NHTSA Complaint #738200 — 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE

ENGINE DIES WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH A 1/4 TANK OF GAS OR LESS. ENGINE WILL RUN AS LONG AS YOU DRIVE WITHOUT MAKING ANY SHARP TURNS. HAVE NOT RUN OUT OF GAS EVEN WHEN THE GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AS LONG AS YOU DRIVE STRAIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS( SPIRIT CHRYSLER AND JEEP). THE RESPONSE WAS , A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE ONLY AND WOULD NOT COVER MY PROBLEM. ALSO THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT IS A WEAK FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD COST $495.00 TO REPLACE. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT MOST OWNERS NEVER LET THEIR GAUGE GO BELOW 1/2 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM . I DON'T BELIEVE A WEAK FUEL PUMP WOULD CAUSE THIS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL PICKUP IS LOSING PRIME BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF BAFFLES IN THE TANK TO KEEP THE FUEL FROM MOVING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY DAUGHTER AND SHE ADVISED ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 30000 MILES. BEEN. *AK