How did it work to replace the track assembly? Was it difficult? I am having the same problem with my '99 Grand, unfortunately it's electric so the part alone is $415!
>> How did it work to replace the track assembly? <<
I cannot answer because I sold the Grand Cherokee yesterday. I explained the problem to the new owner and gave him the part I ordered. My seat was power as well. My intention was to remove all the electrical components and convert the seat to manual operation. The new owner intends to follow that plan as well.
I also had a broken drivers side seat in my 1999 Jeep Cherokee. I found it to be an easy fix. If you are not good at fixing things easily, then get your nephew or cousin or somebody to do this for you.
Mine was broken right where everybody else's was. Here's how I fixed it:
First I removed the seat. This was very easy. There are just 4 bolts holding the seat to the floor. There is one wiring harness that must be disconnected. It leads to the seatbelt. Some kind of sensor I think.
After my seat was removed, I turned it upside down so I could clearly see where it was broken. I then drilled two holes. One in each piece of metal that broke apart from each other. With a little muscle I pressed the two metal plates together until the holes that I drilled matched up. Then I inserted a bolt with a nut. After I tightened it up, I then drilled another hole and repeated the same steps to assure more strength.
This completely solved my problem. The seat is solid now. I weigh 250 and have had no further problems out of my seat. I hope this will save some of you some money. It didn't cost me a thing. I found the bolts laying in a hutch drawer. If you had to buy the bolts, it would only be a couple bucks. This could also be welded, but I don't own welding equipment. I fixed it the easiest way and the cheapest way. And it's as strong as ever.
I've had the same exact problem. First the wobble then a complete break down of all the supports under the seat when I was breaking at a stop light. sending me both forward and backwards as I tried to bring the car to a complete stop.
Otherwise I might have run into 50+ mph traffic that would have me in a VERY BAD T-Bone collision.
Basically the chair had the "brackets" on the LEFT FRONT and REAR snap (stress) and with the bolted RIGHT (F&R) Give way with tearing the metal.
The seat moved along all 3 axis connected only by the wiring and 1 plastic strap.
VERY VERY DANGEROUS!
While I was able to remove the seat I had noticed that it had ALREADY HAD A WELDING REPAIR on the cross bar (front of seat by knees). Since I am only the second owner of this vehicle (my father was the first) I was able to verify that this spot weld tack repair was not of our doing and was either done before it was sold to us!!!
The "non factory" appearing repair was to attach a cross bar pipe to the LEFT upper part of the seat that resulted in 2 stress tears in the metal and a breaking in the "shoddy weld". The curved "elbow/bracket" had a large tear and the entire end was bent so that the pipe was unable to stay in place.
We had metal rips, tears and breaking in all 4 points of contact between the chair and the carriage rails under the seat.
I was able to make some repairs by arc welding (friend of a friend) for $50.00 late the night so I could be able to get to work and back. The repairs are only for as long as it takes me to locate and pay for another replacement seat.
Basically we had to weld and we enforce everything including NEW supports on the LEFT side of the seat. all the bolt connections had to have new plates welded and new holes drilled to replace the torn mountings.
I weigh 240 LBS (aprox 100 kg) 6'1" and do NOT bounce up and down on the seat or cause it any stresses above "normal use". This is nothing more than bad engineering of what a basic part of the cars "safety equation " that FAILED while in use.
It this had happened on the freeway I might have not bee here to type this.
I'll be making a call to the NHTSA (1-800.424-9393) about this dangerous situation. I'm of the belief that Jeep's "bean counters" have decided against a recall because any accidents that result will be a case of attempting to prove the seat broke BEFORE the accident, faulty repair (known creaking before complete failure) and or death of the driver/owner and evidence as would had been the situation if I had been T-Boned yesterday.
I urge everyone else to do to the same.
This is really important.
Everyone PLEASE CALL the National Highway Traffic and Safety Adm.
1-800-424-9393.
They need to see me of these complaints in order to do something about it and issue a recall. Keep the records of your repairs so you can get your money back. The person I spoke to noticed that there seemed to be a trend developing, but they NEED MORE people to come forward.
They'll take a quick statement and send you something to sign... that's it.
I could have gotten killed because of this. The next person might not be able to get control over the car like I did, and end up not only dying, but also their kids getting killed as well.
PLEASE CALL.
Same thing happened to me yesterday on my 2001 Grand (UK). I've had this car from new and was most upset when it had to have a new transmission fitted at 100k miles (hardly expected for this vehicle given it's never towed anything or been off-road) so now the seat has fallen apart.
Yup same here... the seat has now broken on my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I'm very disappointed that Jeep has not recalled these vehicles yet. I will be buying the track assembly to try to fix it myself.
Oh dear, I wish I had seen all this earlier... I picked up a 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland on Saturday and on the journey home I was driven mad by the seat jerking backwards every time I accelerated and forwards every time I braked. It isn't wobbly, just this annoying jerking backwards and forwards..
I'm sure it didn't do it when I was on the test drive or maybe I just didn't notice it as I was looking for the other faults that these vehicles are known for...
I should have known better :-(
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2000, and the seat has just started jerking around when I accelerate, stop or go around corners. It is driving me nuts. I think I will call the number and report it as well. Where can I find a seat track kit that would work?
To whoever posted on 19 Sep...
So your seat was the power seat, not the manual one?
I own a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, when the seat frame broke the first time along the bar which runs under the seat, I had a friend weld it. Now, the bracket broke just above the hole before it bends and runs under the seat on the bracket closet to the drivers door. After reading these posts I had to demand an apology from my wife as she accused me of breaking the seat due to too many trips to Taco Bell (guilty). I am trying to find an affordable replacement part as I am not trusting the original at this point. I have also had the passengers side Blend door motor fail which I hear is typical and have been told the entire dash must be removed to fix my heater. I wish I would have bought another Land Rover...
UGH this just happened to me. I was driving along in the snow and changed lanes I weight about 200lbs and I am the only 1st and only owner of my 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo. I almost killed my self after being essentially launched into my back seat.
Wow, seems more common than I thought. just happened to me this morning. Has noticed the seat wobbling before. Got in my 2000 Grand Cherokee today and leaned back on the seat to get something out of my pocket and *bam* the seat fall back like it's a recliner. The metal completely broke free of the bolt. I'm noticing a trend. This car has been in my family since new, but all drivers have been bigger men, me being around 200. Apparently Chrysler has a problem manufacturing seats properly for bigger people.
My 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee just failed inspection because of this. The seat does not feel like it is rocking at all. They said it is cracked and they would try to weld it for $200, but if that didn't work, it would cost more to order a new frame.
Since the seat shows no sign of wobbling, they knew to look for it and happily charge $200 for guy to take it out and a welder to do a 30 second tack weld job on it. Why order a recall when you can have your maintenance crew make a killing on it? What a rip off. Needless to say I am fixing this on my own.
Greetings. My seat has recently gone as well. I couldn't believe that there were so many other people with this issue. Daimler Chrysler is a horrible company, I've never spent more money on a car than I have with my 2000 JG-CL 4x2. I've contacted D.C. via Email, I hope to hear back from them soon. I'll be trying to fix this problem myself today by following the instructions a few posts above. Thanks for the inspiration to get up and do something about this problem!
DO NOT stay silent!!!
Please call National Highway Traffic and Safety Adm. if you have this problem. This is Daimler Chrysler's responsibility, they need to recall this part before people are killed. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!