Jeep Cherokee (2002 – 2007) Review

• October 2001
• September 2002
• January 2006

Seems to be a problem of autoboxes of 2.8CRDs jumping out of gear. Alarm problem related to front door sensor. Check operation of autoboxes of 2.8 CRDs very carefully on test drive. After safety recall regarding suspension/steering ball joint corrosion, the replacement joints & splashguards can fail again after around 18 months.

Grumbling diff problem cured with Forté Diff & Gear Treatment especially listed for the Jeep Cherokee’s diff problem) together with Valvoline Synpower GL 4/5 F/Synthetic Gear Oil.

Check front propshaft gaiter for splits. A new one is £320.

When his vents stuck on the windscreen setting Jeep advised a reader that it was the control rod and quoted £800+. He then went on a long run and noticed that the cruise control was not working. This had happened before and was fixed by having the vacuum widget put back on, a 30 second job. He had this done again and coincidentally the vents then started working normally, so he saved £800.

Check the cabin blower to see if it has all its speeds - if it only runs on high speed the rectifier has gone (a common problem) - costs about £22 and can be easily fitted yourself behind the glovebox.

Powered wing mirrors give up (another common problem)

The steering lock fails to unlock (another common problem). You might be able to source another barrel from the USA and fit for less than £80.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Valves very prone to corrosion. Best to replace the entire system with Tyresafe.

Reader received UK VOSA recall concering his N46 2005/55 Jeep Cherokee Sport: Fuel tank at risk of rupture if rear ended. Told to go to dealer and have inspected to see if cross-car beam can be fitted. However, if a tow bar has been fitted this will have to be removed and cannot be reattached. In the USA they recalled 1.7 million Jeeps and fitted MOPAR towing hitches free of charge. Not in the UK. Reader has a Witter towbar with removable towball. Vehicle useless to him if he cannot tow with it.

Another N46 Jeep Cherokee owner was fed the same line that the dealer-fitted towbar of his Cherokee had to be removed and a protective bar inastalled in its place, rendering his towcar incapable of towing. If the vehicle was sold within 6 months, the dealer is legally liable to either re-fit a towbar or buy the car back from the owner for a sensible price. Even though the vehicles are now 7 - 12 years old, because Chrysler Jeep initiated the recall, it might find itself liable to fit usable towbars. Watch out for this one on 'Watchdog'.

A third N46 third Jeep Cherokee owner, this one a 2007 car, Chassis No: 7W533589, sent the notice to have "rear structural reinforcement" fitted, necessitating removal of the towbar. Since he had bought and regularly uses the vehicle for towing, this would make it redundant. It could be that the MOPAR towbar fitted in the USA is not EC Type Approved and that is why it it not being fitted in the UK.

Chrysler UK admitted that the MOPAR towbars fitted to Jeeps in the USA are not EU Type Approved, but that other towbars might be compatible with the modification and that it is trying to find a solution to this problem.

Information from reader that Chrysler UK is now offering an approved tow bar that satisfies the recall conditions, and and that they will fit to affected vehicles free of charge. A local dealer 'Olds of Yeovil' proved very helpful.