Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My son was driving my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo at 30 miles/hour when the truck suddenly accelerated with loss of all brake power causing him to drive up onto a parked car which caused the Jeep to overturn onto the driver's side. Luckily for him, he sustained only a small cut from the driver's side window breaking on impact and was cleared medically when he was taken to the hospital via ambulance. A police car happened to be following him and witnessed this incident. When the officer ran to the Jeep after the accident and helped my son climb out of the passenger side, he made my son turn off the Jeep because the engine was still revving and sounded like it was racing although my son was not pressing the gas petal (he was standing on the seat).
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the driver side door suddenly became unsecured. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The front passenger side door also experienced the exact failure. In addition, while parked on an incline, the vehicle would erroneously move down the incline. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed that the parking function within the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that while driving, the interior headliner would become unsecured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.
While driving on the highway, smelled an awful smell, like rotten eggs, pulled over and stopped and then smoke started flowing out from under the hood. It was towed to a dealership, then told axle shaft damaged, all bearings damaged, differential damaged,rack and pinnion (sp) also damaged, coming to $1700 in replacement parts.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact left the vehicle running in the driveway while in the park position. Twenty seconds later, the vehicle rolled out of the driveway and crashed into a tree, causing severe damage to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 140,000.
The vehicle was parked when it suddenly began to move in reverse. The vehicle rolled across a street and crashed into a parked vehicle. There were two small children belted in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the accident. The were no injuries.
Consumer received a recall letter for the shifter, coming out of gear. The dealer stated there was no problem at this time. One month later vehicle was in park and jumped into reverse and hit a tree.
I have provided the details, due to a news article that I have just read, that the NHTSA is investigating a possible defect with the 1995 model of the Jeep Grand Cherokee inadvertently going into reverse. On the morning of 12/20/1994 @ 5.30 am it was very cold, and I drove my Jeep out of the garage, put it into park, and got out of my Jeep to close the garage doors, leaving my drivers door open, and after about a minute I heard the Jeep's engine tone change, looked up to see the Jeep reversing back, I just managed to get out of the way, and the Jeep came back into the garage, removing the open drivers door. I reached in as it was moving and turned the ignition off. I knew the vehicle had a problem, and it was looked at by both the dealer and the manufacturer, who refused to repair under warranty. Although today I no longer own the vehicle, the dealer has all the complaint details. …
Dt: consumer complained about a safety recall concerning automatic transmission: lever and linkages: floor shift. The replacement part, according to the dealership, was designed to work this way. It made car unsafe. The gear shift line didn't match the gear. Will not lock into position. With the smallest of nudges it will come out of drive or reverse without pressing the release, and it will go between all three gears. The car was working perfectly before recall repairs were done. Currently, the car is unsafe to drive. Breck Dodge dealership claimed the car was suppose to work like this, burt refused to say the car was unsafe. Contacted manufacturer's regional manager, and did not call me back. Dealership claimed that consumer refused to bring car in. Consumer call another dealership and their remedy was the same as the last dealership. …
My wife put the Jeep in park and left it idling to go back into our house to rtieve something she had forgotte. Once in the house she heard a loud noise and looked out and saw that the Jeep had crashed into a tree located just behind where she had left it in park. I called the Jeep business where I have been having it serviced for the past few years and asked if they had a record of this type malfunction and or a recall cotice for the problem. They checked their computer and told me that they did not. I had it repaired which cost state farm and probaly a rate hike for me and a $500 deduct that I paid, plus a $275 car rental fee I had to pay to have a car for thee weeks. Later I saw an article saying that several people had the same problem and I called Chrysler about a month ago and they cold shouldered me, and stated that they were not accepting responsibility. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: (02V053000 (power train) and 13V252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) months ago and contacted the dealer to schedule the recall repair appointments, the dealer stated that they would follow up to provide an available appointment and the dealer never called to schedule the repairs. In addition, the contact was driving at a highway rate of speed over un-leveled Land and the vehicle was shaking violently with a "death wobble". A mechanic inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet inspected and diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the recall repairs so the contact was waiting for them to determine if they May be able to provide a solution and address the two recall repairs with the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was not available. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
On certain sport utility vehicles, if a driver has not placed the shifter lever fully into the "park" position and leaves the vehicle running, the vehicle May unexpectedly move rearward after seeming to be stable.
Remedy: Dealers will install a secondary detent system to the floor shifter assembly. Daimlerchrysler sent interim notices to owners concerning this problem on March 22, 2002. Owner notification began September 23, 2002.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent rollaway in reverse park
Roll-away in reverse when parked
Daimlerchrysler has recalled the zj models to incorporate a secondary detent spring into the shifter.even though the wj 6 cyl. Vehicles use the same manual detent lever that as the vehicles in the recall population, odi believes that the wj redesigned shifter, which improves floor shifter functionality and ergonomics, helps to provide feedback to the driver to indicate whether ?park? Has or has not been…
Sudden acceleration
There is no summary currently available
Transmission complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 247 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 34% of the model year's 719 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (136 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-053 (floor shift, Feb 15, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 111,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 45 crashes, 7 fires and 31 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.