NHTSA Complaint #10118645 — 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE

BOUGHT CAR USED W/49,000MI. AS SOON AS I GOT IT ON THE ROAD, I NOTICED THE "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT A WARM IDLE, ONLY TO FIND MY OIL PRESSURE GUAGE PEGGED AT 0 PSI. DID RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND APPARENTLY THE "0331 CAST" BREED OF CYLINDER HEADS THAT DC USED IN 2000-2001 XJ'S ARE NOTED FOR CRACKING AFTER AN OVERHEAT. SURE ENOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO MIX INTO THE ENGINE OIL. CONSEQUENTLY, MY MAIN, ROD AND CAMSHAFT BEARINGS, AS WELL AS THE CYLINDER HEAD ITSELF HAD TO BE REPLACED. LONG STORY SHORT, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OUT THERE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE, DO RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY ANY CHEROKEE FROM THIS ERA USING THE 0331 HEADS. UNFORTUNATELY, DC NEVER STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND OFFERED A RECALL. CAVEAT EMPTOR!