2001 Jeep Cherokee Body & Structure Problems

Your 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee was included in a safety recall (N47) due to a structural defect in the rear of the vehicle that could potentially cause failure or fire if hit from behind. The manufacturer's fix requires adding a reinforcing hitch to the rear. However, when you took your vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair, they refused service and said your vehicle didn't qualify — and they maintained this position on a second visit.

Your fuel tank has developed rust and corrosion, and the undercarriage is also corroded with pieces falling off. You suspect the fuel tank cover may have come loose or fallen off and gotten wet. This issue wasn't diagnosed or repaired, and neither the dealer nor manufacturer were notified about it.

CPSC: PURCHASED A SET OF THE ABOVE PISTONS TO REPLACE PISTONS ON A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE FIRST SET FAILED ON THE SECOND OPENING CAUSING MINOR VEHICLE DAMAGE TO THE LIFT GATE. THE LOCKING CLIP DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO HOLD ONTO THE PROVIDED BRACKET. *DT *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS BELOW THE BUMPER. THE DEALER RIVERHEAD DODGE (LOCATED AT 642 W MAIN ST, RIVERHEAD, NY 11901; (631) 727-1040) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 866-814-1480 AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR AN INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POLE HEAD ON. RADIATOR BROKEN COMPLETELY, ENGINE AS BEEN PUSHED UP ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD, HEADLIGHT FLEW OFF TIRES POPPED, YET AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. AS A RESULT I SUFFER FROM CHEST AND RIB BRUISING FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL.

DRIVER'S SEAT LH SEAT BASE FRAME CRACKED THROUGH AND BROKE OFF. SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF JEEP MODELS. DRIVERS SEAT BECAME A "ROCKING CHAIR" WITH POTENTIAL TO BE THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH OR LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE IF SEAT COMPLETELY COMES OFF THE FRAME. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED ALREADY WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IMPACTED? *JS

OPENED REAR TAILGATE TO PUT IN GROCERIES AND THE TAIL GATE CAME DOWN AND STRUCK THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND CAUSED A LARGE BUMP AND BLEEDING I DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME AND ABRUPTLY EXTENDED TO THE BACK SEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

MY HOOD PAINT CRACKED ALL OVER THE HOOD. THIS NOT FROM CHIPS BUT LOOKS LIKE SMALL CRACKS ALL THROUGH THE HOOD PAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE WINDOW PORTION OF THE LIFT GATE, THE WINDOW SLAMMED DOWN ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. SHE LIFTED UP THE WINDOW A SECOND TIME AND IT SLAMMED DOWN ON HER HEAD AGAIN. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TWO WINDOW HINGES WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT WAIVE THE CONTACT'S DEDUCTIBLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,407.

THE SUVS RESISTOR-BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH IS PART OF THE A/C, HEATER AND BLOWER SYSTEM, FAILED. LITHIA JEEP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE UNIT, INDICATED ITS PLACEMENT IS TOO CLOSE TO A MAJOR HEAT SOURCE IN THE CAR; THE EXCESSIVE HEAT HAS CAUSED THE UNIT TO FAIL EARLY. THE SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT WHILE THE UNIT FAILED BEFORE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS NEW WHEN PURCHASED, THE MILES WERE BEYOND THE WARRANTY LEVEL. THE REPRESENTATIVE FURTHER INDICATED THAT JEEP HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE PART AND/OR LOCATION, PREVENTING THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING IN LATER MODEL VEHICLES. *AK

WE HAVE A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4WD. ABOVE EACH PASSENGER DOOR THERE IS A HANDLE TO HOLD ON TO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE CALLED BUT I USE IT TO HANG ON WHEN WE GO AROUND A CORNER, ETC. IN JUNE WE WERE JUST LEAVING THE CLEANERS. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I REACHED UP FOR THE HANDLE AS HE WAS BACKING OUT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN SOMETHING HIT MY NOSE RIGHT UNDER MY EYE. IT REALLY SMARTED AND LEFT A RED WELT. I ASKED HIM TO RE-PARK THE CAR AND WE LOOKED FOR WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD HAPPENED. WE FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF STEEL ON THE SEAT. WE THEN LOOKED OVER THIS SAFETY HANDLE AND REALIZED THAT THE SPRING THAT HOLDS THE HANDLE HAD BROKEN AND HIT MY FACE. I DID NOT BLEED AND THE RED MARK WAS GONE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT NEARLY HIT MY EYE. WHEN WE ASK THE DEALER TO REPLACE IT WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD COST $79. WAS THIS A FREAK FAILURE OR HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHERS? IF I HAD BEEN AN INCH SHORTER I COULD HAVE LOST AN EYE. WE FELT THAT THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE PART AND WERE SHOCKED THAT THEY WANTED US TO PAY FOR IT. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET SO THE PART IS AVAILABLE. *LA

VEHICLE IS BLOWN OUT OF ITS LANE WHEN IT IS MODERATELY WINDY. DEALER NOTIFED. *AK *YD

UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOOR THE CONSUMER USES THE POWER LOCKS TO LOCK THE DOORS, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR DRIVE, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY BY SIMPLY PULLING ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NLM

DESIGN OF CENTER CONSOLE W/SHIFT LEVERS RESTRICTS DRIVER'S RIGHT ARM MOVEMENT FOR TALLER DRIVERS, SHIFT LEVER TOO LARGE IN FRONT OF ASH TRAY, POTENTIAL CAUSE FOR ACCIDENT. *CJ