Six problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. While the vehicle was undergoing routine maintenance, the technician diagnosed that the exhaust manifold cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
1997 Jeep Cherokee. Ehaust manifold crack. I have friends who own 98 and 99 Cherokee's with the same problem. Dealer states it is common. Makes for hard starting poor fuel millage and a fire hazard. Very expensive fix. Should be a recall.
While driving, the "manifold exhaust" cracked.
After returning from the grocery store, I parked the car in the driveway. 30 minutes later, I looked out the window to see black smoke coming out of the hood and the top of the hood was black & blistered. We dialed 911 to report this and the city of northampton, MA sent the fire department and police department. When the fire department arrived they were unable to open the hood release because it had been melted by the heat. They forcibly opened the hood and hosed down the engine compartment until it had cooled to a safe point. They filed a report and the police also filed a report. The car was towed to a local chrylser dealer that same day. On Monday, July 22, 2002 I notified my insurance company met life. They sent an appraiser that week who stated that the engine fire was caused by debris entering the intake manifold. I notified Chrysler manufacturing company at their consumer complaint number at 9am Monday July 22nd that there had been an engine fire in my 1997 Jeep Cherokee sport. I also received information that daimlerchrysler is recalling over a million sport utility vehicles from 1999 to 2002 because of a manifold problem that could cause an engine fire. Many of these cars were Jeep Cherokee models. It has been described to me by the mechanic and insurance appraiser that this is why my car had an engine fire. Today I am filing this complaint, July 29, 2002. Chrysler corporation has not returned my calls or gone to see the car and review the cause of the engine fire. I am not able to determine if my car can be safely repaired and avoid a recurrence of the same problem. I would appreciate it if you can investigate my complaint and review the cause of the engine fire in my vehicle to determine if it should also be subject to the recall. Can it be repaired so that the engine fire does not recur due to problems with the engine design.
First , this car was bought brand new with my ex-husband, nicolas jonville. We bought the car in October, 1997, from a Jeep dealer in des plaines, illinois. It was a sales done through International autosource. We then brought the car out to California. Since June, 2000, this car has expeienced O2 sensor problems, exhaust manifold crack, spring defective attached to right front shock, and fuel tank accuracy problem. I have a three year old child and drive this car just to take her to pre-sechool and shopping. I work out of the home. I believe the problems I have experienced in one years time are abundant. I don't drive daily into los angeles or san diego, California. I drive barely 20 miles a day. I do believe these problems do cause safetly problems for my daughter and myself. I have fears of stalling due to fuel problems. I have fears of hitting something that affect the spring on the highway and getting in a bad accident. I now have fears of driving the car long distances since the exhaust manifold crack caused me to eat too much gas. The car is only over three years old. I want some answers and will sending this information further with certified documentations of my letters, my reviews of mechanic views and the dealers documentation. The dealer has been non-supportive of fixing any of my problems without paying a high price when I believe these are manufacturer problesms.
The manifold cracked.