1996 Jeep Cherokee Electrical Problems

Your Jeep is stalling while driving at highway speeds and then won't restart, forcing you to get towed multiple times. Even after replacing the engine computer (PCM) and crank position sensor twice, the problem returned — and your son discovered that wiggling the PCM connector makes the engine start again, suggesting a loose connection. This is a dangerous situation since your engine can shut off without warning while driving, making it hard to steer or control the vehicle in traffic.

Your vehicle is stalling unexpectedly in multiple situations—starting with hard stops or bumps, then progressing to random stalling whenever you brake or hit a pothole. When it stalls, you lose all engine power, steering assist, and acceleration control until you restart the vehicle. Most recently, it's been stalling intermittently during acceleration and deceleration at any speed with no clear pattern, though it sometimes restarts on its own. This could involve checking your fuel pump, ignition switch, or battery connections to restore reliable engine operation.

Your 1996 Jeep Cherokee stalled while driving at 40 MPH and wouldn't restart, with no warning lights appearing. A mechanic found a failed manifold and repaired it, but the vehicle still ran poorly. A second mechanic discovered that an aftermarket distributor and computer (both previously installed) had failed. The manufacturer won't cover the aftermarket parts since they didn't install them. You may need to replace the distributor and engine computer with either OEM parts or quality aftermarket replacements.

While driving at various speeds, your speedometer suddenly stopped working and your vehicle began to slow down without you taking any action. You took the vehicle to a dealer, but they couldn't figure out what was causing the problem, so it wasn't repaired. The issue happened at 120,000 miles.

WHILE LEAVING HOME FROM WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND FAIL. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AT A SPEED OF 40MPH SINCE I NOTICED THAT AT A HIGHER SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRY TO STALL. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS THRU CELL PHONE TO SHAKE A BIT THE CABLES TO COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND CABLES TO DISTRIBUTOR COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE TURNED ON BUT WITH PROBLEMS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE CHEROKEE WAS LEFT FOR TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED A FAULTY COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AT A CROSS ROAD AND TURNED OFF. A TRUCK NEARLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT ON TIME. THE MECHANIC HAD TO SHOW UP AT THE SITE AND HAD SOME PROBLEMS STARTING THE CHEROKEE. THE DIAGNOSTICS, ANOTHER BLOWN COMPUTER. THE MECHANIC ORDERED ANOTHER COMPUTER WITH UPGRADE (HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH) ORIGINAL CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS ADDED. ALL SEEMED TO WORK WELL UNTIL YESTERDAY OCT/2/2013 WHEN I WENT OUT FOR A RIDE WITH MY SON AND THE CHEROKEE STALLED AND TURNED OFF. THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1,000.00 TRYING TO GET MY JEEP CHEROKEE TO RUN PROPERLY AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT TO THE STREET. I HAVE A FAMILY OF 4 AND I WORRY THAT THE CHEROKEE WOULD FAIL ME BY STALLING AGAIN AT A CROSSROAD CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. ALL CABLES WERE CHECKED FOR SHORTS BUT NOTHING SOLVES THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RECALL SEARCH BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL ALTHOUGH SOME JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE USERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR THEIR 4.0L ENGINE (MY JEEP CHEROKEE IS ALSO 4.0L) COINCIDENCE? I LOVE MY CHEROKEE BUT FEEL THAT I CAN'T RELY ANYMORE ON IT AS FOR SAFETY. HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS WITHOUT PROBLEMS THE FIRST 5 YEARS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SO I PULLED OVER TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND REALIZED I WAS LEAKING OIL PROFUSELY. THEN I REALIZED THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE ENGINE CAUSING A LARGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE, CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES, AND THEN THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE MOTOR MOUNT TO BREAK, SO WHY WOULD IT BREAK FOR NO REASON? ANYWAYS, THE LEAKING OIL CAUSED A FIRE BENEATH MY VEHICLE, AND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BUT I QUICKLY PUT OUT THE FIRE BY A CONTAINER OF WATER I HAD IN MY VEHICLE. I HAD MY 13 YEAR OLD BROTHER WITH ME AND THANK GOD HE OR MYSELF WAS NOT INJURED. BUT IT CAUSED US GREAT FEAR AND STRESS. *TR

WITH TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS (WHICH IS TOO SMALL FOR THE AMPERAGE) IN THESE VEHICLES INVARIABLY HEATS UP AND MELTS OR BURNS. THE MELTING OF THE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR BEHIND THE BLOWER SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE DASH AND THE BURNING OF THE SWITCH ITSELF OCCURED IN MY VEHICLE, ALLONG WITH THE FAILURE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BUT IN MANY VEHICLES THE RESISTOR IS THE FIRST TO BURN AND FAIL. I HAVE LOOKED AT OVER 20 OF THESE VEHICLES RANGING FROM 1991 TO 1996, AND 30000 TO 220000 MILES, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE ONE THEM HAD THESE COMPONENTS MELTED AND BURNED TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING USABLE, AND MAKING ONE WONDER HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED ASSOCIATED WIRES BURNED OR MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. AN ASSOCIATED SYMPTOM IS THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR CEASES TO FUNCTION, OR (IN THE CASE OF RESISTOR FAILURE, WILL USUALLY WORK ONLY ON HIGH SPEED). THIS SHOWS A DEFECT THAT MAY TAKE TIME TO MANIFEST, BUT WILL ALWAYS OCCUR EVENTUALLY IN EVERY VEHICLE UNLESS THE BLOWER IS NEVER USED. THE BLOWER SWITCH TO RESISTOR WIRING HARNESS AND SWITCH CONNECTOR/PLUG ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABLE FROM DEALERS, BUT THE SWITCH ITSELF AND THE RESISTOR ARE AVAILABLE AS AFTERMARKET ITEMS. HOWEVER, IF REPLACED, THESE WILL FAIL TOO, UNLESS THE WIRING IN THIS CIRCUIT IS REPLACED WITH HEAVIER GUAGE WIRING OR SOMEHOW PROTECTED FROM HIGH AMPERAGE. AS EVIDENCED BY HUNDREDS OF RELATED COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET FORUMS, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRES, AND POTENTIALLY LOSS OF LIFE. LUCKILY MY FIRE WAS MINOR, DID LITTLE DAMAGE AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO RESOLVE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM PROPERLY, SINCE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL SOONER OR LATER DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AVAILABLE AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE NOT IMPROVED OVER THE ORIGINALS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED ON HIGH, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE SMOKE FROM EMITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,015.

I HAVE A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE HEATER STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE SO WE BOUGHT A NEW BLOWER MOTOR. THEN WE BOUGHT A NEW RESISTOR. WE STILL COULD NOT GET THE SPEEDS TO WORK IN THE HEATER. SO WE THEN BOUGHT A SWITCH. WELL WE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE SWITCH HARNESS WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. I CALLED THE PARTS STORE AND THEY DON'T CARRY THEM, SO I THEN CALLED A DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DON'T JUST SELL THAT HARNESS I HAD TO BUY THE ENTIRE ONE FOR EVERYTHING IN THE JEEP. THEN TOLD ME TO GO CUT ONE OUT OF A JUNK YARD. I CALLED MY LOCAL JUNK YARD AND THE GUY WENT AND CUT THREE HARNESSES OUT. ONE THAT WAS A 1996, ONE THAT WAS A 1995, AND BOTH OF THE ENDS WERE BURNT JUST LIKE MINE. HE THEN CUT ONE OUT OF AN EVEN OLDER ONE, AND THE WIRES WERE THICKER THAN THE ONES ON MINE, AND DIFFERENT COLORS. I TRIED HOOKING IT UP AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY SHOULD ALSO SELL INDIVIDUAL HARNESSES. *TR

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE I KEPT SMELLING BURNING PLASTIC. THE HEATER FAN QUIT AND WHEN I JIGGLED THE SWITCH IT STARTED TO OPERATE AT HIGH FAN ONLY AND WOULD NOT LET ME SET IT TO LOW. THEN IT QUIT WORKING AND I REMOVED THE SWITCH TO REPLACE IT. I FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF REPLACING THE SWITCH. I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN REPLACE THE MELTED PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH HAS 5 CONNECTIONS BUT ONLY 4 WIRES WERE CONNECTED TO IT. *TR

MY MOTHER-N-LAW PURCHASED A 1996 CHEROKEE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON . SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE EMISSION PLACE TO GET IT CHECKED AND IT FAILED THE TEST, SO SHE TOOK THE EMISSION PAPERS AND THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP , AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD TO HER , SO WHAT SHOULD SHE DO AT THIS POINT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I KEPT SMELLING MELTING PLASTIC. IT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE IT WENT OUT. I LOOKED TO SEE SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND IT AND NEVER DID. IT WOUND UP BEING THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS MELTING. I DECIDED TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE HARNESS AND SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT FROM LOOKING AT 8 DIFFERENT JEEP CHEROKEES RANGING FROM 1986 -1997 THEY ALL HAD THE HARNESS AND SWITCH MELTED IN THEM. I THEN REALIZED IT WAS MORE THAN JUST MY JEEP THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BEHIND THE 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE AT 60 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FLASHED THE LIGHTS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND BACKED AWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BURN, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN FIRE THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED VEHICLE. FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, PASSENGER SIDE. ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, AND BURNING SMELL WAS NOTED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DRIVER PULLING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER QUICK INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD, DRIVER WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE, AT WHICH POINT THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD BURST INTO FLAMES. *JB

1996 JEEP CHEROKE WHILE DRIVING WITH BLOWER ON (AIR) , STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND MELTING THE PLASTIC HOUSING. CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT HEAVY DUTY ENOUGH TO HANDLE BLOWER MOTOR CURRENT AND THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS BURNED AND MELTED. WIRES AND SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND 1 YEAR LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN CAUSING THE INTERIOR TO FILL WITH SMOKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN UP AGAIN. A MECHANIC AT A DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT JEEP MODEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CHRYSLER VAN USED THE SAME SWITCH AND HARNESS AND THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THEM BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT THE JEEP CHEROKEE !!

THE VEHICLE IGNITED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. FIRE INVESTIGATION PINPOINTED START IN THE MAIN HOUSING OF THE ELECTRICAL, IN THE FIREWALL.

THE SWITCH AND HARNESS MELTED FROM HEAT OF THE SWITCH AND BURNED THE PEICE APART.*AK

A FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAME AND EXPLODED WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF HOME. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. ALSO, FIRE DEPARTMENT BELIEVED FIRE WAS DUE TO AN UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GEAR WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE CARPARTMENT AREA. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUER WAS WAITING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, A FIRE IGNITED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ADJUSTER AND FIRE COMPANY BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS STARTED AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER, CONSUMER ASKED DEALER ABOUT THE RECALL (95V193) THAT DEALT WITH THIS COMPONENT AND WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, AFTER THE FIRE THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BATTERY REPLACED. *MJS

HAD PARKED VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT CALLED & EXTINGUISHED FLAMES. HAD INDICATED IT WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. [XXX] *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT ELECTRCAL PROBLEMS,THEN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING WITH A BURNING WIRES SMELLING. *AK

AN ELECTRICAL INADEQUACY IN THE FAN MOTOR WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSED WIRING TO MELT. *AK

THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS DRIVER HAS NO INDICATION OF THE FEUL LEVEL AND HAS NO TURN SIGNALS . THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . *AK

OWNER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM IGNITON AREA. NOTES CIRCUITS MAY BE OVERLOADING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FOUR ELECTRICAL FAILURES.

BATTERY RUNNING LOW BRACKET BROKE IN HALF, NO REASON FOR FAILURE.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.

COMPUTER FAILED.

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT DUE TO A SHORT IN THE FUSE SYSTEM. *AK

IGNITION KEY STICKS.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITH NOT WARNING THE CAR DIES. PLEASE EXPLAIN. *AK

THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT FUSE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER HAD AN IMPROPER CLAMP LOAD, CAUSING A FIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT, DOOR LOCKS AND ALSO INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. *AK

PDC FUSE W/ FUSE LINK RECALL REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE, HOWEVER DEALER NOT ABLE TO GET PART.

REFUSED REPAIRS FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON ALTERNATOR. *DSH