2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

[nkybassfisherman]

I know this isnt the forum to post this buts its the one I visit most often so here it goes, I am looking at this vehicle so does anyone have any opinions on this year jeep or any opinions on the jeep cherokees period?

 

[Mepperson]

I have one, V8 and loaded. Great vehicle, plenty of power but gas mileage sucks. I get about 16 mpg.

 

[Art]

My mother has had several of them, and I've driven them off and on over the years when she had a spare, like she does now, which is a 2001.

IMO, I really wouldn't want to own one that doesn't have the 4.0 I6. It doesn't have a lot of power, and it only gets 14-17 mpg, but they tend to run forever. She had one that was full-time 4wd and had the 318 and that thing got about 10 mpg on a good day.

Other than that, they have the typical problems. My mother has had to replace just about everything except the engine in her 01. The windows don't work, the sunroof won't open, it has a new transmission, and the hood won't open, but it runs good. IMO, I think they are a pretty good vehicle, but once they get up there in miles (75K+) they can really nickel and dime you. That's just a risk you'll take with ANY 11 year old vehicle.

 

[Mepperson]

Like Art says, miles can be put on them. Mine has 136K+ but I haven't really had any problems. We got it when it had 30K and the most we've had to do is have a window motor put in. It shifted hard during one stretch and it turned out to be a vacuum hose, the front end started shaking when the brakes were applied and it turned out to need the rotors turned. Mine has been a great vehicle and still going strong.

 

[JDMiller]

It's been awhile back but we bought a new Grand Cherokee in 1994.... and it had the straight 6 ...or what I guess is called the I-6 now. It was "flame" red and pretty much loaded to the hilt....just a nice ride overall.

My wife drove it until 2002 and had about 125,000 miles on it when we traded it for a new 2002 Chevy Trailblazer. Really cant say had much mechanical issues except for the oil sending sensor and thinking maybe a shift sensor.... is all I can remember....except for normal maintenance.... battery, brakes & tires. Fuel milage was'nt real bad and probably along the lines of what Art mentioned ...16-17mpg.

I will say this though.... we still have the the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer.... and it also has GM's version of the I-6 . It just turned over 165,000... ten years old.... and we've had very few issues with it.

Either one.... would'nt hesitate recomending to anyone.

 

[Ash12]

I have a 96 right now with over a 149 thousand miles on it and we have a love hate relationship. I have the straight six in mine and I strongly agree that they get horrible gas millage and lack a lot of power. I have had a lot of problems with mine over the years ( power dose not work on 2 of the door locks, transmission once I think etc etc) and unfortunately will probably be getting a sudan after getting rid of it because of gas millage.

 

[Buck_Nasty]

Can't tell you much on the V8 Cherokee's but I can vouch for the old 1994 Sport I have with, as Art pointed out, the I6 4.0. It's got 199xxx on it right now, 20k of those put on by me and for $1,200 bucks, I've got my money out of it. I drive it every day. It's been to Henry County several times, down in TN, and far Eastern Kentucky and runs like a top. The engine in it is just as quite as the one in my wife's 2006 with less than 50k on it. I have had family with the V8 Cherokee's and they have had quite a few problems out of them. Personally, I would try to find me a Cherokee Sport under a 2000 model, or even under a 1999 model with the tried and true I6 4.0 engine in it. Reason being, some of the later 1999 Sports along with the 2000 & 2001 had weak cylinder heads on them, (casting # 031). A lot of them ended up cracked between the #3 and #4 cylinder on the head.

 

[BR1]

My Father-In_Law bought a 2001 for my son. It had 175,000 on it and probably has over 200K on it now. The window motor on the drivers side is bad, the power locks are getting bad on it. We did a Google search on the most problems that year jeep had and brakes was the number one mention. So far other than the little stuff mentioned it is doing fine.

 

[Giveem3outdoors]

I'm a Chevy Guy but my buddy had a Cherokee that was bullet proof mechanically. Only problem was all the window motors and door locks were always messing up. It was the 4.0

 

[trust me]

I'll say what the rest are saying. The straight 6 4.0 is bulletproof. With the 5 speed they have plenty of takeoff and power, towing a boat might be another issue though.

 

[JeepComanche]

I've owned about every type of JEEP, including a 2000 Grand. I didn't like it as well as my ZJ(97) and I sold it. I also prefer the 4.0 and Selec-trac, but if you tow you're probably better off with the V8. They've all been good vehicles with thier quirks, the 2000 stsrted having things go wrong like tweeters going out, warped brake rotors, window switches things like that nothing major. One thing I know for sure is that Chrysler trannys absolutely have to have the fluid changed every 30k miles, I've never replaced one.

 

[Buck_Nasty]

Jeep Comanche....I'd love to find me one of those Comanche pick ups with the 4.0 in them. There are a few running around here, but they are trashed. I've looked high and low for a decent one and have had no luck.

 

[corndogggy]

IMO, I really wouldn't want to own one that doesn't have the 4.0 I6. It doesn't have a lot of power, and it only gets 14-17 mpg, but they tend to run forever. She had one that was full-time 4wd and had the 318 and that thing got about 10 mpg on a good day.

I had one, and I'm with you, but for a different reason. Those all-wheel-drive systems on the V8's are not very good. They basically took the same system that was made for Subaru rally cars and put it on a V8 four wheel drive with larger wheels. They lock up way too easy and stress the drivetrain and are very inefficient. When you get a Laredo with the I-6, which yes is a great engine, but you also get the traditional transfer case that is real strong and simple.

if you tow you're probably better off with the V8.

When towing you get real bad gas mileage. It actually does pull well but I could pull an empty landscaping trailer at highway speeds and my gas mileage would be cut in half, I would get about 9 mpg. That's empty. Of course it had a gate that acted like a parachute, but still... half ton trucks don't do that. The gearing and the powerband was not set up right, plus like I said earlier that AWD system sucks and is inefficient.