40 problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
In response to recent reports about 1997 Grand Cherokee transmissions going into reverse without selecting reverse--my Jeep's transmission seals deteriorated early with pieces of the seals found in the gear fluid; could cause blockage of scavanger system or interference with gears themselves--possible cause or explanation; contacted Jeep and local dealership--they denied everything.
I have been taking my Jeep back to the dealer since about 7000 miles with a hesitation problem. They said they checked engine, transmission, and other items with no sucess in locating the problem. Now, a few months ago I started having problems with it wanting to just take off like a bullet, as soon as you barly get it into reverse. I explained to crystler, that now ,I wonder if the whole time they couldn't find the problem if it was my transmission. At 55000 miles I understand things start going wrong, but not the transmission. I felt that if it needed repair they should pay for it, or at least waiver the labor. So I took it to a transmission specialist, he replied " if you were my wife you wouldn't even drive it any further, it's that bad" so now it still sits in the garage gitting fixed ,1 1/2 weeks as of today ,and I still don't have it back. The specilist told me the whole transmission would need rebuilt, due to burnt out clutches in 1 st gear, and reverse, and burnt out tourque converter. With a grand total of $2326. 70. Then I saw the issue on cnn about the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I really felt that applied to our Jeep. Please help. The dealership kept telling me alot of crazy things, like "you must not be excellerating properly" and with the reverse, "everyone has to keep there foot on the break when putting it in reverse" well I never had a vehicle that would just shoot off like a rocket in reverse. Thank you lise greathouse.
Vehicle does not decelerate properly. At high speeds, 40-60 mph, removing foot from gas pedal does not always cause the vehicle to decelerate or slow down.
Would be driving vehicle and it would hesitate. Would rev up as if in neutral. Would suddenly kick in, and then accelerate. Have taken to dealership, and was informed by mechanic problem was low transmission fluid. After changing fluid in transmission was driving again, an d problem still occurred.
After being parked for a period of time transmission did not respond well. When placed into gear it would take 10 to 15 seconds to respond and go into the gear. Dealer has been contacted.