Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Jeep Cherokee problems

Owners filed 1,829 complaints about the 2000 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA between Sep 1999 and Dec 2025. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (522).

Complaints
1,829
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
136
Reported by owners
Fires
58
Reported by owners
Injuries
117
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic522
  2. Engine and engine cooling230
  3. Seats202
  4. Power train185
  5. Electrical system156
  6. Visibility129
  7. Latches/locks/linkages88
  8. Air bags86
  9. Exterior lighting80
  10. Steering70
  11. Suspension64
  12. Vehicle speed control63
  13. Fuel system, gasoline61
  14. Engine46

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19992
200091
2001288
2002256
2003159
2004151
200577
2006109
2007118
2008121
200985
2010109
201154
201230
201327
201431
201549
201623
201714
201813
201910
20204
20213
20223
20230
20240
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

522 reports14 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“ALL 1999-2002 GRAND CHEROKEE WJ MODELS BUILT THROUGH MAY 10, 2002 CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE CALIPERS MADE BY TEVES. THEY ARE BLACK IN COLOR WITH AN OPEN-SIDED BRACKET DESIGN. DUE TO POOR CALIPER CENTERING, THE TEVES CALIPERS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP, A PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED GRAND CHEROKEES. AT THE VERY END OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, JEEP CHANGED TO "FULLY-CLOSED" STYLE CALIPERS DESIGNED BY AKEBONO. TO ADDRESS THE WARPED ROTOR PROBLEM JEEP ISSUED A TSB, #05-003-02. WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL DO TO THE MAJOR WHEEL SHAKE TO THE POINT OF THE DRIVER ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF THE SUV DO TO THIS VIBRATION. JEEP HAS LONG KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE & WAS SUED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH THEY SETTLED THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE ROTOR THICKNESS VARIATION GENERATED BY POOR CALIPER CENTERING. THIS CAUSES STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. GRAND CHEROKEE BRAKES UP THROUGH MAY 10TH 2002 WERE DESIGNED BY TEVES. SAME BRAKES USED ON BMW & FORD EXPEDITION BUT THE GRAND CHEROKEE WAS THE FIRST TO USE A TWIN PISTON CALIPER DESIGN. CHRYSLER WANTED TWIN PISTONS BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CALIPER SPRING CAUSES THE INBOARD PAD TO DRAG. IT TAKES A LOT OF HEAT (CHERRY RED) TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10359010

Engine and engine cooling

230 reports17 fires
“HAVE BEEN NOTICING VIBRATION OF THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN WHEN A/C TURNED ON. WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE, HEARD POP NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PULLED INTO DRIVE, OPENED HOOD AND FOUND THAT RADIATOR FAN HAD DISINTEGRATED, PIERCING RADIATOR SHROUD AND RADIATOR. HOLES IN RADIATOR (RADIATOR NOW LEAKING) AND SHROUD. CALLED CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER AND TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL 06V199000. AM REPLACING ALL AFFECTED PARTS AND PERFORMING SERVICE MYSELF. BASED ON ONLINE RESEARCH THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, EngineODI 10535846

Seats

202 reports7 crashes2 fires
“Drivers front seat has come loose from the bottom and is now wobbly, uncomfortable to sit on it and appears dangerous to drive as its not secure. There are lots of complaints about this happening to others on the internet.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2022SeatsODI 11488629

Power train

185 reports49 crashes3 fires
“ANTI-THEFT IS KEEPING THE JEEP FROM WORKING. THE VEHICLE STARTS AND DIES AFTER 2-3 SECONDS. I HAVE GOOGLED IT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE LITERALLY TONS OF PEOPLE ON YOU TUBE/FACEBOOK (EVEN SOME LICENSED MECHANICS) COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2019Power trainODI 11229957

Electrical system

156 reports5 crashes24 fires
“After sending my Jeep Grand Cherokee to Pugh’s Service Center in Greenville, NC, in December 2018, because it would turnover, but not start. They replaced the ECM, but had to be taken to the local Jeep dealership for an OE ECM replacement and a crankshaft sensor, in order to get it to crank. Upon getting my Jeep back in March 2019, it ran fine for a few days. Then I went to start it, and it started, but after a few seconds, all of the GAUGES stopped working and all of the WARNING LIGHTS came on. I contacted both Pugh’s and the Jeep dealership, telling me I should just bring it in, to run more diagnostics. The Jeep only has 94,000 miles, and I spent about what the vehicle was worth upon getting it back in March 2019; so I’ve been hesitant on taking it back. There are many other people who have similar issues with the instrument panel gauges and warning lights, from the information I’ve researched online; with no indications of the problem being resolved.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2022Electrical system, EngineODI 11474598

Visibility

129 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK WITH THE KEY AND ALL OTHER DOORS WOULD UNLOCK MANUALLY ONCE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2015Electrical system, Visibility, StructureODI 10702949
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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