Problems · by component

1999 Jeep Cherokee electrical system problems

105 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Jeep Cherokee cite electrical system, 5% of all 2,004 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
105
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“LATELY I BEEN HAVING TROUBLE STARTIMG THE JEEP. AT FIRST IT SEEMS AS IF THE BATTERY IS LOW. SOUNDS LIKE IT WONT START BUT THEN IT SLOWLY PICKS UP AND STARTS IF I PRESS THE GAS. I CHANGED BATTERY BUT STILL HAVING TROUBLE. BUT ONCE ITS ON AND RUNNING IT SEEMS FINE. I ALSO HAVE A STEERING PROBLEM. TRUCK SEEMS TO PULL TO THE LEFT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2020Steering, Electrical system, WheelsODI 11322265
“"TAKATA RECALL" TO BE TRUTHFULLY HONEST NOTHING ABOUT THIS JEEP IS SAFE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD PUT IN A RECALL FOR THIS JEEP BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO OLD AND TOO LATE ANYWAY SENSORS ARE HORRIBLE NO TURNING SIGNALS , MY BELT ASSEMBLY BREAKS A PART WHILE DRIVING RADIATOR GETS REALLY HOT TO THE POINT OF SMOKING EVEN WHEN MY COOLANT IS FULL I HAVE SUN ROOF PROBLEMS BECAUSE WATER LEAKS THROUGH IT AND FLOODS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN MY SUSPENSION IS IN GREAT NEED OF HELP IT DOESN'T EVEN BOUNCE , ALOT OF SAFETY PROBLEMS BUT LIKE I SAID DIDN'T KNOW I COULD FOR FILE FOR A RECALL SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS CAN GET RECALLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 5, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11218014
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Interior lightingFire reportedODI 10933706
“MY COMPLAINT INVOLVING MY VEHICLE AND ITS NOW DEFECTED PARTS OR UNSAFE STATUS TO OPERATE IS DUE TO MECHANICAL WORKMANSHIP. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO. NEVER HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT AND MAINTAINED IT WELL AND REGULAR TUNE-UPS. I INVESTED IN BUYING ALL PARTS NEEDED AS TIME WELL WARE AND TARE. IM NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH AUTO PARTS OR WORK BUT AS IM PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO "NEW PARTS" MY CAR SEEMS TO SLOWLY CONTINUE TO FAIL. ALL I KNOW IS I RELIED ON CERTAIN MECHANICS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF MY CAR. I HAD A OPERABLE VEHICLE UNTIL I DROVE INTO THIS AUTO SHOP AND LEFT HAVING TO TOW IT OUT. I SIMPLY ASKED TO CHANGE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTERS, AND IGNITION SWITCH (ELECTRICAL PART). IM TOLD TO PURCHASE OTHER PARTS THAT INCLUDE SCREWS, STEERING COLUMN, AND KEY LOCKSMITH/ FEES. NOTHING GOT RESOLVED AND ELECTRICAL EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING. JEEPS FRONT DRIVER TIRE STAYS ON A FLAT AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN FIX THIS. THE MECHANIC SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FINALLY SEEMED TO HAVE IT FIGURED OUT. $50 WAS THE PRICE I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE LEFT WITH. AFTER RUNNING TEST AND DIAGNOSTICS, PRICES CHANGED AND MORE WORK WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2016Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10904686
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STARTED BLINKING. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,499.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2016Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10851956
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE ONCE IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2015Electrical systemODI 10806149

Showing 6 of 105 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.