Used 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Consumer Reviews
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Great 4 the $$$
Marshizzle, 09/30/2009
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4dr SUV 4WD
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought my Jeep around Christmas 07 and its been a daily driver since. 255k when I bought it, now has 298k &still runs like hell. The 4.0 is bullet proof and so is the rest of the machine. I frequent the local mudhole/trails and drive this Jeep. It gives me no problems and will not get stuck. I also have a 96 limited Jeep w/ a 5.2 & all pwr that gives me constant problems, so stick with the simple model. Remember to change the fluids!
178,000 miles and adding more
BYRKSTER, 07/11/2010
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4dr SUV 4WD
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I love my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee! I found her next to a garage covered in green goo, from setting underneath some pine trees for -FOUR- years, asked the owner if they were interested in selling, they said yes. I paid $700.00, stuck in a new battery and she fired up and I took off down the road towards my garage. Let the fun begin Flushed all the systems, changed the exhaust, brakes, rotors, calipers, shocks, fluids, sparks plugs, wires, cap & rotor, all had rusted, but after four years setting she still ran great! Took more time cleaning the exterior then actual replacing parts, but she turned out great!
Nice
Ken, 08/12/2009
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I got mine in 99 with about 60k on it. Mine is equipped with the 5.9 and the quadradrive, full time 4 wheel drive. this thing is your foul weather friend and nearly unstoppable. It just rolled 290,000 last weekend and with regular maintenance there is another 200k left in it. I still have the factory water pump factory fuel pump and original transfer case. Change your fluids my friends. It has never let me down and really never broke except for the A/C in 04 but who cares. I go off road and play in the mud so I beat this old thing. I tow with it including one 250 mile trip with a 8000 pound trailer way way over the weight limit and aside from poor breaking no heat issues. well worth it.
Good thing I got a warranty!
jon f., 06/04/2005
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee TSi 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I thought I was getting the perfect used car: less than 70,000 miles and a 3,000 mile powertrain warranty. Turns out I've needed to use the warranty three times already - once to replace the PCM, another to replace a bad steering gear, and now to replace bearings in the front differential - all withing the first month! I'm scared of what will come down the road. It's too bad - I love the truck and it's very good at what it does. It looks great in silver, the leather interior is fantastic and it gets 22-23 mpg at 65mph. Off-road nothing can touch it for the money! If you want one, research the maintenance history and make sure the TSB's were done!
"Bullet Proof?????!!!!!" ...I think NOT!!!
ACM, 07/29/2015
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4dr SUV
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
***Let me preface this review by stating that this vehicle was well maintained, not abused, before and after I bought it*** I've owned my 97 Grand Cherokee Laredo for 5 years now and it has been, by far, the worst vehicle I've ever owned (and I've owned a lot). Let's start with the... Exterior: mine is the green/gold color and the paint has been peeling off of the top and hood since before I bought it (primer failure/paint defect). The driver's door hinge is worn out and the door sags. I went through an automated car wash and the clear plastic face of both head headlights fell off (?!) so I had to replace them. Safety Issues: There is a factory recall because of a chance of the Jeep exploding if hit from the rear (?!) Electrical Issues: The Crankshaft Position Sensor failed (also a common issue with these Jeeps) and left me stranded on a secluded stretch of road for 4 hours - my mechanic thought it was the fuel pump, so I ended up buying a fuel pump AND the CPS. The Jeep developed an issue where it would sporadically stall (usually at the LEAST convenient time and location) and wouldn't crank back up for 2 minutes. After replacing multiple parts over the course of 8 1/2 months and almost getting killed several times as it stalled in the middle of a busy intersection, it was determined that there was a bad connection with a wiring harness that plugs into the Powertrain Control Module (also a design flaw). A series of zip ties and wooden wedges behind the PCM fixed that problem. The instrument lights flicker off and on while driving with the lights on, because of loose electrical connection somewhere. The AC fan only works on the 3 lowest settings (not on High) unless you jiggle the wiring harness behind the glove compartment. Drivetrain: I had to replace the rear axle because the carrier bearing housing broke (and apparently this is common on these jeeps). The transmission slips and leaks. I had to replace the water pump twice, the cooling fan twice and the radiator. I've replaced the starter twice. The freeze plug on the back of the head developed a small leak that I didn't catch until the Jeep ran hot and blew the head gasket and cracked the head (I was in the middle of a long bridge and couldn't pull over). This head freeze plug rusting out is also (supposedly) a design flaw with the 4.0... something about the factory casting sand getting lodged around it, causing it to rust. Other: the carpet on the passenger floorboard is constantly wet because of a design flaw with the ac condenser drain tube. All 5 of the door lock actuators (rear lift gate too) stopped working/disintegrated because they are cheaply made. ...I'm sure I've missed something... there has been so much I've been through with this Jeep... never again will I own a Chrysler product. My Ford Expedition - same year (97) with 250k+ miles... I've owned it for 13 years and I'VE REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES!!! PERIOD!!!
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