2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo from North America - Comments

Entire front braking system needed to be replaced at 15,000 miles.

Heated front passenger seat could not be shut off at 17,000 miles.

Delayed shift in automatic transmission caused terrible stuttering at 22,000 miles.

Transmission sensor just went out and car won't leave 1st gear 32,000 miles.

Jeeps make beautiful cars and off road performance is top notch.

However, number of mechanical problems at low mileage and even with regular maintenance is criminal!

I love the look of the Jeep and try to buy American, but this car is sending me back to Japanese manufacturers forever.

Reliability is shameful and problems can leave you and your family roadside even when relatively new. Very expensive to maintain.

My honest and strongest possible recommendation to avoid Jeeps.

Unless you do heavy off-roading, buy Japanese and their 4X4's are more than capable of handling normal foul weather conditions that most of us face.

Could not agree with you more, the reliability of my Jeep is poor as well. It is safe to say that 99% of the Jeeps purchased never leave the pavement. Any of the Japanese brands, or Korean for that matter, could safely transport you from point A to B, and it would be less of a strain on your wallet. Sure, you can have some problems with a foreign brand, but it is far less likely. Just go to Consumer Reports and look at the horrible ratings the Jeeps get. I should have done my research before I purchased mine.

Oh, be prepared to hear from the responder who tells every Jeep owner with problems that you must drive it like a sports car, and that you do not know how to take care of it. What a joke. Just clean up your Jeep and hope for a good trade in allowance.

Good Luck-

I'm not really sure why people equate "reliability" with "not having to replace a single part on the vehicle for as long as I have it." Things eventually wear out, parts break under normal use, and neglect sometimes plays a role in the premature failure of something which should have never done so in the first place. I am not saying the Grand Cherokee is "perfect" by any means, but rather, that they often get a bum rap form things which, quite frankly, are due to some bonehead not following the service schedule religiously or the "genius" in whose hands everything falls apart naturally.

I like my Jeep, despite its imperfections, and while I may be equally served well by a 4Runner, I don't like high-revving overhead cam engines with timing belts. And simply because the 4Runner is made in Tahara does not necessarily imply that it will withstand willful neglect and abuse at the hand of its owner. The whole point of the matter is that anything which is well-cared and used within the limits it was designed for should provide years of trouble-free service sans the upkeep of normal replacement items.

Having all been said, I suggest a lot of people open their minds to the power of reason. Otherwise, might I offer some Camembert to go with your Bordeaux?

Who ever in their right mind would think that as many people saying the same thing about the problems with their 2001 jeep would think that its the owners maintaining their vehicle improperly. I have a 2001 jeep and mine is just starting the same problems everyone else is experiencing! I maintain mine as you should. Never missed an oil change or anything. Its the jeep not the people driving it!

Au contrare... I'm afraid you missed an important part of my previous comment:

"...they often get a bum rap from things which, quite frankly, are due to some bonehead not following the service schedule religiously OR THE 'GENIUS' IN WHOSE HANDS EVERYTHING FALLS APART NATURALLY." (My apologies for the transposing of letters in the word "form" in the original posting...)

Furthermore, I feel it is VERY necessary to clarify for those who frequent this website that the $9.95 oil change special at Jiffy Lube does NOT constitute "regularly scheduled maintenance." It involves such messy tasks as chassis lubrication (mostly negated nowadays by "sealed for death" suspension parts), engine coolant changes (a dicey undertaking in and of itself, due to the toxicity of Ethylene Glycol), replacement of the transmission fluid and filters (messy job, that), replacement of the front and rear axle lubricant (also very messy), periodic replacement of normal replacement items such as alternators, batteries, brake pads/shoes, rotors/drums, seals, bearings, and so on and so forth.

It goes SO far beyond just mere oil changes, old boy.

Now please, do all of us a favor so our expected lifespans (including yours) will be greatly increased. If you're the kind of person who doesn't want to do a single thing to their vehicle for as long as they own it, and simply trades it in for a new one while reaping the highest resale values, buy a Toyota 4-Runner. Believe me, you'll be much happier, but on that same token DON'T preach to the choir about what you drive, and DON'T condemn others for what they drive.

Thank you very kindly for your time. Now if it's okay with you, I'll stick by my "crappy" Grand Cherokee, for better or worse, 'till death do us part.

I am about to take the plunge you vigorous folk. I found a 2001 beautifully white with a promising heart 2D and 2WD. So it just felt like love at first site.

Love is something, but Faith is evermore.

And how did you manage to find a jeep with 2 wheel drive?

I'm not sure how useful this is, or of what use this forum is about, save for those opting to purchase a Jeep. In line with the latter presumption, I am on the side of buying. At 28, I've run through 5 cars already, all American (I refuse to go foreign), and currently own a 94 Cherokee that can do anything. You know what? CHANGE THE FLUIDS, as you would with any vehicle. I am at 185k miles, no leaks, no electrical BS, no nonsense.

I agree with previous posters on the premise that too many drivers put heated seats, and nonsense amenities above performance. My Jeep looks great in and out, and keeps up with the sportcars (thanks to a 5 minute chip installation)... except my baby can go where those sporty sedans cannot (4x4), haha.

So give it a rest. Change your fluids, check your tire pressure. Say whatever you want, but where I was once spending an avg. of $1200 annually for car repairs, my Jeep has required ZERO. No more mechanic bills, AMEN.

I own a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 125K on it now. No major problems so far. I do maintain my Jeep with a major 30K service at the dealer, run synthetic oil and good quality tires.

Not all Jeep models are problematic - the Wrangler is a very reliable vehicle - my current Wrangler with 140,000 miles on it has been more reliable than any Japanese vehicle I've owned. (I'm not saying the Japanese vehicles aren't reliable - this Jeep has just been amazing.)

The old Cherokee model was also a very reliable vehicle.

The 4.0 liter inline six cylinder is a fantastic engine.

The Grand Cherokee is one of the more problematic Jeep models - the premature brake wear and warped rotors being the most common problem - replace your rotors with a high quality after-market product - and transmissions can also be problematic in some. As well as some sensors and of course some of the Chrysler electrics.

I have a 2001 Jeep Laredo. Bought new and currently has 136000. I've had very few problems with it, and it still runs like new. Has never broke down, replaced brakes twice. Never the rotors.