FaultScore

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee acceleration problems

17 of the 665 complaints about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 34,177 miles.

F

17

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 16 94.1%
Accelerator Pedal 1 5.9%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Jeep Grand Cherokee year

1993 37 3.0%
1994 74 5.9%
1995 86 6.9%
1996 35 2.8%
1997 37 3.0%
1998 39 3.1%
1999 61 4.9%
2000 53 4.3%
2001 34 2.7%
2002 38 3.1%
2003 32 2.6%
2004 77 6.2%
2005 88 7.1%
2006 52 4.2%
2007 60 4.8%
2008 27 2.2%
2009 12 1.0%
2011 37 3.0%
2012 35 2.8%
2013 22 1.8%
2014 102 8.2%
2015 53 4.3%
2016 22 1.8%
2017 21 1.7%
2018 36 2.9%
2019 15 1.2%
2020 15 1.2%
2021 17 1.4%
2022 10 0.8%
2023 18 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Henrico, VA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was driving north on I64, and a car in front of me suddenly stopped. Cruise control was on, but when i applied the brake, my car did not stopped, and cruise control speed up, before decreasing speed. Instead of turning off, and allowing the car to slow down. I had to swerve, causing to go off on the side of the highway, and held my foot on the brake for almost a mile, along the side of the highway, before the car came to a stop

NHTSA complaint #11706391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maricopa, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

When the cruise control is activated and the set(+) button to accelerate the car continues to accelerate after the button is released. The vehicle will accelerate to 100mph or higher. I have to deactivate the cruise control to get it to stop accelerating. The vehicle is available for inspection. +Unsafe to use cruise control for fear of excessive speed. I have taken to dealer, they say it is not covered under warranty. No other inspections have been performed. There are no warning messages or other symptoms indicating a failure. The problem first appeared when I purchased the vehicle in June of 2024.

NHTSA complaint #11690673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,354 miles Brenton, WV

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling abnormally fast. Additionally, the contact stated that upon releasing the brake pedal, while the vehicle was in drive(D), the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated while driving 25-35 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to make a turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate as needed, causing the contact to pass the turn and almost caused a crash. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned around. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the Nissan dealer where it was purchased, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The Chrysler dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,354.

NHTSA complaint #11688809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redmond, WA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Was pulling into a parking spot on the 2nd level of parking garage and the Jeep accelerated and hit the cement wall at front of garage space. It accelerated on its own. The front of the jeep was crushed, and I ended up with a fractured sternum and a seat belt hernia which I will have surgery in the next couple of weeks. The airbags did not deploy. And I did not press on the gas pulling into the parking spot --- it just accelerated on its own. When I first got in the car the system showed that systems disabled, but the then the message went away. When I pressed seat one, it did not go in place and I had to adjust it on my own. I continued on to my dermitologist appointment , pulled into the the parking space and the instant brake when too close did not break and the air bags did not deploy. Thru me into the cement wall, and the whole front of the car was demolished, Not epairable.

NHTSA complaint #11676946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garfield, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle shifts from park to drive jumping gears ,making loud noises, Accelerating by its self and jumps aggressively into gear. Transmission is slipping, late engagement when shifting, and shifting rough. sometimes it will low rpm. Rpm is going up and down. Making total transmission failure and transfer case failure. Melting the hot and cold lines. Mechanic found aluminum melted and oil burn. Rpms fluctuate and gets hung up during shifting while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11666804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garfield, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The car have a lot of problems engine total failure, mounting joints failure, acelere by him self, jerking,,while driving vehicle kicks aggressively in to gear, oil cup broken down make in the engine to blow oil over , no oil in engine. Sometimes missing 3. Quarters of oil because the seal of the engine no last , is a lot problems in this car

NHTSA complaint #11658058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lonoke, AR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The electronic stability control has malfunctioned and the 4wd svc light has comeon. The vehicle shifts hard when taking off at low speed. When coming to a stop there is a loud pop from transfer case. Also the 4wd low and neutral comes on by themselves. This vehicle definitely has safety issues. I just bought this vehicle and just barely have 1000 miles on it. How is thus safe? The hard shifting started around 6/1/2024 the electronic stability, svc 4wd, going into 4wd low and neutral all started on 6/23/24

NHTSA complaint #11596075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Las Vegas, NV Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

April 8th 2024 jeep was at total stop then car jolted forward and unable to stop the vehicle from driving forward lost control of car until it hit a car then fence then a brick wall total loss both air bags deployed

NHTSA complaint #11585996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seagoville, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Radio not turning on at all

NHTSA complaint #11564426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menands, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was driving on a road when the car suddenly accelerated for no apparent reason. I hit the brake and nothing happened. When the car accelerated, it was like when you hit resume when you have cruise control on. I did not have cruise control on. To avoid hitting a vehicle in front of me, I went off the road to the right, hit a chain link fence and stopped in a field. The car was declared a total loss by the insurance company. Earlier that day, the car was giving me a warning to brake, when I was not near another vehicle. On other occasions before this, the car would tell me to put my hands on the steering wheel when I was gripping the steering wheel.

NHTSA complaint #11564196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Earlton, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

While driving 70mph on highway, all lights on dash illuminated, lane assist malfunctioned, wipers went on, blinkers stopped working, vehicle lost speed quickly. Was able to move it off the road, but stopped running before being completely on shoulder. Vehicle would not turn on again in any capacity and hazard warning lights would not function. Needed to have vehicle towed, awaiting final report on issues. No warning was given before this malfunction occured.

NHTSA complaint #11542014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles North Haledon, NJ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while parking the vehicle in a parking lot, it accelerated independently causing the vehicle to jump the curb and crash into a pole. The contact stated he had the brake pedal to the floorboard but failed to stop the vehicle. No air bags deployed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an auto collision center. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. The VIN was not available. The contact stated that the problem might be with the transmission.

NHTSA complaint #11524774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

St Paul mn, MN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Bought vehicle in October - dealer was only able to give me the vehicle 2 months later. When I picked up the vehicle it smelled like something electric was burning. I texted my sales guy from the lot he didn't respond immediately I thought maybe it's just something outside the vehicle. Brought it home found it there is a recall on this vehicle and it doesn't accelerate efficiently. When I took it back to the dealership the dealer couldn't fix it and refused to take the vehicle back. I have paid my car payments for a vehicle I can't use. Please help me resolve this issue

NHTSA complaint #11498499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ann Arbor, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle reported on instrument cluster a loss of Electronic Stability Control, Power Steering, blind spot alert, adaptive cruise control, and cruise control. We have been having electronic issues for >2 months. Previously the vehicle reported an estart fault and would randomly engage the ebrake. It would not allow disengaging the ebrake unless the car was restarted and/or hood was opened and shut. This occured while turning left at a light causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the intersection. We have had the vehicle serviced 2 times, and now will return it for a third time for these electronics issues.

NHTSA complaint #11488465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canfield, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle was purchased last month. Grand Cherokee L Altitude. Has <1,400 miles. Check engine light came on. Warning for Electronic stabilizer system. Lost acceleration. Vehicle stalled once coming to a stop. And then once I turned it back on and tried to drive, the vehicle would not accelerate over 25mph. Reset then car drove fine. But then incident occurred again. Glitchy software or modules. This should not occur in a BRAND NEW vehicle. Unsafe.

NHTSA complaint #11438715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chadds Ford, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sometimes when first started and other times while driving, the main touch screen dies and certain functionality is lost though the car is still drivable. Everything controlled by the touch screen stops (radio, cameras, heating/cooling) but blinkers do not work, front wipers turn on and can't be turned off, high beams turn on and off, and cruise control turns on and off. If this happens while driving, a message saying "SOS Call unavailable. Please visit an authorized dealer" pops up. If it happens when the engine is first started, nothing appears on the screen.

NHTSA complaint #11435373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dearborn, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The accelerator throttle be became stuck in open throttle and an error message came on. I pushed the brakes it eventually stopped after like 5 seconds and slowed down when the error message came on and eventually came to a crawl, it was stuck ⅘ of the way, but if I pushed it further it would not go. It was in track mode and I was using the paddle shifters. So I pulled over, stopped, and put it in park and restarted and it was fine. There were no symptoms prior to the issue. This was the first time it happened. It has not been inspected. It is available for inspection upon request. I had two other people in the car and no cars infront of me so I was fortunate, there could have been an accident.

NHTSA complaint #11432989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

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