1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, especially front rotors and pedal/linkage hardware, along with steering-gear and steering-column separation, transmission shifter and stalling concerns, and rear-end fire risk tied to the fuel tank location. Complaints cluster well past 100,000 miles, so most reports describe wear-and-tear-era failures rather than failures on a low-mileage vehicle. Fuel-tank and rear-structure concerns were the subject of a later safety recall and related service bulletins offering a rear-structure upgrade.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering gear mounting bolts and column separation

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a loud bang followed by loss of steering, traced to steering-gear mounting bolts shearing or pulling out of the frame. Others report the upper and lower steering column shafts coming apart at the plastic pin, in some cases while the vehicle was parked and in others while driving. Owners say dealers declined repair under the steering-column recall because their VIN was not included. Mostly reported between about 78,000 and 149,000 miles, though one owner described column separation at higher mileage.

   Recall 93V210000

   What to check: Ask whether the steering-column recall was completed for this VIN, and have a mechanic check the three steering-gear mounting bolts and frame attachments for looseness or elongation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Backing up slowly out of my driveway I heard a loud bang like a bolt breaking. Immediately lost the ability to steer right and somewhat left. Had car towed to garage and tech said steering box broke and support bolts snapped off and damaged radiator as well. Glad this did not happen on the road at speed, could have been a bad wreck.”

   NHTSA complaint #10644718, filed 2014-10, 78,000 miles

   “After driving 125 miles to a sales location, I pulled off of I-85 to make a few cell calls before my meeting. I sat in the car with it idling in a shopping center parking lot making my calls. After about 10 minutes I put the Jeep in drive and started rolling through the parking lot. I turned the steering wheel left/right with no response. The front wheels did not respond to the steering wheel at all. Had it towed to my mechanic. The 3 bolts holding the steering box to the frame had sheared. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10188569, filed 2007-04, 260,401 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front brake rotor corrosion and separation from hub

   • 64 complaints (12%)
   • median 129,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe front brake rotors that rust heavily or crack away from the hub, in some cases leaving a wheel with little or no braking on that side. Owners report pedal pulsation, vibration under braking, and pulling to one side, with repeated rotor replacement at the dealer. Several say their vehicle was not covered by the rotor recall even though the symptoms matched. Reports span roughly 52,000 to 138,000 miles, with several owners noting vibration that worsens on downhill braking.

   Recall 98V005000Recall 92V181000

   What to check: Inspect both front rotors for heavy rust, flaking, or cracks near the hub, and ask for service records showing rotor and pad replacement dates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the brake was applied, there was a loud noise and consumer lost control of the vehicle, it was discovered the rotor had broke from the hub. Consumer discovered there was a recall regarding the front brake rotors and had then replaced for a second time.”

   NHTSA complaint #8023257, filed 2002-11, 52,958 miles

   “When the brakes were applied, the vehicle vibrated excessively, the dealer replaced the rotors twice. . There was a recall on the vehicle regarding the rotors”

   NHTSA complaint #10018249, filed 2003-07, 132,219 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start, and electrical shutdowns

   • 47 complaints (8%)
   • median 165,700 mi at 18.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Owners report the engine and all electrical power cutting out until a wiring harness is moved, and repeated replacement of engine computers and harnesses without a lasting fix. Others describe crankshaft sensor or coil failure causing highway shutdowns, and crossed radio wiring that drained the battery and took out the fuel gauge and clock. One complaint describes a fire attributed to battery wiring, and another to debris on the heater-fan resistor. Scattered from about 50,000 to 200,000 miles, with several reports in the 160,000 to 200,000 mile range.

   What to check: Inspect the main harness and battery cables for chafing or corrosion, confirm the check-engine light works, and ask about prior computer or harness replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle looses all power - engine stops as well as electrical --- until you shake main wiring harness . Have spent over $ 5000.00 having complete electrical diagnostic replacing main ECM harness and testing after repairs were completed . Still same problem and was told by electrical auto technician to make complaint as Jeep chrysler will not warranty or have a replacement ECM for any grand Jeep cherokee's effected by this problem . Just recently found this site and asking for you to do something for this problem . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10722371, filed 2015-05, 130,000 miles

   “Crankshaft sensor failed two times already. Consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway, and vehicle shutdown without prior notice. Dealership is aware of problem. Vehicle shutdown due to coil failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #878399, filed 2001-01
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter not fully engaging Park; vehicle rolls

   • 64 complaints (12%)
   • median 135,576 mi at 12.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Owners describe the shifter failing to seat fully in Park, so the vehicle rolls backward or forward, sometimes with the engine running, and only starts in Neutral. Several say the condition returned after the dealer performed the shifter-linkage recall and adjusted the detent. Related complaints describe the parking brake not holding on an incline. Appears across a broad mileage range, from around 125,000 to 188,000 miles, often noticed when parking on an incline.

   Recall 02V0530002 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a slope, set Park with the engine running and confirm the vehicle holds; also test the parking brake and ask whether the shifter recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer received recall number 02v053000 concerning transmission gear shift. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for recall repairs. The problem happened prior to recall. Transmission gear shift was not completely in park, causing the vehicle to roll backward. Since recall repairs were done the problem recurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10073870, filed 2004-05, 125,077 miles

   “Reimbursement request for replacement of part on the transmission. The consumer stated the vehicle had already experienced the problem prior to the recall, however the dealer continued to tell her it was a different problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053537, filed 2004-01, 163,547 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Rear fuel tank fire risk in rear impacts

   • 24 complaints (4%)
   • median 124,829 mi at 22.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Complaints describe fire or a burst fuel tank after a rear-end collision, and some owners report smoke and flames from the rear while driving. Several say their VIN was excluded from the fuel-tank recall or that the dealer declined the recall work because of rear-frame corrosion. Service bulletins describe a rear-structure upgrade adding a trailer hitch to better manage low-speed impact forces. Reported from about 100,000 to 240,000 miles, in parked, moving, and collision circumstances.

   Recall 13V2520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel-tank recall remedy or the rear-structure upgrade was applied, and check the rear frame and floor for corrosion before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving down the road and the rear of the Jeep began smoking. We pulled over and immediately the Jeep burst into flames. We grabbed a suit case and got away from it. The fuel tank exploded and the entire Jeep was engulfed in flame and burned to the ground. We were moving so we had most of our personal possessions in it. Obviously everything was lost. The insurance company refused to cover any of the costs of towing. My tow bill alone was over $700. We have not even totaled the loss of our personal property.”

   NHTSA complaint #10648581, filed 2014-10, 134,658 miles

   “The contact owned a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While parked, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. As a result, the vehicle caught on fire. A police and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received a notice for NHTSA campaign number: 13v252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) after the failure occurred. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10716268, filed 2015-05, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Check brake rotors and steering-gear/column hardware closely, confirm whether the fuel-tank, shifter, and steering recalls were completed for the specific VIN, and budget for electrical and transmission repair on a vehicle of this age and mileage.

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.