The 1999 Grand Cherokee WJ is a capable SUV plagued by transmission cooling failures and 4.0L head cracking issues. The 4.7L V8 is more robust but transmission problems affect both engines equally.
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure & Transmission Death
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink/milky fluid in radiator or transmission pan, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Sudden complete transmission failure after overheating, Coolant or ATF cross-contamination
Fix: The factory cooler lines corrode and rupture, mixing coolant into transmission fluid. This kills the 45RFE/545RFE transmission within days if not caught. Requires cooler line replacement ($300-600), often WITH transmission rebuild ($2,000-3,500) if contamination occurred. Add 12-18 hours labor for full transmission R&R. Preventive external cooler install is 2 hours.
Estimated cost: $2,300-4,100
4.0L PowerTech I6 Head Gasket & Cracking (0331 Casting)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Overheating with no external leaks, Coolant loss into cylinders (white smoke), Rough idle when cold, smooths when warm, Cylinder 3/6 misfire codes after heat cycling
Fix: The infamous 0331 cylinder head casting cracks between cylinders 3-4. Not just gaskets—the head itself fails. Requires replacement head (not rebuilding cracked one), machining, and full gasket set. 10-14 hours labor. Upgrade to Tupy 0331 casting or later 0331J when available. Some shops do full top-end refreshes at this point.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Transfer Case Mode Select Issues (Shift Motor Encoder)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Service 4WD light illuminated, Transfer case stuck in 4WD or won't engage 4WD, Grinding/clicking from transfer case area when shifting, Part-time 4WD won't disengage on dry pavement
Fix: The NV247/NP242 shift motor encoder fails or the mode sensor goes bad. Sometimes just motor replacement (1.5 hours), sometimes requires full transfer case disassembly for internal mode fork issues (6-8 hours). Fluid contamination accelerates this. Many replace shift motor first ($150 part, 1.5 hr labor) then reassess.
Estimated cost: $300-1,400
Death Wobble (Track Bar & Steering Components)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Violent steering wheel oscillation at 45-55 mph, Wobble triggered by bumps or road imperfections, Loose steering feel over center, Clunking from front end over bumps
Fix: Death wobble is NOT one part—it's worn track bar bushings PLUS tie rod ends PLUS ball joints creating a feedback loop. Track bar bolt holes wallowing out in frame is common. Requires track bar ($120-250), tie rod ends ($80-150 pair), often ball joints ($200-400), and possible frame welding/reinforcement plates. Plan 4-6 hours for full front-end overhaul. Some add steering stabilizer as bandaid—doesn't fix root cause.
Estimated cost: $600-1,500
Blower Motor Resistor & Final Stage Unit Failure
Common · low severity
Symptoms: HVAC blower only works on high speed, No blower function at all, Intermittent blower operation, Blower speeds 1-3 dead, only 4 works
Fix: The blower motor resistor (manual climate) or final stage unit (auto climate) burns out. Located under passenger dash. DIY-friendly: 30 minutes with basic tools. Resistor is $25-60 part, final stage unit $80-150. Shops charge 0.5-1.0 hour. Often caused by clogged cabin filter (which this gen doesn't have factory) or failing blower motor drawing too much current.
Estimated cost: $100-250
Fuel Pump Failure (In-Tank)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start with crank but no fuel pressure, Stalling when fuel tank below 1/4 full, Hesitation or cutting out at highway speed, Whining noise from fuel tank area
Fix: Chrysler fuel pumps of this era are mediocre. Requires tank drop (2.5-3.5 hours labor). Pump assembly runs $150-350 depending on OEM vs aftermarket. Running tank near-empty repeatedly kills pumps early. Always replace fuel filter during pump R&R (it's often original and restricting flow).
Estimated cost: $400-750
Rear Upper Control Arm Bushing Failure (Jeep Wiggle)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Rear-end hopping or bouncing over bumps, Steering wheel off-center after driving, Tire scrubbing noise on tight turns, Excessive rear tire wear on inner edges
Fix: The rear upper control arm bushings disintegrate, causing the axle to shift side-to-side (the 'Jeep wiggle'). Requires upper control arms or bushing replacement. 2-3 hours labor plus alignment (1 hour). Arms are $120-250 pair. Some opt for adjustable aftermarket arms for better alignment control. Alignment is CRITICAL after—many shops skip it and customer returns with weird tire wear.
Estimated cost: $450-800
Owner tips
Install an external transmission cooler immediately on any used purchase—cheap insurance against the $3k transmission killer
If buying a 4.0L, verify head casting number (0331 vs tupy 0331 vs later) and walk if engine has overheated repeatedly
Budget $800-1200 for front-end rebuild on any high-mileage example—death wobble WILL appear if not already done
Check transfer case fluid every 30k miles and use ATF+4 only—saves the mode encoder from premature death
Buy the 4.7L V8 if possible, add an external trans cooler day one, and keep $2,000 set aside for inevitable front-end and transmission work—solid SUV if maintained but not for the unprepared.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · 09E012000
2009-04-07
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · 06E064000
2006-07-17
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · 06E022000
2006-03-13
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · 06E023000
2006-03-13
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MANIFOLD SHIELD TO MODIFY THE AIR FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS IN THE AREA OF THE #3 CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · 01V119000
2001-04-11
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
SEAT BELTS · 00V034000
2000-02-04
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.
Consequence: THE AFFECTED MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT WITHSTAND SUFFICIENT FORCE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN CERTAIN IMPACT SITUATIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A BELTED OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · 98V276000
1998-11-04
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE REWIND MECHANISM, DISABLING THE RETRACTOR FUNCTION, AND PREVENTING THE BELT FROM FITTING SNUGLY AROUND THE OCCUPANT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE RETRACTORS.
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