Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Although no accident yet, I wanted to say that I have never received any notice from FCA about the "customer satisfaction campaign" (because although the gas tank hangs under the rear bumper, year 2000 was not included in the "recall" trailer hitch deal). I bought it new and am still living at the same address. I also wanted to note that another issue with the gc is that the brake and tail lights often stop working. The socket gets scorched and you have to go take it apart, pry the contacts up just right and put aluminum foil under them (google Grand Cherokee brake lights). That works for a while, then you have to do it again. I've been stopped twice in 6 months for it. Sometimes the taillight works but actually goes out when you step on the brake. In any case, having a gas tank prone to exploding when rear ended along with brake light issues is not a good thing. …
Driving with my daughters to the beach when suddenly my steering wheel froze as I was along a winding road. Towed truck to a mechanic who diagnosed that the gear box was broken at that point he repaired the gear box. Approximately 1 week later the same exact thing except that the truck caught fire, again towed the truck back to mechanic who replaced the gear box. I thought I was going to die when I experienced my steering wheel freeze and the fire was extinguished quickly so minimal damage was suffered. In 1 year that I own this vehicle the radiator has also needed to be repaired, the locks on my driver door stopped working, the fan in the cooling system has stopped working, I have been told that the muffler was improperly installed. I never expected so many faults or so much money spent in repairs on a so called certified used vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the brake light bulb would overheat the housing and melted the area where the circuit board was located. The failure recurred intermittently on both the passenger and driver sides. The dealer advised the contact that the housing was causing the failure and did not provide a remedy besides replacing the housing, which the contact stated was done twice prior to the recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. The current mileage was 198,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
I have had to replace my right side brake light assembly four times. For some reason, it continues to go bad. This is getting really expensive and inconvenient, as I continue to get stopped by the police for this problem. I've been told that this has been an issue with many of these trucks. I have had this truck for four years.
Tl*- the contact stated that the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a number of problems. The vehicle had problems with the brake rotors since 2005. He had to replace the rotors on 2 occasions since he purchased the vehicle in 2003. The contact had been informed that he needed to have the rotors replaced again. Also, the contact has been having problems with the driver's side door locks. When hitting the unlock remote control to unlock the doors the vehicle did not unlock. On some occasions while in the vehicle and trying to unlock the doors from inside the doors did not unlock. A number of times he's had to get out the vehicle from the passenger side door. In addition, tail lights are malfunctioed. The socket that held the bulbs did not work properly. He stated that his brake lights and his reverse lights have failed. …
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo - plastic headlight covers deteriorate and become cloudy causing a severe reduction in night time visibility. I took the car to a local Chrysler dealer who said they had a special service @ $ 89.95 to restore headlights. Service was not successful. I called Chrysler for assistance and they said it was "not a known service issue." the senior staff agent @ Chrysler stated he could not help me. He stated that only recalls are known service issue and Chrysler had no knowledge of this problem. I asked why would the dealer offer a specialized service to correct an unknown problem ? He indicated that there no special head lamp restoration services being offered by Chrysler and it must be limited to my local dealer. He stated that unless there was a recall by NHTSA there was nothing he could do. …
My 2000 Grand Jeep Cherokee larado has a problem with the electrial system. All the dash lites are on and the speedometer dosnt work. It has been at a Jeep dealershjp for almost a month. They cant figure out whats wrong with it. They first replaced a computer modular and I picked it up and the next day I still had the same problems. I took it back and they replaced the samething and told me it was fixed and it happened again after paying out 980.00. I took it back a third time and the company told them to change the ground wires and that didnt fix the problem. They are out of ideas. The right tale lite keeps going out also. So they just put a new one in. This will not fix the problem as we have changed lite bulb several times. The rear windows will no longer work also. They said they changed the fuse and fixed the problem but it wasnt fixed. …
To whom it May concern, I am writing to you about a two serious safety issues with my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. First, the door locks are all starting to fail. Without warning they fail to operate and you can not unlock them. This is a serious safety issue if a rescue worker can not get into my vehicle to rescue my children. Second the rear brake lights continue to fail intermediately. This could cause a grave accident killing me or my children in my vehicle. I have talk to twenty to thirty Jeep owners of this same model and approximate year and they all have the same problems. You have to go to this web site; p://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_33943_4.html . This site lists over 700 complaints, most of them with the door locks and brake light. These parts are obviously defective to have such a nationwide outcry. …
My rear corner brake lights constantly have issues either in the taillight assembly or the bulb installation connection -- I am still not sure where the issue is really. I will replace the bulb and in 3 months or so my brake light is out on one side then a short time later the other side. I can't tell you how many jeeps I see with at least one brake light being out. Also if my lights are on, then both rear brake lights go out. If I turn the lights off, maybe only one brake light will not work. I've had several people tell me when they are behind me that I have no brake lights, which means if they were not paying attention they would have hit me! And as we all know, paying attention is a huge issue today with so many cell phone distractions. I am shocked there is not a recall on the Grand Cherokee that I can find on my original factory tail lights.
Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo 2000 105,000 miles got pulled over tonight for not having brake lights when the brake is pressed. Was told that I would be at fault if someone would rear end me. Searched online, there are thousands of complaints about this same issue on the make/mode of my Jeep. This is not the first time this has happened. I have had my brake light assemblies changed, I have changed numerous brake lights. According to a few sites I read, the fix is because the ground connector on the brake light housing is cheaply made and doesn't contact with the lights. This is a safety issue and there should absolutely be a recall on this issue - even after 10 years. With all the complaints online, I'm really shocked that there isn't a recall from Jeep about this very issue.
Headlight complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the lights of the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5% of the model year's 1,447 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 6 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 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to lights 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.