Wrench.Pro

1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Driver seat frame or bracket fracture.” Jeep vehicles use the Oil Change Indicator system to signal when oil is due. Wrangler and Gladiator owners who actually use 4WD off-road should treat the schedule below as Schedule A (severe) — water crossings, sand, and rock crawling demand differential and transfer case service at half the published intervals. Grand Cherokee and Cherokee follow the standard Mopar schedule.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Reported to NHTSA

Driver seat frame or bracket fracture

SEATS

23 NHTSA complaints · 2011-01 → 2017-11

“AT APPROXIMATELY 137,000 MILES, THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME SNAPPED AT TWO POINTS, CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN ENTERING/EXITING AND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. SINCE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AT THAT POINT, IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I WAS IN MOTION ON A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11044918
“WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD SOMETHING BREAK UNDERNEATH IT CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME MORE OF A ROCKING CHAIR, WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH AND TO THE SIDE. MY 19 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, AND THANK GOODNESS HE WAS PREPARING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND HE ALMOST WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10461010
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKET FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10520629

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel tank skid plate corrosion and fuel leakage

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

15 NHTSA complaints · 2011-05 → 2017-01

“I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND HEARD A STRANGE SCRAPING SOUND, WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE GAS TANK WAS LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE CAR. THE SKIDPLATE/SUPPORT WAS ROTTED AWAY AND ONLY THE BACK PORTION OF IT WAS HOLDING THE GAS TANK UP. COULD HAVE BEEN A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10940325
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD AND BRACKET FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10556838
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10690713

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake line corrosion and caliper seizure

SERVICE BRAKES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2013-03 → 2018-05

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE BRAKE LINES BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER (CUETER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11091961
“THE REAR BRAKE LINE (STEEL) NOT THE RUBBER LINE FAILED WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH, DESPITE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (BLEEDING OF OLD FLUID) BEING PERFORMED. IT WAS DETERMINED BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10664750
“FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT CALIPERS SEIZED CAUSING CALIPER, PAD AND ROTOR OVERHEATING AND BRAKE ROTOR CRACKED AND FAILED CAUSING ME TO SCRAPE A GUARD RAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THIS IS THE THIRD BRAKE CALIPER RELATED FAILURE I HAVE HAD IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS. THE PREVIOUS 2”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10504720

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

HVAC blend door and blower motor failure

VISIBILITY

7 NHTSA complaints · 2010-11 → 2014-08

“THE BLEND DOORS ON THE DUAL HEATER SYSTEM HAVE FAILED AND THERE IS NO HEAT OR AC TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10446967
“THE CLIMATE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. ONE SIDE BLOWS COLD AIR AND THE OTHER WARM AIR. THE DEFROSTERS ARE INEFFECTIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP NOT TO MENTION KEEPING THE WINDSHIELD DEICED IN BAD DRIVING CONDITIONS. CHRYSLER SAYS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10446829
“THE BLOWER TO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED 2 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. NOW ITS OUT AGAIN. IT'S DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN WINTER WITH NO BLOWER TO A HEATER AND DIFFICULT IN SUMMER WITH NO BLOWER TO THE AIR CONDITIONING. A MECHANIC I WENT TO SAID”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10588164

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illumination

AIR BAGS

24 NHTSA complaints · 2010-12 → 2023-08

“THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND THE CHIME DINGS. IT SEAMS TO DO IT WHEN THE STERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I SUSPECT IT IS A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING AND I'VE FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES OF THIS ON MANY JEEP FORUMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10445830
“I HAVE A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH 110,000 MILES AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND CHIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A DEALER I NEED A NEW CLOCK SPRING. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10400709
“TAKATA RECALL....MY DASH BOARD "AIR BAG" WARNING RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND NOONE KNOWS WHY! IS IT BECAUSE MY AIR BAGS ARE TAKATA? I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THEY HAVE NEVER POPPED OUT! HOW DOES ONE KNOW THEIR STATUS ON THIS 1999 JEEP?”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11192583

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2020-07

“THE JEEP ENGINE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS OCCURS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT CAN HAPPEN DURING HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY 60 + MPH OR DURING IDLE WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I HAD TO AVOID SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE JEEP MIGHT START”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10786742
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10471950
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND UPDATED THE INFORMATION IN THEIR SYSTEM. A LOCAL MECHANIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10430114

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front-end shake or wobble at speed

STEERING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2012-05 → 2017-09

“MY CAR HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT END WOBBLED SO BADLY THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. "DEATH WOBBLE"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10947668
“1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT END SHAKE "DEATH WOBBLE" HE EXPERIENCED. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING DAMPER, TIE ROD END, AND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10637911
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE FELT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING DAMPER AND THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10457704

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 8,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: SAE 0W-20 every 8,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: SAE 5W-20 every 8,000 miles. EcoDiesel 3.0L: 10,000 miles. 4xe plug-in hybrid: 8,000 miles or annually.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate tires every 8,000 miles. Wrangler with 33+ inch off-road tires: rotate every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear from solid axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 8,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake every 8,000 miles. Wrangler and Gladiator pads wear faster than Grand Cherokee due to higher curb weight per axle.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Front Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Replace front differential fluid every 60,000 miles. Wrangler off-road use (water crossings, sand): inspect every 30,000 miles for water contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Rear axle fluid every 60,000 miles. Limited-slip differentials require Mopar friction modifier. Wrangler Rubicon with locking differentials: same schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 60,000 mi

Replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 for NV3500 and NV245. Wrangler Rock-Trac: 60,000 mi normal, 30,000 mi with regular off-road use.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. Wrangler off-road use accelerates moisture intake — annual fluid testing recommended.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ZF 8HP)

Every 60,000 mi

Severe service: ZF 8HP fluid every 60,000 miles. Normal: 120,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 — never substitute.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Wrangler driven in dust or sand: inspect at every oil change and replace early.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: 16 spark plugs total, replace at 100,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: 16 plugs at 100,000 miles. EcoDiesel: glow plug inspection only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Mopar HOAT Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Mopar HOAT (purple) for gas engines: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolants.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Compass: behind the glove box. Wrangler/Gladiator: optional cabin filter on later models only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

798 crashes 1990–2024

How the 798 occupant deaths break down

572

driver deaths

224

passenger deaths

2

not recorded by seat

798

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

171

complaints mentioning a crash

43

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee reflects Jeep's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →