Problems with 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee POWER TRAIN

Vehicle was idling in park gear, and emergency brake was activated. when driver walked in front of vehicle to adjust a real-estate sign vehicle started moving forward and pinned driver between sign and vehicle. driver was bruised from being pushed into a post, and was forced to the ground when driver's left foot was ran over by the wheels. driver was able to chase down vehicle, moving approximately 4 to 6 mp, on a broken foot and bring vehicle to a stop. vehicle has not been examined to determine cause of problem. reference investigation: ea 01-017. please provide any additional information / documentation. *ak

During slow speed turns in reverse or forward, strange grinding and honking noises come from front of vehicle in axle and steering area. can also feel the grinding sensation. have contacted dealer service department several times and am told there is a pending recall for this problem, but that they haven't received it nor have they received the replacement parts necessary to fix the problem. appears to be very similar to nhtsa tsb service bulletin numbers 0300101a & 1900401 (nhtsa item numbers sb625612 & sb621896). were assured by service manager that problem will not harm vehicle in long-run, and that we can drive it normally until recall items are received at service department. we're concerned however about safety factors and possible long-term damage, especially as we've been given no eta on when we can have the vehicle fixed.*ak

While parked and engine was shut off, vehicle started rolling backwards for a distance of approximately 40 feet before driver was able to pull the emergency brake, and bring vehicle to a stop, dealership has not examined vehicle to determine the cause for this problem. *ak consumer stated that dealer could not find anything wrong.*yd

After leaving vehicle in idle it started ot roll back and ran into traffic, hitting two other vehicles. contacted dealer.*ak

After putting vehicle in park position, vehicle rolled backwards, across city street into parked vehicle. *ak *tt

While vehicle was parked and was idling it shifted into reverse and started going downhill, hitting another vehicle. contacted dealer.*ak

Consumer stated vehicle was in park with engine running, and emergency brake not applied, when vehicle suddenly went backward and hit a cement pole, and then hit vehicle. consumer had neck surgery previously, and suffered neck injuries due to this occurrence. *ak.*jb

Vehicle was in park, engine running/ emergency brake not applied. consumer got out, and at that moment vehicle suddenly went backward. vehicle hit garage door before consumer was able to jump in and shut off engine. no injuries. damage to vehicle about $ 4500.00. *ak

On the road in front of my house, i put my jeep into park with the engine idling. i got out of the jeep, walked up my driveway and picked up my newspaper. when i turned around i saw my jeep roll up over the curb and across my front lawn. i ran after the jeep and just as i was jumping into the driver seat, i was knocked out of the jeep, when the driver's side door crashed into a street lamp post and smashed into me. my jeep rolled down the road and through neighbor's yards for approximately .2 of a mile. my jeep cashed into and damaged a cable and telephone utility box, two sections of a wrought iron fence, 2 sections of a wooden privacy fence, bushes, one tree, an electric outlet and two clapboards on the bottom of a house. when i finally caught up to my jeep it was still idling and the gear shift was in park.*ak

While traveling on highway vehicle stalls without prior warning, and will not restart. dealership is aware of problem.*ak transmission was hard to shift. *yh

While vehicle was parked and still running, had shifted into reverse with foot on brakes, and vehicle suddenly accelerated backwards. struck a truck and another vehicle that was parked. *ak one person was injured in accident. *slc

Vehicle jumped from park to reverse while it was idling and parking brake was engaged, causing damage to vehicle. dealer has been contatced. vehicle was parked on a slight incline. *ak jg

Consumer backed out of garage and put vehicle in park, when she got out the vehicle started rolling backward. consumer was able to hop back in and stop vehicle. consumer's vehicle side swiped another vehicle in the process.*ak *yh

Pe 01-021/roll away in park: while parked and idling, vehicle inadvertently jumped out of gear and commenced to roll backward onto driver's foot while he was opening an entrance gate. vehicle continued on into wooded area before stopping. dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. *ak *jb

I suffered serious injuries as a result of this failure and have incurred large medical bills. i am aware that other years of this model have been recalled, but not the 2001. this defect continues in the 2001 vehicles. my vehicle suffered no damage and there was no property damage. my medical bills are continuing as i am still being treated for my injuries. *ak

While idling car dropped from park to drive, pinning me against rear of garage and crushing snowblower. car had to be in park for me to get out since car rolls when in gear without brakes. *ak

Jeep was left running in park. after approximately 2 minutes vehicle shifted from park to reverse and proceed at a relatively fast speed in a circular direction for about 100 yards until it struck a parked 5th wheel trailer. it caused severe damage to both vehicles. it narrowly missed several people in the area. when i contacted jeep they stated that there could not possibly be a problem. *ak

While motor was still running consumer got out and opened gate. vehicle started moving in reverse while in park.consumer shifted to drive and vehicle was still moving in reverse. then, shifted vehicle into park with foot on brake, cut vehicle off twice, and it kept going in reverse. second time, upon starting vehicle, it wouldn't start up. had to be towed to dealer. tow truck driver pointed out that electrical wires were burned, and plug beneath when it was towed first time, was gone. vehicle at dealership.*ak

Vehicle was pulled into garage and was shifted into park. owner's husband stepped out of the vehicle at which time it shifted into reverse on it's own slamming the open drivers side door into the garage wall. this slowed the vehicle long enough for him to jump in and put on the brake. significant damage was done to drivers side door requiring body work. no response from manufacturer to date.*ak

While idling, gear shifter jumped from park to reverse. dealer has been contacted.*ak *jb

Vehicle was parked and running inside garage. consumer was attaching a boat to vehicle, and he was on a hill. vehicle jumped into reverse, and backed out of garage with boat, and pinned consumer down. *ak

The engine was idling and the vehicle was in park in the owners garage. the driver exited the car leaving the car door open. the vehicle jumped from park to reverse and rolled backwards out of the garage. the open car door first hit the driver knocking the driver to the floor, the the door hit the front edge of the garage bending the car door backward and pushing the door into the vehicles' left front quarter panel.*ak

Was towing a boat trailer. stopped the vehicle and put in park. exited jeep and it jumped from park to reverse. vehicle backed down street with boat attached. i chased and tried to jump in, fell, scraping knee. fortunately the trailer jacknifed at that time just before the car would have run over me. my belief is that the flexible plastic cover over the button ont he shift lever became wedged in the button preventing the button from releasing and enabling the lever to jump from park to reverse.*ak

Jeep grand cherokeee problem. car slipped from park into reverse, smashed into car behind me on the street. i'd pulled over to put it into park to get something out of the backseat...engine was running. i was at curb. got out, left driver door open, it hit me, couldn't get back into car to stop any of this from happening, had to let it go back and hit a parked car.*ak

Heavy traffic, stop and go for approx 2 hrs, shift lever spontaneously popped out of drive into reverse then immediately went back into the drive position. this while having foot on brakes. this caused us to collide with vehicle in front of us. damage to both vehicles resulted.*ak

Gear shift problem *db 14-1421-486

I was parked outside of a store, and got out to take something out of the back seat.when my truck went into reverse and hit a concrete beam. i dont know how but i had time to get out walk to the back open the door get the articales and remove them before it poped into reverse. *ak

Pe o1 021/rolled away in park: while parked with emergency brake engaged and with the engine turned off, vehicle rolled out of driveway and over a stop sign. dealer was notified. feel free to provide any further details on this matter.*ak

While in park and idling vehicle jumped into reverse and traveled onto a busy roadway. consumer experienced cuts, scrapes, and an unknown knee injury while jumping into vehicle to apply the brakes. vehicle crashed into a pole . *slc

Vehicle was idling in park when it jumped from park into reverse, resulting in a collision. dealer has inspected vehicle, and installed a safety lock on gear shifter. please provide additional information.*ak

Vehicle was parked with engine running, emergency brake not applied, and it suddenly went backward, and ran into a boat trailer that was right behind it. damage to vehicle was $ 540.00, no injuries.*ak *jb

Vehicle has a ticking sound when t approaching a hill. also, transmission has a hard drive. dealership is aware of problem. *ak

Vehicle was parked with engine running, and emergency brake not applied. while fueling vehicle it shifted from park into reverse, and caught consumer's leg between driver's door and protective barrier of fuel pump. property damage was $ 1555.oo, consumer suffered injuries to right leg. vehicle was rented from enterprise.*ak

My vehicle, shortly after purchase, had jumped out of park and into reverse. this incidence was overlooked as a possible error on my part. in april of this year, while pulling out of my garage, i put my car into park while it was running, to move a toy behind my vehicle. i exited the vehicle and proceeded to go to remove the toy when i realized the vehicle was now moving. i made one attempt to get back in, nearly slipping under it and made a second attempt this time succeeding but not before the door had caught onto the corner of my husbands compressor causeing $2700.00 worth of damage. i notified the dealer, they checked for a cause, found nothing. shortly after, all the reports of this problem surfaced in the media. i contacted chrysler and they claim that only the years from 1995 to 1999 are affected. has the cause of the problem been rectified in the 2001's or do we need more deaths for them to acknowledge the problem. i have suffered a $500.00 loss and a three year surcharge on my insurance, loss of merit rating and still have a fear of possible injury with this vehicle. please send me any info as to whether mine is the first case know with this year jeep. thank you, [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Sudden, violent jerking and transmission slippage while slowing down for stop or yield. resulting motion is strong enough to cause seat belt locks to activate and jolt the occupants. problem is highly sporadic and no "cause and effect" has been discernable.*ak

Vehicle was parked in garage with engine running and drivers side door open when it jumped out of park and into reverse, resulting in vehicle running into bike and work bench attached to the rear of the garage. cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak the door sustained damage when it hit the center support post in double garage and the garage foundation was cracked in several spots. nlm

I purchased/ leased a jeep grand cherokee 3/24/01. the day after i drove it off the lot, i noticed a problem with the transmission. the transmission, when down-shifting from 2nd to 1st gear shifted very, very hard- so hard that there was a loud thumping/banging noise that was quite audible and distracting, and also this abnormal shifting caused the car to lurch forward. i immediately called the dealer to express my concern over a new vehicle with such a rough transmission. i was assured by the service dept. that all the new electronic transmissions started off rough the 1st thousand miles, and that it needed to break in. i gave them the benefit of the doubt, although i was very skeptical; never in my life having experienced such a horribly rough transmission- esp. on a brand new vehicle. after 1000 miles, there was no improvement, and i took the vehicle in to be evaluated. i was assured by the mechanic that all the grand cherokees transmissions are like this- it's a build up of the hydrolic fluids or something. i once again believed them (not really) and went on my way. the vehicle continued to do this, the sound getting very loud and quite startling at times while in traffic. it also is quite embarassing with passengers in the car who also have become quite startled by the loudness and sheer force of the lurching. i took my vehicle in a second time for evaluation only to be told, nothing was wrong. it is my feeling that this is a severe defect of some sort. in all my years of driving, i have never experienced such problems- except maybe from a manual transmission that bucked. i am planning to take my car in yet a third time and demand the problem be resolved, or i will be invoking my rights under the lemon laws. in light of the recent problems with grand cherokees, and their shifting into gear while idling, i cannot say that i am surprised. my vehicle also when shifted into reverse, sometimes makes a very loud clunking, rough shift. please advise.*ak

Grand cherokee was in park when it suddenly slipped into reverse, and wrecked.*ak

Consumer stated that vehicle was parked and idling. transmission jumped out of park into reverse. then vehicle jack knifed a trailer, which was hooked up to jeep. *ak *yd

While vehicle is in operation transmission is causing vehicle to jerk by jumping into a lower gear. dealership has examined vehicle and cannot reproduce the problem. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak

Harsh down shifting, results in loud clunking, rear tire squalling, and passenger discomfort. rough shifting into gears while parked. moaning brakes, warped rotors fuel pump deficiancies, and miscellaneuos electrical problems.

With cruise control on and going up a hill there is hesitation, and then vehicle slams into a lower gear. slam is so bad that passengers are startled. took to dealer, and they said they don't know what to do about this problem.*ak consumer was told by dealership that this is normal. *jb

Consumer is unable to control vehicle while driving, the steering wheel pulsates when braking, consumer was informed that the problem is with premature warpage of rotors in which dealer is aware of and is willing to turn consumers rotors free of charge or purchase two new rotors at consumers expense, however consumer was informed that turning of the rotors would not last and the problem would reoccur.*jb

Vehicle jumped from park to reverse, causing it to roll into a mail box and a tree. dealer has been contacted. *ak *slc

Transmission problem/ the transmission bangs, and i do mean bangs into gear. chrysler said this is normal for an electronic transmission. this does not happen all the time, but it does occur at any speed and in any gear except 1st. chrysler district rep said this is the electronic transmission searching for the next gear, he called it a burp. i have felt what he is talking about, i have driven many other vehicles with electronic transmissions, but what i am saying is this suv actually bangs or klunks into gear sometimes, especially when i first drive it for the day, it will slam, not burp,into second gear . also it seems to occur more often when going into 4th gear, when my speed is in the 45 to 50 miles per hour range. this suv has slammed into gear while up shifting and down shifting. there is no way this slamming / banging / klunking into gear can be considered normal. a/c problem - the vehicle has a miss in it when a/c is on. most noticable when on the highway, occurs about every 10 seconds. it feels like the vehicle has just gone over a bump in the road. i was told this is also normal . this is the a/c system cycling. i have driven well over a hundred vehicles or more, all of them automatics, all of them had a/c , no other car ,truck or suv i have ever driven has had a miss or lurch every 10 seconds when the a/c is on or slams into gear. chrysler says this is completely normal, i have gone and test driven 3 other grand cherokee limiteds, i did not notice these problems with those vehicles.*ak

During normal operation of the vehicle and driving at any speed, and when brake system is activated, a severe vibration starts to occur. dealership has examined vehicle four times, and has been unable to effectively remedy the problem. corrective action taken by the dealership is to replace the brake rotors and brake pads and wheel bearings. *ak the vehicle pulls right while driving due to hub and bearing failure. while driving, the rear end makes noise due to bearing and pinion worn out. grease leaking around both front wheels because of drive shaft failure. left and right front cv boot were leaking. *yh