FaultScore

2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine problems

221 of the 1,766 complaints about the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the engine — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,704 miles.

C

221

Complaints

11

Crashes

10

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 199 90.0%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 19 8.6%
Emission Control 1 0.5%
OIL Cooler 1 0.5%
Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) 1 0.5%

Engine & Cooling across every Jeep Grand Cherokee year

1993 58 1.3%
1994 89 2.0%
1995 84 1.9%
1996 110 2.5%
1997 110 2.5%
1998 87 2.0%
1999 151 3.5%
2000 219 5.0%
2001 73 1.7%
2002 178 4.1%
2003 60 1.4%
2004 90 2.1%
2005 212 4.9%
2006 179 4.1%
2007 246 5.6%
2008 146 3.3%
2009 27 0.6%
2010 24 0.6%
2011 358 8.2%
2012 303 7.0%
2013 110 2.5%
2014 454 10.4%
2015 221 5.1%
2016 84 1.9%
2017 108 2.5%
2018 138 3.2%
2019 67 1.5%
2020 56 1.3%
2021 61 1.4%
2022 51 1.2%
2023 84 1.9%
2024 102 2.3%
2025 19 0.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Wilkesboro, NC

ENGINE

My car started jumping after purchssing it in November 2025 used. The gear would feel like it was slipping. In March 2026 I parked my car turned it off let off the brake and it rolled. I have used the emergency brake since then. The gas gauge is off. The miles and gauge do not line up correctly and I was advised fuel pump may be off. It will drink gas up within a few miles. Check engine light came on without warning. Took it to check it out said oil sensor. He said replace it soon as you can still driveable. The next day i drove to my sons college and the jeep had no power, the check service on the screen popped up. And the jeep would not accelerate. I was anle to take it to O'Reilly and several codes appeared stating 2 gear shift ratio inaccurate 7 gear shift ratio inaccurate, engine oil pressure control circuit performance stuck off, clutch temp threshold achieved auto stick inhibit. The employee said he had never seen these codes populate. He asked if i had smelled any transmission fluid burning. I said no. No leaks nothing. Had the car for 7 months. He stated transmission isnt any good. That I would need a deep decoding done to say for sure. Car is in limp mode now. Unable to drive safely.

NHTSA complaint #11753169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ENGINE

System Failed: Total engine failure caused by a defective Recall W79 EGR Cooler, which is available for physical inspection at my residence.Safety Risk: The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive power at speed. This caused an immediate traffic hazard, risking a catastrophic rear-end collision due to lost propulsion, power steering, and braking.Dealer Verification: The vehicle is currently undrivable. Jeep Corporate is actively giving me the runaround and refusing to tow or diagnose the vehicle under the EcoDiesel Settlement Extended Warranty.Inspections: No inspections have been conducted yet by police, insurance, or the manufacturer; the vehicle is fully preserved.Symptoms/Warning: No long-term warning lights appeared. The vehicle suddenly lost AC cooling and instantly stalled out without advanced mechanical warning.

NHTSA complaint #11746547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ENGINE

No check engine lights prior to this, car started to make a noise pulled over to check it out as I was merging over low oil pressure showed and coolant level over temperature, gear then dropped to neutral, managed to pull over without any accidents car then shut off, oil leaked, it makes a horrible engine noise when starting, had to tow it back. only had the car a year maintenance was up to date.

NHTSA complaint #11745161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Park City, IL Fire

ENGINE

vehicle had a strong odor of gasoline then started spuddering and then caught fire while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11738884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chaska, MN

ENGINE

Sudden unintended acceleration while braking. Engine revved against brake input. Has happened multiple times. Need to step on the brake hard and wait for it to pass.

NHTSA complaint #11733268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bastrop, TX

ENGINE

While driving, engine immediately shuts off. Dash, radio, lights, etc. all function as normal. Dash cluster shows an error message, saying to shift into Park. After parking vehicle on shoulder, engine turns over but does not restart after several attempts. After awhile, engine finally restarts. No error codes or messages are displayed. Scanning with an OBD device shows no stored or pending error codes. Vehicle now operates normally. This has happened twice in the span of two weeks, and never previously.

NHTSA complaint #11722967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

San Angelo, TX

ENGINE

Despite having the EGR replaced under recall the unit still exploded while driving on wed 4 Mar 2026. Fluids were leaking and had indicated issues with the electric shifter. The local dealerships states the egr cooler needs replaced, coolant tank, DPF and oil change (despite just being done the Saturday before). Refusing to acknowledge any connection to previous recall or associated damages. Contacted FCA customer support and ignored my concerns and said just pay the dealer the $6000+.

NHTSA complaint #11722520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garland, TX

ENGINE

Vehicle began displaying check engine light. Diagnostic code P219B (Bank 2 air-fuel ratio imbalance) was identified. Vehicle was serviced and a valve-related repair was performed. Shortly after, engine performance worsened and further inspection revealed metal shavings in engine oil and confirmed internal lifter/valvetrain failure. Oil levels were normal and maintenance records are available. No warning of low oil pressure or overheating occurred prior to failure. Independent service center and inspector confirmed internal mechanical failure. Engine failure created risk of sudden loss of power while driving. This appears consistent with documented Pentastar 3.6L valvetrain/lifter issues reported by other owners. Concern is potential for sudden engine malfunction and safety risk due to power loss.

NHTSA complaint #11719777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newberry, SC

ENGINE

Had to have repairs done after two weeks of purchase of vehicle for recall for vehicle losing power when picking up speed also engine light is on continuously. Contacted dealer and requested repairs Dealer was non-compliance.I had to pay for repairs myself. Still having issues and engine light still on. Contacted dealership and requested reimbursement for repairs 5 months ago haven't been reimbursed yet. What can I do. Spent $1400 for repairs

NHTSA complaint #11718184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Bluffton, SC

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving at approximately 30 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the tone wheel had delaminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #11713593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Teaneck, NJ

ENGINE

Check engine light came on and when we had it tested with the OBD‑II scanner it came back with a Fuel system wiring harness corrosion Emission control module software updates Transmission shift issues.

NHTSA complaint #11711447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,538 miles Tulsa, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. After the failure had occurred, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the crankshaft position sensor tone wheel had delaminated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,538.

NHTSA complaint #11710636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Byron, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled radiator fumes on the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the coolant reservoir was repeatedly refilled; however, there were no signs of a leak. The contact later became aware that radiator fluid was leaking on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact performed an inspection of the vehicle and noticed a thick, black sticky substance underneath the EGR valve. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the dealer became aware of burn marks on the left side of the engine. In addition, the contact was informed that coolant was leaking from several spots. The dealer declined to continue diagnosing the vehicle. The contact was advised to retrieve the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. In addition, the contact stated that the EGR valve and the engine oil cooler were replaced under unknown recalls in 2021. The contact stated that the recall parts only lasted for three and a half years, and the original parts lasted seven years. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA complaint #11702959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Byron, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled radiator fumes on the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the coolant reservoir was repeatedly refilled; however, there were no signs of a leak. The contact later became aware that radiator fluid was leaking on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact performed an inspection of the vehicle and noticed a thick, black sticky substance underneath the EGR valve. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the dealer became aware of burn marks on the left side of the engine. In addition, the contact was informed that coolant was leaking from several spots. The dealer declined to continue diagnosing the vehicle. The contact was advised to retrieve the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. In addition, the contact stated that the EGR valve and the engine oil cooler were replaced under unknown recalls in 2021. The contact stated that the recall parts only lasted for three and a half years, and the original parts lasted seven years. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA complaint #11702959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles South Chesterfield, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the heater engaged, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The “Vehicle Temperature” and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence, and a dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V461000 (Equipment). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #11702345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Chico, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service electronic system warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle drove abnormally rough. The vehicle was driven to the destination. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed tone wheel and that the tone wheel had delaminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperable, and the engine had seized due to a failure. The dealer informed the contact that the crankshaft software update was performed in 2022. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #11700301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cheyenne, WY

ENGINE

Needs rocker arms, valve lifters and camshafts replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11699702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goldsboro, NC

ENGINE

My engine oil is mixing into my coolant jug and radiator replaced the oil cooler housing and the issue still continues

NHTSA complaint #11690052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bothell, WA

ENGINE

While driving at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power, displayed a low oil pressure warning, and became inoperable. The vehicle had to be towed. Dealer initially claimed “overfilled oil,” but an independent oil analysis (Blackstone Labs) confirmed excessive fuel dilution (5.5%), indicating contamination of the oil system. This vehicle is covered by NHTSA Recalls 22V-406 (FCA Z46) and 23V-263 (FCA 01A) related to premature failure of the Bosch CP4 high-pressure fuel pump. Recall documents state: “A HPFP failure may introduce internally failed component debris into the fuel system potentially causing fuel starvation. Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of motive power, which can cause a vehicle to crash without prior warning.” The vehicle’s failure aligns with this description. Dealer has not yet performed an HPFP inspection despite recall requirements. Request: NHTSA investigate whether fuel dilution and catastrophic failure are linked to the CP4 HPFP defect covered by these recalls.

NHTSA complaint #11688846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Rindge, NH

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had gone to the dealer three times for the recall repair before experiencing a failure with the vehicle; however, the part was not available for the recall repair. While awaiting the repair, while the contact's wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, there was a clanking sound coming from the engine compartment. The sound progressively grew louder. There was no warning light illuminated. On the fourth visit to the dealer, the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that parts were on backorder and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA complaint #11683240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parkville, MD

ENGINE

The Traction control light comes on while driving, once that happens it changes the performance of the vehicle it stays in one and it doesn’t allow you to do more then 43 at the most.

NHTSA complaint #11664067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

ENGINE

Lifters are ticking. Yet another 3.6L Pentastar engine with the same issue, and no recall issued. Someone is going to die from this defect, if there haven't already been fatalities related to this problem.

NHTSA complaint #11654109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Spring, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the left cylinder head and the A/C condenser needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic made the contact aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA complaint #11647415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Spring, TX

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the left cylinder head and the A/C condenser needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic made the contact aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA complaint #11647415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 166,000 miles Maineville, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and started losing motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the transmission failed to shift as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle restarted after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that weeks before the failure while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The sensor was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

NHTSA complaint #11646737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ENGINE

Cylinder 2 misfire

NHTSA complaint #11643716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Osage, IA Crash 2 injured

ENGINE

I was crossing a road to get to the median and my Jeep stopped moving in the middle of a 4 lane highway, separated by a median that I never made it to due to it stopping moving during acceleration. It made noise when I pressed on the gas pedal but didn’t go anywhere. I was hit by a car that couldn’t avoid me, and my daughter and I were injured in the crash. My daughter had a fracture in her right leg & facial bruising. I had a laceration requiring stitches and facial bruising, lost consciousness at the scene and am severely concussed. Progressive deemed my Jeep a total loss.

NHTSA complaint #11637847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Orange, NJ

ENGINE

Car keeps jumping to nutral and then dies in the middle of the highway. Have to wiat like 5mins before trying to start. Once it starts ill drive for like 15mins then I happens again. No codes nor e gine light to see what the issue is. I'm lost at the mo and need the vehicle for jobs. Help!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #11637110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Windsor, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11627272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bozeman, MT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel), 20V475000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and 20V699000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they could not perform the recall repair because the contact had modified the PCM. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11622796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

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