1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, a complaint that appears at widely varying mileage and is usually traced by mechanics to sensors, the computer module, or fuel delivery. Transmission and driveline concerns — hard or slipping shifts, and the vehicle moving after being placed in Park — are the second major theme. Many remaining complaints involve corrosion-related fuel tank and brake rotor problems and front-end shaking at highway speed.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls without warning while driving

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine quitting at any speed, from parking-lot creep to highway merging, sometimes restarting right away and sometimes not for minutes or hours. Owners report repeated parts replacement — crankshaft position sensor, computer module, coil, fuel pump, plugs and wires — without a lasting cure, and several say the dealer could not identify a cause. A few link the behavior to hot weather or to the engine reaching operating temperature. Reported from roughly 70,000 to over 200,000 miles, with several complaints in the 75,000-150,000 mile range and some noting it happens more when hot.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft position sensor, computer module, or ignition coil have been replaced and when, and take a test drive long enough to reach full operating temperature, including a stretch at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle stalls when it is hot outside. I have had the coil replaced then I had the catalytic converter replaced and o2 sensor and it still stalled on start up. I took it to the dealership and it stalled and they told me it was my fuel pump. I spent 965 on a fuel pump I didn't need because it is still stalling and they have no clue why. I seen this problem on mean forums. I think the dealer should be aware of this problem and should know how to fix them not make someone spend a thousand dollars on a might.”

   NHTSA complaint #10328247, filed 2010-04, 144,000 miles

   “This is a commonly known defect with these jeeps which has never been adequately addressed by the NHTSA. Someone is going to get killed if the manufacturer is not held responsible. Infamous stalling problem. Whether going 10 MPH or 70 MPH, vehicle will stall with no warning. Generally will re-start after turning off ignition, but not always immediately. On my Jeep, I have replaced the computer module, crankshaft position sensor, fuel pump, fuel filters, maf sensor, distributor cap, rotor, plugs and plug wires. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10444886, filed 2012-01, 148,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front-end shake at highway speed

   • 91 complaints (10%)
   • median 142,500 mi at 13.5 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2017

   Owners describe the front end and steering wheel shaking violently after hitting a bump at highway speed, requiring them to slow sharply to regain control. Complaints attribute it to worn or loose front suspension and steering parts, and some report repeated alignments, control arm work, and part replacements without a permanent fix. Related complaints describe loss of steering when the power steering pump bracket broke away from the engine. Mostly reported on vehicles with roughly 50,000 to 250,000 miles, typically at speeds above 40-50 mph.

   Recall 98V006000

   What to check: Inspect the front suspension and steering linkages, check the condition of the power steering pump mounting bracket, and drive the vehicle at highway speed over uneven pavement before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had my power steering bracket break into 3 pieces, causing me to go through 2 pulleys and 4 serpentine belts before figuring out the problem. I have also experienced the death wobble a few times at speeds between 40-50 MPH. It is very disturbing and scary and forced me off the road. I have to slow down immediately to get it to stop.”

   NHTSA complaint #10983935, filed 2017-05, 142,000 miles

   “While exiting one freeway to another (on the ramp) at 60+ miles per hour, the entire front end starting shaking violently. The steering wheel was shaking back and forth. I have since found out this is known as 'the death wobble'. We have spent well over $5000 trying to correct this problem. However, the front end continues to require work in order to keep it from reoccurring.”

   NHTSA complaint #10715785, filed 2015-05, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank corrosion and tank strap rust

   • 111 complaints (12%)
   • median 138,500 mi at 16.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $887 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1997–2016

   Complaints describe rust particles from inside the tank clogging or ruining the fuel pump, leaving owners stranded and requiring pump replacement more than once. Other owners report the tank straps rusting through so the tank dropped while driving. Several complaints concern campaign 13V252000, saying parts for the rear-structure repair were unavailable, that the dealer required unrelated body repairs first, or that the work was refused. Reported from about 95,000 to 196,000 miles, with tank-strap failures noted in vehicles driven in road-salt conditions.

   Recall 13V2520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether campaign 13V252000 has been completed and check the tank straps, tank surface, and rear structure for rust; ask whether the fuel pump has been replaced and how recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On december 12, 2003, for the second time in three years, the fuel pump on our Jeep failed. In discussing the failure with two different mechanics and then with our local Jeep dealer, I was advised that Jeep had determined that the gas tank for this vehicle is subject to corrosion whereby minute particles float in the tank and can travel into the fuel pump (the filter that Jeep puts in these cars is not designed to trap these small particles) causing the fuel pump to freeze. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10049748, filed 2003-12, 58,000 miles

   “I received a safety recall notice from chrysler concerning gas tank problems. I scheduled an appointment and took the car to the dealer. They were to install a trailer hitch to correct the problem. They called and said they could not do the work because the bumper was not in line as it apparently been hit. I was told needed to pay to fix this before they would do the work. The car is 19 years old and chrysler allowed us to drive it without us knowing about the existing defect. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643727, filed 2014-10, 142,610 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Vehicle rolls after being shifted into Park

   • 110 complaints (12%)
   • median 107,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 68 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2016

   Complaints describe the vehicle moving rearward after the shifter appeared to be in Park, in some cases after the key was removed, and in others while the engine was still running. Owners report the vehicle rolling down a driveway or into another vehicle, and several say they never received notice of the related campaign or were told by the dealer that the shifter was fine. Reported across a wide mileage range, from vehicles with very low odometer readings to ones over 175,000 miles.

   Recall 02V0530002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether campaign 02V053000 was completed on the vehicle by VIN, and always set the parking brake and check that the lever is fully engaged before leaving it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In december 1996 I was ran over by my Jeep Grand Cherokee in my driveway after it jumped back into gear from park. I reported this issue immediately to the anchorage alaska dealer who had to fix the drivers door that had been destroyed in the event and he stated there was not a problem with the gearshift. I had also reported the issue here on the NHTSA web site in january of 1997. I was taken to the air force hospital emergency room at elemendorf afb alaska and I believe submitted that information at that time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10910028, filed 2016-09, 20,000 miles

   “The vehicle was in park, when all of a sudden it jumped out of gear into reverse, which resulted in an accident. Consumer was informed there was a recall regarding the issue, however consumer was never notified. Recall number 02 v 053 000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10008990, filed 2003-02, 60,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Cracked exhaust manifold / loud exhaust

   • 49 complaints (5%)
   • median 113,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2021

   Owners describe a loud exhaust note that grows worse over time, especially at startup, traced to a cracked exhaust manifold on the six-cylinder engine. Complaints say mechanics and dealer parts staff describe the cracking as common on these engines and note that the replacement part was redesigned. Reported typically between roughly 70,000 and 145,000 miles, on six-cylinder models.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for a ticking or roaring exhaust note at cold start, look for cracks at the manifold, and ask whether the manifold or catalytic converter has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Jeep has been really loud for sometime and is getting louder. It is when you start it up (really bad) and the whole time it's running. I ask my mechanic and he said to try a heat riser. When we went to the Jeep dealer to order it, the parts guy said we could try the heat riser, but more than likely it was a cracked/busted manifold. When we looke, the manifold is cracked in two or three places. I have contacted several mechanics in my area...they all say the same thing....manifolds on these jeeps are bad about cracking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070727, filed 2004-01, 130,000 miles

   “My 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited, will not pass safety inspection because it's exhaust manifold is cracked and leaks exhaust gases. The problem seems to be common among Grand Cherokee owners with the 6 cylinder, 4 l engine. The manifold failed due to a stress crack that developed from uneven expansion and contraction during normal operation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10049121, filed 2003-12, 70,000 miles

Buying note. This model year has well-documented stalling, Park-position, and front-end shake complaints, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection and a check of open campaigns by VIN are worth the cost. Pay particular attention to rust in the fuel tank area and rear structure on vehicles used in road-salt states.

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.