2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee from North America - Comments

I have a 2001 Grand Cherokee that belonged in the junk yard the day it rolled off the assembly line. A business associate asked me recently what I thought of my Jeep as his administrative assistant was talking about getting one. My reply was she had better have a mechanical ability and a toolbox, and if not she had better make a lot of money from you. My Grand Cherokee has had a new transmission, sensors, oil pan (rotted out), transfer case seal, rear main seal, brake rotors so many times we keep new spares on hand, transfer case linkage, display console/computer, brake light problem etc. Yes I have the rocking seat (I start rocking and my wife says, "Now stop that."), and one rear door actuator that does not unlock. The folks at Chrysler forget we all communicate out here. May I suggest upon buying our new vehicles that we have our Jeeps cubed and delivered to Daimler/Chrysler's corporate offices. Never Again!

Oh, my, I'll add my horrible stories about my 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I had a 1996 Jeep, which gave me no problems, but was a 8 cyl. and my brother suggested geting a 6 cyl. to save on gas. This Jeep has nearly driven me crazy! I'm a single female so I don't know that much about cars, but I do trust my mechanic. First I had the loan for the Jeep, which I used to like the Jeep. Then the Jeep needed a new transmission, another loan for the Jeep. Then the Jeep needed new brakes, rotars, bunches of stuff I don't understand, for inspection. Then the Jeep needed new tires, OK, that's to be expected. Then the Jeep's headlights look like they're covered with sand and I can't get them clean. I can live with that. Then Friday the Jeep's passenger window dropped. My mechanic said the regulator is broken, but Jeep company makes you buy the regulator and motor together, at a cost of about 250.00 just for the parts, then another 100. or so for the labor. That's for one window. So the window on THE JEEP is now taped up until I decide what to do.

I found a unit on EBay, the entire unit for 46.95 plus 12.95 shipping, now I have to check if I can find someone to install it if that will work. I'm clueless and frustrated beyond words with this JEEP. Uggghhhhh.

Anyone with thoughts as to whether this non Jeep brand will work and what I would pay someone to install it? Is it a big job? In advance, thanks for any advice. I'm so disgusted with this Jeep I could cry.

I have a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I've had the driver side window repaired. I have the horrible brake rotor problem. I have had the radiator fan motor replaced. I have the problem with the driver bracket breaking. Now I'm starting to experience the transmission problems too. I will never, ever, ever purchase another Jeep product. I will also tell everyone I know to never purchase one. EVER!!

I bought a new 94 GCL 6 cyl., and aside from a couple fuel pumps and a water pump, it was virtually flawless until 195,000 when it needed CV joints. Couldn't complain, but at 260,000 I had to let it go because the rides in tow trucks were getting more and more frequent. The engine was purring, but other stuff was breaking, and I could no longer rely on it.

So, in Dec. 05, I bought a 2001 GCL 6 cyl, with 54K. One-owner from high-buck Lake Forest, IL. Owner had all records from dealer, and had all scheduled maintenance. Spotless -- car was taken care of. So far, it has been pretty good except for having to replace two fan relays and the ubiquitous rotor problem. Now, however, out of nowhere the tranny is starting to act funny when I come to a stop, and a little when I take off from a stop sign. Can't wait to see what it is, and what it's going to cost. Maybe I'll bail before all this other stuff happens to me, also.

AS A NOTE ON THE ROTOR ISSUE: I too had the warped rotors. I found that the replacements from the dealer were $85 per corner, and would more than likely happen again; from a local (national) parts store they were $25, and they said they couldn't recall ever really hearing of any issues with them. (I know the guy well, and I trust him) What I did, however, was purchase BREMBO rotors from them (my research) for $50 each. They supply Ferrari, so I figured they probably had a good handle on quality. Added ceramic pads, and I haven't had any issues so far with 30K on them. Hope that helps someone.

2001 Grand CHerokee Ltd 6 cyl. Nobody deserves this!!! I should have learned after my 93 GC, just as bad. I loved the Jeep handling and AWD so I did some research and "thought" they had improved it with the redesign in 2001. Was I Wrong!!! Bought mine at an end of lease 37K miles. Fortunately bought a 3yr 75K Ext warranty. Currently at 64K..Worst car I've ever owned. Rotors done twice within 25K miles, 3 fuel injectors went bad - after 3 trips to the dealer who said they couldn't find anything wrong. Also: fuel pump, both rear axle seals -Twice..left side going again, Rear bushings, Rear differential, all within 25K miles. Air conditioner evaporator went out, Alternator, Transmission started slipping - fixed.. Driver seat thing starting to rock..Grrr... There is more, but I am so angry about it I block it out. If it wasn't for the warranty I would have paid at least another$7-10K in repairs!!! And I'd still be stuck with junk. The time I've wasted with dealers and rental cars, etc.. Unbelieveable this is a fraud. How can any manufacturer do this and expect to stay in business? I am dreaming of when I get up to 72K mi just before my warranty expires to get a new Toyota Highlander or 4Runner. STAY AWAY!!!

WOW! Where to begin??? I bought my 2001 JGC Laredo 4.0L 6 cyl in Jan '05 and want to get rid of it already. It's my second Jeep (first was a Wrangler) and I'll only buy a Wrangler again. Here's a breakdown of my foul-up's with my car:

1) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: Comes on randomly, I don't bother with it any more.

2) SEAT BRACKET: Much like most others out there, the front left bracket on the driver sea finally broke 2 months ago. I took it to a buddy of mine who ARC welded the bracket together - he says the rear bracket on the same rail is starting to buckle and will need to be done eventually.

3) ENGINE FAN: ***WARNING FOR YOU OUT THERE*** my fan had failed and wasn't cooling the radiator, but it turns out that the problem was the RELAY between the computer and the fan. The relay is a $53 part compared to a $300 fan unit + the frustration of not having fixed the problem prior to swapping out the fan. If you're engine is overheating, check the fan - if not spinning then either check the fan unit yourself or have a mechanic buddy (like me) run 12 volts to the unit to test the fan. This saved me a $300 part + $250 in labor.

4) WINDOW MALFUNCTIONING: The reason I found this thread was because my front passenger window rolled down, but not back up. This happened very recently, like 3 days ago. Right now, it's parked in the garage with duct tape holding it in place. I guess I'll try a few technical taps prior to taking the assembly apart.

5) THERMOSTAT: has been replaced twice. (a stupid $6 part)

6) WATER PUMP: Replaced once. (~$280 - and that was with the family-friend discount)

7) 4X4 LIGHT: Doesn't display on dashboard when 4X4 is engaged.

This is all a shame because I really do like this car. It isn't a fancy car and doesn't turn heads, but I like it and am disappointed thus far.

Also... 16.5 MPG @ $3.25 per gallon doesn't keep me very happy either.

-Austin.

Well, I would be lying if I said that I love my jeep. I bought my jeep back in July of '06. In the first 3 weeks my water pump needed to be replaced, and then my window regulator went out--and, oh yeah--I had an oxygen sensor go out, too, in the first month I had it. I left my window for a year after it broke (I had a 2x4 in the window holding it up. It worked really well... lol. I know what your thinking, "Hillbilly,"), but I found the part on ebay for $50, put it in myself, and it took me an hour to do. I also had troubles with my left rear light housing. I just fixed the window and housing about 1 week ago. Now my jeep is sitting in a shop for a radiator flush and new thermostat because it started to over heat. I just heard from the guy and he said that my fan is not coming on, so I'm taking the advice from you guys and told him to check the fan relay. I hope I don't have to spend that much more.

So I just decided to randomly google 01 jeep problems because I just took my jeep back to the shop for the 5th time this year.

This year alone I've had the rotors replaced which caused the car to stop shaking when it breaks, but just a few months later, the brakes stopped working completely. You'd have to pump it a few times just to get it to stop. To fix that, I had to fix the master cylinder! That sounds almost made up. Later that year, I had to replace the water pump because it leaked all my coolant on the street.

Here's a new one for you guys. My radio would go out when I applied the brakes. My your turn light is on would constantly tell me that I was signaling. Then one day, my windows wouldn't roll down at all and the AC went out. Turns out it was all electrical and the BCM (body control module) had to be replaced. 800 bucks!

Just 1.5 weeks after I had the BCM replaced for 800 dollars and a week's worth of rental car. The window went out. As I can see on this board, that is fairly common. I was so frustrated I told the dealer to go ahead and fix it, but he quoted $500. Argg! sounds like I could have found someone to do it for $350 but I just couldn't take it anymore.

I unfortunately bought the car after a lease and of course all these problems didn't happen until after the conversion. How much money is too much money to put in an old car??

YEAH, same here: windows (fixed), chair (NOT fixed, but I will take it to a welder like someone on this site recommended), and of course the transmission is slipping. Does anybody have any idea how to get it fixed cheaply? I got a price quote between 1000 and 1250.

I have a 2001 jeep laredo and same problems! no matter what I do with the brakes, the are so loud. my chair is broken and now is rubbing into the seat and actually messing the seat up... they told me it would be over 500 to replace it... gonna try to welder, but don't know any...

Now I am having some new problems... the back door or window won't open so its almost pointless to have a suv if you can't use it and the air conditioner will only come out of the defrost vent and the cruise control doesn't work. Someone told me that those problems go together... anyone have any ideas?

Love the look of the jeep... hate the problems!

I bought my jeep used after being a lease vehicle, worked great until the day my warranty expired. I've replaced my oil sensor, had 3rd gear go out, driver window fall down in the door. just fixed a T.P.S Sensor, and now my liftgate lock is making funny noises when it locks or unlocks.

I love the jeep name, but am sickened at the Grand Cherokee parts they put in there vehicles. ugh!!!

I've got a 97 grand cherokee. There has been an problem where it would occasionally rev the engine high (3500+ rpm) shifting into 3rd. Now it will not shift into 3rd at all. Fluid level is fine, and lucas tranny fix fluid did nothing. any suggestions?

Thought I'd look around as I can't believe the money pit I have parked in my garage called a "Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (2001) ". I have dumped so much money into my Jeep... I have been telling everyone to stay away from JEEP. I drive my Jeep in a rather responsible manner and get all of the regular maintenance and oil changes done, but since owning the junker...I've had the transmission replaced, 3 lock actuators replaced, both tail lights replaced, the hood prop replaced (how often does a hood prop go bad??), driver-side window fell down into the door while driving... dumped another $250 to have that fixed, the all too famous rotors replaced, cruddy moisture in front headlights, rubber window molding shrank... and now it looks like I'll be spending more on a water pump as it's pouring anti-freeze all over the driveway from a much popularly reported issue.

Who in their right mind will think people will be return buyers after junk like this?

Can we say "lemon"? This will be the last Jeep I will purchase and I will make sure everyone I know will be aware (BEWARE of JEEP)...has there been any class action suits??

My wife and I bought our 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo brand new, and it now has only 67,000 miles. Unfortunately, we didn't take out the extended warranty.

Our Jeep started shifting funny a week or so ago, where it would take off slowly from a stop like something was holding it back in 1st gear. Then it would finally kick in and jerk forward. It took off fine when manually shifting from 1st to 2nd to Drive, but did sound a bit clunky at times when changing gears. The quote today is $2000 for a rebuilt tranny and torque converter, because of damage to multiple parts inside both.

Last month, the fan motor wasn't working. I disconnected it and hooked jumpers to the battery and the fan worked fine. Paid $65 for the relay and saved some cash on repairs. ***For those of you with the same relay issue*** The relay is located under the black housing under the passenger headlight (Leave it to the engineering genius' at Jeep to pick this location,Duh!). Proper labor requires removing front bumper, grill, headlight, etc, just a nightmare and $$$. Save some time & cash and remove the headlight only. Then cut a hole in black casing to access the relay for replacement. Replace headlight and you will never see the hole you cut. Dremel tool works well.

Also replaced rotors all around, and that's about all... and I'm knocking on wood right now. Normally around this time I would be knocking on metal, but as you know, my Jeep is in the shop.

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2001. My driver's side window wouldn't come back up at around 60,000 miles and my passenger's sider front power window wouldn't come up at around 70,000 miles. The dealer fixed the driver's side window at a price of over $400.00. By the time the second window broke I bought the part online and replaced it myself at a cost of $100.00 (for the motor and the unit). It took two hours to do it, but was well worth the savings.