1996 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
687 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
134,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 143 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 146 of 687 complaints (21.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 94 | 13.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 75 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 60 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 55 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 52 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 146 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 54 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 41 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 33 |
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 30 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 28 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 28 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 146; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 54; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 41; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Electrical System: 31; Fuel System, Gasoline: 30; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 28; Fuel/Propulsion System: 28
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 51 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 51
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 544 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 105 |
| 2001 | 248 |
| 2002 | 79 |
| 2003 | 41 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 52 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 13; 2000: 105; 2001: 248; 2002: 79; 2003: 41; 2004: 27; 2005: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 8; 2008: 8; 2009: 6; 2010: 12; 2011: 3; 2012: 12; 2013: 13; 2014: 52; 2015: 22; 2016: 8; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 75 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 60 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001157 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005221 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR SEIZED. HAD TO HAVE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, LINES, FLUID REPLACED
Owner-reported narrative. 96,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002095 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY IS CRACKED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003690 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SHE STATED THAT THERE IS A REAL STRONG GAS SMELL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008442 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED, WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM UNDER FLOORBOARD AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE....COULD HAVE CAUSED TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037363 · 2003-09-06 (September 6, 2003)
POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE OFF FROM ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY AND DRIVE BELTS TO DISENGAGE FROM ENGINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040805 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SENSOR FAILURE.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR, ALSO THE MONITOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKED WHICH INDICATED THERE WAS A REAR LAMP FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FAILURE. *JB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,898 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044994 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE STALLED, AND CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001885 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION BECAME WARM, CONSUMER STATES" SOME FLUID DRIPPED ONTO EXHAUST AND RESULTED IN A FIRE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXHAUST TUBE SHOULD BE RE-ROUTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004010 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
CONSUMER HAS TO IDLE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IN ORDER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH THE GEARS. IF NOT, VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS EXCESSIVELY ROUGH AND "DROPS" FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223656 · 2008-04-08 (April 8, 2008)
PROBLEM... DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN OR ON EXPRESSWAY... IT WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIME IT WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES NOT!!!... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS DEVELOPED, WHICH I WAS LUCKY!!! 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, 4.0 , 6 CYL.... SPENT 6 MONTHS DOING REPAIRS/ REPLACEMENT PARTS AND MANY ,MANY DOLLARS SPENT TRACKING DOWN PART AFTER PART. USING DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE TO DETERMINE FAULTY PART... PROBLEM WAS THE POWER CONTROL MODULE ( PCM OR ECU SAME PART) WAS DEFECTIVE AND E…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223656 at NHTSA ↗