Problems · by component
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite engine, 2% of all 1,111 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
2% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.”
“The contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for the windshield replacement; however, after the repair was completed, the vehicle failed to start up. The vehicle was waiting to be towed to the local dealer. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE SENDING UNIT IN THE FUEL TANK WAS INOPERABLE. A VAPOR LOCK CAUSED THE VEHCILE TO NOT START-UP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“THE 2001 JEEP JUST CAME TO A STOP WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAD ALWAYS HAD ENGINE ISSUES. THE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE LAREDO IS BENT AND WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE STREET OR HIGHWAY IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND IS UNSTABLE WHEN DRIVING IT ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET. THE ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING SOUND WHENEVER IT IS RUNNING. THE BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLIPPING AND MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT. SOMETIMES THE JEEP DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE OVER 70 MPH WHEN DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY OR STREET. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES BECAUSE THEY STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR AS WELL WHERE THE RADIO DOESN'T PLAY AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS DON'T WORK. MY 2001 JEEP HAS STOPPED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT IS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUGS MANY TIMES FOR MANY YEARS. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIPPING WHENEVER THE CAR IS IN MOTION, COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE CARPET SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE…”
“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.”
“AS WITH MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THE 4.0 ENGINE (HUNDREDS THAT I HAVE SEEN) MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE'S CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. MINE WAS AT 117K MILES, AND THE AVERAGE MILEAGE FOR FAILURE SEEMS TO BE 100K - 120K MILES. THIS IS A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW. MY JEEP WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. I ASK NHTSA TO CONTACT CURRENT OWNERS OF JEEP 4.0 ENGINES TO REALLY SEE HOW OFTEN THIS FAULT OCCURS. CHRYSLER SEEMS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, WHICH IS WHY I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE.”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.