1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
NHTSA has received 1,250 complaints about the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 19% of them involve transmission. Next are fuel system (12%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,250 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 156 and 26
- Injuries and deaths
- 119 and 8
- Typical mileage
- 137,000 miles 200 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 28 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 20 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 26 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 37 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 15 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 25 |
| 200k+ miles | 21 |
What the data shows
Of the 200 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 137,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 156 complaints mention a crash; 26 complaints mention a fire; 119 injuries reported; 8 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 16th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with enough data (668 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While stopped at an intersection the rear of the jeep grand cherokee was struck by an isuzu, driven approcimately 40 miles per hour. The crash resulted in a fire in the rear of the cherokee and the driver of the isuzu being burned to death. Placement of the fuel tank was claimed to be responsible for the post accident fire.
S10 appropriate handling-letter to the secretary from complaint regarding a 1996 jeep grand cherokee *tgw the consumer stated his wife was rear ended while driving. Upon impact, the rear of the jeep where the gas tank was located immediately burst into flames. The consumer's wife was burned to death. The consumer stated the jeep was designed with an unprotected fuel tank located in the most vulnerable position behind the axle and below the bumper with no type of protection. Updated 10/06/10
On january 24,2014 my wife was a fatality after a 45 m.p.h. Collision with a guardrail butt, then rolling over after the initial impact. The air bags did not deploy either on initial impact or the rollover. She was wearing her seat belt. Has there ever been a recall on these vehicles pertaining to these air bags failing? My wife may still be alive today if not for this defect.
My 1996 jeep grand cherokee limited, will not pass safety inspection because it's exhaust manifold is cracked and leaks exhaust gases. The problem seems to be common among grand cherokee owners with the 6 cylinder, 4 l engine. The manifold failed due to a stress crack that developed from uneven expansion and contraction during normal operation.
Driving at nearly 45-50 MPH, the entire front end began to shake violently until I slowed to a near stop. The steering wheel bounced back and forth more and more until I was going about 15-20 MPH. I was not in the process of turning nor had I just completed a turn. There were no bumps to mention either.