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 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While parked, the vehicle rolled away independently at 5 to 10 MPH. The vehicle crashed into the bounty wall. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 176,000.
In December 1996 I was ran over by my Jeep Grand Cherokee in my driveway after it jumped back into gear from park. I reported this issue immediately to the anchorage alaska dealer who had to fix the drivers door that had been destroyed in the event and he stated there was not a problem with the gearshift. I had also reported the issue here on the NHTSA web site in January of 1997. I was taken to the air force hospital emergency room at elemendorf afb alaska and I believe submitted that information at that time. So this recent problem with an actor being killed by his Jeep is not a new issue. There was something wrong with the drive train as far back as 1996. When I was ran over my Jeep was in park running in my garage. It drug me backward into the driveway where I slipped on the ice fell under the car and my left lower leg was ran over by the front tire. …
Recall campaign 02V053000, consumer left the vehicle in the driveway, went into the house, and the vehicle rolled down the driveway, and struck a tree, damaging the right rear tail light/ lift rear door, and bumper. Consumer did not remember receiving recall for inadvertent movement. The vehicle does not hold it's position when placed in park. The manufacturer agreed to perform the recall but refused to provide any assistance for the body damage because they claimed the consumer neglected to have the recall work performed.
The vehicle was in park, when all of a sudden it jumped out of gear into reverse, which resulted in an accident. Consumer was informed there was a recall regarding the issue, however consumer was never notified. Recall number 02 v 053 000.
The vehicle jumped out of gear, striking another vehicle and a mail box . After receiving a recall for the existing condition. The manufacturer inspected the vehicle and stated that the brake line was worn. Recall# 02V053000.
After placing the vehicle into the driveway, removing the children, consumer noticed that vehicle going down the hill and rammed into another vehicle. NHTSA recall 02V053000. Consumer moved and never received recall notice.
My wife was going to work on 08/14/00. She warmed the Jeep up, drove up to the porch, left the engine running and placed the Jeep in park. While inside the house, she noticed the Jeep suddenly lurched and started moving backwards( this was on a nonpaved flat surface). . She ran out the house to try and stop it, but too late. Luckily, it drove through my pump house in the back yard. The wheels rolled over a 4" high cement base which lodged the wheels to a stop.. It had shoved out the door and side of a 10' x 10 ' shed covering my water pump. It put a dent in my rear hatch door top and busted the rear left turn signal. I did not report it to police because it was in my yard and it did not dawn on me the transmission May have jumped out of park. …
While warming up Jeep in garage on flat surface I proceded to exit vehicle to return to the house, upon closing the door the Jeep began to roll backwards I attempted to open the door and return to the vehicle I was unable to enter the vehicle drug me out the garage the front driver's door was bent forward to the bumper by the side of the garage I was squished between the side of the garage and the Jeep. Upon leaqving the garage I continued to attempt to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake with my hands I was unable to do this imy feet slipped on the ice in the driveway and I fell beneth the vehicle. The left front wheel ran over my left leg at the calf. Ithe vehicle continued to roll until it came to a stop in a pile of snow against a light pole on the opposite side of the streed. At that time the vehicle started to roll forward and was stopped by the snow. …
On October 30, 2000, when driving out of my driveway with '96 Grand Cherokee Jeep, I stopped and put the vehicle in park to get out of the car to retrieve an object on the ground. When I left the vehicle I noticed it started to roll back, instantly I attempted to jump back into the Jeep and secure it. I was unsuccessful in my attempt and the vehicle proceeded to roll backwards, crashing into my neighbor's house, causing extensive damage to house, garage and parked vehicles. I was also injured when attempting to stop the runaway vehicle, sustaining a fractured ankle and shoulder injury. A local police report was filed in the town of shrewsbury, massachusetts and a comprehensive report was filed with my automobile insurance company. I assumed that I May not have put the car in "park" since I never suspected a defect with the Grand Cherokee. …
At high and low speeds, and when stopped without any warning my 1996 Grand Cherokee will die and immediately steering is lost. This is totally frightening and life-threatening. The car will start immediately to get out of roadways. I've spent days researching this situation on-line and it is outrageous that there is no recall, there are years of complaints about this situation . I called Jeep today at [phone] and was told the phone number of a Jeep dealer, along with sincere apologies that there is no recall for this problem. The solution May be that 2 screws associated with the PCM are too long. People have spent thousands and thousands of dollars fixing everything on these jeeps but nothing has worked. I respectfully demand to know why there is no recall, this is a public safety issue!!!!! Thank you for your prompt reply. Lives depend on it. …
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…
Transmission complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 280 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 31% of the model year's 893 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (160 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 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 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 141,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 82 crashes, 3 fires and 52 injuries and 2 deaths 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.