9.4

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,580
Average Mileage:
123,800 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine (6 reports)
  2. junked the car (1 reports)
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 012018

Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have kept this Jeep in excellent condition. I'm always keep the service up and I keep in garaged. It look new from the insides and outside, but it's a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, it has low mileage at 74,000 original miles.

Just recently drove it and it worked great. Stop for a quick errand trip to the store. Came back out and try to start it. Misfired and did start and ran rough so, turn the engine off and towed in to the mechanic. Fault error po302. The mechanic change all the plugs as it was get fire. Still missed terrible and went to check compression and it was -zero compression- in cylinder. After three tows to different mechanics, the final prognosis after diagnostics, it was not a value train problem, or rocker arm, or lifter, not rings, piston went up and down just fine. It was something else. These mechanics all stated needed a new engine and these were different garages and they don't know each other. They could not explain it, it was cost too much to tear the engine down to see exactly what happened. I guess I could and then repair that one issue. Then other problems could arise. But with micro-camera it was not on the top end of the engine. So it has to be in the lower end.

So I opted to buy a brand new engine with all the updates and upgrades and have trusted AAA qualified and referred heavy engine shop R&R it. Engine cost $4200 and then over $2300 labor and supplies to get it running again. Yes, I would like to know what the hell happened. One minute it was running great then the next total non-operational.

- Josh D., Keller, US

problem #6

May 312015

Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L V8 High Output (Ho)

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

I am the 3rd owner of this Jeep. I bought it as a last resort because I needed transportation. It LOOKS fantastic. It runs like crap. Among all of the problems I have had with it since I purchased it used in April, 2013, the main problem is that it has a rough idle. I didn't get any misfire codes the first time we replaced the engine in 2015. The valve fell into the cylinder and burnt a hole in the cylinder.

This is the HIGH OUTPUT engine. This engine has a horrible design flaw. No wonder Jeep only used it for 2 years.

- Max P., Albuquerque, US

problem #5

Dec 052017

Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L V8 High Output (Ho)

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

I am the 3rd owner of this Jeep. I bought it as a last resort because I needed transportation. It LOOKS fantastic. It runs like crap. Among all of the problems I have had with it since I purchased it used in April, 2013, the main problem is that it has a rough idle. I didn't get any misfire codes the first time we replaced the engine in July, 2015. The valve fell into the cylinder and burnt a hole in the cylinder.

This is the HIGH OUTPUT engine. This engine has a horrible design flaw.

On 12/5/17 I got error code p0301 - cyl 1 misfire. After troubleshooting for weeks, finally took it to mechanic and the compression is only 75% compared to 150% on the other 7 cylinders. This is on an engine that only has 23,000 miles on it.

Currently (April, 2018) the Jeep is at the mechanics waiting to see if the warranty covers a new engine. As soon as this damn Jeep is fixed and all error codes erased, it is out of my life. I hate this vehicle and will never by another Jeep again.

- Max P., Albuquerque, US

problem #4

Jul 012015

Grand Cherokee MP 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,550 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I will never own another jeep. I will never own anything that has the word Jeep on it. we bought it used but we expected it to last longer than the 3 years after we bought it. When I was looking for a car, It was recommended that I get a Jeep because they were such "good and reliable cars". we have had nothing but problems out of this thing. I hate it. I would never advise someone to buy one. I never took it off road, never went very far in it, never hauled anything with it. Only drove to work and took the kids to dance. I never punished this car in any way. I never even drove it in the snow. Who expects the engine to just go out. Needs a new engine and who has the money to do that? I was told it was a problem with this year model. I was told they tried something new this year. Great!!! Now I'm stuck with a piece of crap lawn ornament. I will never get the money back on what I have put into this thing. This isnt the only problem we had, there were multiple before this, this was just the major one. NEVER trust a Jeep.

- Julie L., stoneville, NC, US

problem #3

Sep 112015

Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,135 miles

I am so screwed, I put all my money into this car, and now it is recommended that I junk it, that it is not worth fixing. All the time I've own this Jeep, I was pouring money into it. I had to replace 3 pcm units. It has no redeeming qualities and I would NEVER buy another Jeep again!

Update from Oct 15, 2015:

There was no compression on one of the cylinders and I had to junk the car there was no fixing this without spending alot of money.. I now have no car

- bassmannnnn, New Fairfield, CT, US

problem #2

Mar 262015

Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

I purchased this vehicle from a dealer in Florida (Internat- Auto Sales), drove it back to Wisconsin and the motor blew up. Had fresh oil change before making the trip back. Ran fine,no noise, then I believe it spun a rod or main bearing. Will know more when the motor is pulled. Oil pressure was low when operating temp at idle but no lights. Replacing with a yard motor 85,000 miles . Hope this one holds out. Became a very expensive vehicle. Did notice some metal shavings in the oil at oil change.

- Paul H., Baldwin, WI, US

problem #1

Apr 222014

Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Ho

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,577 miles

Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep all have this 4.7 V8 in their cars. They have had a problem with these motors filling up the oil return holes with sludge since 1999. There is no recall that I can find. When the oil gets pumped up to the heads and cannot run back down to the oil pan then the bottom end of the motor gets starved for oil and bang goes the engine.

I bought this car for my grandson for 4 grand 2 weeks ago. He had problems with it dying at stop signs and not restarting. The check engine light would come on. I had it towed to a local shop and they ran codes on it. It came back with cam, crank and knock sensor codes. They put a new starter in, pulled the oil pressure sending unit and checked the oil pressure with a gauge. It came up to 4 lbs at idle. They told me that as scary as that sounds that it was with in specs for this engine. There was no mention made of the sludge problem. They reset the codes and drove the car. They said it was good to go since none of the codes came back.

My grandson drove it about 10 miles to a friend's house and on the way back it began knocking. He never made it home. It throw a rod and now needs a re-manufactured engine. Remind me, why did we bail out the auto industry? Why is not some of that bail out money used to take care of making it right for those of us who have been damaged by the auto industry.

- William V., Mundelein, IL, US

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