2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo review from North America

Took it in today for a simple oil change and tire rotation. As I was handed the bill, I was told that the Front axle seal is leaking, as are the front pinion seals. Not bad enough to require immediate attention, but they will bear watching. I was told that the repair would require removing the entire front axle. I shudder to think what the cost will be when I eventually need this repair. Why would these seals be leaking with such low mileage? I had a 1993 JGC previously and even at 252,000+ miles, I still had the original seals!

My air conditioner now blows only through the defrost vents. Having checked all relays, fuses and vacuum hoses, I have concluded that it is the cables under the dash which may be loose. The problem here is that the dashboard/console will need to be removed to get to the cables. It is irritating to have poor accessibility to something that, once inside, will only take a couple minutes to fix. Again, another costly repair.

My cruise control suddenly decided not to work. I had some trouble with the cruise control in my old Jeep as well. But that occurred around 200,000 miles, NOT at 40,000!

The mileage is not as good as my old '93. If I'm lucky, I'll just barely make 21 mpg on the highway and 16 in town. My '93 gave me 26 highway and 21 city easily.

I hope the 2001 isn't a lemon in disguise.

While this JGC is lovely to look at and a dream to drive, it lacks in the sturdiness I have come to expect from a JGC.

Problems that should appear years/miles down the road are appearing in the vehicles youth.

The tinted windows are a nice feature.

The 4WD has proven quite valuable.

Storage capacity is perfect.