general problems of the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee

I was driving about 45 mph when my Jeep accelerated, I tried tapping the gas pedal in hopes that it would affect it. That didn't help, I had both feet on the brake, I pulled the e-break and it still wouldn't stop and I was redlining. I finally saw a redlight and decided to throw it in park and it rolled another 50 feet or so before finally coming to a stop. I jumped out and ran because it was still stuck and redlining. Everything under the Jeep was red and finally flames started coming out of the exaughst. The fire department hosed it down for about ten mintues before taking the keys out of the ignition.

The contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact was driving 30 mph when he removed his foot from the accelerator pedal and the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact applied the brakes and was able to slow the vehicle down. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the mechanic was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

I was driving in a mall parking lot looking for a parking space. I was turning the corner to go down the next aisle and all of a sudden I had no control of the Jeep. As I turned to the left to continue looking for a park, the Jeep was speeding out of control and I was slamming on the brake with both feet and the Jeep just kept accelerating! I was unable to steer away from the vehicles I was heading towards. As I was heading towards the first vehicle that I hit, I was trying to steer away from it and then the Jeep turned to the right and kept accelerating. I ended up hitting four other vehicles ( 5 vehicles total) and finally came to a complete stop after hitting the last vehicle. There is extensive damage to my Jeep and to the other vehicles involved. We have not had the damage accessed yet, so we do not know how much this will cost to fix. I believe my Jeep is totaled. We are thankful nobody was injured and that I am ok, just shaken up a little.

The contact owns a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While attempting to apply the brakes at 5 mph, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. The contact stated that the failure occurred periodically. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 55,336.

I own a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Three of four times I have had unexpected acceleration due to the brake pedal and accelerator being pushed at the same time. I have read on the internet where this has happened on many Jeep Grand Cherokees of nearly every year. I have not had an accident, but it could happen if in a parking lot. The possibility of people being hurt is great. I have kept it mind most everytime I move my vehicle, but it still has happened.

My vehicle, Jeep Grand Cherokee 2001 limited addition with around 47,000 miles on the odometer performed satisfactorily until this morning when my wife was returning from the usual drop-off of my son to the preschool. As she was waiting for the garage door of the apartment complex where we live while her foot was on the brake, the car suddenly shot up and crashed through the garage door and came to complete stop 20 feet from the gate. This horrifying experience, fortunately, did not cause any physical injury to my wife and my 15 months daughter secured in the back seat. Luckily, there was no incoming car nor people injured. However, we are afraid that the vehicle which sustained major damages to the body will not provide any more peace of mind. It is definitively a wake-up call for us to search a more safe vehicle for my family.

Accelerated out of control in reverse. Couldn't stop the vehicle.

: the contact stated while parked in the driveway, the vehicle was placed in reverse and suddenly lurched backwards crashing into the garage. The contact attempted to apply brake pressure, but the vehicle was stopped by the garage and its contents. No one was injured, but there was moderate damage to the vehicle and garage. The police were not notified. The vehicle was not seen by a dealer.

When pressing the accelerator, the car would not move forward, then suddenly it would lurch forward. Almost had accident when trying to pull out into traffic. When the car was stopped, it would idle, then suddenly jerk forward. Took to dealer for repair. They stated that it was a solenoid and that they are seeing this with Grand Cherokees that have over 50,000 miles. Very costly repair on a car that is 2 years old!!!.

January I went to apply my brakes at a stop sign and it lunged forward. Shocked I slammed my foot on the brake harder and it lunged a second time hitting a car coming down the side street. Thursday when I went to apply my brakes the car shook so hard I could barely keep my hands on the steering wheel. This has happened once before and the dealership replaced them the first time, they won't do it this time. I have had my Jeep 2 years and this is the third set of brakes. They told me to expect to change brakes and or pads every 15,000 miles? there fore wracking another bill of over $800.

This same situation has happened four times. Engine light did not appear until the 4th incident. Each time I had been driving for about an hour with the air conditioner on. I missed a turn, stopped, put the car in reverse, stopped and then put it in drive. However, the car engine just raced and when I put the pedal to the floor, the car would only go about 35 mph. I've almost been killed several times. The original dealership (joe jacoby) could not identify the problem and now refuses to return my calls. I'm now driving another hour further away (2 hours from home) to a dealership that is aware of the problem. This is the 2nd time I've had it in. . . Last time I paid $700 for service. If I don't get this fixed soon, eventually somene will hit me as I pull out at 35 mph onto a 65 mph highway. Unfortunately I think my pretty SUV is a lemon.

Coming to a stop, foot on brake. Felt power surge. Slamed on brakes , put Jeep in neutral.

Onsumer's foot was on brake when vehicle lurched in reverse. Dealer will be notified.

Consumer states when he stepped on the brake to shift into reverse the motor began to roar and the vehicle lurched backward no matter how hard the brake was pressed, consumer immediately pulled the shift downward and the vehicle lurched foward with the motor still roaring and his foot still pressing on the brake, after traveling about twenty feet the motor reverted to idle.

I stopped for a left turn at a 4 way intersection, in order to let the upcoming traffic pass. When it was clear, I started to turn left and slightly uphill. All of a sudden, the engine revved into the highs and with a loud noise, the car accelerated. I immediately hit the brake, but the car kept on accelerating so strongly that it was overturning to the left and while I was still on the brakes, it then accelerated into the door of a car, which was waiting at the red light and was actually standing 180 degrees towards my left, behind me when I started. The door of this car was turned significantly inwards where the front of my car hit. The other car was even pushed all the way to the curb until my car finally came to a stop. All this while I was standing on the brake. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Although I had 2 witnesses, who testified the unusual acceleration and behavior of my car, I have been charged for this accident with significant damage on the other car, which turned out to be a total. My car was about 2 months old at this time, but I have been a secure driver with numerous models for more than 20 years. My long experience also includes driving a 10 ton utility truck in the military and I have never had anything similar happen. I asked my 5-star dealership to check into the electronics and the board computer. They said that they didn't find anything, so I had no case. However, I read about similar events and one in particular most recently, which provided a link to this complaint form. I didn't report this earlier, because I didn't know about this complaint possibility back then. However, the official documents are still available. Thank you. Jm . Nm.

At 67 mph with speed control on, Jeep accelerated at max. Speed. Had to apply brake to disengage control at 80 mph. Speed control buttons would not work. Had to stop and put Jeep in park to turn off speed control. Speed control buttons failed to work when returned to drive. Later that day, speed control worked normal.

At approx. 50 mph a "whining" sound starts in rear of auto. As speed increases, the sound intensifies. Take foot totally off accelerator and it stops. . . . . Picks up again when accelerator is depressed. Dealer says it is common in new all-time 4wd transmission. Very loud.

I purchased/ leased a Jeep Grand Cherokee 3/24/01. The day after I drove it off the lot, I noticed a problem with the transmission. The transmission, when down-shifting from 2nd to 1st gear shifted very, very hard- so hard that there was a loud thumping/banging noise that was quite audible and distracting, and also this abnormal shifting caused the car to lurch forward. I immediately called the dealer to express my concern over a new vehicle with such a rough transmission. I was assured by the service dept. That all the new electronic transmissions started off rough the 1st thousand miles, and that it needed to break in. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, although I was very skeptical; never in my life having experienced such a horribly rough transmission- esp. On a brand new vehicle. After 1000 miles, there was no improvement, and I took the vehicle in to be evaluated. I was assured by the mechanic that all the Grand Cherokees transmissions are like this- it's a build up of the hydrolic fluids or something. I once again believed them (not really) and went on my way. The vehicle continued to do this, the sound getting very loud and quite startling at times while in traffic. It also is quite embarassing with passengers in the car who also have become quite startled by the loudness and sheer force of the lurching. I took my vehicle in a second time for evaluation only to be told, nothing was wrong. It is my feeling that this is a severe defect of some sort. In all my years of driving, I have never experienced such problems- except maybe from a manual transmission that bucked. I am planning to take my car in yet a third time and demand the problem be resolved, or I will be invoking my rights under the lemon laws. In light of the recent problems with Grand Cherokees, and their shifting into gear while idling, I cannot say that I am surprised. My vehicle also when shifted into reverse, sometimes makes a very loud clunking, rough shift. Please advise.

We were exiting a car wash. The transmissiom was in neutral, the engine was idling and my foot was on the break pedal. I put the transmission into drive with my foot still on the brake pedal and the car leaped ahead at full throttle all 4 wheels peeling rubber. The brakes did not work and putting the transmission into low had no effect on the engine. We were within 50 feet of a busy state highway and directly across the road from a gas station. In order to not go onto or across the highway I cut the wheels sharply to the left going through ayard, just missing a tree and telephone poll. The car is now sliding sideways and hit the side of the parking lot next to the car wash causing both wheels and tires on the passenger side to be severly damaged and the car to do a 180 degree slide. This all transpired in about 4-5 seconds and at this point I was able to turn off the ignition and the car came to a halt. I reported this to Chrysler, through my dealer. My dealer was very helpful and felt that this car should not be on the highway. Chrysler felt that it is a problem between my insurance company and myself. There is no way that I can ever feel safe in this vehicle again and I fear for the safety of my family and anyone who might be in the way of this vehicle if this ever happens again.

When shifting from park to drive throttle suddenly opened wide, causing vehicle to pull off at top speed. Vehicle hit a building. Dealer has been contacted.