1996 JEEP LAREDO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP LAREDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL BEFORE ROLLING OVER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE BOX AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

I JUST BROUGHT THIS TRUCK A FEW MOTHS BACK AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. IT'S QUITE FREQUENT NOW. I'VE BEEN ON HERE TO LOOK FOR ANY RECALLS BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY FOR THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR LOOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT'S DANGEROUS. JEEP PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN HONEST MECHANIC AND HE DOESN'T CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT BUT CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE. *TT

I JUST BROUGHT THIS TRUCK A FEW MOTHS BACK AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. IT'S QUITE FREQUENT NOW. I'VE BEEN ON HERE TO LOOK FOR ANY RECALLS BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY FOR THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR LOOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT'S DANGEROUS. JEEP PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN HONEST MECHANIC AND HE DOESN'T CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT BUT CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE. *TT

THE VEHICLE (1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE) OFTEN STALLS IN TRAFFIC. IT FAILS AT ANY SPEED, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR IN MOTION. IT SOMETIMES TAKES 15+ MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. IT HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR EVEN IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DIAGNOSES OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY PHANTOM PROBLEMS REPAIRED WITH NEW PARTS INSTALLED, THE LATEST BY THE DEALER IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA WHO JUST REPLACED THE CONNECTORS ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, NOW THEY WANT ME TO POUR ANOTHER $500+ DOLLAR INTO REPAIRING THE VEHICLE SIGHTING THE PCM AS THE ??PROBLEM??. MY CURRENT BILL IS NOW AT $1,200; ADD THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND NOW THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REALIZING THEY ARE ONLY THE DEALER I CONTACTED THE JEEP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1 877 426 5337 AND WAS BLOWN OFF BY THE JEEP SPECIALIST [XXX] (HE HAD BEEN TRAINED TO BE APOLOGETIC THOUGH). I WAS PROMISED HELP IN A PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WITH [XXX] BUT WAS GIVEN NO HOPE OF ASSISTANCE IN MY LATEST CONTACT WITH [XXX] WHICH WAS 8/23/13. I ASKED IF I COULD SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN A HIGHER POSITION ACCORDING TO [XXX] HE WAS THE DECISION MAKER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THIS AND ALL JEEP BRAND VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WILL BE OPERATING FINE, ENGINE TOTALLY CUTS OUT. NO POWER WHATSOEVER. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS HAS BEEN A FAIRLY REGULAR PROBLEM ON JEEPS OF THIS ERA (1996 - HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS OF SOME OTHER YEARS). THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, DEALERSHIPS DENY RESPONSIBILITY. CODE HAS INDICATED BAD COIL - HAVE REPLACED COIL, SAME PROBLEM. ANECDOTAL REPORTS THAT PCM BOARD APPEARS TO BE SHORTING OR OTHERWISE AFFECTED BY TOO LONG SCREWS, SUGGESTION TO REPLACE WITH SHORTER SCREWS OR PLACE WASHERS TO PREVENT POTENTIAL CONTACT TO BOARD. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF TIME FOR MANY, MYSELF INCLUDED, THEN PROBLEM RECURS. OTHERS SUGGEST THIS IS INDICATION THAT CIRCUIT BOARD IS CRACKED, THUS SCREW CONTACT RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT DISCONNECT AND FAILURE. VERY MUCH WHAT HAPPENS. STALLS, THEN MAY START AND RUN FINE FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN WILL STALL AGAIN. NO WARNING -CAN BE GOING FREEWAY SPEED AND IT WILL SUDDENLY STALL, THUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES.... VERY DANGEROUS. ALL INDICATIONS ARE A VERY BAD PCM DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING THAT RECURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS. *TR