My wife totaled my '99 Cherokee. Gotta have another. Looks like I can afford up to about 2005. I'm gettin older and have become partly disabled so I'm lookin for for a nice ride and less off road. My friends and kids say “get this, don't get that” kinda stuff. My question is did the Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee have any major issues after the year 2000? My old '99 was great but I'm not seeing any older ones in the condition I want.
Thanks

 

Only thing to look out for is the 0331 head on the '00 - '01 XJ. Has a weak casting between the 3rd and 4th cylinder and is prone to cracking if overheated. A GC would probably provide a better on road ride.

 

^This. Any 00-01 4.0L I6 has the 0331 head issue. Grand Cherokees (except some newer models with the Daimler W5A580 or ZF 8HP) have a relatively weak transmission. The 4.7L V8 (99+) and 3.7L V6 (05+) are problematic and very sensitive to maintenance.

 

Thanks for stepping in with some GC info. I've never even crawled under one...

 

The grand cherokee will ride smoother then a xj.The trans in them isn't the best but if its taken care of should be fine.

 

4.7 V8s in WJs are turds IMO. theyre very sensitive to heat and like to blow head gaskets and warp heads. the 3.7 in later grand is a 4.7 with 2 cylinders lopped off, id stay away from that one too. my dad had a 3.7 in a 05 WK laredo 2wd and it had no power at all, had to nearly floor it when merging onto the freeway. a good way to describe it is its like pulling a 2000# trailer all the time.