1999 Jeep Laredo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year write most often about repeated front brake work: pedal pulsation, steering wheel shake and rotors that were turned or replaced more than once, frequently at low mileage. The next most common themes are an airbag warning light that stays on or chimes, driver seat frames and brackets that crack and let the seat rock, and, on higher-mileage vehicles, stalling and sudden electrical shutdowns while driving. Complaints on this model year are spread fairly evenly across the years it has been on the road rather than clustering in one period.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake vibration, warped rotors, sticking calipers

   • 17 complaints (28%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2006

   Complaints describe the front end shaking, the pedal pulsating and the steering wheel vibrating when braking, usually attributed to warped rotors; some owners say calipers stuck or locked and the vehicle pulled to one side. Many had rotors turned or replaced, sometimes several times, and report the vibration returning within a few thousand miles. According to the complaints, dealers replaced rotors, pads and in some cases calipers, often at the owner's expense, and some owners say they were told the brake hardware on this model was a known weak point. Reports mostly come in below 50,000 miles, a few within the first several thousand miles, with others at 70,000 miles and above.

   What to check: Brake firmly from highway speed on a test drive and feel for pulsation through the pedal or steering wheel. Ask for brake receipts and whether rotors, pads or calipers have already been replaced more than once.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee Laredo on 12/23/2002 with 36400 miles on it. I have had the front brake rotors replaced twice in 4 months. Now the rear differential I.e. Rear wheel bearings need to be replaced. Estimated to have $800.00 in repair, and Jeep is making a horrible whining, grinding noise. Company refuses to stand by their product. Current mileage 52,000. I have been told that this particular part should last the lifetime of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10041543, filed 2003-10, 40,000 miles

   “Bought Jeep grand cherokee used from a dealer with 34.600 miles on it - brakes seemed fine then. Soon after brakes started squealing and then vibrating - the latter became really violent by the time I had 52,000 miles on the vehicle. I replaced the front pads and the rotors with used ones that were turned. The vibration stopped but the rears were squealing by then. I turned the rotors and replaced the rear pads at 58.000 miles. At 60,000 miles it is beginning to vibrate again and the squeal is very pronounced again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086589, filed 2004-08, 52,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, clock spring mentioned

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 110,280 mi at 11.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2015

   Owners describe the airbag warning light staying on or a warning chime sounding intermittently, sometimes starting when turning left. Several complaints say a dealer identified the clock spring in the steering column, the wiring connection to the driver airbag, and had it replaced at the owner's cost, with some noting it was not covered by an extended warranty. Other complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Usually reported between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

   What to check: Switch the ignition on and confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check rather than staying lit. Ask whether the clock spring or steering column wiring has ever been replaced, and whether the light has chimed intermittently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee. The air bag light stays on all the time and the chime for it goes off very often. I have taken it to a dealer and they said that it may be the clock spring. I was later told that many of the models in this year have the same problem. Why are we paying out of pocket for something that is obviously a faulty part on the factory's part?”

   NHTSA complaint #10314388, filed 2010-02, 86,000 miles

   “The air bag light constantly comes on and chimes on my 1999 Jeep grand cherokee Laredo. It is mostly when I make a left turn. This is a very costly repair. The manufacturer should make a re-call of all these jeeps. What are you waiting for a terrible accident I found out that all jeeps made in 1999 have this defect, and nothing has been done about it. Concern Jeep owner.”

   NHTSA complaint #10628296, filed 2014-08, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Driver seat frame and bracket cracking

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 134,617 mi at 9.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2013

   Owners report the driver seat frame, base or one of the corner mounting brackets cracking so the seat rocks, leans to one side or drops at a corner, in several cases while driving. Some say the seat tracks were fine but the frame itself split, and one owner found a previous repair weld at the mounts. According to the complaints, dealers quoted replacing the entire seat assembly, and one owner had trouble finding a used replacement. Reported almost entirely above 100,000 miles, often past 140,000.

   What to check: Push the driver seat side to side and front to back and look for cracks or fresh welds at the frame and corner brackets. Check the passenger and rear seat mounts as well.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my Jeep in traffic when the front drivers seat dropped at the front left corner. The weld on the seat snapped,and now the seat wobbles from front left to back right, worried that the rest will break when im driving and kill someone or myself in a bad accident. Read hundreds of the same complains and to me it should be a recall and sort it out before its to late.the Jeep dealer did not want to know.”

   NHTSA complaint #10503297, filed 2013-03, 145,000 miles

   “Driver seat is broke the tracks are good but the seat frame is split and leans to the right side, the seat mounts are broken. The seat rocks, luckily no injuries have been caused. Tried to find a seat went to a local salvage yard and was told many people have been looking for the Jeep driver seats , state wide. If chrysler doesn't address this problem soon I am quite sure there will be some law suits. I love my Jeep, it has been faithful to me since I bought her. She has 166,070miles on her and have no signs of giving up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10240356, filed 2008-08, 166,070 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls and electrical shutdown while driving

   Mentioned in 4 of 51 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off at stop lights and at highway speed, with gauges going dead and loss of power steering and brake assist, and some say it restarts after anywhere from minutes to hours. Owners report several shops unable to pinpoint the cause, and one describes repeated stalling near traffic lights after ignition and fuel parts were replaced without result. Others mention flickering instruments and warning lights before a shutdown. Mostly reported past 100,000 miles, though one owner describes repeated stalling around 45,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for repair history on the crankshaft or camshaft sensors, ignition switch and charging system. Test drive long enough to include several stops and a highway stretch, and watch whether gauges flicker.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We bought a used 1999 Jeep grand cherokee Laredo last year for our son to drive, thinking it would be a safe vehicle for him in all kinds of weather and road conditions. We did not expect to have problems driving on the highway on dry roads in perfect weather. The vehicle has started to stall at highway speeds, causing a loss of power steering and brakes, and most likely air bags as well. We are lucky he is a safe driver, and was able to get the vehicle off the road safely. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10605530, filed 2014-06, 206,000 miles

   “When I first bought the car used in 2002 I noticed a quick flash of my lights at night on/off/on while driving. Thought I was imagining at the time. It would system shut down only at stops and very infrequent. I drive it daily and now it happens 3-6 times a week with no warning. Total system shut down. Engine stalls and all gauges are off. Loss of brakes and power steering. It has always started back up. At stop lights, on the road at high speed, it used to happen only at stop lights but now it happens anywhere and much more frequent. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10400949, filed 2011-05, 165,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rear axle whine (differential noise)

   Mentioned in 4 of 51 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a whining or grinding noise from the rear axle that rises with speed and is often most noticeable when lifting off the throttle. Some report the rear axle or its bearings were replaced under warranty or a goodwill program, and some say the front axle later developed the same noise. One complaint pairs the noise with a wheel bearing repair estimate from a shop. Reported from around 40,000 miles up into the 90,000s.

   What to check: Listen for a rising whine from underneath on acceleration and deceleration, and ask whether the rear or front axle or differential has already been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We own a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee larado and have had nothing but problems since we bought it. The drivers side door lock has gone bad you can lock all the doors with the remote but have to lock the drivers side by hand and it makes a loud buzzing sound when locking & unlocking. Our tires had\ve already had to be replaced with only 50,000 mile on the vehicle the in dec 2002 the vehicle starting making a loud whining sound when reaching speeds over 45+ the sound would increase upon letting up on the gas pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10005650, filed 2003-02

   “1999 Jeep grand cherokee 4wd with inline 6cyd. Has had all the other complaints listed on this site, ie, power window motors, front brakes, transmission leak, steering squealing noise and the worst of all, the rear differential whining.”

   NHTSA complaint #10210129, filed 2007-11, 40,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, pay particular attention to brake feel and front seat frame condition during an inspection, and ask about airbag warning light or stalling history, since these are the issues owners describe most often; routine maintenance records and a pre-purchase mechanical check are advisable given the vehicle's age and mileage range.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 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.