Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl*- the contact stated that this 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a failure in the blower motor control module. The contact stated that he had the blower motor control module replaced 2 years ago. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH this vehicle compartment filled with smoke. He contacted the dealership and was told that therewas a large number of vehicles with the same problem, and they could not get the part in fast enough to make all of the repairs. The dealership informed the contact that they had 15 back orders for the blower motor control modules. The contact would like NHTSA to be aware of this problem. The consumer stated there was a minor fire. Updated 03/15/07.
Gasoline odor/check engine light have had this vehicle machanically checked the smell of fuel on startup with window lowered is overpowering..the check engine light came on and I had the vehicle plugged into service computer..was told too check gas cap/replace..which I did..the gasoline odor is still present and the check engine light is back on..so new gas cap isnt the problem. There are no leaks anywhere on the engine or at the gas tank, yet the smell of fuel is still present. No gas line leaks...we need to make these trucks in America again with American parts. Have always owned jeeps have a 93 sport in my driveway right now, but this '01 May be my last...literally.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at night the headlights would not turn off, the battery was disconnected so the headlight would go off. Second, the car is not in park light illuminated on the overhead console while driving 45 MPH. Third, the antilock brakes vibrated while coming to a complete stop at a red light causing the vehicle to accelerate. The vehicle hit another vehicle from behind however no one was injured. A police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle sustained frontal damage and was driven home. The dealership inspected the vehicle but was unable to determine the problems. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 6/23/2006 -
This Jeep will run fine, but when it comes to red lights and idle, the car will shut off and not turn on again for atleast 10 minutes. Spent about 3,000 usd to fix at multiple mechanic and the issue remains. Why has Jeep never taken the time to recall this issue as it can cause the lives of many drivers.
I have owned a Jeep for 3 years. Since I have purchased the Jeep I have had nothing but problems. The rotors went bad, the steering manifold went bad, the engine went bad, and the motor in the window went bad and broke. Now I have replaced my left rear brake light six or seven times. It slowly started to fade out, and now the entire light goes out at night when our lights are turned on and we have to depress the brake. It is also barely noticeable during the day. We thought we had a faulty wire, but when we took it to a shop to have them look at it, they said that in every Jeep that has been brought in with the same problem has been the entire light and casing. The bulb gets too hot and warps the casing that holds the light. So the light no longer touches the casing and will no longer work. They told us also that our right rear light is warping also, so both of them need to be replaced. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving approximately between 25 and 30 MPH on normal road conditions. The entire warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Suddenly, the complete electrical system failed to function. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle resumed normal operation after a delay of fifteen seconds. The failure occurred intermittently. In addition, the activation of the windshield wipers also resulted in the engine stalling. Previously, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on three separate occasions for the identical failures and the technician was unable to duplicate the failures. The vehicle was repaired for the malfunctions when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 03/12/10. *ljupdated 09/16/10
I own a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. On Friday 2/11/09 I had to call aaa auto service. The ignition on the car locked up. The auto mechanic. That they sent out got out of the truck with a rubber hammer and walked over to my car and hit the ignition a couple of times and it came unlock. He said that they get a couple of calls a week about this problem. I took it to a dealer and they told me they had to replace the ignition in cars 3 or 4 times a month. I called Chrysler and tried to tell them about the problem and they were no help. So I'm reporting the problem to you to try to get some help. The consumer stated he filed a complaint in December 2009 and would like to know if the problem was investigated, and if so what was the outcome.? Updated 03/23/10.
Tl* - the heater and A/C are not working in the contact's 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact called the dealer ( all star Dodge in amarillo, tx) to set up appointment for repair. The dealer stated that the vehicle's failure is due to the wiring harness melting which created a short circuit in the resonator. Dealer explained that they would need to replace the wiring harness and resonator. The dealer called the parts warehouse in dallas, tx and they stated that there is a back order for the part that can take a few weeks before they get the part. The contact is concerned that the vehicle May catch on fire due to the failure.
My vehicle shuts down intermediately while driving and sometimes while turning it on and while sitting in a stationary position at a light . I would like to have a recall because I know many people who have been in accidents and I would not like to be one them... I spent $3000 for a shop to look at it and still they do not know what is wrong with it. I do not want my family or myself to get into a crash because of faulty equipment. At the least I would like an explanation for why this is happening so I can get it fixed properly. But otherwise a recall for these vehicles would be rea suing to my family and I.
2001 Jeep Cherokee over heated seat driver side burn out .......replaced , under warranty, with defective part, same issue recurring burning coil.....also, back up lites don t work ........replaced under warranty, with ....defective ...same recurring ...told no longer under warranty and my problem...$500 plus $1300...for identical repair as warranty work already done and replaced with same defective parts... ...dates and mileage when authorized Jeep dealers did work or denied warranty on same issues is recorded and on file, and estimated by me at this time...but recorded....by dealers, and in my file.
Electrical complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5% of the model year's 883 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 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 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.