2000 Jeep Cherokee service brakes, hydraulic problems

“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…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE AIR, THE BRAKES BECAME RESISTANT AND JOLTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP; HOWEVER, SHE FELT THAT SHE WOULD HIT THE WINDSHIELD IF SHE DID NOT HAVE A SEAT BELT ON. SHE NOTICED THE FAILURE EVERY TIME THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.”

“2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OUT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN. BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. BRAKE LIGHTS WORK FINE WHEN HEADLIGHTS OFF. PROBLEM DESIGN IS IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE LIGHT SOCKET FOR THE TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT IN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, YOU WILL SEE 3 SILVER CONTACT POINTS INSIDE THE BLACK PLASTIC RING. TWO ARE GROUPED TOGETHER AND THERE IS ONE THAT IS OPPOSITE OF THE TWO. THE ONE BY ITSELF IS THE GROUND; THE OTHER TWO ARE THE CONTACTS FOR THE TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE GROUND CONNECTOR. YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THE GROUND CONTACT IS DEPRESSED INTO THE PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC ITSELF IS SLIGHTLY WARPED DOWN. MOST CARS HAVE LIGHT SOCKETS WITH THEIR WIRING ATTACHED. THE SOCKET TWISTS INTO THE LAMP ASSEMBLY. ON THE GRAND CHEROKEE, THE SOCKET DOES NOT HAVE THE WIRING ATTACHED. INSTEAD, THE WIRING GOES INTO THE LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THE SOCKET HAS THREE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT, WHEN TWISTED INTO THE ASSEMBLY, WILL MAKE THE CONTACT. WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST FREQUENT MALFUNCTION IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS (WHICH MAKE CONTACT WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTRICAL PATHS WHEN THEY ARE…”

“MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE 4.0 LITER 6 CYLINDER ENGINE STARTED USING COOLANT AND CAUSING THE COOLANT LIGHT TO ALARM. THE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO "0" AND SOUND THE CHECK GAUGES ALARM. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC SHOP FOR COSTLY REPAIRS AND TROUBLESHOOTING. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAKS, AND REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND REAR MAIN SEAL. THEY CHECKED THE BEARING CLEARANCES AND FOUND THEM WITHIN TOLERANCE. THE CAR IS STILL USING ONE TO TWO PINTS OF COOLANT EVERY THREE DAYS AND THE OIL CONTINUES TO DROP TO "0" AFTER WARM-UP. WE REPLACE THE 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY TWO YEARS. THE HOOD GAS SHOCKS WON'T HOLD THE HOOD UP AND THE SHOCKS COST $150 A PAIR FORM THE DEALER AND ONLY LAST ONE YEAR. WE TO HAVE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS THAT SCREECH AND DON'T LOCK THE DOORS AS WELL AS REAR LIGHT PROBLEMS THAT WORK OFF AND ON. THE EMISSIONS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL ON OUR RECENT SMOG TEST. THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT THE #3 AND 4 CYLINDER IS USING THE MYSTERIOUS ANTIFREEZE LOSS. AS A RETIRED MECHANICAL ENGINEER I ALSO BELIEVE THE OIL PROBLEM TO BE RELATED. MY WIFE HAS THE GRAND…”

“BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES STOPPED WORKING AND WAS CITED BY A POLICE OFFICER. REPLACEMENT WAS ~$500. REAR LIFT GATE LOCK ACTUATOR IS BROKEN, SO CANNOT OPEN LIFT GATE. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK WILL NOT ALLOW OPENING FROM INSIDE. SHIFT SENSOR/SOLENOID HAS GONE BAD TWICE LEADING TO PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING FROM GEARS (REVS REALLY HIGH BEFORE SHIFTING). ROTORS ARE CONSTANTLY BECOMING WARPED AND BRAKES HAVE TO BE READJUSTED. LEFT BLINKER NO LONGER WORKS AND TO FIX IT, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ENTIRE ENGINE BLOCK FOR ABOUT $800. POWER WINDOW LOCK NO LONGER WORKS. OTHER THAN THAT, CAR RUNS GREAT :). *TR”

“MY CAR HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX, THEN I FIND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS DUE TO THE AUTOMAKER'S PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS ON RECALLS FOR THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING. I RECEIVED NO NOTICES ON ANY RECALL, AND WHEN I GOT ON THE WEB-SITE TO CHECK FOR RECALLS THERE ARE AS MANY AS 10 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR AND JEEP. SOME COULD CAUSE ME TO CRASH OR EVEN EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING. WHERE ARE MY RECALL NOTICES? *TR”