3.1
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 44,508 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I recently purchased a 2000 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 motor in it. I have been having loss of coolant lately. No leaks no puddles but coolant is disappearing from my over flow bottle. A quick search on the internet revealed that this is a common problem with 2000 4.0L motors. Turns out the head cracks. Closer inspection reviews a cracked head at 35K miles the Jeep has cracked a head. Unreal.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
1. vehicle overheating and very low oil pressure 2. found cracked cylinder head between cylinders 3 and 4 causing coolant to enter crankcase and contaminate oil. Thus ruining engine bearings. 3. replacement of cylinder head with earlier model design and new bearings in engine.
- Medina, OH, USA
TL- caller owns a 2000 Jeep Cherokee. Current mileage is 71000. Failure mileage is 68000. While driving 40mph caller noticed temeperature gauge and pulled over and tried to correct the problem by adding coolant to radiator. Vehicle cooled off and he put a new head on the engine a week later. The vehicle is still running hot. Ktf the consumer stated the exhaust header is too close to the engine block oil pan causing overheating. Updated 06/08/07.
- Cabazon, CA, USA
On December 17th of 2003, I brought my 200 Jeep Cherokee in for service at a local auto shop. He discovered through a diagnostic check that the engine was skipping on # 3 and # 5 cylinder. They replaced the engine coil pack and spark plugs. The vehicle at that time had 89,941 miles on it. On January 31st of 2006, that same Jeep was brought to the shop again with a skip in the engine. It was also determined through a diagnostic machine that the same problem was occurring. This time the engine had 126,350 miles on it. That is less than 40K miles in 25 months. I am not sure what the warranty is on this unit, but it would be greatly appreciated if someone could look into this manner. I have spent almost $600 in 2 years for the same problem. There must be some sort of an issue. Please let me know.
- Auburn, NY, USA
My vehicle has been losing coolant for quite some time. It has relatively low mileage to have head problems, but I now have coolant in my oil. I have done some research and found that daimler-Chrysler used 0331 cast heads on this model Cherokee (2000 w/ 4.0L engine). It turns out that these heads were a poor cast allowing cracks to form near the #3 cylinder area allowing coolant to flow into the oil. This results in a drop in oil pressure and eventually bearing and engine failure. I consider myself somewhat lucky that I discovered this problem before the engine seized up on me, however I am now looking at over $1000 in repairs that should not be necessary for a vehicle with just over 50K miles. I am very disappointed since I believed Jeep to be reliably built vehicles. I sincerely hope that someone from daimler-Chrysler will read this and rectify the situation before the engine failure leads to an accident or death.
- Fort Rucker, AL, USA
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!
- New Hartford, NY, USA
2000 Jeep Cherokee engine stopped without warning.** answer required***. there was a hole in the piston. After the dealer inspected the vehicle, they stated there was not enough coolant in the system which caused the front frost plug heater to come out and that the no 1 and 2 piston melted down. The consumer had to replace the engine with only 42,000 miles on the vehicle. The rotors were replaced twice. The rubber around all four doors shrunk to the point that wind and water would come through. Periodically, when the vehicle was locked the headlights and taillights would come on and go off for a few minutes. The chrome on the wheels was corroded and coming off. The front passenger electric lock was making a strange noise when the doors were lock or unlocked.
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA
Loosing coolant very rapid. (filled every 2 days) vehicle stated to loose heat. Coolant was entering the oil. Cracked head gasket was replaced at $1300 was advise head gasket was made at the manufacturer to thin and this caused the crack, and this is a common concern.
- Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Freeze plugs failed in my 2000 Jeep Cherokee sport, causing the engine coolant to leak, and making vehicle inoperative. Cost of repairs totaled $1125.33.
- Avon Lake, OH, USA
I purchased my 2000 Jeep Cherokee from lehmers Jeep in concord, California in the spring of 2000. Ive had all the servicing done there as suggested. I take care of my car and drive it gently. In August of this year, during the week prior to my scheduled 60,000 mile servicing the car overheated twice. I immediately pulled over and let the car cool off. When the car was serviced the block was cracked, the water pump had malfunctioned. The service department replaced the block and told me that it was replaced with an improved block as the original one was known to crack easily. The bill for service and replacing the cracked block was $3364.19. I believe that I should be reimbursed for the cost of replacing the block. It was known to be defective. I have had all my servicing done at lehmerS Jeep per their schedule. I requested reimbursement from the daimler Chrysler customer assistance center but was refused.
- Martinez, CA, USA
Consumer stated that engine check light came on periodically.
- Carson City, NV, USA
There was a problem with the brakes, a noise in the motor, and the differential was leaking.
- Apo, AA, USA
Temperature into red on several occasions and lowers when heat turned on. Oil pressure to zero at start up and while driving at range of speeds.engine check light on. Been for repairs 5 times. Have been told rack and pinion leaking, needs new short block, gauge panel faulty, catalytic converter, and again new short block needed. Problem persists.
- Neptune City, NJ, USA
'check gauges' light comes on multiple times, temperature gauge to redline for a few minutes, then back to normal. Brought in to be checked/fixed 5 times, 'no leak', 'no problem detected', 'radiator hose loose', 'added coolant' until this last time: 'cracked head'; also oil gauge recently shows no pressure with great frequency, as with temperature gauge. I had been adding coolant every few weeks. I believe this problem could seize the engine while vehicle is in motion.
- Maspeth, NY, USA
- Thornton, CO, USA