The news is undeniably a hard watch at the moment. Everybody seems to be in a state of permanent rage, and prices are only going one way. It’s probably best not to watch, and instead head out to the garage and carry out that job you’ve been meaning to do for some time, or fix that niggling issue.
And if you have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, it might have one or two irritating glitches that you’ve been ignoring simply because they’ll cost money in garage labor to fix. So why not save yourself the expense and sort it yourself? Get the spanners out, open your Haynes manual to the right page, put some music on and ignore the rest of the world. Everyone’s a winner.
What recalls has the Jeep Grand Cherokee been subject to?
The driver’s-side airbag has been a weak spot in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, because the airbag inflators could have been incorrectly assembled.
In addition, a number of Grand Cherokees were recalled because the ignition switch could inadvertently switch itself off, affecting the steering, brakes, and possibly even operation of the airbags.
Then in 2013, almost 300,000 vehicles were recalled for reprogramming of the transmission, because an electrical issue could cause it to shift itself into neutral, potentially allowing the vehicle to roll away.
A number of models were also recalled for their electronic brake control modules to be reprogrammed, to avoid a potential delay between the driver pressing the brake pedal and anything happening at the business end of the system.
What common problems does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a creak, or even a groan. No, it doesn’t sound like a haunted house, but nevertheless the lower door hinges can make a noise.
Unfortunately, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can also spring a leak due to faulty door seals. A manual passenger’s seat that cannot be adjusted is another issue, as is a squeak emanating from the rear suspension.
And headlights that are prone to fogging up with condensation is another issue owners have reported.
Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have hinge problems?
Owners have reported their Jeep Grand Cherokee making a groaning noise when any door is opened. This can also gradually become a squeak.
The problem lies with the lower door hinges. If the noise being issued is a groan, it isn’t a sign of the car being reluctant to wake up, it just that the hinge needs to be lubricated.
However, if the noise is a squeak or a chirp, it’s likely that the hinge will need to be adjusted. The hinge spring will need to be moved using pliers – if it’s a left-hand door, it must be moved so that the end of the spring points upwards, but if it’s a right-hand door, it should be moved so that the end of the spring points downwards.
Just go to the relevant chapter in your Haynes Grand Cherokee manual for details on all body issues.
Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have leaking problems?
On occasion, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can let in water, causing the carpet to get wet, and potentially causing corrosion plus a musty smell.
The problem lies with faulty baked-on sealing of the retainer beneath the rubber weather strip.
The solution is to remove the weather strip then make sure the retainer is completely dry before applying fresh Windshield and Glass Sealer to the affected area. Once the new sealer is dry, reattach the weather strip.
The removal and replacement of the weather strip is covered in your Haynes Grand Cherokee manual, so this should be a very simple repair to carry out.
Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have seat problems?
Not being able to sit in the most comfortable position for you is going to make any journey feel like a long one. But that’s what sometimes happens to front-seat passengers in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, because the cable to adjust the angle of the backrest becomes detached from the recliner handle, rendering the seat immovable.
However, you can repair the issue by removing the side trim from the front seat, reattaching the cable and securing it with a clip.
This can be done either with the seat in the car and moved all the way forward, although access is tricky, or you can remove the seat altogether, which is a very simple task that’s covered in your Haynes Grand Cherokee manual.
Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have suspension problems?
Squeaks are annoying at the best of times, but when they’re emanating from the suspension, and are therefore an ever-present companion on roads that aren’t ultra-smooth, then they can quickly drive you to distraction.
Some examples of the Grand Cherokee have such a squeak. It originates from the rear spring isolator, and the only way to get rid of the squeak is to replace the affected isolator. However, if one squeaks, the other is probably going to start before long, so it makes sense to replace both rear spring isolators.
Happily, we’ve covered such a task in the Haynes Grand Cherokee manual, so all you need do is follow the step-by-step instructions and study the photographs and you’ll soon have the job sorted.
Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have headlight problems?
The whole point of a headlight is to be bright and to light the way ahead for the driver. And headlight technology has certainly come on in leaps and bounds. But unfortunately the odd issue does occur, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is not immune.
The headlights on some models have been known to become fogged up, particularly when used in low temperatures. The problem is that the sealing of the unit has failed, and so the headlight unit needs to be replaced.
The good news is that this is a fairly straightforward job that you’ll be able to do in an afternoon, and is a task that we’ve covered in some depth in your Haynes Grand Cherokee manual.
Bear in mind that this issue concerns vehicles with halogen headlights, not models with HID (high-intensity discharge) lights. Cars with the latter should be taken to an expert due to the high voltages involved.