Most common 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Share of the 1,638 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Grand Cherokee years: 2016, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024, 2023. Compare all years →
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with a 4.0l engine only, the design of the intake and exhaust manifolds could allow debris to accumulate at the #3 cylinder location.
Remedy: Dealers will install a manifold shield to modify the air flow characteristics and to prevent the accumulation of debris in the area of the #3 cylinder. Owner notification began May 13, 2002.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor May not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began August 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt shoulder height adjustable turning loop (atl) top mounting bolt was inadequately manufactured.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the shoulder belt height adjuster mounting bolts.
Seat belts › Rear/other
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear outboard seat belt retractor spring can disengage from the rewind mechanism, disabling the retractor function, and preventing the belt from fitting snugly around the occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these retractors.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee:
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the investigation.
Inadvertent rollaway in reverse park
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013…
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…
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes.
What 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners say
Brakes all 622 →
Front left and right calipers seized causing caliper, pad and rotor overheating and brake rotor cracked and failed causing me to scrape a guard rail while attempting to stop. This is the third brake caliper related failure I have had in the last 24 months. The previous 2 resulted in my replacing calipers rotors and pads. Jeep is aware that the calipers are defective and would replace them with an upgraded different type but only while vehicle was under warranty. There are dozens of reports on line at various forums of this exact same problem. I have ordered the upgraded caliper (now that I know about them) and will replace this but Jeep should notify all owners of this known issue so that we do not continue to replace a known bad part with the same known bad parts. As I consider this dangerous a recall would not be out of the question either.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled but continued to roll forward. The contact had to shift the gear shifter into the park position to get the vehicle to come to a complete halt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 386 →
My wife had the car in park, left the car to close our gate and the car came out of park and backed over her. When she got out from under the vehicle she came into the house brushed and cut. I called the ems and went out to move the vehicle. It still was in park with the engine running. Jeep's rep came out and looked at it and his answer was " the poerational mannal; states that when you leave your vehicle you must put it in park turn off the engine and remove the keys from the car. OK I May agree with that, but she was only closing the gate. What my concerns is that there must be something wrong with the trans for this to happen .
1st issue is the seat belt buckles are almost impossible to disengage. They hang up so bad our 10 yr old Grand daughter needs help to remove the belt. The belt for the driver has same issue to where it is even difficult for an adult to get it to unlatch. 2nd issue is the transmission slips when shifting from 2nd to 3rd when cold. When it has been driven for a few miles it shifts normal. This appears to be a problem a lot of Jeep owners have. It is a noted problem in other Chrysler vehicles with the 42re transmission. This issue should be addressed since it is so wide spread.
Engine & cooling all 143 →
I have owned 8 jeeps and now have a beautiful dealershipl maintained Grand Cherokee limited 4.7l in my driveway with a bad engine. At 100K a rod bearing went bad and after that was fixed by me with great expense it now sits in the driveway with low compression and will not start. I have searched and found hundreds of ads with blown engines just in my area of southern california. There seems to be some common design flaws in the 4.7l that Chrysler corporation has been hiding and we the people have been paying for it. Dealers deny any problems but yet on any given day the classifies are full of them. I love the vehicle in general that's why I have owned so many but feel taken advantage of and can't afford to drive a Chrysler piece of crap anymore. …
The Jeep engine shuts off unexpectedly. This occurs after approximately 25 minutes of driving. It can happen during high speeds on the highway 60 + MPH or during idle when stopped in traffic. This is extremely dangerous as I had to avoid several accidents. The Jeep might start immediately after a short wait, or can take a day and start with the same problem. The gauges go off, with the fuel showing empty, then the engine simply cuts off without any prior warning. You lose all power, brakes, steering etc... This is a serious problem that appears to be documented all over the internet without Chrysler stepping forward to make the necessary corrections that might eventually save lives. It does this problem, whether you are idle condition, making a turn, traveling a short distance or on the highway in a middle lane surrounded in traffic doing 65. …
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good car?
Based on 1,638 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Grand Cherokee rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Grand Cherokee at the same age. It is one of the Grand Cherokee years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The brakes — 622 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (386) and engine & cooling (143).
How many recalls does the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent from April 8, 2002 (injectors). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024 and 2023. See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.