The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size SUVs produced by the American

manufacturer Jeep[2]. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body-on-

Contents

 1Development
 2First generation (ZJ; 1993–1998)
o 2.1Engines
2.2Production numbers [15]
o
 3Second generation (WJ; 1999–2004)
o 3.1Engines
 4Third generation (WK; 2005–2010)
o 4.1Engines
 5Fourth generation (WK2; 2011–)
o 5.1Engines
 6Sales
 7Recalls
o 7.1Fuel system integrity
o 7.2Transfer case actuator
o 7.3Transmission parking pawl
o 7.4Other recalls
 8See also
 9References
 10External links

Development[edit]
The Grand Cherokee's origins date back to 1983 when American Motors Corporation (AMC) was
designing a successor to the smaller Jeep Cherokee (XJ).[4] Three outside (non-AMC) designers
—Larry Shinoda, Alain Clenet, and Giorgetto Giugiaro—were also under contract with AMC to
create and build a clay model of the Cherokee XJ replacement, then known as the "XJC" project.
[5]
 However, the basic design for the Cherokee's replacement was well under way by AMC's in-
house designers and the 1989 Jeep Concept 1 show car foretold the basic design.[6]
As AMC began development of the next Jeep in 1985, management created a business process
that is now known as product lifecycle management (PLM).[7] According to François Castaing,
Vice President for Product Engineering and Development, the smallest U.S. automaker was
looking for a way to speed up its product development process to compete better against its
larger competitors.[8] The XJC's development was aided by computer-aided design (CAD)
software systems making the engineers more productive. Meanwhile, new communication
systems allowed potential conflicts to be resolved faster, thus reducing costly engineering
changes, because all drawings and documents were in a central database.[8] The system was so
effective that after Chrysler purchased AMC in 1987, it expanded the system throughout its
enterprise, thus connecting everyone involved in designing and building products.[8]
The Grand Cherokee thus became the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product. Development work for
the new Jeep model continued and Chrysler's employees (after the 1987 buyout of AMC) were
eager for a late-1980s release date; however, CEO Lee Iacocca was pushing for
redesigned Chrysler minivans, thus delaying the Grand Cherokee's release until late 1992[9] as
an Explorer competitor. Unlike the Explorer, the Grand Cherokee utilized monocoque (unibody)
construction, whereas the Explorer was a derivative of the Ranger pickup with a separate body-
on-frame.
The Grand Cherokee debuted in grand fashion at the 1992 North American International Auto
Show in Detroit, Michigan. The vehicle that was driven was a Poppy Red Clear Coat 1993 Grand
Cherokee ZJ Laredo with a quartz cloth interior and high-back bucket seats. Then Chrysler
president Robert Lutz drove Detroit mayor, Coleman Young, from the Jefferson North Assembly
Plant on North Jefferson Avenue via a police escort to Cobo Hall, up the steps of Cobo Hall and
through a plate glass window to show off the new vehicle.[10] Sales of the 1993 model year Grand
Cherokee began in April 1992.[11]
Production of the Grand Cherokee started shortly afterward in the purpose-built Jefferson North
Assembly in Detroit, Michigan. European Grand Cherokees are manufactured in Austria
by Magna Steyr.[12] The Grand Cherokee "played a significant part in reviving Chrysler's fortunes
by moving it into the then nascent market for high-margin sports utility vehicles."[13]
Upon its introduction, it was the first full-scale manufacture of an automobile in the US using
HFC-134a refrigerant in place of HCFC-12 for the HVAC system.[14]

First generation (ZJ; 1993–1998)[edit]

1993–1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee (US)

1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (USA)

The original Grand Cherokee was launched in 1992 as a 1993 model year vehicle in the luxury
SUV segment. The "ZJ" models, manufactured from 1992 to 1998, originally came in three trim
levels: base (also known as SE), Laredo, and Limited, subsequent trims were added, included
Orvis (MY 95–98), TSI (MY97–98). The base model included features such as full
instrumentation, cloth interior, and a standard five-speed manual transmission, while gaining the
moniker "SE" name for the 1994 model year. Power windows and locks were not standard
equipment on the base trim. The minimal price tag differential resulted in low consumer demand,
and as a result, the low-line model was eventually discontinued. Additional standard features
included a driver-side airbag and four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS). The Laredo was the
mid-scale model with standard features that included power windows, power door locks, cruise
control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Exterior features included medium-grey plastic
paneling on the lower body and five-spoke alloy wheels. The Limited was the premium model,
featuring body-color lower body paneling, and gold exterior accents. The Limited also boasted
standard features such as leather seating, heated mirrors, front power seats, a keyless entry
system, woodgrain interior appliqué, lace style alloy wheels, a driver information center with a
compass, digitized climate control, an electrochromic rearview mirror, and Jensen brand stereo
with multi-band equalizer. By 1996 the options list grew to include heated seats. Standard was
the 4.0, with the 5.2 V8 (and 5.9 in 1998) being optional, as with other models. Package groups
with the various trim levels included: fog lamps, skid plates, as well as convenience, lighting,
luxury, power, security, and trailer towing packages.
When it was first introduced in April 1992 as an early 1993 model year vehicle, the Grand
Cherokee only had one powertrain choice: the 4.0 L AMC-derived straight-six engine that made
190 horsepower. This became the "volume" engine for the Grand Cherokee. Transmission
choices included a four-speed automatic transmission (early production ZJs used the AW4—the
A500SE (later 42RE) replaced the AW4 during the latter half of the 1993 model year) or
an Aisin AX15 manual transmission. Low demand for the manual transmission resulted in its
discontinuation after 1994, but European-market ZJs retained it when coupled to the diesel
engine (which was unavailable in North America). The drive train choices included rear-wheel
drive or four-wheel-drive. In 1995, the engine dropped 5 horsepower to 185 due to
new EPA regulations imposed on the 1996 model year.
In 1997, for the 1998 model year, a variant of the top-level Grand Cherokee Limited, the "5.9
Limited" was introduced. Jeep ads claimed it to be the "world's fastest sport utility vehicle",
verified by third-party testing. The primary improvements in the 5.9 Limited version included a
245-horsepower 5.9L OHV V8 engine, heavy-duty 46RE automatic transmission, functional heat-
extracting hood louvers, unique wide-slot body-colored grille with mesh inserts, special rocker
moldings, low-restriction exhaust with three-inch chrome tip, a low-profile roof rack, and special
16" Ultra-Star wheels. The 5.9 Limited also received a 150 amp alternator and a 2-speed electric
cooling fan. Other features include a standard 180-watt, 10-speaker Infinity Gold sound system
with rear roof-mounted soundbar, standard sunroof, and an interior swaddled with unique "calf's
nap" soft leather and faux wood trim. The 5.9 Limited was awarded "4×4 of the Year" for 1998
by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine. The production of this model was 14,286 units.
Export models produced at the plant in Graz, Austria, were given the vehicle designation of "ZG".