2000 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report two broad themes: brake judder and repeated front rotor replacement at low mileage, and a cooling-system issue with the 4.0L engine in which coolant is lost and the cylinder head is found cracked. Complaints also describe a violent front-end shake at highway speed after hitting a bump, driver seat frames breaking out of their mounts, and airbag warning lights tied to the clock spring. Many reports come in between roughly 30,000 and 110,000 miles, with several brake and head reports at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Cracked cylinder head / coolant loss and mixing with oil

   • 31 complaints (8%)
   • median 79,500 mi at 8.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,650 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2018

   Owners describe coolant disappearing from the overflow bottle with no visible puddle, followed by overheating, low oil pressure or a milky buildup in the coolant. Repair shops reportedly found a crack in the cylinder head near the #3/#4 cylinder area, and some owners said shops described it as a known weakness of the 4.0L head. Complaints mention replaced heads, thermostats, radiators and fans that did not resolve the coolant loss, and in some cases coolant mixing with oil and eventual bearing or engine damage. Reported from as low as about 35,000 miles up to 180,000 miles, often in warmer weather when the engine runs hot.

   Recall 02V1040001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant overflow bottle for brown or oily residue and ask whether the head has ever been replaced; watch the oil pressure gauge at idle. A compression or cooling-system pressure test before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had engine overheating problems on my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, door actuators going bad, and also oil pressure gauge going to zero, and also loosing anti freeze. I have replaced the head once for the coolant loss and didn't do any good, I've had the thermostat switched for overheating and also the radiator fan , no help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10222309, filed 2008-03, 85,000 miles

   “I recently purchased a 2000 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 motor in it. I have been having loss of coolant lately. No leaks no puddles but coolant is disappearing from my over flow bottle. A quick search on the internet revealed that this is a common problem with 2000 4.0l motors. Turns out the head cracks. Closer inspection reviews a cracked head at 35k miles the Jeep has cracked a head. Unreal.”

   NHTSA complaint #10259423, filed 2009-02, 35,250 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front brake vibration and repeated rotor replacement

   • 90 complaints (24%)
   • median 17,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe a vibration or shake through the front end and steering wheel when braking, sometimes at low mileage, and say dealers resurfaced or replaced the front rotors, in some cases repeatedly within a few thousand miles. A few complaints mention brake lines or hoses that had deteriorated and one describes a sudden loss of brake fluid, which was repaired by replacing the line and hoses. Mostly reported under about 25,000 miles, with several owners seeing repeat rotor work every 3,000 to 15,000 miles.

   What to check: Test-drive and brake firmly from highway speed to feel for shudder, and ask for service records showing how often rotors or pads were replaced. Have the brake lines and hoses inspected for corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brakes failed for no apparent reason. Was sitting in drive through waiting to pick something up and when I took my foot off the brake to put it in drive I had no more brakes and brake fluid was shooting out the bottom right passenger side of Jeep. Luckily my emergency brake worked and I was able to stop without killing or hurting anyone. Mechanic charged me $500.00 to fix it and told me that the brake line was rotted and needed to be replaced in addition the hoses were no good. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10587957, filed 2014-05, 41,777 miles

   “In oct 2000 lis. A Jeep from damiolier chysler. In 2002 the Jeep was all over the road took to thier shop they cut the rotters the Jeep only had 6,000 miles in the year 2003 hda to return not even a year had gone by and they re-cut the rotors with only 12,000 mile on the Jeep[. This is the year 2005 the Jeep has only 24,000 miles and since dec. 2004 it started again. The place where I got the car is no longer in nj now it will cost me 500.00 to fix something which should have been fix right the first time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10121861, filed 2005-05, 21,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front-end shake at highway speed after bumps ("death

   • 64 complaints (17%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Owners describe a violent side-to-side shaking of the front end at highway speeds, typically triggered by hitting a bump, that only stops after slowing well down. Complaints mention work on steering and suspension parts including the track bar and its mounting bracket, with some owners saying shops could not reproduce or resolve the shake. Several also report loose or worn steering components. Most often described at 45-60 mph after hitting a bump, reported from about 40,000 miles up to over 200,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed over uneven pavement and ask whether the track bar, bushings and steering linkage have been inspected or replaced; check the track bar bracket bolt and hole for wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving my 2000 Jeep Cherokee sport at 45-50 miles an hour the Jeep violently shakes from the front end. I researched this online and come to find out its called a death wobble among many Jeep owners. This is a scary phenomena as driving at highway speeds the vehicle wobbles back and forth and violently shakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10587955, filed 2014-05, 41,900 miles

   “We just bought the car 2 months ago. When we get to a speed of 60 or over if we hit a bump in the road it starts to shake. We have to come to a complete stop before it will quite. It happened 4 times in a matter of 15 miles. We took it to a repair shop and they said there was nothing they can do to help us. That it happens with all jeeps. We took it to two other shops and they could not help us. The person we bought it from only had it a year. He told us there was no problem. We do not believe him. But now what do we do.? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10525868, filed 2013-07, 65,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag light on, no horn or cruise (clock spring)

   • 24 complaints (7%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2015

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on intermittently and then staying on, often along with loss of the horn and cruise control, and attribute it to a failed clock spring in the steering column. Complaints note that repairs were quoted as an out-of-pocket cost, and some also report airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Reported from about 53,000 to 156,000 miles, with the light sometimes appearing randomly and then becoming constant.

   What to check: Turn the key to accessory and confirm the airbag light self-checks and goes out, then test the horn and cruise control; ask whether the clock spring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car was in a chain reaction accident. I was hit from behind and pushed into the car in front of me. My car was a total lose as was the car I was pushed into. The air bags did not inflate.”

   NHTSA complaint #10147173, filed 2006-01, 77,000 miles

   “Air bag light started to come on and off intermittently. On the second day it came on and stayed on. On the second day I also noticed no horn and no cruise control. All indications are that it is the clock spring. Emailed chrysler to see if it was a recall or safety covered item. They stated no that the entire cost to replace it will be mine $300 plus dollars. From my understanding chrysler is having problems with a lot of clock springs. I feel they should cover this item as it is not an item that should fail that easily.”

   NHTSA complaint #10434345, filed 2011-11, 156,000 miles
5. 5
   Seats

   Driver seat frame breaking at the mounts

   • 19 complaints (5%)
   • median 114,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2016

   Owners report a cracking or snapping noise followed by the driver seat becoming loose, rocking, or breaking away at a corner of the base or bracket. Some repaired or replaced the seat only to have it break again, and complaints describe used seats selling quickly because of the same failure. Reported from as low as about 10,000 miles on the original seat up to 175,000 miles, often noticed when entering or exiting or on a bumpy road.

   What to check: Grab the driver seat and rock it firmly side to side and front to back, and look at the bracket and bolt holes for cracks or repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The front drivers side seat broke at the back approximately july 2003. I had it repaired and I was told that the metal is too thin and that's why it broke. It broke again so I tried to buy a used seat from several salvage yards. They all said that they sell as fast as they come in do to the backs breaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10175213, filed 2006-12, 30,000 miles

   “I have a 200 Jeep Cherokee sport, 4wd. I also had a 1996 Jeep Cherokee sport, 4wd. Both have the same 2 problems. #1 is a broken drivers seat. The bracket is too small and splits near the bolt holes. You can't drive like this, the current one (2000) started with a small noise when I was exiting the car. The next day it let loose on a bumpy road on a corner. I didn't think much of it the first time with the 1996, which I traded for the 2000, but since it has happened again, I did some research and it is a common problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10273576, filed 2009-06, 71,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, check the cooling system and head history on a 4.0L vehicle first, and test the brakes and front end at highway speed. Service records for rotor work, the track bar and the steering column are useful to review.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.