FRONT FLOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE

VEHICLE LEAKS.

THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS TO THE REAR DOOR BROKE AND THE DOOR COLLAPSED ON THE NANEY'S BACK, CAUSING INJURY TO HER BACK. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

REAR HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FAILED INJURING CONSUMER. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

FLOOR BOARDS FLOOD.

TAILGATE LIFTS FAILED.

PROBLEM WITH INTERIOR DOOR PANEL.

CARGO DOOR INOPERATIVE.

DOOR SEALS FAILED.

TAILGATE DOOR HAS INCREASED TENSION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE.