1995 JEEP CHEROKEE Electrical System Problems

DEAR SIRS, I HAVE DISCOVERED A VERY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL HAZARD THAT IS OCCURRING ON ALL THE 1990'S JEEP CHEROKEE SE MODELS. ON THE 4.0 LITER 242 CUBIC INCH MODELS, THE DASHBOARD SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE AIRFLOW AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF USE SHORTS OUT MELTING AND CAUSING A SEVERE DANGER PROBLEM. WHEN THIS BROWN PLUG MELTS IT ALSO SHORTS OUT THE 30 AMP FUSE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THIS AREA. AFTER INVESTIGATING SEVERAL OF THESE SAME MODELS IT IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS? THE NEXT EMAIL WILL SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF TWO DIFFERENT 1990'S JEEP CHEROKEE'S WITH SEVERAL PICS AND BOTH VEHICLE'S V.I.N.# INFORMATION. MY 1995 JEEP WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW BY MY LATE FATHER AND AFTER 23 YEARS OF USE IT ONLY HAS 113K ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS JEEP REMAINS A STRONG GARAGE KEPT O.E.M. MATCHING NUMBERS #3 CAR NOT A #1 CONCOURS. I AM AFRAID IF I USE THE SWITCH SOONER OR LATER IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS FLAW DESIGN. I HAVE EVERY MAINTENANCE RECEIPT INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL SALES STICKER AND ALL DOCUMENTS FROM ITS BIRTH IN 1995. THE VEHICLE SINCE BIRTH HAS HAD ZERO MODIFICATIONS DONE TO IT AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN IT'S ORIGINAL CONDITION JUST AS IT ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN 1995. ON JUNE 10, 2018 AT 9.15 PM E.S.T. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER CARE JEEP REP AT 877-426-5337 WHO DID ISSUE A CASE # FOR THIS OF 345-103-88. SHE DID ADVISE IT WILL BE SENT UP THRU THE COMPANY'S CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION. I AM HOPING JEEP USA WILL TAKE NOTE OF THIS AND FOLLOW UP AS I DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE MY JEEP THAT IS AND HAS BEEN A KEEPSAKE SACRED FAMILY HEIRLOOM THAT MUST BE PASSED ON. I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY HAD SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS DESIGN FLAW. *JS

Mileage: 20,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

I HAVE A 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHEN REPLACING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL LIGHT, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. I PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BY OBTAINING A CONNECTERS FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN SEVERAL CONNECTORS, HOWEVER THESE CONNECTORS WERE ALSO BURNT AND MELTED. I AM CURIOUS IF WHETHER A DEFECT COMPLAINT HAS EVER BEEN LOGGED CONCERNING THE A/C, HEATER BLOWER SWITCH OR THE CONNECTOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION THREE TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS FIXED. *SC

Mileage: 74,000

RECENTLY, WHILE ON I-75 N IN ATLANTA, GA A VEHICLE SWERVED IN FRONT OF ME. I VEERED TO AVOID IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS SEATBEAT BUCKLE ON MY VEHICLE BECAME DISLODGED AND HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS DATE.*AK

Mileage: 162,000

RECENTLY, WHILE ON I-75 N IN ATLANTA, GA A VEHICLE SWERVED IN FRONT OF ME. I VEERED TO AVOID IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS SEATBEAT BUCKLE ON MY VEHICLE BECAME DISLODGED AND HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS DATE.*AK

Mileage: 162,000

CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP AND DASHBOARD BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE WIRING IN THE DASHBOARD MELTED, AND DAMAGED THE HEATING SYSTEM. *AK

WIRING SHORT BETWEEN POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER & FUSE BOX. TURN ON HEADLIGHTS & NO DASH LIGHTS,NO TAIL LIGHTS,NO DOOR BUZZER,NO TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHTS & NO PARKING LIGHTS.*AK

Mileage: 125,200

IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER STATED DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAD AN OPEN INVESTIGATION #11700403.*AK

ON 9/30/03 WIRING TERMINATIONS AT IGNITION SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED. EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS ARCING AND DEFORMATION OF WIRING, CONNECTOR, AND PLASTIC COVER OVER STEERING COLUMN WERE PRESENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING AS THEY HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE AND HAVE PRESCRIBED A FIX FOR THE SITUATION THAT DEVIATES FROM REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEY THERE MUST BE QUITE A FEW CHEROKEES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I MY SELF HAVE NOTICED QUITE A FEW BURNT UP INTERIORS AT LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS WHERE I DO BUSINESS MY SELF. IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOME ONE DIES IN A FIRE CAUSED BY ELECTIRAL WIRING INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD BE GIVEN. I HAVE CONTACED DCX AND THEY GAVE ME CLAIM NUMNBER 11700403 FOR MY COMPLAINT WITHIN THERE ORGANIZATION

Mileage: 150,000

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ADJUSTED UP OR DOWN, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT.*JB

STEERING COLUMN WILL SMOKE PERIODICALLY. WIRE AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE BURNED WITH SOME WIRES MELTING TOGETHER. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH FAILURE OF COLUMN SMOKING AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH STARTED TO SMELL PLASTIC BURNING, CONSUMER PULLED OVER, CUT CAR OFF TO LOOK AROUND, THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE VEHICLE DIED, THERE WAS NO POWER. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES HAD BURNED UP.*SLC

ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CREATE A SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRES BEING CINKED/CINCHED/PINCHED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ALSO CAUSES TURN SIGNALS TO COME ON WHEN NOT IN USE.*AK

ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CREATE A SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRES BEING CINKED/CINCHED/PINCHED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ALSO CAUSES TURN SIGNALS TO COME ON WHEN NOT IN USE.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNT UP. REPLACE WITH ANOTHER ONE AND IT IS BURNING UP. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR AND IGNITION SWITCH. THIS HAPPEN WHEN A/C WAS ON AND BLOWER AT MAXIMUM. LEAVING BLOWER AT LOW WIRES GETS WARM. HIGH START TO MELT. I AM AFRAID OF MY FAMILY INCASE OF A FIRE. I READ THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS REPORTED I CONTACTED A DEALER AND THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY? *AK

OVER LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR ON HIGH, IGNITION WIRING GOT HOT AT IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT FULL POWER IGNITION SWITCH GETS VERY HOT AND MELTS WIRING HARNESS NEAR SWITCH. CHRONIC PROBLEM SWITCH REPLACED AND OTHER COMPONENTS 5 TIMES. IT EVEN BURNED A HOLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN COVER AND BURNED MY HAND. HARNESS RELACED ONCE AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN AFTER JUST 2 YEARS.

ON THE EVENING OF 11-15-99, MY JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT WOULD NOT STAY STARTED, WE CHECK ALL THE FUSES WHICH WERE O.K., TILTED THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN, THE JEEP STARTED WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN IS IN THE DOWN TILT, I DO REMEMBER A LIGHT SMELL OF ELECTRICAL THE MORNING OF THE 15 OF NOVEMBER, SINCE THEN I HAD A FRIEND OF A FRIEND CONTACT SOMEONE OVER IN THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO HAVE THEM CONTACT ME. TODAY IS FRIDAY, 11-19-99 I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY ONE OVER AT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I CONTACTED THE FRIEND OF THE FRIEND OVER AT CHRYSLER THIS MORNING. HE FORWARDED MY CONCERNS ONTO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS MORNING 11-19-99 , THE VERY STRONG SMELL OF HOT ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS PRESENT IN THE INTERIOR OF MY JEEP WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THIS MORNING (11-19-99), AFTER LETTING THE JEEP IDLE FOR 10 MINUTES, THE HEAT SOURCE/SMELL SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE LOWER PLASTIC STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH, VERY HOT TO TOUCH, AND PARTIALLY MELTED, I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHERE I WILL BE TAKING MY JEEP FOR SERVICE CAN NOT GET ME IN UNTIL 11-23-99. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUZIE PETERSON. *AK

I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR MY WIFE'S CAR FROM NAPA, MANUFACTURED BY EXIDE. I PLACED THE BATTERY ON MY FRONT SEAT, AND LEFT IT THERE OVERNIGHT TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY. SULFURIC ACID LEAKED FROM THE BATTERY AND RUINED THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE AFTER PERFORMING A PRESSURE TEST ON IT. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE, OR ARE THEIR FINDINGS FINAL?? AS THE UNIT WAS NEVER PUT INTO USE, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. ARE BATTERIES INTENDED TO LEAK SULFURIC ACID AT ANY TIME AFTER MANUFACTURE, EITHER IN SERVICE OR DELIVERY?? PLEASE ADVISE ME REGARDING MY SITUATION AND WHETHER I HAVE ANY BASIS FOR MY CLAIM. THANK YOU. *AK

FUSES FOR TURN SIGNAL, RADIO AN INTERIOR LIGHT HAVE BLOWN. NLM

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FELL OFF. THE CARTER PIN HOLDING "L" BRACE, POPPED OUT. THE WELDS ON DOOR WERE BROKEN. THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS (OUTSIDE) STAYS ON EVEN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED & VEHICLE TURNED OFF. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES FOUND MELTED TOGETHER. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, MAIN COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND IF HITTING A BUMP, VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND, THE KEY WILL TURN BACK. *AK

WIRING HARNESS SHORT OUT. ALSO LEFT PARKING LIGHT FUSE SHORTED OUT. *AK

WIRING HARNESS SHORT OUT. ALSO LEFT PARKING LIGHT FUSE SHORTED OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY BACK . *AK

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE BATTERY BLEW UP, CAUISING THE ACIDS TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE. REPLACED BATTERY AND PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK WHILE REPLACING BATTERY IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NEGATIVE CABLE JUMP WAS SOMEWHAT LOOSE CAUSING POSSIBLE ARCING, THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT AND ENGINE AREA AND HOOD WERE VERY HOT, EXPLOSION CAUSED BATTERY TO SEPARATE AND MAY HAVE LOOSENED CLAMP. *SLC

THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS HOT AND SMOKES. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, AND THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN FOUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS HOT AND SMOKES. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, AND THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN FOUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

SMOKE STARTS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION. RADIO WOULD TURN ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK OR LOCK. THE LAST TIME IT STARTED TO SMOKE THE UNDERSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN MELTED.

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY & STARTED UP STREET; NOTICED SMOKE FROM DASHBOARD; STOPPED VEHICLE & FLAMES SHOT FROM GLOVE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. CHRYSLER & INSURANCE CO. INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE FIRE LOCATION. HAD 2 HOT SPOTS ON HOOD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER CANNOT FIND CODE IN COMPUTER TO DETERMINE EXACT CAUSE, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES .*AK *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SD

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES WHEN IT WENT UP INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES WHEN IT WENT UP INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, POSSIBLE DUE TO ELECTRIC SYSTEM. TT

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, POSSIBLE DUE TO ELECTRIC SYSTEM. TT

FUSE PANEL LOOSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP AND GAUGES TO FAIL. *TT

DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS FAILED. *TT

VEHICLES STALLS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING.(PHONE EXT=212). TT

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO DIM WHEN A/C OR DEFROSTER IS ON, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD

SHORT IN THE WIRING TO THE CONSTANT VOLTAGE CIRCUIT.

SPARK PLUGS FOULED, PREVENTING VEHICLE'S SPEED FROM EXCEEDING 35 MPH.