2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo from North America - All Comments

When I turn on the lights and press my brake the tail lights go out. But if I don't turn on the lights and press the brake they light up. Has anyone else had this problem and if so what was the fix? The lights appear to be getting the proper 12V required and the ground seems fine.

Also the jeep has power door locks and when I press the lock/unlock it makes a horrible growling sound and some of the doors will not lock/unlock and my drivers door locked me in several times and you cannot unlock it with the key or from the inside.

I have not had any of those problems mentioned, but I do have a problem with the driver's side power window. It got stuck a month after I purchased it and the dealer supposedly replaced the motor, but at 36,00 miles it broke again. Otherwise I am satisfied with my vehicle.

I have had similar problems with the growling sound from the locks. I have had the locks on all four doors become inactive while they were still under warranty (one at a time, not all at once). The lift gate lock is now doing the same thing. I have pulled the trim panel off the lift gate to locate the problem. There is a small black box (motor) which is where the growling noise is coming from. I went to the dealership here in Cary, North Carolina to buy this part, but they would not sell it to me separately. They would only sell me the entire lock mechanism for almost $200. Instead I decided to wait to see if I can buy it from a scrap yard. I am currently unlocking my trunk manually under the trim panel from within the vehicle.

Everyone I know who has a 1999 or 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee has had multiple problems with locks and power windows.

I have had the same problems you described with my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The door locks making the growling noise scared the living daylights out of me - $285 to fix those. They said it was the motor in the door causing the problem.

The rear right tail light began to malfunction when I stepped on the brakes. Turned out (allegedly) to be a defective computer panel in the tail light. Another $165 to fix that.

I began to have problems with the window on the front passenger side. It wouldn't close all the way. My car was about 3 years old at that point, and had about 25K mileage. It was covered under my extended warranty (which is a necessity if one buys a Jeep!) I think the motor was replaced on that side, and it cost me the $100 deductible. Still, it was a pain to have this happen on a car with such low mileage. This and a host of other annoying problems would cause me not to recommend this model.

I had the same problem with my 2000 grand Cherokee, the left tail light went out when stepping on the brakes.

The fix was to replace the tail light lens assembly (the printed board inside was defective) and the defective part is non replaceable, except as a whole unit.$ 145.00 @ Tellico4x4.com.

I have had similar problems with both my locks and my lights. The left brake light works during the day, but when all of the lights are on the brake light does not work. Also, my driver's side door will not unlock with the remote. It emits a "growling" sound, but then needs to be unlocked with a key. It cannot be unlocked with a key until the remote has already been used. Except for these two relatively minor problems, I'm extremely happy with my vehicle. Even my mechanic is amazed that with 86,000 miles on it (it's a '99) it doesn't leak a drop of anything and it runs great!

I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee and have had the exact same problems with the taillights and locks. My front driver side door will unlock, but not lock with the keyless entry and my front passenger locks will lock, but not unlock with the keyless entry. It also makes the grinding noise. I also had the problems with my taillights. My friend also has a 2000 Cherokee and has the same problems with the taillights.

I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee as well. I came on this message board to see if I could find out what is going on with my tail light. Same thing, light goes out when you step on the brake. I am ordering my part on Ebay for about $56, instead of the quoted price from the dealership of $144 + tax. I have replaced one door lock (actuator) for the noise (what we call the "aflac"). And I have to do two more. I'm holding off, b/c the parts alone from the dealership are $62 a piece (not including installation). I have also been lucky enough to have to replace the fuel check valve. The car won't start on the first crank, but crank again and it starts. The gas wasn't staying primed. That cost almost $300. (And was recalled on the 2001 model, but not the 2000). I have also had little weird things: an ac leak we fixed while looking for the leak, a new serpentine belt, new battery, 4 new tires etc. I've only had the Jeep for about a year and a half, and it only had 28k miles on it when I got it. A money pit in my opinion. I'm wishing I had my 2000 Honda back right now.

I also have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo and came here looking for assistance with the "growling" noise my rear passenger door lock is making. I seem to have the opposite problem regarding the brake lights, mine seem to stay on even when the car is off. I too purchased an extended warranty however I was told that if it is the motor causing the problem then its not covered, but if it is the actuator then they will fix it. Although I haven't had any major problems (let me not speak too soon) the little ones are just annoying and aggravating, like the last post stated I miss my Honda...

I Have had a problem with my 200 grand cherokee when using my left signal. At times nothing will happen. After driving for several miles the directional will start to work. The dealer cannot find the problem.

We have a 2000 jeep. the door locks quit working about 2 weeks after we brought it home from the dealer. first it was just the passenger side, not it is all four locks. the rear door is failing also. it's a real pain because there is no way to open the door without the keyless entry. so, we can't even use the back part of the car. anyhow, I bought a few lock actuators from best buy and, of course, they don't fit right. so, I'm going to have to retofit the new one for my doors. I'm not buying anymore jeep parts anyway. I have repalced my tail lights several times too. I wish I had bought a honda!

I also own a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee in which the LEFT tail light malfunctioned!! The diagnosis I received is that BOTH of the tail light assemblies must be replaced because the circuits were shorted (cost $500 installed).

I reported this problem to Jeep using their website. They replied that there are no recalls or bulletins regarding the tail light problem; however, with the number of individuals reporting similar problems I can't help, but feel like they should.

If you have not done so, consider submitting the details of your lock and/or tail light problems to the manufacturer directly using their website. Maybe we can make a difference.

I got the information from a Jeep dealer recently about the taillights. We are now in need of replacing our second taillight due to the malfunction and the dealer I went to has indicated is extremely common in 99-? Grand Cherokees (did not indicate whether other models were affected). Here is what they showed me...

Most cars have light sockets with their wiring attached. The socket twists into the lamp assembly. On the Grand Cherokee, the socket does not have the wiring attached. Instead, the wiring goes into the lamp assembly and the socket has three electrical contacts that, when twisted into the assembly, will make the contact. What seems to be the most frequent malfunction is that the electrical contacts (which make contact with their respective electrical paths when they are inserted into the assembly) are pressed tight to ensure good contact with the assembly...and on many taillights, the plastic ring containing the respective paths often begins to separate from the fatigue of the contacts pressing so hard. Of the three contacts (rear tail light, rear brake light and ground), the ground is what he said most commonly loses its contact due to fatigue cracking.

What happens is that when your lights are off and you step on the brake, the current goes through the brake light path and (since there is no ground when its broken) will ground out through the tail light path and (for whatever reason) will only light up the tail light circuit in the bulb (and you will notice that although lit up with the brake lights, it will not be as bright as the brake light should be). When your lights are on and you step on the brake, the electrical current already running through the tail light circuit is grounded out through the brake light circuit engaged when the brake is pressed and the light bulb grounds out.

On my 2nd taillight that I have had problems with, I have been able to see the fatigue cracking and have even tried to wedge some plastic behind the cracked ring to hold it against the ground circuit, but that only lasted for so long and now it is doing it again.

The first taillight was malfunctioning, but before I could find out what was causing it to not work correctly, despite several packages of new taillight bulbs, my wife backed into the side yard fence and broke out the taillight lens. I got a used one from Ebay, and when I installed it, it too malfunctioned (karma coming to bite me for finding a used taillight for only $5.00 on Ebay). That's when I took it to the dealer. The mechanic said that it really cannot be fixed, but needs to be replaced (easy to say at over one-hundred-some-odd dollars a piece). I have tried approximately 6 brand new bulbs and four new sockets and still, the assembly is malfunctioning.

My 2000 jeep has same problem, my head light on, brake light go off, I think we all should sue jeep, for making bad car,

Like many of the people listing their problems, I too have a 2000 J.G.C. with the same same problem.

I say WE all make contact with each other and anybody else WE know or see with one (J.G.C.) and flood the makers email box with complaints.

Signed, MrBlakeSTEELE@yahoo.com.