2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Brakes Problems

2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OUT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN. BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. BRAKE LIGHTS WORK FINE WHEN HEADLIGHTS OFF. PROBLEM DESIGN IS IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE LIGHT SOCKET FOR THE TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT IN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, YOU WILL SEE 3 SILVER CONTACT POINTS INSIDE THE BLACK PLASTIC RING. TWO ARE GROUPED TOGETHER AND THERE IS ONE THAT IS OPPOSITE OF THE TWO. THE ONE BY ITSELF IS THE GROUND; THE OTHER TWO ARE THE CONTACTS FOR THE TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE GROUND CONNECTOR. YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THE GROUND CONTACT IS DEPRESSED INTO THE PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC ITSELF IS SLIGHTLY WARPED DOWN. 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 MOST COMMONLY LOSES ITS CONTACT DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OFTEN DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE ON, SO IF CHECKED IN DAYLIGHT, THE PROBLEM OFTEN GOES UNDETECTED. ONLY WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER OR THE POLICE POINT IT OUT DOES IT LOOKED AT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT OCCURS FOR NEARLY EVERY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE OF WILL IT HAPPEN, RATHER WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN! *TR

ALL 1999-2002 GRAND CHEROKEE WJ MODELS BUILT THROUGH MAY 10, 2002 CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE CALIPERS MADE BY TEVES. THEY ARE BLACK IN COLOR WITH AN OPEN-SIDED BRACKET DESIGN. DUE TO POOR CALIPER CENTERING, THE TEVES CALIPERS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP, A PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED GRAND CHEROKEES. AT THE VERY END OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, JEEP CHANGED TO "FULLY-CLOSED" STYLE CALIPERS DESIGNED BY AKEBONO. TO ADDRESS THE WARPED ROTOR PROBLEM JEEP ISSUED A TSB, #05-003-02. WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL DO TO THE MAJOR WHEEL SHAKE TO THE POINT OF THE DRIVER ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF THE SUV DO TO THIS VIBRATION. JEEP HAS LONG KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE & WAS SUED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH THEY SETTLED THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE ROTOR THICKNESS VARIATION GENERATED BY POOR CALIPER CENTERING. THIS CAUSES STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. GRAND CHEROKEE BRAKES UP THROUGH MAY 10TH 2002 WERE DESIGNED BY TEVES. SAME BRAKES USED ON BMW & FORD EXPEDITION BUT THE GRAND CHEROKEE WAS THE FIRST TO USE A TWIN PISTON CALIPER DESIGN. CHRYSLER WANTED TWIN PISTONS BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CALIPER SPRING CAUSES THE INBOARD PAD TO DRAG. IT TAKES A LOT OF HEAT (CHERRY RED) TO WARP ROTORS, SO THE MAIN CAUSE OF ROTOR VARIATION IS NOT HEAT BUT UNEVEN WEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP LAREDO. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TWO FRONT TIRES. AFTER THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED, BALANCED, AND ALIGNED, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOOSE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ROTORS FAILED. THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED AND THE BRAKE LINE SHOULD BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,606 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,801.

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE 4.0 LITER 6 CYLINDER ENGINE STARTED USING COOLANT AND CAUSING THE COOLANT LIGHT TO ALARM. THE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO "0" AND SOUND THE CHECK GAUGES ALARM. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC SHOP FOR COSTLY REPAIRS AND TROUBLESHOOTING. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAKS, AND REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND REAR MAIN SEAL. THEY CHECKED THE BEARING CLEARANCES AND FOUND THEM WITHIN TOLERANCE. THE CAR IS STILL USING ONE TO TWO PINTS OF COOLANT EVERY THREE DAYS AND THE OIL CONTINUES TO DROP TO "0" AFTER WARM-UP. WE REPLACE THE 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY TWO YEARS. THE HOOD GAS SHOCKS WON'T HOLD THE HOOD UP AND THE SHOCKS COST $150 A PAIR FORM THE DEALER AND ONLY LAST ONE YEAR. WE TO HAVE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS THAT SCREECH AND DON'T LOCK THE DOORS AS WELL AS REAR LIGHT PROBLEMS THAT WORK OFF AND ON. THE EMISSIONS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL ON OUR RECENT SMOG TEST. THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT THE #3 AND 4 CYLINDER IS USING THE MYSTERIOUS ANTIFREEZE LOSS. AS A RETIRED MECHANICAL ENGINEER I ALSO BELIEVE THE OIL PROBLEM TO BE RELATED. MY WIFE HAS THE GRAND CHEROKEE AND I PURCHASED A TJ WRANGLER NEW IN 2000. I'M CONCERNED THIS VEHICLE WILL DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVING THE SAME ENGINE. WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $50 THOUSAND IN THESE TWO CARS. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP US OFFSET THIS BURDEN. *TR

MY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND I HAVE TO ADD COOLANT WEEKLY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEAK. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK WHEN A MECHANIC TOLD ME THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE AND MIXING WITH MY OIL. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED I WILL NEED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS SINCE THE COOLANT-OIL MIXTURE HAS BEEN RUNNING THROUGH MY ENGINE FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. MY REAR LEFT BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE ROTORS AND FINALLY HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THEM WITH A DIFFERENT KIND. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 JEEP GC LAREDO, AND ALONG WITH MANY,MANY OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE WARPED ROTORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AS I DO, ALSO THE TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE, THAT HAS GOTTEN ME PULLED OVER MORE THAN ONCE, EVEN THOUGH I PUT A NEW BULB IN IT EVERY TIME. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT IS VERY ANNOYING NOT TO MENTION MY TRANSMISSION HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT AND NOW MY RADIATOR FAN WILL NOT WORK SO MY CAR WILL OVERHEAT IF I AM STOPPED FOR TOO LONG. *JB

ON A HARD STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY JEEP THE DEALER, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE A RUSTED BRAKE LINE THAT FAILED WHEN I MADE THE PANIC STOP. I CALLED CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES REGARDING BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT AND LEAKING FLUID CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. CHRYSLER REPLIED THAT SINCE MY JEEP WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE. THIS IS NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL ISSUE, BUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO NOTIFY OTHERS OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE ROTORS WARP EASILY,DOOR LATCHES BRAKE DOWN,AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MAKES NOISES AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND CYLINDERS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DUE TO SQUEAKING NOISES AND THE INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SQUEAKING AND SCREECHING NOISES WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND GREATER. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 16, 2007. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 112,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I PURCHASED A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IN 2005 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN ALBUQUERQUE. AT THAT TIME NO RECALLS OR REPAIRS OF ANY SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS WERE REVEALED TO ME. I RECEIVED A RECALL IN NOVENBER 2006 FOR COOLING FAN THAT I HAD ALREADY HAD DONE . DAIMLER/CHRYSLER REIMBURSED ME FOR SOME OF THE REPAIRS DONE. ON 4-17-07 I WAS NORTH BOUND ON UNSER APPROACHING LADERA, TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. I WAS TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS POSTED AT 35 MPH. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN SLAMMED MY FOOT DOWN ON THE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I REAR ENDED A LARGE PICKUP AT THE INTERSECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I DID NOT THINK THE SEAT BELT ENGAGED UNTILL I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY STERNUM. MY INJURIES WERE MINOR, AND I ELT THE INJURIES OF THE PERSON I HIT WERE ALSO MINOR. THE REASON I BELIEVED THISWAS SO BECAUSE I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSICIENCE. AFTER SOME ADVICE FROM AN ATTOURNEY I CHECKED ONLINE FOR ANY SAFTY RELATED RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO FIND MANY. RECALL # 200002004 WAS A SEAT BELT RECALL, RECALL # 20060313 WAS A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL, AND RECALL # 19991202 WAS A AIR BAG RECALL. THERE WERE MANY MORE I AM SURE YOU WERE AWARE OFF. MY CONCERN WAS FOR ANYBODY ELSE THATWAS DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE CAR. IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME I AM SURE THEIR INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT SAFE. *AK

MY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 6 CYL. 4X4 HAS HAD EXTENSIVE ROTOR PROBLEMS LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AT 19,000 (COVERED BY DEALER), 40,000 (AT MY EXPENSE), AT 63,520, AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE, AT 90,000, AND NOW AGAIN, REPLACING ALL 4 ROTORS AT 363.50 PER SET AT 112,000 MILES. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

DUE TO PULSING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS AROUND 20,000 MILES (WE PAID THE BILL). THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AGAIN AROUND 40,000 MILES BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ON A TRIP TO THE STORE THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WOULD NOT TOTALLY RELEASE PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT AND HEATING THE ROTOR / PADS TO THE POINT OF SMOKING. THE RIGHT FRONT ALUMINUM WHEEL RIM WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH; THE CALIPER AND ROTOR WERE REPLACED WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *JB

ON JAN. 10, 2007, I WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF MY JEEP WAS SMASHED AND I HAVE TO GET A WHOLE NEW FRONT CLIP FOR IT. ALSO, THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THIS TYPE OF COLLISION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT END SHOOK. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ROTORS FOUR TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER FOUR MONTHS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE ON SLICK WET ROADS, THE BRAKES SHUDDERED WHEN APPLIED LIGHTLY. PRIOR WARNING OF BRAKE PROBLEMS WAS GRADUAL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND MENTIONED SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER CONSUMERS. THE CONTACT WAS DIRECTED TO THE TSB #0500302B AFTER THE DEALER CHECKED THE VIN # FOR RECALLS. NO RECALLS WERE FOUND BY THE DEALER. NO EXAMINATIONS OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT ANYTIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS WARPED ROTORS. THERE WAS A TSB (03-005-02B) FROM THE MANUFACTURER, REQUIRING THE CHANGE OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS. THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME THE ROTORS WERE SERVICED AND/OR REPLACED. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM

DUE TO FAULTY ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BRAKES WHICH RESULTED IN THE WELL DOCUMENTED SHIMMY IN 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDOS, I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE ALL COMPONENTS AT 70K MILES. NOW AT 121,000; THE SHIMMY IS SO BAD AT 40 MPH THAT I NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER EXPENSIVE BRAKE JOB TO CORRECT AN INHERENT JEEP DEFECT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT CALIPER LOCKED. THE SERVICE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA FOR POTENTIAL RECALL INFORMATION BEFORE PROVIDING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT AGREED TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS AFTER THE REPAIR.

MY LOCAL JEEP DEALER ADVISES THAT MY 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO WITH 19,000 MILES HAS BAD BRAKES, BAD ROTORS, BAD CALIPERS, LOOSE BELTS (GOODYEAR TIRES) AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE SAYS THAT IS WHY WHEN I ATTEMPT TO BRAKE IF I AM GOING OVER 40 MPH THAT THE FRONT VIBRATES OR IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AT 55 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN SURFING THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOTORIOUS WITH OTHER 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS. *JB

THE BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE KEEP WARPING. I HAVE HEARD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER JEEP OWNERS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS FAILING. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE HAD OTHERS TELL ME THE REGULATORS ON THE WINDOWS FAIL OFTEN WITH THE JEEPS. *NM