Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Jeep Cherokee problems

Owners filed 1,111 complaints about the 2001 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA between Oct 2000 and Dec 2025. The most-cited component is visibility (253).

Complaints
1,111
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
105
Reported by owners
Fires
28
Reported by owners
Injuries
70
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility253
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic247
  3. Seats149
  4. Power train126
  5. Engine and engine cooling90
  6. Electrical system60
  7. Steering52
  8. Air bags47
  9. Equipment46
  10. Suspension44
  11. Vehicle speed control37
  12. Exterior lighting36
  13. Engine26
  14. Structure24

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
20004
2001109
2002157
2003102
2004107
200551
200669
2007127
200886
200962
201065
201136
201221
201326
201422
201530
20169
20175
20184
20198
20201
20213
20224
20231
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

Visibility

253 reports3 crashes1 fire
“ALL 4 DOOR WINDOW TRACKS AN OR MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED .THE DRIVERS DOOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ,THE OTHER 1 OR 2 TIMES .RIGHT NOW THE DRIVER DOOR WINDOW NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN AND THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2014Visibility, Visibility/wiperODI 10568547

Service brakes, hydraulic

247 reports10 crashes1 related recall
“THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR 'DEATH WOBBLE'. I HAVE HAD MY JEEP TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE MECHANICS DIDN'T BELIEVE ME OR JUST DIDN'T SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I SHOULD HAVE USED THE LA LEMON LAW STATUTES TO RETURN MY CAR BUT DIDN'T KNOW THAT BACK THEN. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD 45-70 MPH AND EITHER HITTING A BUMP OR GOING AROUND 70 MPH YOUR WHOLE FRONT END WILL "SHIMMY/SHAKE/WOBBLE" MAKING IT FEEL LIKE A GIANT EARTHQUAKE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THIS AS I FIND SEVERAL WEBSITES/FORUMS/CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. RIGHT WHEN IT SHAKES YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BELOW 40 MPH - SOMETIMES ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS FOR A COLLISION! IF YOU WANT JUST SEARCH FOR 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND YOU WILL SEE A WHOLE NEW WORLD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS TO HIT THE BRAKES. PARTS REPLACED HAVE BEEN BRAKE ROTORS/PADS, STEERING DAMPENER, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND TIRES. IT STILL DOES IT TO THIS DAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2011Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10408655

Seats

149 reports5 crashes9 fires
“The bolt broke on the driver's side seat. I had it replaced and I would like the car manufacture to reimburse me. Several Jeep owners have posted on this issue. For the 2001 Jeep front seat bolt recall, it is important to note that there is no specific recall for the front seat bolts. However, there have been complaints regarding the stability and safety of the front seats in the 2001 Jeep Cherokee. Complaints: Many owners have reported issues with the front seat frame breaking, causing the seat to become unstable or wobbly. 1 Safety Concerns: These issues have raised safety concerns, as they could lead to serious accidents if the seat is not secure. 1”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2025Seats, Unknown or otherODI 11705825

Power train

126 reports44 crashes2 fires
“THIS JEEP WILL RUN FINE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RED LIGHTS AND IDLE, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND NOT TURN ON AGAIN FOR ATLEAST 10 MINUTES. SPENT ABOUT 3,000 USD TO FIX AT MULTIPLE MECHANIC AND THE ISSUE REMAINS. WHY HAS JEEP NEVER TAKEN THE TIME TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AS IT CAN CAUSE THE LIVES OF MANY DRIVERS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2018Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11064632

Engine and engine cooling

90 reports1 crash7 fires
“HEAD LINER HAS FALLEN AND NOW IT IS BREAKING APART AND PARTICLES ARE FLYING ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY JEEP AND I AM ON OXYGEN AND NEED TO OPEN MY WINDOWS BECAUSE THE AIR ONLY WORKS SOME TIMES AND WHEN I USE IT THE CAR TEMP GET VERY HIGH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED TWICE EVEN REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT ONE POINT ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT I LOVE MY JEEP BUT I HATE TO SAY IT IF I HAVE TO REPLACE IT I DOUBT IF I WILL BUY JEEP OR DODGE AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10504247

Electrical system

60 reports2 crashes4 fires
“OVERHEAD DISPLAY CEASES TO WORK. ONLINE FORUMS HAVE POINTED TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. IF THE HARNESS IS FAULTY COULD IT CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2021Electrical systemODI 11399649
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.