2006 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls

RENTED 2006 JEEP CHEROKEE AT AIRPORT. DURING TWO STOPS AT INTERSECTIONS I REACHED TO SWITCH RADIO STATIONS AND ACCIDENTALLY AND LIGHTLY BRUSHED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THEY SWITCHED TO "ACC" AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. WHEN I SAY "LIGHTLY BRUSHED" I MEAN JUST THAT. I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL THE SECOND INCIDENT. TWO THINGS APPEAR DEFECTIVE: THE PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION AND THE FACT THAT JUST A LIGHT TOUCH TURNS THE KEY OFF. HAD I DONE THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY BEEN INOPERABLE AND A DANGER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146213 at NHTSA ↗

THIS CONCERNS AN UNSAFE DESIGN OF SUV. I RENTED A 2006 JEEP CHEROKEE IN JAN. 2006 FROM AVIS RENTAL CAR COMPANY. I AM A FREQUENT RENTER AND RENT A WIDE VARIETY OF AUTOS. I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE JEEP ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. BEING A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER I LOOKED AT THE RPM GAUGE AND NOTICED THAT THE RPM WAS ON "0?? INDICATING THE JEEP WAS NOT RUNNING. THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING (AS THIS IS A FEATURE COMMONLY AVAILABLE THAT THE RADIO WILL PLAY AFTER THE AUTO IS SWITCHED UNTIL THE DOOR IS OPENED). I SHIFTE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149368 at NHTSA ↗

2005 GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO. 8 PM. TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY, FOOT ON BRAKE, SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CAR RACED DOWN STEEP DRIVEWAY, ROARING, I TURNED IT UPHILL INTO TREES, AND IT WAS STOPPED BY TREES. STILL REVVING LOUDLY UNTIL KEY TURNED OFF. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT END PRETTY SMASHED UP. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 11,165 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151592 at NHTSA ↗

2006 GRAND CHEROKEE IGNITION SWITCHED OFF WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *TS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IGNITION SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF THE LOCATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT WAS ONLY ON INCH ABOVE THE CONSUMER'S KNEE CAP WHEN HIS FOOT WAS ON THE THROTTLE. WHEN HE LIFTED HIS FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE HIS KNEE WOULD TOUCH THE KEY AND THE IGNITION WOULD SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153018 at NHTSA ↗

2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 6 CYL CAR WAS IN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING TO 25-30 MPH THEN CAR STARTED BUCKING , LOOSING POWER AS I APPLIED MY FOOT ON PEDAL, NO SIGNS OF OVER HEATING (GAUGE WAS LESS THAN 1/2 MARK OF C/AND H.. MOVED FROM LEFT LANE TO SHOULDER WITH CAR RUNNING IT BASICALLY WAS MOVING AT 5 MPH AS I APPLIED MY FOOT ON GAS. ONCE IN PARK IT IDLED WITH SOME SHAKING , I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CAR IN DRIVE THE CAR WENT REVERSE, I CALLED FOR HELP AND THE NYSDOT WITNESSED THE CAR GO IN REVERSE WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED …

Owner-reported narrative. 12,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154331 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE IGNITION SWITCH CAME OFF 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LIGHT CONTACT FROM CONTACT'S RIGHT KNEE. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 05/16/2006 - A COMPLAINT WAS REGISTERED WITH DAIMLER/CHRYSLER, AND CONTACT MET WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE GENERAL MANGER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY KEY CHAINS. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD REMOVED THE KEY FROM TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155291 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A BANGING NOISE AS THE GEARS SHIFTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT WOULD IDLE VERY LOW AND EVENTUALLY CUT OFF. UPDATED 05/30/06. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156162 at NHTSA ↗

TWO ISSUES. 1. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO STAY OPEN. THEY RETURN WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE AND HAVE DINGED ANKLES SEVERAL TIMES. ANYONE MORE FRAIL WILL HAVE A CRACKED ANKLE. 2. THE HORN IS TOO DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156407 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE INFLATOR CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence: THE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THE WEEK OF AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2007-09-14 (September 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MAY ALLOW A MOMENTARY DELAY IN BRAKING WHEN COASTING UP A HILL DURING CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH NEW SOFTWARE THAT PREVENTS THIS CONDITION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2013-05-07 (May 7, 2013)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position.

Consequence: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N23.

Reported: 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.