2001 Jeep Laredo

THE 2001 JEEP, WHICH HAS 56,000 MILES HAS HAD THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE CALIPERS ONCE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGREED THAT THERE WA S SOMETHING WRONG, BUT THEY HINTED ABOUT OUR DRIVING HABITS. YOU KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU DRIVE A LOT IN THE MOUNTAINS. WE PURCHASED IT IN DENVER, CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER WE LIVE ON THE EASTERN PLAINS, AND WE HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE THE TOWING PACKAGE. THIS LAST TIME WE HAD THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PADS WERE FINALLY WORE ON THE REAR. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE LIFE OF THE PADS IS THREE TIMES THAT ROTOR. I KNOW THAT BRAKES ARE WEARABLE ITEMS, BUT REPLACING THE ROTORS BEFORE THE PADS IS LIKE BUYING THREE SETS OF WHEELS BEFORE THE TIRES WEAR OUT. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND I SIMPLY WANTED SOME ADVICE, BUT THE LADY HUNG UP ON ME. I CALLED BACK AND FINALLY GOT SOMEONE TO DOCUMENT SOME ITEMS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE PAID OVER $1,500 OUT OF OUR POCKET, AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID, WITHOUT HESITATION, THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. HE WOULDN'T DOCUMENT ANYTHING FOR US. ALL I WANT TO DO IS FIX THE PROBLEM SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT CAN OUR FAMILY DO? *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 40 MPH OR MORE THERE WAS VIBRATION AND PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS/PADS, AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT ON HOW TO BRAKE PROPERLY. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ROTORS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. NONETHELESS, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I'VE BEEN HAVING CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON MY 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DURING 2002/2003 AND NOW THE PROBLEM HAS SURFACED AGIN. CHRYSLER WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ALL ALONG AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED MY VEHICLE EVEN STATED TO ME THAT THIS IS AN NORMAL PROBLEM WITH JEEPS. THE CARS SHAKES AND RATTLES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND I'M AFRAID THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THE ROAD.*AK

MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE JUST BEYOND THE 3/36 WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 55,000 MILES: 1. VEHICLE REQUIRED A COMPLETE FRONT BRAKE OVERHAUL: NEW PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS. ALSO, . HOOD PROPS FAILED; 3. WATER PUMP FAILED, WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, AND REAR HATCH PROPS BEGINNING TO FAIL THESE INCIDENTS ALL OCCURRED BETWEEN 36,000 AND 55,000 MILES (2004-2005). EEP TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING BEYOND 36,000 MILES. THEY OFFER EXTREMELY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE. I STRONGLY RECOMMED AGAINST PURCHASING JEEP PRODUCTS.*AK

WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AND ABOVE, THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE PULSATING, SHAKING SENSATION FROM THE FRONT END. I FIRST NOTICED THIS AT ABOUT 12,000 MILES. CHRYSLER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WITH AN UPGRADE KIT--A KIT SPECIFICALLY ASSEMBLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BECAUSE AS THE JEEPS HAD BECOME LARGER AND HEAVIER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAD NOT BEEN REDESIGNED TO HANDLE THE ADDED WEIGHT. THE UPGRADE KIT WORKED A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL PARTS, BUT NOW AT 29,000 MILES--ONLY 17,000 MILES LATER--I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP HAS VERIFIED THAT THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN AND NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED YET ONE MORE TIME. IN TALKING WITH THE SERVICE REPS AT CHRYSLER, I HAVE BASICALLY BEEN TOLD THAT I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS FAILURE OF MY BRAKE SYSTEM APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15,000 MILES. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT AREN'T BRAKES A FAIRLY CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF ANY VEHICLE? SO MUCH IN FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT OFFERED AS AN OPTION--THEY COME STANDARD ON EVERY VEHICLE.*AK