Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Vehicle randomly stalls and dies at low to moderate speeds. Engine will shudder briefly and shutoff. Stalling will occur when stopped or speeds ranging from 1 to 40 MPH. When vehicle stalls, electrical system will reset and power steering fails. Restart is sometimes achievable immediately, but more often takes a minimum of 30 seconds and up to several minutes. Issue seems unaffected by outside temperature or other environmental factors. Engine failure often occurs within the first 15 minutes of driving, but has occurred at greater time intervals. Spark plugs, spark plug wires, ignition rotor, and upstream oxygen sensor have been replaced, but problem persists. This has caused near accidents on multiple occasions. This issue is persistent and ongoing.
"Takata recall" to be truthfully honest nothing about this Jeep is safe I didn't know that I could put in a recall for this Jeep because I thought it was too old and too late anyway sensors are horrible no turning signals , my belt assembly breaks a part while driving radiator gets really hot to the point of smoking even when my coolant is full I have sun roof problems because water leaks through it and floods the driver and passenger side trunk will not open my suspension is in great need of help it doesn't even bounce , alot of safety problems but like I said didn't know I could for file for a recall so I'm hoping that this can get recalled.
On December 7, 2002 my family and I (including my 2 1/2 year old daughter) were driving down the new jersey turnpike and our 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee caught fire. A state trooper aided us in putting the fire out and we had the vehicle towed off of the interstate. Upon our return home that evening we discovered a daimler Chrysler recall notice (recall: b06) in the mail stating that a defect in the exhaust manifold May result in and underhood fire. Daimler Chrysler has since informed us that because the vehicle is over 3 years old they will not reimburse us for the costs of repair or provide an explanation as to how or why the fire ocurred.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was test driven however, the mechanic was unable to provide a cause for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Vehicle caught on fire while parked in the parking lot. The local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. The fire caused damage to two other vehicle parked next to consumer's vehicle. Insurance investigator believed the source of the fire started from the catalytic converter. The manufacturer was notified.
Excessive engine knocking with power loss and abnormal driving capabilites. Sounds like bad internals. Suspension causes "death wobble" at cruising speeds. Engine happens anytime engine is running producing large quantities of smoke from tailpipe.
Out of know where the engine just started knocking, and the smell of gas and the steering wheel started acting out of control. I had to park it and get another car. But I still have it because I really like my Jeep!
We are in a disupute with dialmerchrysler regarding a engine repair with our 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo. On dec. 23, 2002 we broke down on the highway because a rocker arm spring broke causing a rod to break through the valve cover and drop down into the engine causing $1600 in damage. The Jeep has 43,000 miles on it and is no longer under warranty. We purchased the Jeep in feb. 2002 and since that time we have replaced the rotors, a leaking seals and now the engine problem. When we approached Chrysler about possible assistance with the repair bill, we were told that there was no previous history of enging problems and we did not purchase the extended warranty so they would not help us. Our point is that it would have been doubtful that the engine would have had this kind of problem (nor should it have this problem) with such low miles. …
Engine complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 143 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 9% of the model year's 1,638 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (61 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 118,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.