2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee describe a wide spread of aging-vehicle problems: brakes that shudder and pulse (often reported at low mileage), seat frames and heated-seat elements that fail, airbag warning lights, door wiring that disrupts windows and locks, and stalling episodes traced to sensors or the ECM. Many complaints involve high-mileage vehicles, but the brake and seat-heater reports show up early, and several describe symptoms that appear gradually before becoming routine.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake shudder and vibration, warped rotors

   • 118 complaints (9%)
   • median 17,732 mi at 2.0 yrs old (100 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $550 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2019

   Owners describe the steering wheel shaking and the whole vehicle pulsing or rocking when braking, usually at highway speeds and sometimes severe enough to feel as if control is being lost. Many say the front rotors were found warped and were replaced or machined, and some report the same shudder returning after repair. Complaints mention repeat rotor and pad work over relatively short intervals. Frequently reported between roughly 12,000 and 55,000 miles, with others at higher mileage; several describe it during normal driving without towing.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle and brake firmly from highway speed to feel for pulsation through the wheel and pedal. Ask for rotor and pad service records and whether the rotors were replaced or only resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering wheel vibrates horribly and the whole vehicle pulsates forward and back whenever you try to stop. We have replaced the rotors/pads five times since purchasing the Jeep new in 2003. It started at 15,054 (aug 04), then 24,038 (class action suit), 34,700 (turned), 36,000, and now again at 46,000(sept 09). Well over $1000 into repairs and we still don't feel the vehicle is any safer or make the gc any more pleasant to drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10284442, filed 2009-09, 15,054 miles

   “Driving at 65 MPH I came upon an accident and had to brake rapidly. When I applied the brake the car shook violently and went into an uncontroble spin and ended up facing oncomming trafic in the opposing lane. Took the car 2004 Jeep gc to the dealer to check out why this happened the dealer said the front rotors were warped and had be replaced and was not under warrentee he also statedthey get 40 or more jgc in for brake work a month.am I missing something here? ??”

   NHTSA complaint #10126167, filed 2005-06, 17,534 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling and no-start traced to sensors or ECM

   • 88 complaints (7%)
   • median 85,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (72 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2023

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at speed or stalling when coming to a stop, sometimes restarting after several attempts or after wiggling connectors. Complaints say diagnosis pointed to the crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, or in some cases the engine control module, and that the check engine light came on. A few report the vehicle was excluded from the crankshaft sensor recall by VIN. Reported from about 100,000 miles upward, often after long service; some describe it happening in traffic or at highway speeds.

   Recall 04V112000

   What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft position sensor or ECM has been replaced and whether any stored fault codes were cleared. Note that a recall may not cover every VIN, so confirm coverage by the vehicle's identification number.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee . Several months ago, I started to have stalling issues. Hot or cold, dry or wet, first drive of the day or last, it didn't matter. The engine would cut out in the middle of driving regardless of speed. I had to put it in neutral, recrank it and put it back in drive just to avoid accidents, otherwise it drifts out of control. At first I thought this was an isolated incident but now it happens almost everyday. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10596916, filed 2014-06, 185,829 miles

   “The check engine light gives a code ( signal loss from cps and ckps) can't accelerate without backfire and missing. Sometimes when crossing r/r tracks the engine will die it starts back up after you wiggle the 3 main connectors”

   NHTSA complaint #11348380, filed 2020-08, 181,934 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Seat frame and mounting bracket cracks

   • 102 complaints (8%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (90 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2019

   Owners report the front seat frame or the bracket that bolts the seat to the floor cracking or splitting, leaving the seat loose, tilted or wobbling while driving. Several describe a loud pop before the seat shifts, and some say welding repairs did not hold and the bracket had to be replaced. Complaints describe the problem on both driver and passenger sides. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 160,000 miles, often noticed during turns or normal driving.

   What to check: Grab the front seats and push them side to side and fore-aft, and look under the seat for cracks or weld repairs at the floor brackets. Ask whether the seat frames or brackets have been repaired or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving with 12 year old daughter in car. Making turn onto highway and driver's seat lurched backwards with loud pop sound. Almost lost control of car and scared the daylights out of my daughter. Pulled over and seat is loose of frame. There is a crack in the steel bracket where seat attaches to seat frame. I went online and saw this is a common defect in Jeep grand cherokees. Kind of ridiculous that this problem hasn't already been corrected. I have never owned or even heard of a car where it is common for the seat to break from its frame. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10555340, filed 2013-12, 110,000 miles

   “The front driver's seat frame weld on the left side had previously broken on me. Now the frame weld has broken on the right side of the seat where the base of the seat meets the seat back causing the seat to tilt back and to the right. The whole seat now wobbles. This is a defect in the seat frame design because the breaks are at weld points. The metal is thin at these points.”

   NHTSA complaint #10485790, filed 2012-11, 152,500 miles
4. 4
   Seats

   Heated seat element overheating and burning

   • 96 complaints (7%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2019

   Complaints describe the heated seat element overheating, smoking or burning a hole through the seat cushion, sometimes with occupants noticing burns or a burning smell. Owners say dealers replaced the heater element and cushion, and some report the replacement element failing again. Others mention receiving recall notices but finding parts unavailable. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 133,000 miles, typically while the seat heater was switched on.

   Recall 09V117000Recall 06V197000

   What to check: Ask whether the seat heater recall work was completed and check that the heated seats still function. On a test drive, switch the heater on briefly and watch for unusual warmth, smell or slow heating.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact stated a recall letter was received two weeks ago. There were no problems with the seats when the recall letter was received. The NHTSA recall, #06v197000 was pertaining to the seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #10167044, filed 2006-08, 40,000 miles

   “The contact stated while driving at no particular speed the heated seat warmer burned through the seat cushion without warning. The occupant sustained minor injuries from the heat. Although no visible flames were present there was slight charring to the seat cushion area. The vehicle was seen by the dealer for replacement of the heated seat element and cushion. The dealer determined there was an internal short of the seat warmer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10154799, filed 2006-04, 64,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on; recall parts pending

   • 316 complaints (24%)
   • median 105,305 mi at 11.2 yrs old (81 state mileage)
   • 53 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2026

   Owners report the airbag warning light and chime coming on intermittently or staying on, and some describe airbags failing to deploy in a collision. Many complaints are about recall notices arriving while the repair parts were not yet available, leaving owners driving with the light on. A few mention the seat belt warning light coming on at the same time. Reported across a wide mileage range, commonly above 90,000 miles and frequently in vehicles over a decade old.

   Recall 15V673000Recall 15V046000Recall 12V5270003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the airbag light cycles normally on startup and goes out. Ask whether the airbag control module recalls were completed and request documentation of the work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway and hit another car that was stationary on the side of the road. I had impact on the right front passenger side of my truck, flipping their car as well as my truck. My airbags did not deploy. I had no indication lights on my dash and had no known electrical issues. Lucky the car I hit was unoccupied and I recieved a few minor injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339270, filed 2020-07, 242,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that he received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 12v527000 (air bags) and stated that the parts were not available. The contact also mentioned that he was experiencing problems with the vehicle and the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure and current mileage was 98,000. ...updated 11-12-13”

   NHTSA complaint #10545647, filed 2013-09, 98,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2004 Grand Cherokee, plan on a thorough test drive that includes hard braking and using every door switch, and ask for records of the airbag and seat heater recall work. Given the reports of seat frame cracks, stalling and brake shudder, a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is worth the cost.

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.