2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 102about this part
- Share
- 12%of 883 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 58,248miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 102 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 12% of the 883 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,248 miles. 38 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My Jeep Grand Cherokee lost power while driving. I was able to pull over with difficulty. I then put in park and was able to get engine started and drove back home. My husband checked out and thought I might have bumped the key since I need the seat so close in order to touch the pedals. I heard on the tv there was a recall on models 2005-2007. Why not on older? If I had been going any faster I might not have been able to steer to the side.”
NHTSA complaint #10615994, filed 2014-07, 187,521 miles“Transmission/powertrain/electrical components/brakes at just over 36,000 miles the powertrain/transmission module failed. There were three minor incidents where when I was accelerating normal into traffic the transmission roared and spun, but the vehicle would not move, I shifted into neutral after letting up on the gas, then shifted back into drive and the transmission kicked in . …”
NHTSA complaint #10065858, filed 2004-04, 38,000 miles“I was driving down the road yesterday in my Jeep Grand Cherokee and the throttle went wide open on me, I tried to get it to stop by tapping the gas thinking it was just a little stuck, but it would not stop so I immediately pulled over, had to slam it into gear, got out and ran into a gas station and had them call 911, came back out and my Jeep was shooting flames out of my exhaust and the entire under carriage was glowing red. Resulting in a loss of my serpentine belt, power steering pulley, melted my transfer case, and more that is yet to be inspected.”
NHTSA complaint #10523368, filed 2013-07, 190,000 miles“I was driving in the rain going the speed limit. My Jeep hit a pool of water on the surface of the highway and started to skid and hydroploane. The next thing I knew it was flipping over and landed on the shoulder of the highway. I was lucky to be wearing my seat belt. I was suspended upside down by my seatbelt. I was able to unbuckle it and crawl out the drivers side window which was completely blown out. Seconds after I got out of the car it burst into flames and the entire vehicle was engulfed and burned completely inside and out. There was nothing left of it but burnt frame. …”
NHTSA complaint #10495134, filed 2013-01, 142,000 miles“Over the past three years my power windows slid down. One left rear a few years ago slid down as we were going down the road. Rt passenger side down about a year later. January 2nd my passenger side window did the same. I took it into the shop and mechanic said it was the regulator, it would be 300.00 to fix it, he said yep that's common in jeeps. I have a friend who has a 2002 Jeep, same problem with all four.... I'm a single mother, single grandmother that cant spare that kind of money. Yesterday 04/14/2009 I walked out to my Jeep to discover the window was down. …”
NHTSA complaint #10265413, filed 2009-04, 105,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10136906Jan 30, 2014Part Description: Seal - Shift Shaft on RFE transmissions Issue Description: This seal (04799346) is replaceable with Seal Kit (68235551AA), which includes a seal and retainer…
- 10021239Aug 25, 2006Powertrain control module initialization.
- 10017000Sep 1, 200545rfe/545rfe trans - delayed engagement due to cooler return filter replacement.
- 10013731Mar 2, 2005Powertrain control module initialization.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 38% |
| 2025 | 13 | 16% |
| 2024 | 31 | 12% |
| 2023 | 40 | 10% |
| 2022 | 37 | 14% |
| 2021 | 59 | 14% |
| 2020 | 39 | 16% |
| 2019 | 47 | 13% |
| 2018 | 75 | 9% |
| 2017 | 88 | 24% |
| 2016 | 78 | 25% |
| 2015 | 353 | 26% |
| 2014 | 475 | 20% |
| 2013 | 55 | 7% |
| 2012 | 102 | 6% |
| 2011 | 90 | 5% |
| 2010 | 22 | 19% |
| 2009 | 23 | 17% |
| 2008 | 77 | 10% |
| 2007 | 196 | 18% |
| 2006 | 173 | 14% |
| 2005 | 253 | 12% |
| 2004 | 54 | 4% |
| 2003 | 35 | 5% |
| 2002 | 58 | 4% |
| 2001 | 102 | 12% |
| 2000 | 156 | 11% |
| 1999 | 386 | 24% |
| 1998 | 426 | 41% |
| 1997 | 254 | 26% |
| 1996 | 280 | 31% |
| 1995 | 247 | 34% |
| 1994 | 118 | 20% |
| 1993 | 99 | 18% |
| 1991 | 1 | 17% |
| 1989 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
245 complaintsBrakes
208 complaintsSeats
131 complaintsEngine cooling
53 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsSteering
37 complaintsEquipment
33 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsFuel system
31 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsExterior lighting
26 complaintsSuspension
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology