What’s the most common problems you’ve heard or seen with the Jeep XJ? Considering buying one. Thanks
RUST. If you're in an area with salted winter roads, chances are this Jeep has seen 20 years of winter service which can lead to severe chassis rust.
Most common mechanical problem on Cherokees that year is the cylinder head on 2000-2001 models have a design defect which makes the head prone to cracking. If this happens and is left uncorrected it leads to engine failure due to coolant getting in the oil and damaging bearings. (Redesigned replacement heads are available.) The crack and coolant leak is visible while engine is running through the oil fill. Oil pressure will be low if bearings are damaged.
Another issue is the emission control system is more complex on 2001 models than earlier ones (except 2000 models sold for California). There are 3 catalytic converters (two pre-converters built into the exhaust manifold) and 4 O2 sensors. If you are in a state that requires emission inspection this setup could pose a challenge now that it's 20 years old.
The 4.0 has two core plugs in back of the engine, one in the cylinder head and one in the block. These may well be corroded after two decades and cannot be accessed in situ. Typically the transmission is dropped and engine tilted down to provide access.
Heater core and AC evaporator leaks are common problems. The dashboard needs to be removed in order to replace those, so typically if one leaks both are done while in there.
The oil filter is mounted on an adapter that turns it 90 degrees. This has an O-ring which is prone to failure and leaking oil can get into the starter and suspension bushings on that side.
Typical Chrysler electrical problems are common. The alternator output is controlled by the ECU. If that function fails it is possible to install an old-school external regulator instead of replacing the ECU.
Front suspension can be prone to "death wobble" due to worn components, typically the track bar but also suspension bushings, ball joints, etc.
Also of course the generic problems you might find on any vehicle whose age is measured in decades.
You might want to look around at some Jeep-oriented sites for more detailed info on what to look for, such as:
Nice summary
