Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Owners filed 1,111 complaints about the 2001 Jeep Grand 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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
109
157
102
107
51
69
127
86
62
65
36
21
26
22
30
9
5
4
8
1
3
4
1
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 109 |
| 2002 | 157 |
| 2003 | 102 |
| 2004 | 107 |
| 2005 | 51 |
| 2006 | 69 |
| 2007 | 127 |
| 2008 | 86 |
| 2009 | 62 |
| 2010 | 65 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
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.
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”
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”
Seats
149 reports5 crashes9 fires1 related recall
“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”
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.”
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”
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?”
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.