1999 JEEP CHEROKEE Electrical System Problems

NEAR MISS REAR END COLLISION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES EITHER THE TURN SIGNALS LEFT AND RIGHT WILL NOT WORK OR THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT LAMP ASSEMBLIES WILL NOT WORK. FOUND A ELECTRICAL GROUNDING ISSUE WITH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY WITH REGARDS TO BRAKE LIGHTS. WITH REGARDS TO THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. IN ADDITION, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AND LOCKED AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LAMPS COME ON AND OFF FOR UNKNOWN REASON. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 2 TIMES. THEN IT. STOPS WORKING AGAIN. MY DRIVERS SEAT RAIL BROKE ON MY JEEP AND CAUSES THE SEAT TO WOBBLE ALL AROUND. THE SEAT ARE ALSO BROKEN IN THE SAME WAY ON MY 2000 JEEP AND MY 1996 JEEP TOO. WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HAVE 4 CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. 3 JEEPS HAVE BROKEN SEATS. 2 OF THE 4 HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHAT CAN BE DONE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

Mileage: 144,000

I OWN A 99 GRAND CHEROKEE LAREADO EVERY NOW AND THEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS GO OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I CHECKED FUSES ARE ALL GOOD, LIGHT BULBS NEW, AND THIS PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY FOGGY LOOKING MAKING IT HARD TO SEE ON DARK ROADS. *TT

NO: 08-15-99 SUBJECT: ERRATIC, INTERMITTENT CLUSTER OPERATION/INTERMITTENT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. DATE: MAY 21, 1999 THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 08-20-98 REV. A, DATED OCTOBER 2, 1998, WHICH SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM YOUR FILES AND NOTED IN THE BOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BOOK, PUBLICATION NUMBER 81-699-99003. THIS IS A COMPLETE REVISION TO THE PROCEDURE. OVERVIEW: THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES INSTALLING A REPAIR HARNESS CONTAINING A REVISED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONNECTOR. SYMPTOM/CONDITION: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT OR AN INTERMITTENT TACHOMETER OR SPEEDOMETER DROP OUT. AN AIRBAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) FAULT CODE -"NO CLUSTER CCD BUS " MESSAGE WILL BE PRESENT. DIAGNOSIS: USING THE DRB III, READ AND RECORD ALL ACTIVE AND STORED FAULT CODES IN THE AECM. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY MINOR OXIDATION OF THE BUS CIRCUIT TERMINALS AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONNECTOR. ELECTRICAL TERMINALS WILL SHOW SIGNS OF OXIDATION, WHICH WILL APPEAR AS DARKENED LINES OR MARKS ON THE CLUSTER MALE TERMINALS. THESE OFTEN APPEAR AS GRAY OR BLACK MARKS RATHER THAN THE APPEARANCE OF OXIDATION OR CORROSION USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER CURRENT CARRYING CIRCUITS. THIS CONDITION WILL SET A "NO CLUSTER CCD BUS" MESSAGE. THE FAULT CODE WILL USUALLY BE STORED AND NOT ACTIVE. THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WILL NOT ADDRESS FUEL OR OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ISSUES. IF THIS FAULT CODE IS PRESENT, EITHER ACTIVE OR STORED PERFORM THE REPAIR PROCEDURE. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN IS COMMON WITH ALL JEEPS. THERE ARE MANY JEEP OWNERS WITH THIS VERY PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER (ACTUALLY ALL GAUGES) WILL STOP WORKING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON TOO. IF YOU HIT THE DASHBOARD (SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL HITS) THE GAUGES WILL START WORKING AGAIN AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF. HAVEN'T HAD IT CHECKED BY A SHOP YET. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED AMPLIFIER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE SPARKS AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE AMP. HE ALSO HAD TO CUT THE WIRES THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE AMP AND REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AMP IS POSITIONED UNDERNEATH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS LOCATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,000.

Mileage: 142,000

FOG LIGHT SWITCH. WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET ANOTHER SWITCH , I WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH # HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THE IT IS $186.00 WHICH INCLUDES WIRING" I ASKED IF THE WIRING IS RECALLED HE SAID " NO" SO I BOUGHT THE SWITCH FOR $45.00 AND IT SEEMS TO WORK. I WAS WONDERING IF DODGE KNOWS THAT THE WIRING IS BAD? I HAVE SEEN A JEEP IN THE JUNK YARD THAT HAS A DASH FIRE STARTING IN THAT AREA? YOUR HELP IS REQUIRED FOR OUR SAFETY & PEACE OF MIND! *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES BY LOCAL MECHANICS, BUT THE FAILURE STILLS PERSISTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V059000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/15/08. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

GAS GAUGE FAILS PERIODICALLY. SPOKE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IF IT IS NOT BROKE DON'T FIX IT. TRUCK FAILED TO START 4 DAYS AGO. HAS IT TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT TECH HAS NOT YET FIGURED IT OUT. JEEP ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES. NOW MIND YOU, SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS JEEP IN 1999, IT HAS ONLY BEEN TO A CERTIFIED JEEP DEALER FOR ALL SERVICES. ALL RECOMMENDED WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMPLETED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, BECAUSE I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. *NM

Mileage: 52,000

CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOST ALL FUNCTIONS ON THE FREEWAY @ 80 MPH SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHILE COASTING AND RESTARTED, TRUCK IS AT DEALERSHIP TODAY IN ADDITION LOST THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTION TO BOTH DOORS IN DECEMBER OF 2004. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE GAUGES CEASED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO BLANK AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD DIM. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM BEGUN WITH THE AIRBAG, FOLLOWED BY THE ODOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPING TO ZERO. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND "NO BUS" ERROR MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR ON THE ODOMETER. SOMETIMES THE GAS, BATTERY, TEMPERATURE, AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WOULD FAIL AS WELL. THE PROBLEM WOULD LAST FROM ANYWHERE UP TO FORTY MINUTES OR MORE. CORROSION WAS FOUND WHERE THE HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *SC

Mileage: 11,622

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. *AK THE KEY CAN BE MOVED FROM ANY POSITION AND HAS CAUSED BATTERY FAILURE MANY TIMES. THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED WITH ANY KEY, SCREW DRIVER, ETC. (THIS COULD BE THE REASON WHY JEEPS ARE EASILY STOLEN AND INSURANCE COSTS ARE HIGH) *SC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DRIVER PULLED OVER, CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. FIRE DEPARTMENT BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE MAY 2001. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING CLUSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. ON 7/8/2003, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER TO SELL THE VEHICLE OR TRADE IT IN. *AK

ERRATIC, INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER, FAILURE (SHUT-DOWN) WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE, AMP GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, ODOMETER,GAS GAUGE AND TACHOMETER GAUGE. ISOLATED OCCURRENCES WITHOUT WARNING MADE IT DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN. BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE AS NOTED IN COMPANY SERVICE BULLETINS (081599) SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS AND REPAIRED AT CHRYSLER EXPENSE.*AK

Mileage: 32,000

CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY HAVE EVAPORATOR FAILURES DUE TO INFERIOR COILS THAT LAST LESS THAN 4 YEARS. THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS COST TO THE CONSUMER. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER JEEP CHEROKEE. *JB

Mileage: 53,000

THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AND SLIPPED ON ACCELERATION. FOUND WRONG FLUID IN TRANSMISSION. IGNITION CYLINDER LOOSE. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL. TRANSMISSION BANGED WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. *TT

Mileage: 80,360

INSURED HIT BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO DITCH AND CAUGHT FIRE, INSURED STATED THAT PRIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WERE NOT RESOLVED. CLAIM NUMBER 47-420-794. *YH

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO STARTER FAILURE. CLAIM NUMBER 53-C679-292. *YH

INSURED HIT BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO DITCH AND CAUGHT FIRE, INSURED STATED THAT PRIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WERE NOT RESOLVED. CLAIM NUMBER 47-420-794. *YH

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO STARTER FAILURE. CLAIM NUMBER 53-C679-292. *YH

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. WINDOWS WOULD NOT COME DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

DEALER REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MODULE AND PROBLM HAS REOCCURRED. TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A WIRE WAS FOUNDED BROKEN AND REPLACED IT AGAIN. NO PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED, VEHICLE HAD BEEN WORKED ON DURING A RECALL REPAIR REGARDING THE AIR BAG ON JUNE 7TH OF 2000. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE, STARTER FAILURE IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE CAUSE, CLAIM 53-C679-292. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE, STARTER FAILURE IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE CAUSE, CLAIM 53-C679-292. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL, CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT RESOLVED, CLAIM 47-4201-794. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL, CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT RESOLVED, CLAIM 47-4201-794. *SLC

SINCE JAN. 2000, THE VEHICLE GAUGES HAVE INTERMITTINGLY FAILED IE, NOT REGISTERING READING TO INCLUDE SPEED, MILEAGE, WATER TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, TACHOMETER AND AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE. SOMETIMES, IF I KEEP AIR CONDITIONER AT COOLEST LEVEL THE GAUGES WILL RESUME OPERATION.*AK

FOG LIGHT SHORTAGE FROM THE INTERIOR SWITCH, REAR LEFT SHOCK SQUEAKS NON STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHEN A/C IS ON (HOT OR COLD), GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE WHEN COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR, NOISY DASHBOARD WHEN ROAD IS BUMPY, SMALL SIGNS OF RUST STARTING TO APPEAR ON EXTERIOR, FONT PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP IF PUT DOWN BY PASSENGER, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MAKING NOISE. *AK

FOG LIGHT SHORTAGE FROM THE INTERIOR SWITCH, REAR LEFT SHOCK SQUEAKS NON STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHEN A/C IS ON (HOT OR COLD), GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE WHEN COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR, NOISY DASHBOARD WHEN ROAD IS BUMPY, SMALL SIGNS OF RUST STARTING TO APPEAR ON EXTERIOR, FONT PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP IF PUT DOWN BY PASSENGER, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MAKING NOISE. *AK

SUNROOF: IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION, BETWEEN 30 & 50MPH, WITH THE SIDE WINDOWS UP, OR PARTIALLY OPEN, A HORRIFFIC VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE "CABIN" WHICH IS IRRITATING TO THE EARS, VOCAL CHORDS, IS SO BAD, THAT THE RADIO SPEAKERS SEEM LIKE THEY ARE READY TO BREAK. DEALER REFUSES TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH CHRYSLER REP TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM, WHICH I FEEL IS ATTRIBUTED TO A BAD DESIGN, WHICH JEEP IS CALLING "WIND BUFFETING" IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, INDICATING THEY KNOW THERE IS THIS PROBLEM. THE STARTER FAILED, AND ROCKING THE VEHICLE TO A BETTER SPOT ON THE STARTER ALLOWED IT TO START, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL SLUGGISH STARTING AT TIMES, SEEMING AS THOUGH THE BATTER IS WEAK. JEEP WILL NOT REPLACE STARTER UNTIL A TOTAL FAILURE. BRAKES.. BAD VIBRATION DUE TO APPARENT WARPED ROTORS. THESE ARE BEING REPLACED ON WARRANTY WITHOUT DISPUTE, INDICATING THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE THE "LEMON OF THE FLEET" ONLY GIVING A MAXIMUM OF 14.5MPG, HIGHWAY, AND LESS IN CITY ONLY, AND DOES NOT IDLE SMOOTH. *AK