1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the automatic transmission and shifter — slipping, harsh shifting, and vehicles that move after being left in Park — plus brake and speed-control symptoms. Many complaints involve vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, and a recurring theme in recent years is owners unable to get the fuel-tank recall remedy performed.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter slips out of gear / vehicle rolls in Park

   • 213 complaints (30%)
   • median 115,623 mi at 10.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 81 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1995–2021

   Complaints describe the floor shifter not staying firmly in a gear position, moving between Drive, Neutral and Reverse with little effort, and vehicles rolling backwards or forwards after being left running in Park. Several owners say the condition appeared or worsened after the secondary detent recall work was performed, and that dealers described the new feel as normal. Others report the parking function inside the transmission no longer holding the vehicle on an incline. Reported anywhere from roughly 35,000 to 140,000 miles, often on vehicles parked on a slope or left running.

   Recall 02V053000

   What to check: On a test drive, shift through all positions and check that each detent holds firmly without touching the release button. Park on a slope, set Park with the engine running, and confirm the vehicle stays put.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall 02v053000 concerning inadvertent vehicle movement. When the vehicle is in the drive position and the ignition is shut off the vehicle moves backwards unassisted. Consumer has contacted the manufacturer, and has been told that the vehicle has to be placed back in park before turning off the vehicle to keep it from moving backward.”

   NHTSA complaint #10092624, filed 2004-10, 120,000 miles

   “The vehicle was parked when it suddenly began to move in reverse. The vehicle rolled across a street and crashed into a parked vehicle. There were two small children belted in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the accident. The were no injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094469, filed 2004-09, 35,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Rear fuel tank exposure and recall parts delays

   • 76 complaints (11%)
   • median 102,500 mi at 11.3 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2019

   Many complaints concern the fuel tank's position behind the rear axle and the tow-hitch remedy under the fuel tank recall, with owners reporting dealers could not supply parts or declined the repair on vehicles with frame or bumper corrosion. Others describe fuel pump failures and fuel smells inside the cabin after refueling. Recall-related complaints cluster from about 2014 onward on high-mileage vehicles; fuel pump and odor reports from roughly 40,000 miles up.

   Recall 13V252000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 13V252000 was completed and inspect the rear frame and bumper bolts for corrosion, since some dealers decline the work on rusted vehicles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received an important safety recall regarding the fuel tank on my vehicle (n45/ NHTSA 13v-252). I have called my local Jeep dealership a few times in the span of a couple of months and still they say they do not have the parts needed to fix my vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10566828, filed 2014-03, 226,732 miles

   “Fuel pump failure,towed to my local mechanic(not dealer).a new pump was installed and when the mechanic got it from the dealership,they said to look for algae in the tank.they did so,and there was none!I picked up the Jeep and drove 40 miles only to have it stop running again.after having it towed back in again,only to find out another fuel pump had failed.the mechanic called the dealership to tell them of the second failure and to get a replacement;they told him to replace the tank along with the fuel pump because the tanks have been …”

   NHTSA complaint #10002874, filed 2003-01, 79,743 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, shuddering or failing

   • 69 complaints (10%)
   • median 137,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2021

   Owners describe the transmission slipping, acting as if it is shifting when it is not, and in some cases the vehicle losing drive and stalling shortly after. Complaints mention repeated transmission replacements, torque converter failure sending debris through the unit, and a viscous coupler in the transfer case causing wheels to bind or lock during turns. Dealers reportedly either could not identify a cause or replaced the unit. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 250,000 miles, sometimes after towing or in all-wheel-drive use.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for transmission and transfer case service records and check for shudder or slipping on a warm test drive, including tight low-speed turns where a binding coupler shows up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission has been replaces 3 times and is slipping again. I have spoken with several auto repair places and other 1005 Jeep owners and the all say the air conditioning system and transmission in the 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee have issues. I also replaced the A/C and it is not cooling that great anymore- maybe freon but the transmission is a joke. Will never buy another Jeep!!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10248081, filed 2008-11, 80,000 miles

   “It acts as though it is shifting gears but it isn't, then within 5 miles it dies. We have replaced plugs, wires, battery, all kinds of sensors, the computers and still it will not go 10 miles before shutdown. Then I have to wait 15 minutes, before it will start back up to even go down the road. I live 30 miles from a dealership to even have it put on the computer. It would take me all day to drive it to get there just to hopefully find out what is wrong. I can't afford to keep trying this part and that part just to even try to get to work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10487294, filed 2012-12, 215,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Door latch tears out of door frame

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the sheet metal around the door latch cracking or tearing so the latch pulls out of the door, leaving the door ajar while driving or unable to close at all. Some owners report worn hinges causing the door to sag and misalign, and dealers describing the metal around the latch as a design weakness. Several say the repair required a new door and paint. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, with some doors failing while driving at low speed.

   What to check: Open and close each door firmly and look at the sheet metal around the latch striker for cracks or distortion; check hinge play by lifting the door slightly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The door latch is ripping out of the door frame. As a result, the door stays ajar while in motion. The cause has yet to be determined. The steel door frame tore where holes were drilled to mount the door latch. No rust was present. As of 4-07-05, the door latch completely tore out of the door frame and made the latch mechanism inoperable and the drivers door unlatchable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10117197, filed 2005-04, 148,000 miles

   “Front driver's side door is becoming increasingly harder to close or open, started jan 2002, now door will not stay closed. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that it was a design flaw and wants to charge for a new door and paint job.”

   NHTSA complaint #10051254, filed 2003-12, 149,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brakes weak or ABS not stopping the vehicle

   • 79 complaints (11%)
   • median 113,461 mi at 10.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2021

   Complaints describe the ABS failing to stop the vehicle within a expected distance on wet or icy roads, and brake rotors with severe corrosion on vehicles in cold-weather states. Some owners report the parking brake not holding after recall service, and one owner says a dealer declined to perform the brake rotor recall remedy. Spread from about 60,000 to 180,000 miles, with ABS complaints tied to wet, icy or cold-weather use.

   Recall 99V340000Recall 95V172000

   What to check: Ask whether the front rotor and parking brake recalls were completed, inspect rotors for pitting, and test the parking brake on a slope.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving on an icy or wet roads ABS failed to stop vehicle within a safe distance. This has almost caused several rear end collisions. Consumer informed the dealership of the problem. Dealership indicated that this was a normal function of the ABS system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10063440, filed 2004-03, 80,000 miles

   “The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer when he received recall 95v17200 letter concerning the emergency parking brake. The emergency parking brake was working good just for one day, called back to dealer, and they wanted to charge consumer to fix it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10024027, filed 2003-07, 117,923 miles

Buying note. These vehicles are now old enough that condition and service history matter more than any single fault; check the shifter detents, transmission behavior, door latches and rear frame rust carefully, and confirm which recalls have actually been completed. Parts for several recall remedies have been reported as unavailable, so plan for the possibility of paying for repairs yourself.

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.