2003 Grand Cherokee Overland

[matt21484]

Hello everyone, I am considering a 2003 GC Overland, a WJ, if I've done my research right.

This particular jeep has about 32K miles on it and I've been offered about 19K for it. From what I can tell, it hasn't been in any accidents and looks very clean. I test drove it and it rode fine.

I was wondering if there were any recalls or major issues running in this generation of Jeeps. I think I've read something about the rotors going south in a hurry. Also, the heated seats getting a little too toasty as well.

Any other tips, suggestions, or advice is greatly appreciated.

[iwenc01]

I bought a 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7 HO a little over a year ago with 55000. It now has about 75000. Here is what I have had to replace so far:
- Rebuild transmission - $1200
- Heated Seat (Driver's side) - $800
- Replace defective high pressure power steering hose (design problem) - $100
- Replace power steering pump (due to power steering fluid running low from hose) - $250
- Driver's side window regulator - $250
- Heat/ AC blend doors - $400
- Heater/ AC control module - $250
- Oil pressure sending unit - $60
- Tires - $400

It LOOKS really great, and has a lot of bells and whistles, but this car is a money pit.
I STILL have an intermittent starting issue where it will not start/ not crank randomly. Then after sitting for some time, it starts back up like there was never a problem. Trying to diagnose this has cost me another $300 in tows and diagnostic fees.

I will not purchase another.

[ArloGuthroJeep]

Read up on www.wjjeeps.com

[JeepOrvis97]

Originally Posted by iwenc01

I bought a 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7 HO a little over a year ago with 55000. It now has about 75000. Here is what I have had to replace so far:
- Rebuild transmission - $1200
- Heated Seat (Driver's side) - $800
- Replace defective high pressure power steering hose (design problem) - $100
- Replace power steering pump (due to power steering fluid running low from hose) - $250
- Driver's side window regulator - $250
- Heat/ AC blend doors - $400
- Heater/ AC control module - $250
- Oil pressure sending unit - $60
- Tires - $400

We've had to several of those things too like the heated seat, HVAC control module, and tires, well duh?...common maintenance. Our trans has been fine and we have 93k on it. However, the dealer did have to replace the power steering pump and steering box. Luckily, we bought the extended warranty that is getting close to being up at 100k miles. I would still recommend it but, with anything used, especially a daily driver 4x4, I would purchase the extended warranty! We've had it paid for like 2 times at least already in repairs! I wish I got the extended warranty on my 1997 ZJ.

[matt21484]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I'll be sure to bring up the extended warranty when I head to the dealership again.

I've already bookmarked wjjeeps.com and have spent way too much time at work looking at it, but thanks!

[02WJOverland]

I have 153K on mine and have similar issues, except with the heated seats and transmission. The powertrain has been solid thus far, but I have been religious with the PM. Just be sure that extended warranty covers your climate control system and the window regulators. If it doesn't cover those items, you can do the window regulators yourself for about $85 each. Once your blend air doors fail, replace everything else (condensor, heater core, ac recirc door) and save yourself a ton of money in labor while the dash is out.

[bhstennis04]

I have a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with all the options of the Overland. I can tell you that I have had all the problems listed above, those hit the nail on the head. As far as extended warranties go, don't do WYNN, that is a very common extended warranty company. Also before you get one, realize that you are buying a vehicle just out of warranty, which is good for a car that you want to mod, get a warranty, no modding. I have been in a legal battle with my extended warranty company for months now because they voided my powertrain warranty just for having a K&N intake...

[kentman]

I bought a 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7 HO a little over a year ago with 47200 miles. It now has about 56800 miles. Here is what I have had to replace so far.

- O2 Sensor - $125
- Both Infinity Tweeters - $90
- Jeep Letters on Hood - $20

It looks really great, and has a lot of bells and whistles.

I would most certainly purchase another.

Regarding the price, $19K seems a little high. $16K sounds more reasonable to me. It is 2008 you know. The vehicle could have been built in 4Q 2002. It could be 5.5 years old by now. I would try to talk the person down a little. I would also run a carfax.

[matt21484]

Yea, I am definitely going to try to talk them down some, I think this car has been on the lot for over a year now. The dealership has a "free" carfax report, but I'll probably run my own just to be sure. I think the actual price is $18,991 or something like that. I would be happy with about 17K. That being said, the car looks like it is in great shape. My guess is, it was leased drove for its term and has sat in the lot since. Don't know if thats a good thing or bad though...

[tozar]

32k miles and $19k is about right for a dealer. You can check kbb. This probably just came off lease and purchased at auction. It could have been sitting for 2 years but that is unlikely. It should also still be under factory warranty. I think it is 8yr/80k. Just pay the $150.00 transfer fee.

The carfax should show all the 3500 mile dealer services for this 32k. If not, then I'd be cautious and have this vehicle checked out from a third party mechanic. Your spending 19k so you might as well spend a few hundred getting the car looked at by someone with no financial interests in this deal.

-- Roy

[magneticred]

I have an 02 Overland

It required the heater treater $140

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-HeaterTreater-blend-door-heater_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33545QQihZ017QQi temZ270215211470QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Evap hose $5

Window regulator $70

[GrimJeeper91]

I picked up my '02 Overland w/ 77k miles on it about 6 months ago. The dealer had it listed for $17.6k but I was able to get them down to $12.5k. The radiator started leaking @ 80k miles which seems to be about average but no other issues thus far.

[batman1948]

Greetings good people, I am new on here so forgive any transgressions of protocol.

I have a 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. It is the 2.7 CRD 5 cyl diesel with the auto box. It was built in Austria and is RHS. I have done 114 000 km in it , mainly on surfaced roads but some on quite bad bush roads.

I wish to ask you all if my experience is typical of this particular model or whether I have just been having seriously bad luck.

Soon after I bought the Jeep, within 8000 km I had to replace the tie rod ends and brake rotors and shock absorbers ( front ).

At 80 000 km the speakers in the sound system started to fail one by one.

At about 90 000 km I started having gear shift issues but the plug in diagnostics software didn't reveal any issues despite several attempts by the local dealer here in Harare, Zimbabwe to find the problem. The engine fault light would come up and clearing it was as per the manual i.e. switch off on then on again.

At 114 000 km , on the edge of the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the gear box locked into safe mode and nothing I tried could clear it. At the same time I noticed an oil leak from the engine but I couldn't find the source.

The nearest Jeep dealer was 1200 km away in Kimberly South Africa so I set off at 3000 rpm ( 55 km/hr ) because there was no recovery service where I was. The temperatures and pressures all stayed nominal and two days later it was in the Dealers workshop.

We discovered that the valve block in the gearbox had failed and needed to be replaced.

The oil leak was coming from the cooling system header tank overflow. This was caused by the failure of the oil cooler allowing oil into the coolant system. The damage caused to the water pump and radiator resulted in these being replaced as well. Total cost US$ 5000.

On the drive back to Harare the air conditioning failed. Much investigation has shown the problem to be a cracked evaporator ( inside the dash ).

My dilemma is that I rather like the vehicle and I would like to keep it but my more rational side says that there are more catastrophes coming and I should dump the vehicle and go back to Toyota Land Cruisers.

What experience have others had and is my experience fairly typical?