2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes — chiefly front rotors that warp and cause shaking or vibration when braking, often within the first 20,000–30,000 miles. A second cluster of complaints covers the driver's seat frame and bracket breaking loose, and others describe the electric cooling fan's plastic blades separating and damaging the radiator or shroud. Many of the sample complaints were filed at higher mileage (90,000–180,000), so several items read as wear-and-age failures rather than early-life ones.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   Mentioned in 11 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at various speeds, sometimes requiring a wait before it restarts, and repeated stalling that no shop could definitively diagnose. Some owners report replacing crank and cam sensors, the computer or other ignition parts without a lasting fix, and a few note coolant loss or a cracked cylinder head between cylinders alongside the stalling. Reported from about 10,000 miles up to 190,000 miles, with most cases at higher mileage.

   Recall 02V104000

   What to check: Ask for any diagnostic records on stalling or sensor replacement, and check coolant level and color for loss or contamination. A scan for stored codes and a longer test drive including a hot restart can help reveal intermittent stalling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine shuts down and the electrical system to start the car is shutdown while driving. I have had this happen to me numerous times and have not been able to find the resolution to it. It's a tremendous safety concern because it has happened to me while driving on several highways. The car attempts to turn over while trying to start it however none of the gauges are responding to the key in the ignition during turn over. I have read numerous forums with many people with the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10311352, filed 2010-02, 82,000 miles

   “The SUV randomly shuts down like someone unplugged it and will not start. Sometimes it will start after 10-15 minutes and shut down again. I replaced the oxygen sensor, the crank sensor, idle control sensor, and the car computer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324077, filed 2020-05, 193,391 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Driver's seat frame or bracket breaks loose

   • 177 complaints (12%)
   • median 115,250 mi at 10.1 yrs old (142 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $725 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2022

   Owners describe the driver's seat frame, rail or bracket cracking or pulling free of its mount, leaving the seat loose or tipped backward while driving. Complaints say the failure often begins with a squeak or looseness before the metal separates, and that the movement made it hard to see the road or reach the pedals. Some report the dealer quoting expensive repairs or saying the replacement part was no longer available or backordered. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 180,000 miles, on vehicles with long service.

   What to check: Grab the seat back and rock it firmly side to side and fore-aft; look under the seat for cracked or torn mounting brackets and rust around the floor pan. Ask whether the seat frame or track has ever been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Recently the front drivers seat frame broke at 2 points. I ended up losing control as I was rocked into the back seat as I was going around a curve. I did avoid hitting anything but this scared the life out of me. I never had a car that the frame holding the seat in place was so poorly made.”

   NHTSA complaint #10317142, filed 2010-03, 98,000 miles

   “As I sat at a stop light it turned green I accelerated and as I did the bracket on my front driver seat separated from the framework of the seat causing me to fall backwards unable to see the roadway mirrors or properly accelerate or brake as any driver should be able to causing me to lose temporary control of the vehicle. I however regained control and was able to pull over to the shoulder but was unable to drive until a repair was done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10588762, filed 2014-05, 179,507 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Warped front rotors / brake vibration

   • 270 complaints (19%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (85 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $475 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2015

   Complaints describe front rotors that warp repeatedly, producing a shake or shimmy through the steering wheel and pedal when braking, in some cases returning within a few thousand to roughly 20,000 miles of the previous repair. Owners report resurfacing, replacing rotors with aftermarket or OEM parts, and new pads and calipers without lasting relief. Several say the dealer characterized it as normal wear or could not duplicate the vibration. Frequently reported on vehicles well under 30,000 miles, with several owners citing repeat repairs every 12,000–20,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, brake firmly from highway speed and feel for pulsation or wheel shake. Ask for brake repair receipts and whether rotors or calipers have been replaced more than once.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While I am generally very satisfied with my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, I am writing to complain about a chronic problem I have experienced. In 2000, when the vehicle was very new, I noticed vibration in the steering wheel. My Jeep was repaired for warped rotors and the brake pads were replaced and the rotors cut. Then, in 03/02, I had the same problem and the vehicle was repaired for the second time. Then again in 03/03, the same problem! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10072893, filed 2004-05, 60,000 miles

   “I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that requires new rotors every 18,000 miles or less. When the rotors start deteriorating the whole car shakes, shimmies and is difficult to control when the brakes are applied. This is dangerous and seems an unnecessary expense for the price of the vehicle. All Jeep dealers will tell you their rotors are bad, but I don't see any consumer help or improvement provided by the dealers. They and chrysler corp. Refuse to pay for this recurrent problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10014378, filed 2003-04, 17,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Cooling fan blades separate and damage radiator

   • 75 complaints (5%)
   • median 91,700 mi at 7.0 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2014

   Complaints describe the plastic blades of the electric cooling fan cracking and coming off, which produces a banging or vibration and can puncture the radiator or shroud and lead to overheating and coolant loss. Owners also report repeated failure of the fan relay module, with the dealer familiar with the part. Some owners of this model year state they were told their vehicle was not covered by the related fan campaign. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 59,000 to over 180,000 miles.

   Recall 06V199000

   What to check: With the engine and A/C running, listen for fan noise or vibration and inspect the fan blades for cracks or missing tips; check the radiator for puncture marks. Ask whether the fan assembly or relay has been replaced and whether campaign 06V199000 applied to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Plastic fan blades of the electric radiator fan have fracture and separate on my vehicle,it has cause the vehicle to overheat,plus it damage the radiator,2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee ,I have been told that it does not cover my vehicle,but other of the same year,I have the same problem. Or on recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10349340, filed 2010-08, 186,648 miles

   “I am the owner of a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. On thursday august 10, 2006, my electric motor driven cooling fan exploded, causing damage to my shroud and puncturing two holes in my radiator. This has done significant damage to my car. It is undriveable until all of these components are replaced. I contacted daimler chrysler's 800 number and was told that there was not a recall on this part. I called my local Jeep dealer and was told the same. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165212, filed 2006-08, 92,400 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   No heat on passenger side (blend door)

   • 111 complaints (8%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 31 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2020

   Owners describe the heater blowing cold or only warm air on the passenger side while the driver's side works, or the reverse, which they attribute to the blend door actuator. Complaints note the repair is labor-intensive because of where the part sits, and that the dealer did not treat it as a known service issue. Some report windshield fogging or defrost trouble in cold weather as a result. Typically reported from the low thousands up to roughly 180,000 miles, with several owners mentioning winter or below-freezing conditions.

   What to check: With the engine warm, set the heater to full hot on both sides and feel the vents at idle and while driving; check whether each side changes temperature when you move the dial. Ask whether the blend door actuator has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Visibility:defroster/defogger system:windshield:blower Jeep Grand Cherokee lmt. Heater problem. I have a dual control system, that is only heating on the passenger's side. There are several complaints and the cost of repair is outrageous, the part is semi reasonable, but the labor and location makes it extremely costly. This is a danger in terms of visibility and I believe chrysler should fix the problem. Several Jeep owners are having the same problems, so it appears to be a manufactures defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10295678, filed 2009-12, 133,000 miles

   “2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Passenger side vents blow extremely cold air, even with the heat turned on. With negative temperatures this past week, this makes driving the vehicle nearly impossible. This is a widespread issue that is a known vehicle flaw and extremely costly to fix. This isn't about comfort, but about safety in winter weather!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10252693, filed 2008-12, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Check the brakes for pulsation on a test drive and look under the driver's seat for a cracked frame, since those two are the most frequently described. Also confirm the cooling fan and radiator condition and that the heater works on both sides; records of past repairs are worth asking for on a vehicle of this age.

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.